Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler will sell off a selection of guitars he considers “old friends” at a Christie’s auction in London future year.
The musician, whose unique finger-buying design drove hits for the British rockers which include “Sultans of Swing” and “Money for Almost nothing,” is putting 120 guitars and amps up for sale in London on Jan. 31, the auction household claimed Tuesday.
Believed sale prices assortment from 300 lbs ($375) for an electric-acoustic mandolin to 500,000 lbs . ($625,000) for a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Conventional with a cherry red sunburst finish. A 1983 Les Paul that Knopfler performed on Dire Straits’ chart-topping 1985 album “Brothers in Arms” and onstage that calendar year at Are living Help has an believed cost of 10,000 to 15,00 pounds.
Knopfler reported the collection was the item of his 60-12 months “love affair” with guitars, but it was time to relinquish “some of these treasured 6-string companions.”
“You can be certain I’ll be unfortunate to see them go but we have had amazing periods with each other and I just cannot enjoy them all,” he said. ”To you fellow players, lovers and collectors, I desire you many excellent periods with these aged close friends of mine.”
The devices will go on public screen at Christie’s New York showroom Dec. 9 to 13, and at the auctioneer’s London headquarters from Jan. 19 to 30, 2024.
A quarter of the sale complete will go to the British Red Cross and other charities.
