Mark Knopfler

Mark Knopfler with a vintage 1930s Martin D-18 acoustic guitar at his studio in London in 2015. PHOTO: JOBY SESSIONS/GETTY IMAGES

In a July, '79 interview with Guitar Player magazine, Mark Knopfler mentions playing through a Selmer Thunderbird Twin 30 with his early band, the Cafe Racers:

It was great doing that," he recalls. We just played pubs in London. I was using my Hofner and Gibson, and I bad a 30-watt Selmer Thunderbird amplifier. It had a little green light that stared out at you like an eye. And I didn't use any effects; it was just straight in, no messing about. The group was just guitar, bass, drums, and a singer.

Guitar Player Interviews: Mark Knopfler, Innovative Leader Of Dire Straits

Knopfler can be seen playing a Burns Double 6 in a photo on this page.

Mark Knopfler has used various amplifiers throughout his career, as detailed in Guitar.com’s Guitar Legends series. Notably, the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Guitar Combo 1x12 is part of his gear roster, alongside other amps like the Fender Vibrolux and Fender Twin Reverb from his early albums. The article mentions his transition to a Mesa/Boogie MkIIB around 1982, highlighting his evolving amp preferences. Additionally, a Mesa/Boogie Mark II, believed to be part of Dire Straits’ touring rig, was found on Reverb, offering further insight into his equipment choices.

At 2:12 in this video, Mark Knopfler can be seen playing his Martin 000-40S. This is Mark Knopfler's signature Martin model, as can be seen on this product page.

Listed on Reverend's website for having this guitar.

On D'Addario's Webpage you can find Mark Knopfler as a D'Addario Artist and there this product is listed as the tuner he uses.

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 item can be seen in this video at 16:50.

Mark Knopfler is quoted on the Justin Guitar website saying:

If you told me you wanted to get going on guitar I'd recommend Justin Sandercoe.

This guitar was gifted to Mark Knopfler when he became ambassador for The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation. Replica of Buddy Holly's "Stay Close with Me" J-45

Mark’s latest guitar - a beautiful slimline Telecaster made by renowned guitar specialist, Rudy Pensa. Obtained in late August, 2019.

Mark Knopfler uses a 1953 Gibson Southern Jumbo Acoustic Guitar, as detailed in a DireStraits article by Marko Andreevski. Introduced in 1942 as a deluxe version of the J-45, this model features a sunburst spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and distinctive split parallelogram pearl inlays.

“For the recording of Down the Road Wherever (Knopfler's latest solo album),” (Long time Tech,) Saggers said, “we used three signature Stratocasters, along with Mark’s vintage Strats. He also relied on his custom Pensa guitars, his signature Les Pauls, a Grosh Electrajet and a Danelectro 59 DC tuned to open C and set up for slide. All electric guitars are strung with D’Addario XL110s, except for one Strat, which is strung with D’Addario XL115, and the Danelectro, which is strung with D’Addario EJ21.

Mark Knopfler expressed excitement about performing with his guitar idol, Hank Marvin. In a photo from Contactmusic.com, he is seen playing a Fender Jazzmaster Custom Pre-63, featuring a sunburst finish.

In this photo, Mark Knopfler can be seen playing a Gibson Super 400 CES with P90s in a live performance.

Used until the end of Dire Straits' 1981 Making Movies tour.

The item can be seen 46:22 into this video

In this BBC archive video from 1986 they mention how popular software developer Steinberg have created a digital audio workstation introducing the standard MIDI transfer to synthesizers through a computer which at that time was exclusive to the Atari ST computer system. They mention how many artists have started using it, and along with it the Atari ST computer, they mention that Dire Straits are using it in their recording studio.

The last part of the Guitar Stories documentary is all about this guitar

In a performance of "Sultans of Swing," Mark Knopfler uses Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Strat Pickups on his Fender Stratocaster, as shown in a video by Michael Egger on YouTube.

His signature Suhr model has EMG 85 in bridge position.

This guitar was used in Walk Of Life in the Brothers in Arms album in 1985. Mark also used this guitar when he was in the band The Notting Hillbillies on the song "Setting Me Up", which was originally on the self titled Dire Straits album. He also played it with The Notting Hillbillies on the song "When it Comes to You". This guitar has F520T & F521T Pickups. The color of the guitar is Vermillion red with a single white-binding on the front of the guitar. The neck of the guitar is maple with a rosewood fretboard, which is odd because most of the Schecter Dream Machines came with a one-piece birdseye-maple neck.

This guitar was used in the song 'Postcards from Paraguay' in the 2004 album Shangri-La

In a live performance of "Tunnel of Love" at Wembley in 1985, Mark Knopfler uses a Shure SM57 microphone equipped with an A2WS pop filter.

In the MK Tour '08 Documentary, Mr. Saggers demonstrates that Mark Knopfler uses the Bricasti Design M7 for processing guitars and vocals.

Tc 2290 Delay on guitar.

According to Mark Knopfler's 2015 rig, the Mark Knopfler guitars website said :

"There is one ‘new’ effect – new does not sound right for a classic that was introduced in the 1970ies – a dbx 160A mono compressor. If I had to guess I would say it is for clean slide guitars."

Mark Knopfler owns and uses a Divided by 13 SJT 10/20 amplifier, as listed on the Divided by 13 Amplification's clients page. However, he rarely uses it live due to commitments and endorsements with other companies.

On 'Song For Sonny Liston' he, (Mark) played an EKO 700 with Glenn and Chad making up the trio.