Memo to all Sultans of Swing. In a sale that will attract collectors from around the globe more than 120 guitars and amps from the personal collection of singer songwriter and Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler will come under the hammer at Christie’s in London on January 31. It spans the 50 year career of one of the most influential musicians in the world and chronicles the array of guitars Knopfler used to write, record and perform with Dire Straits. “Wherever I go I’m still crossing streets to look at guitars in the windows of music shops. I’ve done that since I was a little kid” he said. With an estimate range of £500-£500,000 (€582-€582,000) there are opportunities for fans to participate at all levels. Renowned for his virtuoso finger picking style he chose each instrument for its individual tone. The archive includes names like Fender, Gibson, Gretsch and Martin and custom built models by Rudy Pensa and John Suhr. A total of 25% of the hammer price will be donated to charities he has supported for many years, the British Red Cross, Tusk and Brave Hearts of the North East. His 1959 vintage Gibson Les Paul Standard, used on the Sailing to Philadelphia tour in 2001 and the Kill To Get Crimson tour in 2008 is the top lot, estimated at £300,000-£500,000 (€349,000-€582,000).
UPDATE: THE COLLECTION WAS 100% SOLD AND BROUGHT IN £8,840,160
