The Carved top I made had an EMG 85 in the bridge not the 81 but an 85. The boost on the push pull was actually the SPC mid boost I installed full blast on a push pull. 👍
The 85 would appear to suit Knopfler more. I've owned several guitars with EMGs over the years and the 81 was always a bit brash compared to the 85. Thanks for the extra info John.
Mark also played a black Schecter Telecaster in the early 80s. I went to Rudy's in 82 and asked to buy the same black schecter tele as my hero. The salesman said to come back the next day because Mark would probably be there (he hung out there a lot). Sure enough, I came back the next day and he was there. He was incredibly nice (to a 13 year old kid!), and we played together and he gave me some tips. (Yes, he showed me how to properly do the final lick on sultans of swing!) He handed me the same Schecter black Tele model that he played and I bought it that day. Still my go-to guitar. Plays like butter.
Wow what a great story! Thats my dream, unfortunately im born in the wrong era, and wrong country :(. But at least I have the chance to listen to his and their amazing music
Hey Rick - have we not gotten a ‘What Makes This Song Great: Dire Straits’ video due to copyright issues? Seems like the only logical explanation at this point!
How to get the most face with the leastleast gear. If he were to start shaving channel, he would use a straight razor and it would be called Five Strop World. Okay, bye! 🥸
Yes! Finally, a video on Mark Knopfler on one of the big music channels. They usually either skip Mark completely or talk about the boring usual stuff. This, however, is another story. Accurate and interesting even for die-hards, though not without little flukes. It's ridiculous how everybody seems to love MK but rarely talks about how great of a songwriter and guitar player he is. I often think why he's so catastrophically underrated.
I think there are (at least) two things at play here: firstly, the fact that Dire Straits ultimately became too popular to be thought of as cool, and suffered a little from 'dad rock' and 'corporate rock' labels; secondly, the fact that MK's solo work has not had such broad appeal. I have to say, though, that Dire Straits came online the year I went to university and, when I took my son to his first day at university almost 30 years later, Sultans of Swing was still coming out of the windows of the student residence.
I wish this channel used you for some demos. You are the most qualified player I know to show the Knopfler style. I hope all is safe and well in Turkey.
@@fivewattworld You definitely should! Pavel is the man when it comes to the intricacies of Knopfler's playing. Also: thanks a lot for this very detailed video on my favourite musician's guitars, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
@@mijorchard6206I feel sorry for people who haven’t experienced his solo work; I really do. It is unparalleled, just the most beautiful, haunting music, rich with history and interesting characters. I have a Spotify playlist just for Knopfler/Straits. The songwriting, guitar work, singing, everything about his albums is dear to my heart.
The volume swell notes are pretty haunting, like when he imitated a ship fog horn on Waterline on the first album. Strats were made for volume swell lines, but I reckon he's used a volume pedal at times as well.
Knopfler is guitar royalty. So humble and down to earth and when he talks about his guitars you can see his passion oozing out of him. Dire straits is one of the soundtracks to my teens and I'll never forget their performance at live aid!
Complete shock, Street scene in Newcastle, that’s my old car, 1965 Vauxhall Victor 101, 1970 it was sold to my dad seven years later given me. It’s not a guitar but it’s important to me thank you. Hank Marvin and Mark Knopfler All grew up in the same area the generation of part there must’ve been something in the water
Somewhere around 1987 or so, Dire Straits came to town, and I made a point of going to the venue during the afternoon, and giving a pickup to Mark Knopfler. It was an Epiphone New Yorker pickup I had foolishly taken from my late '50s Epi Windsor; replaced with a pair of humbuckers I had wound. The New Yorker pickups can look, to the untrained eye, like a minihumbucker. But much like the old "gold foil" pickups, they are single-coil underneath the cover, and have a row of adjustable screws near the outer edge, to compensate for string volume, albeit poorly. Unlike gold foils, they are actually gold-plated, and have a real ivory mounting surround - a relic from the days before we cared about conservation. Some years later - maybe a dozen - I exchanged e-mails with John Suhr, recounted the pickup, and since he was essentially Mark's builder, inquired if he had ever installed it for Mark on anything, or even seen it, for that matter. He replied that he hadn't. I hope Knopfler realized what I had given him, and it didn't end up in a trash heap somewhere. Those things are irreplaceable.
Above all Mark is the sound of a Stratocaster for me. I’ve been hooked since the first album in ‘78 as a sixteen year old. I’m turning sixty this month and treated myself to my first CS. 60’s Fiesta Red of course. Thanks again for another great one Keith.
This is truly one of the best ever five watt world episodes (which is really saying something), and the playing by John Cordy and Duke Levine is out of this world.
Keith, you are a Master Historian- once again I am taken backwards in time travel through my life by a “short history “ episode of Five Watt World. Thank you!
RIGHT?!?!? I mean no offense to the other fine players that have been showcased on these wonderful little episodes, but man o' man I sure would LOVE to see an SRV episode on here. One for his Guitars, and then one for his Amps. I'd watch that several times over. Please Keith!!!!!! Get on it Dude!!!!!
