Mark Knopfler signature Strat

vic

Hi Guys...anyone has this model or played it yet ? Those Texas Special pups that come stock on this model.....what's your opinion on these ?
Would love to hear your views please. Thanks.

AlanRatcliffe

I've only ever seen one and it wasn't anything special. Doesn't really check the boxes for being either authentic to MK's original red Strat or a great guitar regardless. I'd rather get one of the original maple board Eric Johnson sigs.

I'm not a Texas Special fan either, I'd always rather have a set of 57/62s or Fat '50s.

vic

Thanks Alan.
What also bothers me a bit is the 7.25" FB radius.......will approach with caution ?

AlanRatcliffe

That's a biggie tho...

IIRC, it's a 50's ash body (with the deep contouring of the '50s Strats) and a '62 rosewood board neck. Knopfler himself chose the pickups more for what he was doing at the time rather than for nailing his early Strat tones. His early Dire Straits Strat had an alder body too.

Bob-Dubery

IIRC Knopfler's famous early red strat was not a strat but a kit-caster.

domhatch

X-rated Bob wrote: IIRC Knopfler's famous early red strat was not a strat but a kit-caster.

that's what i heard too - not even so much a kitcaster as a sh!tcaster - a real beater. testament to the man's ability, i guess. sigh...

Bob-Dubery

X-rated Bob wrote: IIRC Knopfler's famous early red strat was not a strat but a kit-caster.

Ah pooh! ~~Googling suggests that, in fact, it was a '61 strat. :-[ Apparently he doesn't have it any more - it was auctioned for charity.~~ Hmmmm.... apparently he had a pair of '61 red strats. The main one was "retired" and then auctioned off.

vic

Some sources say the three Texas specials are fairly "harsh-sounding" ......? What made me consider this model is the 50's Ash body for that (hopefully) woody tone...but if the pups are harsh and hot, then it's not for me. Unfortunately the youtube demos are really not helpful :-\

AlanRatcliffe

Knopfler played a guitar built from Schecter parts for a while, but I don't think he recorded much with it. Anyway it was basically a Strat...

Vic wrote: Some sources say the three Texas specials are fairly "harsh-sounding" ......?

In the wrong guitar they can be. They push the mids quite a bit, which kind of counters the mid scoop an ash body gives (the whole point of having an ash body IMO). These days MK seems to reach for a Les Paul when he wants a mid pushed tone (AND AFAIK, you have that side pretty well covered already ?)

Have you tried an EJ? The Gallagher and Mayer Strats are also worth keeping an eye out for...

vic

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Knopfler played a guitar built from Schecter parts for a while, but I don't think he recorded much with it. Anyway it was basically a Strat...

Vic wrote: Some sources say the three Texas specials are fairly "harsh-sounding" ......?
In the wrong guitar they can be. They push the mids quite a bit, which kind of counters the mid scoop an ash body gives (the whole point of having an ash body IMO). These days MK seems to reach for a Les Paul when he wants a mid pushed tone (AND AFAIK, you have that side pretty well covered already ?)

Have you tried an EJ? The Gallagher and Mayer Strats are also worth keeping an eye out for...

No, but I plan to when I go to check the MK out.

Bob-Dubery

Well here's an attempt at cataloging MK's axes
http://www.oneverybootleg.nl/MK_guitars.htm

As per that site MK was using a pair of '61 Strats when the first Dire Straits album was recorded; one of those, the first choice guitar, has since been auctioned off for charity; he still has the second string guitar and that was the basis of the signature model strat.

The thing about Strats is that bits get swapped around, because they can be, so MK's strats might not have been pukka '61 strats as made in the Fender factory in 1961. They are clearly not built to the same spec.

vic

X-rated Bob wrote: Well here's an attempt at cataloging MK's axes
http://www.oneverybootleg.nl/MK_guitars.htm

As per that site MK was using a pair of '61 Strats when the first Dire Straits album was recorded; one of those, the first choice guitar, has since been auctioned off for charity; he still has the second string guitar and that was the basis of the signature model strat.

The thing about Strats is that bits get swapped around, because they can be, so MK's strats might not have been pukka '61 strats as made in the Fender factory in 1961. They are clearly not built to the same spec.

Great info Bob. Thanks ! Gee...there are some brands quite unknown to me ...? ???

vic

Found this reponse on the Gear Page.net ?

