![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aoRexW55SiJVzeX6PQnzMb.jpg)
Mark Knopfler's reissue 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard which he used on the Brothers In Arms album and world tour sold at a Christie's auction in London yesterday (1 February) for £592,000. The guitar, used on the title track and Money For Nothing, was part of of a 122-lot sale of Knopfler's electric, acoustic guitars and amps that netted £8,840,160 / $11,227,003 / €10,342,987.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ppTeubVbzAAjNequmK9mvE.jpg)
Other big sales were an original 1959 Les Paul Standard that set a new world record for the model at £693,000. It was used on Knopfler's Sailing To Philadephia and Kill To Get Crimson solo tours in 2001 and 2008, respectively.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/94g5zFUpXyvmBNFRd5atkE.jpg)
Unsurprisingly, the bids went high for the 1988 Pensa-Suhr MK-1 and a Schecter T-style guitars that have loomed large in Knopfler's history. But the surprise was how high - with both setting records for the brands. The Pensa-Suhr - used by Knopfler live with Dire Straits – sold for £504,000, while the Schecter T-style used to record Brothers In Arms song Walk Of Life and the album's tour sold for a whopping £415,800.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8PdVYwSCePqGZb7hkQCJzE.jpg)
“This auction has been an incredible journey and I am so pleased that these much loved instruments will find new players and new songs as well as raising money for charities that mean a lot to me," said Knopfler. "All Christie’s staff have been hugely impressive in every respect.
"It has been heart-warming to witness how much these guitars mean to so many people and I am also pleased that they will continue to give joy to many through the songs recorded over the years with me," the guitarist added. "To you fellow players, enthusiasts and collectors, I wish you all good things."
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uPE2kFLSrwq5maaCVeXsL7.jpg)
A special Les Paul Goldtop signed by the guitarist and peers including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, David Gilmour, Pete Townshend and Bruce Springsteen – a precursor to a special project featuring Knopfler and an all-star cast of players – sold for £403,200 – soaring far beyond its £20,000-40,000 estimate. All the proceeds from that particular sale went to the Teenage Cancer Trust.
With such a huge clearout of his gear, it's tempting to suggest Knopfler is done with guitar acquisition syndrome. But all players will know it's never that simple.
"I got a new Boswell [acoustic guitar] the other day and I was showing it to one of the kids," he told Paul Sexton in the interview at Christie's below. "I'm getting excited about it all again. That doesn't stop."
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8ud8jEuQgSQGZMeg5GvURG.jpg)
In total, 25% of the total hammer price from the auction will be divided equally and donated to charities that Knopfler has supported over the years: The British Red Cross, Tusk and Brave Hearts of the North East. 100% of the funds raised from the final lot are being donated to Teenage Cancer Trust. In addition, Christie’s is contributing a further £50,000 to each of the four charities.
For those charities the auction will prove hugely valuable – such is the gravitas of the Knopfler connection that every lot in the auction exceeded its estimate by considerable margins. Even a 2010 Reverend Toledo with no specific recording providence in Knopfler's catalogue and an estimate of £800-£1200 ended up fetching £27,720.
Check out all the lots and their final results over at Christie's.