Yet another great video, Keith. I live about 3 miles from Blyth where Mark grew up and instantly recognised the photo of the Evening Chronicle newspaper offices in Newcastle. Excellent research mate! Keep up the great work 👍🏼
Way to go brother ! My fave guitarist of all time. Just love this channel, but for a KNOPFLER junkie like me, this was the absolute top of the pyramid. Many 🙏🏻 thnx
A majority of the guitars covered here are being auctioned off by Christie’s. A lot of Dire Straits guitars that he used have been donated. I’d like to see who ends up receiving these infamous guitars.🤔
Just a spot-on episode, Keith (as always!). Diverging just a little, I look forward to a day where traditional music industry folks realize that programs like yours are actually beneficial to the artist, and that you can then feature the artist's original music without being de-monetized. That day will come! I believe! 🙂 Cheers, mate -
I went through three cassettes of "Dire Straits Live," which could be heard for yards and yards, blasting out of my T-Topped Turbo Trans Am. To this day, out of nowhere, the intro to "Romeo And Juliet" will suddenly pop into my head and I just stop and bask in it. And yes, between Richard Thomps, David Byrne, Adrian Belew, Mark Knopfler, that's why I had only one guitar for twent years, a 1983 62RI from the Fullerton factory. Great vid, Keith!
A very interesting day in school bud. The amount of work that goes into these videos is very impressive and that's no bare face lie. 👍🥃Respect to you mate.
Loved this video Mr Clean-shaven Keith. As a young metalhead guitarist in the 80's, I used to cop a bit of flack from mates for liking Dire Straits. But Knopfler has a certain magic with his tone, technique and phrasing. Not to mention his laid back vocal style too.
@@fivewattworld Tom Selleck shaved his mustache off for his return to series TV in the show Blue Bloods in 2010. BTW - my smoking hot Slovak wife thinks you look much better without it. All the best from currently on the Jersey Shore but soon returning to Slovakia.
@@fivewattworld , so, If you live in New Jersey or thereabouts, why haven't you done an interview or at least some kind of feature about Richard Thompson? He's been living in New Jersey for about 3 years now.
A-A-A-A-Again, (AWESOME!!!) Love all your videos l watch them many times over. So much info, we keep coming back. The guitar nerds and gear heads are not going away.
Perfect timing for me! I’ve just finished reading John Illsley’s book and it’s reminded me of my love for Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler! Thanks Keith!
I thought it was a slang term for "bromine" which was dispensed (without their knowledge)to soldiers in WWI, to inhibit erections and thus preventing them from acquiring a venerial disease.
@@castleanthrax1833 In the Dire Straits song "Industrial Disease" some of the lyrics are "brewers droop from drinking beer". Didn't know about the whole bromine thing for soldiers. Geez.
I had previously suggested that Jeff Beck could be an interesting episode to add to this series, but recently I've been thinking about Adrian Belew. He definitely has a history of quirky and interesting guitars.
Yesss do Jeff Beck! His main guitar has a unique history, alongside the fact that his signature guitar isn’t at all like the guitars he actually plays.
@@jaltsch1 he has a nice variety of guitars, old cheap guitars like Teiscos, some weird 3-pickup Mustangs, the Strats, his Parker guitars, a lot of ground to cover there.
Another fantastic historical gear episode! Always liked Mark Knopfler’s playing, but this gave me an even greater appreciation of him, his work and fantastic tone cultivation. BTW, I like the new look!
@@tadpoleinnit2643 Actually the snooker table is out of the Crucible, tournament play by some big names and much hallowed. The 'sword of Knopfler' it there to protect the table from the evil trolls of Uintoob.... as goes the prophecy??
Very , very good, Keith. We’ve all followed many musicians journeys with their tools of our trade but Knopfler’s is full of depth,desire, patience, virtuosity and yrs. of the hard work of a master.It’s no great wonder that u picked the right man. Excellent , Rocky
My main influences for years have been Hendrix, Frusciante and Gilmore. Lately I've been finding myself very intrigued by Mark Knopflers playing and just his all around style. Thank you again for making this excellent video, I really appreciate it.
GREAT video Keith! MK is just one of those guys I dont really think about much until I hear him playing or one of his recordings...then I get lost in it for hours. I remember fondly my dear departed cousin was a big Mark Knopfler fan. He even used some of his material from his album with EmmyLou Harris in his wedding. I remember he and his new bride walking together off the platform to "This is Us". I'll never forget it. Perfect fit!
Great job on this. Mark has been my guitar hero ever since my mum and dad bought the VHS of the Alchemy concert when I was six. I’d stand in from of the TV every Saturday and air guitar along to it. I’ve been fortunate to see him live twenty odd times in the last twenty years. His Les Paul tone, in his solo project world seems like the great untapped piece of guitar knowledge so many people don’t know about. It’s a true monster sound, especially on the ‘58 which his tech thinks is the hottest pickup he’s ever played on any Gibson. The Danelectro has been used live for the last ten years on Corned Beef City which is the standard second song on the set. A great record to look up in addition to his whole solo output is “Real Live Roadrunning” which was a concert from the short tour he did with Emmylou Harris.
Thank you for doing this Keith. FYI: Mark had switched from Reinhardt to Komet amps for his Trainwreck style amps when Reinhardt stopped producing them. He still sounds great with Kempers.
when I was a teenager I was at a friend's house and couldn't sleep. I found Dire Straits greatest hits and listened to it literally all night and until the sun came up. It changed my life. I consider Gilmour and Knopfler the greatest guitar players of all time.
Growing up on the 80s music, the clean Mark Knopffler notes were in a class of their own(and still is!). He could play 2, maybe 3 notes, and our ears would cock up! 30 years since the Dire Straits disbanded, and our man is still out there making and sharing his music...!🙏🏼
When my friends and I first heard Sultans of Swing on the radio we thought Bob Dylan had put out a great new tune with this amazing guitar player. It wasn’t Dylan but it was a unique/killer guitar player so I guess we got it half right. Great video Keith!