Q:Hey guys, I have the opportunity to buy a tasty Mark Knopfler signature strat. What is everyone's opinion on them? Neck shape, playability, tone, things of that nature. Appreciate the help!

Response: "I always try to stay away from being or becoming an idiot fanboy, but when it comes to Mark Knopfler, I lose it. *engages caps lock*

MARK KNOPFLER IS THE GREATEST ANYTHING TO HAPPEN ANYWHERE, EVER! I SWEAR TO GOD, ONE TIME, MY SISTER MAISY WAS SICK AS A DOG I MEAN PUKING BLOOD SICK. SHE WAS SO SICK THAT THE DOCTOR TOOK PURELL BATHS BEFORE AND AFTER ENTERING HER ROOM! MY MOMMA COULDN'T EVEN SPEAK SHE WAS SO SAD AND MY DADDY JUST KEPT TO HIMSELF IN A CORNER, DRINKING THUNDERBIRD SO I DECIDED I WOULD PLAY SOME MUSIC JUST TO COMFORT MY SISTER SO I PUT ON MARK KNOPFLER AND PLAYED HER THE SHANGRI-LA ALBUM ON REPEAT!
AFTER ABOUT 27 STRAIGHT HOURS, THE DOCTOR COMES IN, CHECKS MAISY OUT, AND SAYS THAT HER FEVER IS GONE!!!!!
MY MOMMA JUMPED UP, PRAISED THE GOOD LORD, THEN SHE FAINTED RIGHT ON THE SPOT!
MY DADDY THREW HIS BOTTLE UP IN THE AIR, SHOUTED "SWEET CORN-PONE" AND THEN THREW UP CAUSE OF HOW MUCH HIS HEATHEN SELF HAD BEEN DRINKING.
BUT I KNEW THE TRUTH: T'WASN'T THE LORD NOR THE CORN LIQUOR WHAT CURED MY SISTER.
IT WAS MARK KNOPFLER.
*dis-engages caps lock, wipes spit from mouth*

So, yeah, I haven't played his signature strat, but I'd probably like it. "

?

shaunf

Vic wrote:
Found this reponse on the Gear Page.net ?

Q:Hey guys, I have the opportunity to buy a tasty Mark Knopfler signature strat. What is everyone's opinion on them? Neck shape, playability, tone, things of that nature. Appreciate the help!

Response: "I always try to stay away from being or becoming an idiot fanboy, but when it comes to Mark Knopfler, I lose it. *engages caps lock*

MARK KNOPFLER IS THE GREATEST ANYTHING TO HAPPEN ANYWHERE, EVER! I SWEAR TO GOD, ONE TIME, MY SISTER MAISY WAS SICK AS A DOG I MEAN PUKING BLOOD SICK. SHE WAS SO SICK THAT THE DOCTOR TOOK PURELL BATHS BEFORE AND AFTER ENTERING HER ROOM! MY MOMMA COULDN'T EVEN SPEAK SHE WAS SO SAD AND MY DADDY JUST KEPT TO HIMSELF IN A CORNER, DRINKING THUNDERBIRD SO I DECIDED I WOULD PLAY SOME MUSIC JUST TO COMFORT MY SISTER SO I PUT ON MARK KNOPFLER AND PLAYED HER THE SHANGRI-LA ALBUM ON REPEAT!
AFTER ABOUT 27 STRAIGHT HOURS, THE DOCTOR COMES IN, CHECKS MAISY OUT, AND SAYS THAT HER FEVER IS GONE!!!!!
MY MOMMA JUMPED UP, PRAISED THE GOOD LORD, THEN SHE FAINTED RIGHT ON THE SPOT!
MY DADDY THREW HIS BOTTLE UP IN THE AIR, SHOUTED "SWEET CORN-PONE" AND THEN THREW UP CAUSE OF HOW MUCH HIS HEATHEN SELF HAD BEEN DRINKING.
BUT I KNEW THE TRUTH: T'WASN'T THE LORD NOR THE CORN LIQUOR WHAT CURED MY SISTER.
IT WAS MARK KNOPFLER.
*dis-engages caps lock, wipes spit from mouth*

So, yeah, I haven't played his signature strat, but I'd probably like it. "

?

LOL! So vivid, I can picture it! ?

chris77

? ? That's the funniest thing I've read in ages ? ?