Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms

In the official live video "Brothers In Arms" from Berlin 2007, Mark Knopfler can be seen using a Shure SM58 microphone at the 0:16 mark.

The speculation that Mark Knopfler used the Marshall JTM45 in the studio has spread to many forums across the web, but validation is difficult to prove. The Mark Knopfler Guitar Site article Mark Knopfler’s JTM 45 Marshall amp of Money for Nothing and Brothers in Arms presents an image of the JTM45 amp and cab assumed to be the same used on recording of both albums as referenced in Producer Guy "Dr. Fletch" Fletchers recording diaries with the photo.

Unfortunately, the diary entry from Dr. Flecth currently presents a 404 error.

In this, you can see Mark Knopfler using his Marhsall JTM 45 which runs into his Handwired Marshall 4x12. He used it on Brothers in arms and on Money For Nothing. You can see him using it live either at Live Aid 1985, or at one of his gigs in 1979.

In an Instagram clip shared by gibsunday, Mark Knopfler demonstrates how he developed "Money for Nothing" while playing a real 1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard, not a reissue.

Mark Knopfler is confirmed to use a Gibson 1959 Les Paul Electric Guitar, which he purchased from New Kings Road Vintage Guitar Emporium on March 23, 1999. This guitar serves as a backup for his '58 Les Paul and is noted for its distinct red color on the edges, which are less faded than the '58 model. It has been used live for performances of "Song for Sonny Liston," "Why Aye Man," "Pyroman," and "Brothers in Arms." The guitar was later auctioned at Christie's in London on January 31, 2024, where it was sold for £693,000. This information is supported by the source "Mark Knopfler and his guitars."

Acquired in 1998, Mark Knopfler kept this guitar in his study for home use. Knopfler: "I loved the Everlys so much, you know, that I always wanted to have an Everlys Gibson." The song Why worry, recorded by Dire Straits for their 1985 album Brothers in arms, was reportedly originally written by Knopfler with the Everly Brothers in mind. The brothers recorded their own version of Why worry the following year for their 1986 album Born yesterday. Knopfler was thrilled to perform the song with Don and Phil Everly themselves when Chet Atkins invited all three to take part in the Cinemax television special Chet Atkins and Friends at Vanderbilt University in Nashville on 1st May 1987.

Mark Knopfler acquired a Gibson ES-175 Electric Guitar from Rudy Pensa in the 1980s. He used this guitar on the track "Would You Could You" from Willy DeVille's album Assassin of Love (1987) and also on the Brothers in Arms album. Additionally, the guitar can be seen in the background during Mark's participation in the "Let It Be" session in 1987, as shown in the image from Equipboard.