Still listening to the first Dire Straights album. Loved his work of that era with his brother. The fact that a clean tone Strat album came out at the time is still amazing.
Wow! This video was a real treat. Very well done! I've always been fascinated by Knopfler. Along with John McLaughlin, he's one of the first genuine guitar masters I became familiar with as a child due to my father playing the first Dire Straits album nonstop when I was five in 1978. That solo at the end of Sultans of Swing just impressed the hell out of us. My father also plays guitar. Over the years I realized that no matter what guitar Knopfler plays, he always sounds like himself. But it's wonderful to hear him play all these different axes because it brings out something from his playing that's very special, be it the red strat in the early days, to the Pensas, to the Les Pauls and Steinbergers, he always sounds fantastic. I can understand why he's using a Kemper. These things just sound great and they are much easier to operate than a wall of tube amps that can act up and be hard to dial in. A Kemper, and similar modeling/profiling systems deliver the goods time and time again. if Knopfler plays a Gig in Paris one day and then a gig in Rome the next, the Kemper is always going to hit the bull's eye for consistency. Knopfler never struck me as a Luddite, as he was often an early adopter of new technologies, from Steinbergers, EMGs, locking trems, Mesa Boogies, Soldanos, etc. The Kemper is a good thing for Knopfler.
I sold Mark two guitars years back... A 2003 Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul '57 Reissue in Brazilian Blue with a Brazilian Board and a Stinger Headstock and a Mint 1965 Gibson Dove in Cherry Finish which he played on tour with Emmylou Harris... The Brazilian Blur '57 Reissue can be seen in his photo session to promote the album Privateering... I have also done business with Rudy Pensa over the years... He used to refer to me as The Other Rudy when I was actively dealing vintage guitars and amps...Thanks for posting this video
I’ve had one of the Knopfler sig Strats, and I had a Suhr that was basically the Knopfler version but a hard tail. Both were awesome and I should’ve kept them.
Huzzah! A new Short History! I loveLoveLOVE Knopfler's work, especially the first three Dire Straits records. There's such a languid, lyrical vibe to his playing. It draws me in every time I hear it.
Thank you Keith!! I’m not a player but just an avid fan of great music and musicians. Knopfler is my number one guy. Like you, I can still remember hearing the D.S. Debut album for the first time as a junior in high school. I have followed Mark intently ever since. Living in the Midwest I have only seen him live 6 times. Once during Brothers in arms and the rest during his solo career. The only time he came to town (Grand Rapids) was as an opener for Dylan. It was magic from the fourth row. I have all his solo stuff and marvel at the growth of his writing over the years. That combined with his unique guitar work makes him special indeed. Thanks again……cheers!
Instantly recognized tone and style. I just got back from my first trip to NYC, and desperately wanted to go into Rudy’s Guitars. Unfortunately, time did not allow. Next time!🎸
Rudy built me my beautiful MK1. It’s simply the best guitar in the world. Rudy told me Mark received his just before he went on stage at the Nelson Mandela concert. Literally went on rage in front of a billion people and played a guitar he’s never played before. Awesome 😎
I had the pleasure of meeting David Knophler at one of the annual Blues/Roots Festivals I operated in Canada from 2001-2012. Despite me mistaking his road manager for him, David was gracious enough to answer all my pestering questions, many about his brother - lol. David had a smoking touring band at the time! Peace
Thank you so much for this vid! My first MK experience was a concert in Dortmund, Germany back in 1991 (on every street tour). At that time Mark was mainly playing a Pensa at it blew me away. Too bad the Straits disbanded a few years later, while I was desperately hoping for a reunion.
Thank you Keith for this peak into Mark Knopfler's NUMEROUS guitars. I am surprised at his many eclectic choices. I am glad he eventually got his Strat! The playing by John Cordy and Duke Levine was a pleasure. Thanks.
Whether through an amp, a Kemper, or tin cans on a string, nobody does subtlety and nuance like MK. A hero of mine since the very first notes of the first DS album.
Great video Keith. I have only seen Knopfler perform in Dire Straits at the Birmingham (UK) NEC, Brothers in Arms Tour and Knebworth festival 1990. For the first, I was right at the front with my buddies from school and I was mesmerized by his playing. Another guitarist with tone for days! I do often listen to early Dire Straits. I must check out his solo work. Thanks again.
Thank you . Top notch as always. Recommend Guitar stories Mark Knopfler with John Ilsley a killer documentary of Marks career as a good vid to go with this.
13:17, the '53 Super 400 looks to have a pair of AlNiCo V Staple Pickups. The AlNiCo V Staple pickup is my most favorite pickup due to its tonal versatility through its ability to raise or lower the magnetic pole pieces. You could almost do an entire episode on just this pickup! Great video, thank you Keith.
Well done! Great production, great script, I am a long time (+30 yrs) MK fan and I have learned more from this video. The Pensa Suhr MK1 is likely the guitar I have most dreamed about in my life, but please have in mind someone like Mark who has a unique guitar voice, will always sound like himself regardless what guitar he plays!
I'll never forget seeing Mark Knopfler on stage as EC's sideman at the Tacoma Dome during Clapton's 1988 tour. Both were wearing suits, playing Strats, and using Soldano heads on top of Marshall cabinets. Encore included Money For Nothin' and Sunshine Of Your Love. Great show! Thanks for another great video!
