Gibson Les Paul Standard
1959 Gibson Les Paul Reissue, Sunburst
This '59 Les Paul is the reissue (serial number 90006) that Mark got from his pal Rudy Pensa in 1984. It was first Mark's own Gibson Les Paul Standard.
The guitar was used on Money For Nothing and Brothers In Arms on the album Brothers In Arms. Mark also used this guitar in Live in 85/6 tour including Live Aid in 1985.
There are 2 well known facts about this guitar. Both of them were taken from Guitar Styles book* and both of them are not clear. First is the guitar is made in 1984. In accordance with Gibson Electric Guitar Descriptions** the early Les Paul reissues produced between from the late 70s and 1993 have 5 digits serial number and first number should indicate the year of production. So 9 0006 could be 1979. The second fact is ‘the guitar is modified so that the central position on the pick-up selector connects them out of phase’***.
* Mark Knopfler Guitar Styles Vol. 1/2, 1995
** Gibson
Electric Guitar Descriptions from the Blue Book of Guitars
*** Interview with Mark Knopfler - Guitar Player, 1992
1958 Gibson Les Paul, Sunburst
It is very rare and expensive original Gibson Les Paul from 1958. Mark got the guitar in 1995*. It is his favorite guitar from the Golder Heart tour (1996), the guitar was used on Darling Pretty, Imelda, The Bug, No Can Do, Rudiger, Je Suis Desole, Calling Elvis, Cannibals, Brothers In Arms, Money For Nothing, The Long Highway, Water Of Love, Are We In Trouble Now, Going Home.
In 2000 the guitar was used on tracks from Sailing To Philadelphia album: Baloney Again, Last Laugh, Speedway At Nazareth, Junkie Doll and Long Highway (b-side from What It is maxi single).
During the Sailing To Philadelpia tour 2001 Mark used his Les Paul on Calling Elvis, Brothers In Arms, Money For Nothing, El Macho, Junkie Doll, Pyroman, Speedway At Nazareth.
The guitar was used on tracks on the latest solo albums: 5.45, Back to Tupelo, Boom Like That, Whoop Dee Doo, The Trawlerman's Song; The Scaffolder's Wife, Before Gas & TV, Cleaning My Gun, Remembrance Day.
* Interview with Mark Knopfler - Gitarist Magazine, 2002
1959 Gibson Les Paul, Sunburst
It is original 1959 Gibson Les Paul. Mark bought this guitar in 1995 or 1996. It is used in tours as a duplicate guitar for '58 Les Paul.
19?? Gibson Les Paul Reissue, Sunburst
It is not well known guitar. This reissue (1986, serial number 12849) was built for Mark by Gibson Custom Shop with his birthdate as the serial number. Referring to Mark it was a "nice guitar" but "fancy-looking" (over-glossy tiger-stripe) *.
There is not any information when and where Mark used this guitar. Also, it is not clear - does Mark have it now. By the way this guitar could be one of four displayed on "Les Paul fan club staple diet" picture made by Guy Fletcher during Shangri-La record session in 2004**.
* Mark Knopfler: On '58 Les Paul and hearing 'voicings' - Gibson.com, 2002
** Shangri-La Album Diary
by Guy Fletcher, 2004
Mark Knopfler European tour 2010
Book your tickets: Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxemburg
Ad by Mosaico World