Another great video, thanks Keith, Mark Knopfler is one of my favourite guitarists. I've seen him play live 6 times, 4 of those occasions were back in his Dire Straits days.
I’ve loved that Pensa-Suhr for a long time, and so I know it’s an EMG 85 in the bridge, not the 81. Great video though - I’ve been a Dire Straits fan since my early teens so enjoyed watching this. And I finally have my own custom Suhr coming next year which will be similar (but not the same as…) Mark’s Pensa-Suhr :-)
Nicely done !! I remember hearing Sultans Of Swing for the first time and loving it. I had a '75 MN, HT SB Strat at the time and a nice little Magnatone amp. Though i usually ran a red script Big Muff, I also loved it clean. To hear an entire tune done like that was pretty unique for the time. I loved it.
Keith, you read my mind. Thanks for the high-caliber and informative videos in this series; it's great to see the history not only of the instruments but of the musicians themselves, looking forward to the next!
The 'Brothers In Arms' album is my favorite with 'One World' being one of my favorite deep cuts; here's to another greatly informative video... thanks much!
Keith never mentioned that he had a younger brother also named Keith. Great Short History video of Mark Knopfler's guitars. Thank you, younger brother of Keith! 👍
Great video Keith. Even though MK has all the very best custom made guitars by the best and most exclusive guys in the business, he can always get a great sound just from his playing style.
Hey Kieth, great vid. One small correction.Knoflers Super 400 had “staple” pickups that cosmetically look a bit like P 90s but are actually quite a bit different in construction in that the pole pieces are the magnets and they sound just a bit different than P90s.
Funnily enough Brendon from The Nottinghill Billies turned up at a jam session in Leeds yesterday and brought a guitar Steve Phillips made for me to see. A beautiful brown wood and gold metal resonator. Incredible guitar. We got pics of it on our social media. 🎯
MK is the man! My most favourite of all time! learned some things i didnt know here regarding which guitars were used on what records, great video and well researched!
Wow, just a great video! I have every album you mentioned and a few others of Mark's solo efforts. You confirmed for me the use a nylon string guitar on the Love Over Gold record, which a buddy of mine told me I was wrong about! Now do his amps!!!
The Carved top I made had an EMG 85 in the bridge not the 81 but an 85. The boost on the push pull was actually the SPC mid boost I installed full blast on a push pull. 👍
Hahaha! I love being schooled by the MAN himself. Thanks for clearing that up Mister Suhr.
The 85 would appear to suit Knopfler more. I've owned several guitars with EMGs over the years and the 81 was always a bit brash compared to the 85. Thanks for the extra info John.
Hi john. I miss you over on TGP. I got banned. 😁👍
Oh my goodness, John, what a beautifully *crafted* guitar.
well damn, the legend himself has entered the chat.
Mark also played a black Schecter Telecaster in the early 80s. I went to Rudy's in 82 and asked to buy the same black schecter tele as my hero. The salesman said to come back the next day because Mark would probably be there (he hung out there a lot). Sure enough, I came back the next day and he was there. He was incredibly nice (to a 13 year old kid!), and we played together and he gave me some tips. (Yes, he showed me how to properly do the final lick on sultans of swing!) He handed me the same Schecter black Tele model that he played and I bought it that day. Still my go-to guitar. Plays like butter.
what a cool story !
Wow what a great story! Thats my dream, unfortunately im born in the wrong era, and wrong country :(. But at least I have the chance to listen to his and their amazing music
That guitar really bangs "Solid Rock" on _Alchemy._
Knopfler is simply unparalleled. There's nobody like him, he can play two random notes and you know it's him.
Thanks for having me! I'm late but I'm going to get the coffee now!!
Hell of a player. Mark is hardly ever mentioned as an inspirational guitar player, but I’m floored by his style.
Great job Hypes!
Hey Rick, please interview Mark!
@@clownhands ...and Hendrix
boomer bends
@@clownhands Agreed!!
Hey Rick - have we not gotten a ‘What Makes This Song Great: Dire Straits’ video due to copyright issues? Seems like the only logical explanation at this point!
Perfectly clean shaven video to complement Mark’s perfectly clean tones.
Well done (as usual) Keith!!
Less wind resistance 😉
He even lost the soul patch!
I didn’t even notice, good spotting.
How to get the most face with the leastleast gear.
If he were to start shaving channel, he would use a straight razor and it would be called Five Strop World.
Okay, bye! 🥸
Yes! Finally, a video on Mark Knopfler on one of the big music channels. They usually either skip Mark completely or talk about the boring usual stuff. This, however, is another story. Accurate and interesting even for die-hards, though not without little flukes. It's ridiculous how everybody seems to love MK but rarely talks about how great of a songwriter and guitar player he is. I often think why he's so catastrophically underrated.
I think there are (at least) two things at play here: firstly, the fact that Dire Straits ultimately became too popular to be thought of as cool, and suffered a little from 'dad rock' and 'corporate rock' labels; secondly, the fact that MK's solo work has not had such broad appeal.
I have to say, though, that Dire Straits came online the year I went to university and, when I took my son to his first day at university almost 30 years later, Sultans of Swing was still coming out of the windows of the student residence.
I wish this channel used you for some demos. You are the most qualified player I know to show the Knopfler style. I hope all is safe and well in Turkey.
I’ll look at his channel. Thanks!
@@fivewattworld You definitely should! Pavel is the man when it comes to the intricacies of Knopfler's playing.
Also: thanks a lot for this very detailed video on my favourite musician's guitars, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
@@mijorchard6206I feel sorry for people who haven’t experienced his solo work; I really do. It is unparalleled, just the most beautiful, haunting music, rich with history and interesting characters. I have a Spotify playlist just for Knopfler/Straits. The songwriting, guitar work, singing, everything about his albums is dear to my heart.
Up to now I believe the guitar in "Brothers in arms" to be one of the most haunting pieces of music I've ever heard! Great work!
Listen to the soundtrack to the movie, 'Local Hero' if you haven't done so already. It'll blow your socks off.
@@tadpoleinnit2643 , that's a good movie too.
It sounds like Pink Floyd may have written it for Dire Straits. I know that is not the case but the influence cannot be denied.
The volume swell notes are pretty haunting, like when he imitated a ship fog horn on Waterline on the first album.
Strats were made for volume swell lines, but I reckon he's used a volume pedal at times as well.
@@tadpoleinnit2643 Absolutely! And, the film is great too!
Knopfler is guitar royalty. So humble and down to earth and when he talks about his guitars you can see his passion oozing out of him. Dire straits is one of the soundtracks to my teens and I'll never forget their performance at live aid!
Mark Knopfler is the reason I fell in love with guitar so long ago. It was the Making Movies album that got me.
Watch out for scams, mate.
Mark Knopfler is such a phenomenal guitarist & story teller! Great video!
Wonderful job Keith, Knopfler is my favorite player, for me he is the Tone Master. Incredible sound.
Complete shock, Street scene in Newcastle, that’s my old car, 1965 Vauxhall Victor 101, 1970 it was sold to my dad seven years later given me. It’s not a guitar but it’s important to me thank you. Hank Marvin and Mark Knopfler All grew up in the same area the generation of part there must’ve been something in the water
Mark is exceptional. The reason for this his exceptional natural ability and the fact that he plays from the heart.
Mark is beyond underrated. He's a guitarists, guitarist. Great video, well done as always.
What does beyond underrated mean? Unheard of?
@@DaveTaste I was wondering that too🤣🤣
Obviously it means "super overrated"!!....what's the problem with how he put it??
Somewhere around 1987 or so, Dire Straits came to town, and I made a point of going to the venue during the afternoon, and giving a pickup to Mark Knopfler. It was an Epiphone New Yorker pickup I had foolishly taken from my late '50s Epi Windsor; replaced with a pair of humbuckers I had wound. The New Yorker pickups can look, to the untrained eye, like a minihumbucker. But much like the old "gold foil" pickups, they are single-coil underneath the cover, and have a row of adjustable screws near the outer edge, to compensate for string volume, albeit poorly. Unlike gold foils, they are actually gold-plated, and have a real ivory mounting surround - a relic from the days before we cared about conservation.
Some years later - maybe a dozen - I exchanged e-mails with John Suhr, recounted the pickup, and since he was essentially Mark's builder, inquired if he had ever installed it for Mark on anything, or even seen it, for that matter. He replied that he hadn't. I hope Knopfler realized what I had given him, and it didn't end up in a trash heap somewhere. Those things are irreplaceable.
Above all Mark is the sound of a Stratocaster for me. I’ve been hooked since the first album in ‘78 as a sixteen year old. I’m turning sixty this month and treated myself to my first CS. 60’s Fiesta Red of course. Thanks again for another great one Keith.
This is truly one of the best ever five watt world episodes (which is really saying something), and the playing by John Cordy and Duke Levine is out of this world.
Keith, you are a Master Historian- once again I am taken backwards in time travel through my life by a
“short history “ episode of
Five Watt World.
Thank you!
So nice of your brother to step in to host this episode for you, Keith. Hope you're not ill or anything. Gee, you guys could be twins!
This one is awesome and can only be followed up by a Stevie Ray Vaughan episode. 😁
Been waiting for that episode!
RIGHT?!?!? I mean no offense to the other fine players that have been showcased on these wonderful little episodes, but man o' man I sure would LOVE to see an SRV episode on here. One for his Guitars, and then one for his Amps. I'd watch that several times over. Please Keith!!!!!! Get on it Dude!!!!!
YES RONNIE
YES I NEED THIS
The amount of research you have done Sir for this video is really commendable ... Mind blown ...
You're one of very few youtubers I watch without browsing other sites. You always have my full attention.
Yet another great video, Keith. I live about 3 miles from Blyth where Mark grew up and instantly recognised the photo of the Evening Chronicle newspaper offices in Newcastle. Excellent research mate! Keep up the great work 👍🏼
I felt the same way the first time I heard Mark's guitar work. He had a style all his own and it was game changing.
A true guitar hero.
The first Dire Straits album is a desert island disk for me and IMO one of the greatest albums ever. A perfect album from start to finish.
Way to go brother ! My fave guitarist of all time. Just love this channel, but for a KNOPFLER junkie like me, this was the absolute top of the pyramid. Many 🙏🏻 thnx
You should make a Frusciante episode, I would love that. Also a Tom Delonge would be nice
A majority of the guitars covered here are being auctioned off by Christie’s. A lot of Dire Straits guitars that he used have been donated. I’d like to see who ends up receiving these infamous guitars.🤔
i always love it when steve albini teaches me the history of guitars
Just a spot-on episode, Keith (as always!). Diverging just a little, I look forward to a day where traditional music industry folks realize that programs like yours are actually beneficial to the artist, and that you can then feature the artist's original music without being de-monetized. That day will come! I believe! 🙂 Cheers, mate -
I went through three cassettes of "Dire Straits Live," which could be heard for yards and yards, blasting out of my T-Topped Turbo Trans Am. To this day, out of nowhere, the intro to "Romeo And Juliet" will suddenly pop into my head and I just stop and bask in it. And yes, between Richard Thomps, David Byrne, Adrian Belew, Mark Knopfler, that's why I had only one guitar for twent years, a 1983 62RI from the Fullerton factory.
Great vid, Keith!
A very interesting day in school bud. The amount of work that goes into these videos is very impressive and that's no bare face lie. 👍🥃Respect to you mate.
That first album! It started me on my guitar journey of now 35 years. That sound and groove.
Well done .
Loved this video Mr Clean-shaven Keith. As a young metalhead guitarist in the 80's, I used to cop a bit of flack from mates for liking Dire Straits. But Knopfler has a certain magic with his tone, technique and phrasing. Not to mention his laid back vocal style too.
Keith has transitioned from the Magnum P.I. phase to the Blue Blood phase. ;)
Blue blood? I don't understand the reference.
@@fivewattworld Tom Selleck shaved his mustache off for his return to series TV in the show Blue Bloods in 2010. BTW - my smoking hot Slovak wife thinks you look much better without it. All the best from currently on the Jersey Shore but soon returning to Slovakia.
Good news on all fronts! Thanks. Jersey shore huh? You're nearly "around the corner." :)
@@SeanAllocca did your wife’s boyfriend let you call her hot today??
@@fivewattworld , so, If you live in New Jersey or thereabouts, why haven't you done an interview or at least some kind of feature about Richard Thompson? He's been living in New Jersey for about 3 years now.
A-A-A-A-Again, (AWESOME!!!) Love all your videos l watch them many times over. So much info, we keep coming back. The guitar nerds and gear heads are not going away.
Great job !! Mark Knopfler has been my favorite guitarist for at least a gajillion years.
Not sure how I missed this one Keith but catching up now! Thanks brother
Perfect timing for me! I’ve just finished reading John Illsley’s book and it’s reminded me of my love for Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler! Thanks Keith!
For those that don't know, brewer's droop is an English expression for when overconsumption of beer makes lovemaking impossible, droop meaning limp.
These amazing Brit colloquialisms are the reason I go on the internet. Thanks for sharing.
That’s the worst! 😄
I thought it was a slang term for "bromine" which was dispensed (without their knowledge)to soldiers in WWI, to inhibit erections and thus preventing them from acquiring a venerial disease.
@@castleanthrax1833 In the Dire Straits song "Industrial Disease" some of the lyrics are "brewers droop from drinking beer". Didn't know about the whole bromine thing for soldiers. Geez.
Yes!!! I'm already here waiting!
I had previously suggested that Jeff Beck could be an interesting episode to add to this series, but recently I've been thinking about Adrian Belew. He definitely has a history of quirky and interesting guitars.
I don’t think I’ve seen him with anything other than a strat early on and then a Parker fly?
Yesss do Jeff Beck! His main guitar has a unique history, alongside the fact that his signature guitar isn’t at all like the guitars he actually plays.
@@jaltsch1 he has a nice variety of guitars, old cheap guitars like Teiscos, some weird 3-pickup Mustangs, the Strats, his Parker guitars, a lot of ground to cover there.
Another fantastic historical gear episode! Always liked Mark Knopfler’s playing, but this gave me an even greater appreciation of him, his work and fantastic tone cultivation. BTW, I like the new look!
The T style Schecter is under a snooker table in a village in Leicestershire.... still with the last strings MK play on it.
Is it like Excalibur? The snooker table will only lift and release the Schecter when The Once & Future King of Boomer Music comes to claim it?
@@tadpoleinnit2643 yes, “along with a sad sod bearing the nickname Tadpole, writing vacuous comments in RUclips”, goes the prophecy
@@tadpoleinnit2643 Actually the snooker table is out of the Crucible, tournament play by some big names and much hallowed. The 'sword of Knopfler' it there to protect the table from the evil trolls of Uintoob.... as goes the prophecy??
Very , very good, Keith. We’ve all followed many musicians journeys with their tools of our trade but Knopfler’s is full of depth,desire, patience, virtuosity and yrs. of the hard work of a master.It’s no great wonder that u picked the right man. Excellent , Rocky
My main influences for years have been Hendrix, Frusciante and Gilmore. Lately I've been finding myself very intrigued by Mark Knopflers playing and just his all around style. Thank you again for making this excellent video, I really appreciate it.
GREAT video Keith! MK is just one of those guys I dont really think about much until I hear him playing or one of his recordings...then I get lost in it for hours. I remember fondly my dear departed cousin was a big Mark Knopfler fan. He even used some of his material from his album with EmmyLou Harris in his wedding. I remember he and his new bride walking together off the platform to "This is Us". I'll never forget it. Perfect fit!
Great job on this. Mark has been my guitar hero ever since my mum and dad bought the VHS of the Alchemy concert when I was six. I’d stand in from of the TV every Saturday and air guitar along to it.
I’ve been fortunate to see him live twenty odd times in the last twenty years.
His Les Paul tone, in his solo project world seems like the great untapped piece of guitar knowledge so many people don’t know about. It’s a true monster sound, especially on the ‘58 which his tech thinks is the hottest pickup he’s ever played on any Gibson.
The Danelectro has been used live for the last ten years on Corned Beef City which is the standard second song on the set.
A great record to look up in addition to his whole solo output is “Real Live Roadrunning” which was a concert from the short tour he did with Emmylou Harris.
Thank you for doing this Keith. FYI: Mark had switched from Reinhardt to Komet amps for his Trainwreck style amps when Reinhardt stopped producing them. He still sounds great with Kempers.
when I was a teenager I was at a friend's house and couldn't sleep. I found Dire Straits greatest hits and listened to it literally all night and until the sun came up. It changed my life. I consider Gilmour and Knopfler the greatest guitar players of all time.
Growing up on the 80s music, the clean Mark Knopffler notes were in a class of their own(and still is!). He could play 2, maybe 3 notes, and our ears would cock up!
30 years since the Dire Straits disbanded, and our man is still out there making and sharing his music...!🙏🏼
Just got home from hearing EC in Columbus… Keith I love your channel. I hope people start being kinder to you about the fresh, smooth look!
When my friends and I first heard Sultans of Swing on the radio we thought Bob Dylan had put out a great new tune with this amazing guitar player. It wasn’t Dylan but it was a unique/killer guitar player so I guess we got it half right. Great video Keith!
Still listening to the first Dire Straights album. Loved his work of that era with his brother. The fact that a clean tone Strat album came out at the time is still amazing.
It was such a breath of fresh air and a revelation. I think people have forgotten how original it sounded at the time.
My older brother, also a college freshman in '78, brought DS's debut album home with him on Christmas break. I was 14 and have been hooked ever since.
Wow! This video was a real treat. Very well done! I've always been fascinated by Knopfler. Along with John McLaughlin, he's one of the first genuine guitar masters I became familiar with as a child due to my father playing the first Dire Straits album nonstop when I was five in 1978. That solo at the end of Sultans of Swing just impressed the hell out of us. My father also plays guitar. Over the years I realized that no matter what guitar Knopfler plays, he always sounds like himself. But it's wonderful to hear him play all these different axes because it brings out something from his playing that's very special, be it the red strat in the early days, to the Pensas, to the Les Pauls and Steinbergers, he always sounds fantastic. I can understand why he's using a Kemper. These things just sound great and they are much easier to operate than a wall of tube amps that can act up and be hard to dial in. A Kemper, and similar modeling/profiling systems deliver the goods time and time again. if Knopfler plays a Gig in Paris one day and then a gig in Rome the next, the Kemper is always going to hit the bull's eye for consistency. Knopfler never struck me as a Luddite, as he was often an early adopter of new technologies, from Steinbergers, EMGs, locking trems, Mesa Boogies, Soldanos, etc. The Kemper is a good thing for Knopfler.
I am a massive fan of Mark's playing and tone. Amazing player. I love this channel.
Lovely stuff, Keith and team. Thanks for consistently showing up.
I sold Mark two guitars years back... A 2003 Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul '57 Reissue in Brazilian Blue with a Brazilian Board and a Stinger Headstock and a Mint 1965 Gibson Dove in Cherry Finish which he played on tour with Emmylou Harris... The Brazilian Blur '57 Reissue can be seen in his photo session to promote the album Privateering... I have also done business with Rudy Pensa over the years... He used to refer to me as The Other Rudy when I was actively dealing vintage guitars and amps...Thanks for posting this video
I’ve had one of the Knopfler sig Strats, and I had a Suhr that was basically the Knopfler version but a hard tail. Both were awesome and I should’ve kept them.
Huzzah! A new Short History! I loveLoveLOVE Knopfler's work, especially the first three Dire Straits records. There's such a languid, lyrical vibe to his playing. It draws me in every time I hear it.
Thank you Keith!! I’m not a player but just an avid fan of great music and musicians. Knopfler is my number one guy. Like you, I can still remember hearing the D.S. Debut album for the first time as a junior in high school. I have followed Mark intently ever since. Living in the Midwest I have only seen him live 6 times. Once during Brothers in arms and the rest during his solo career. The only time he came to town (Grand Rapids) was as an opener for Dylan. It was magic from the fourth row. I have all his solo stuff and marvel at the growth of his writing over the years. That combined with his unique guitar work makes him special indeed. Thanks again……cheers!
Instantly recognized tone and style.
I just got back from my first trip to NYC, and desperately wanted to go into Rudy’s Guitars. Unfortunately, time did not allow.
Next time!🎸
I’m so happy to see this post! I’m just beginning to watch. It’s like getting a surprise Vintage Guitar mag in my mail box!
Peace
Rudy built me my beautiful MK1. It’s simply the best guitar in the world. Rudy told me Mark received his just before he went on stage at the Nelson Mandela concert. Literally went on rage in front of a billion people and played a guitar he’s never played before. Awesome 😎
I had the pleasure of meeting David Knophler at one of the annual Blues/Roots Festivals I operated in Canada from 2001-2012. Despite me mistaking his road manager for him, David was gracious enough to answer all my pestering questions, many about his brother - lol. David had a smoking touring band at the time!
Peace
Thank you so much for this vid! My first MK experience was a concert in Dortmund, Germany back in 1991 (on every street tour). At that time Mark was mainly playing a Pensa at it blew me away. Too bad the Straits disbanded a few years later, while I was desperately hoping for a reunion.
My favourite guitarist on this great channel, a great morning starter!
Thank you Keith for this peak into Mark Knopfler's NUMEROUS guitars. I am surprised at his many eclectic choices. I am glad he eventually got his Strat! The playing by John Cordy and Duke Levine was a pleasure. Thanks.
Great Video! Knopfler taught me the value of the volume knob / pedal. Kottke taught me about finger style.
Another pleasurable coffee on a Saturday morning watching your Magic Keith!!!!
Thanks Keith! The short histories continue to provide great information and are immensely entertaining. Well done, as always.
Whether through an amp, a Kemper, or tin cans on a string, nobody does subtlety and nuance like MK. A hero of mine since the very first notes of the first DS album.
Awesome! ‘77 started my college journey and my teac tape player (still have it) followed me.
Great video Keith. I have only seen Knopfler perform in Dire Straits at the Birmingham (UK) NEC, Brothers in Arms Tour and Knebworth festival 1990. For the first, I was right at the front with my buddies from school and I was mesmerized by his playing. Another guitarist with tone for days! I do often listen to early Dire Straits. I must check out his solo work. Thanks again.
Thank you . Top notch as always. Recommend Guitar stories Mark Knopfler with John Ilsley a killer documentary of Marks career as a good vid to go with this.
Thank you Keith, Mark has inspired me to play since I was small.
13:17, the '53 Super 400 looks to have a pair of AlNiCo V Staple Pickups.
The AlNiCo V Staple pickup is my most favorite pickup due to its tonal versatility through its ability to raise or lower the magnetic pole pieces.
You could almost do an entire episode on just this pickup!
Great video, thank you Keith.
Yes, not P 90s .
Should have read your post first. Totally agree
FYI There is a SPAM/SCAM replying to my comment.
I've reported it.
Well done! Great production, great script, I am a long time (+30 yrs) MK fan and I have learned more from this video. The Pensa Suhr MK1 is likely the guitar I have most dreamed about in my life, but please have in mind someone like Mark who has a unique guitar voice, will always sound like himself regardless what guitar he plays!
My man. You are doing incredible work on this channel. Thank you!!!
I'll never forget seeing Mark Knopfler on stage as EC's sideman at the Tacoma Dome during Clapton's 1988 tour. Both were wearing suits, playing Strats, and using Soldano heads on top of Marshall cabinets. Encore included Money For Nothin' and Sunshine Of Your Love. Great show! Thanks for another great video!
Yes. Saw them up close in New Orleans on the same tour. Magic
Turns out I knew next to nothing about one of my favourite guitar players guitars! Great video. Best way to enjoy my late morning coffee.
Another great video, thanks Keith, Mark Knopfler is one of my favourite guitarists. I've seen him play live 6 times, 4 of those occasions were back in his Dire Straits days.
I’ve loved that Pensa-Suhr for a long time, and so I know it’s an EMG 85 in the bridge, not the 81. Great video though - I’ve been a Dire Straits fan since my early teens so enjoyed watching this. And I finally have my own custom Suhr coming next year which will be similar (but not the same as…) Mark’s Pensa-Suhr :-)
The Pensa-Suhr was always my favorite 👍
One minute and thirty-nine seconds in and already old ADD Boy is focused like a laser on your content with gleeful anticipation. Go get 'em Keith!
Nicely done !! I remember hearing Sultans Of Swing for the first time and loving it.
I had a '75 MN, HT SB Strat at the time and a nice little Magnatone amp. Though i usually ran a red script Big Muff, I also loved it clean.
To hear an entire tune done like that was pretty unique for the time. I loved it.
Keith, you read my mind. Thanks for the high-caliber and informative videos in this series; it's great to see the history not only of the instruments but of the musicians themselves, looking forward to the next!
The 'Brothers In Arms' album is my favorite with 'One World' being one of my favorite deep cuts; here's to another greatly informative video... thanks much!
The guitar on "Ride Across the River" is just wild.
Keith never mentioned that he had a younger brother also named Keith. Great Short History video of Mark Knopfler's guitars. Thank you, younger brother of Keith! 👍
Great video Keith. Even though MK has all the very best custom made guitars by the best and most exclusive guys in the business, he can always get a great sound just from his playing style.
Hey Kieth, great vid. One small correction.Knoflers Super 400 had “staple” pickups that cosmetically look a bit like P 90s but are actually quite a bit different in construction in that the pole pieces are the magnets and they sound just a bit different than P90s.
With a smile and all the right vibes, your work has just the right tone as well! It's 83 degrees in Minnetonka MN an I need a 5 Watt Hoodie... YaY!
Funnily enough Brendon from The Nottinghill Billies turned up at a jam session in Leeds yesterday and brought a guitar Steve Phillips made for me to see.
A beautiful brown wood and gold metal resonator.
Incredible guitar.
We got pics of it on our social media. 🎯
MK is the man! My most favourite of all time! learned some things i didnt know here regarding which guitars were used on what records, great video and well researched!
Yesss thanks for this episode Keith!
Wow, just a great video! I have every album you mentioned and a few others of Mark's solo efforts. You confirmed for me the use a nylon string guitar on the Love Over Gold record, which a buddy of mine told me I was wrong about! Now do his amps!!!
Very Cool Episode, Thankyou. Seeing him in 1985 is a pleasant lasting memory. Cheers