I Played Mark Knopfler's Iconic Guitars 

*MY TOUR DATES* bit.ly/MarySpenderTour 🎸Learn Fingerstyle Guitar bit.ly/3vfo7mz

I optimistically bid £3,500 on the Ovation 12 string. Went for £95,000

Knopfler's solo at the end of "Tunnel of Love" is the most sublime guitar tone I've ever heard.

You feel alright when you hear the music swing

Mark Knopfler was the reason I started playing guitar at the age of 12. The solos in "Telegraph Road", "Tunnel of love", "Brothers in arms" and "Are we in trouble now", etc. are out of this world.

What a respectful, accurate and pleasing video of Mark Knoppfler's guitars, thank you Mary!

Mark is one of the few guitarists who can bring me to tears with the sounds he creates. Extraordinary!

Definitely the best video I’ve seen regarding MK’s collection, I went along to Christie’s 2 days before the auction, it was a pilgrimage, doubt we’ll see any of these again, anyway, I was upstairs checking out the Hofner V2, I turned around and Mark was behind me with a small group of people, unbelievable, I tried to text my wife but my hand was shaking! I will never forget that day.❤

Mary I still watch your cover of “Sultans” on Frog Leap! Just saying👍

WOW. The word in my head is "Rockumentary." This has a history professor's precision, a professional musician's enthusiasm, and a squeeing fangirl just below the surface peeking out from time to time, not enough to distract from the piece but to _add_ to it. Bl---y BRILLIANT. (And the fingerstyle bumper music is once again unmistakeable... definitely some Knopfler influence, but also ALL YOURS...) Thank you for sharing the opportunity of a lifetime. I work in the greasy underbelly of this biz, and when I post this at work it's gonna cause a stir...

Well done for not playing the Sultans of Swing riff on the Strat - I don't think I'd have been able to resist doing that!

As I'm waiting for the mail man to deliver Mark's latest LP vinyl this just made my day... I been a big fan from age 16 in France , now 54 I just finally got all the major Dire Straits records and It's still my favorite band of all times .

"I painted a picture with Picassos paintbrush"...

Mary, this is an extremely well put together piece, beautifully filmed, expertly edited and as always professionally presented.

I can’t think of anyone better to show these guitars. So unpretentious. Magnificent!

“The soundtrack of my life” Same, wholeheartedly. I can’t remember a time I wasn’t hearing Mark Knopfler’s music. My dad was a huge fan and growing up it was Dire Straits and Knopfler’s movie soundtracks on all the time, a tradition I’ve continued. Such gorgeous, moving, dramatic music. I’m not a musician but I thoroughly enjoyed this video. What a privilege to play those guitars! It’s great to see his music appreciated and acknowledged.

One of my favorite videos to date. For me, the guitar on Brothers in Arms is sublime. It's just amazing how we as humans can write and perform at that level.

Clearly it is all in the hands, head and heart. Guitars are just tools. But in a great musician's hands they can become incredible windows into a soul.

This was a dazzling tour of a great collection. And your playing was entrancing!

Note how bright and clear the '59 LP is. Lovely playing as always, Mary.

You are the perfect person to do this. In some ways, your aproaches to the instrument seem similar, with both of you ending up with a very personal fingerstyle kind of playing. Your presentation was spotless as always, albeit with a strong fangirl glint in the eye that made this vid even more entertaining. I was born in 1965. For me personally, "the" Mark Knopfler guitar will always be the silvery National Resonator that he used on Romeo and Juliet.

So jealous. Mark has been my immediate answer for favorite guitarist since I first heard "Brothers in Arms" when I was 15 in 1986. My Mexican made Fender Strat is the same red because of Mark. Was there some condition that you were not allowed to play any of his music on his guitar? I would have played at least the intros to "Smooching," "Romeo and Juliet" and "Sultans of Swing" if I was holding one of the master's instruments.

Rudy Pensa clearly played a large part in Mark's guitar history. As you probably know, Rudy's still own's 2 guitar shops in New York; one in downtown NYC and the other in Westchester. Next time your travels bring you to the NY area you should make it a point to visit Rudy at his store. He has some beautiful new and vintage instruments and loves to talk guitar (and it would make a great video).

Mary, we have been living vicariously through your musical journey for sometime now, because you are so relatable. (Except of course, for your exceptional talent. )Another great installment. Thanks.

Outstanding video Mary. Showing off the guitars and your talents was a stroke of genius.

What a fantastic and captivating watch, thank you! I will forever be envious of playing those beauties.

In think about this video, I don't think there is a better more honoring musician to have been given an opportunity to play these renowned instruments. Congrats Mary, you earned it.

Brilliant video. You gave the instruments their own voice with your playing rather than trying to emulate Mark’s music. I think this helped demonstrate the differences between them rather than being distracted with “ooh it’s THAT MK song.” This is possibly the best video I have seen reviewing ‘significant’ instruments belonging to artists. Marvellous, and thank you.

Great to see this finally up on RU-vid- great production values very well written. So awesome you could share this experience with us.

The tone of that Strat! 😍

Amazing, these guitars have provided me with fantastic sounds over the years, so lucky you got to play them!

Not gonna lie Mary, the main reason I subscribed to you is to watch your guitar and gear reviews. Nobody does it like, you. So much appreciation for the entire art of playing guitar. I love it and I find it weirdly relaxing.

Wow! What a brilliant Video! Thank you @MarySpender. He (and you) are my heroes x

Nice to hear Mary the lovely clean sounds from the guitars

Congratulations Mary on getting to play such iconic instruments, and thank you for taking us along on your journey.

What lovely playing, Mary. You certainly did justice to those iconic guitars.

How incredibly cool that you got to play those guitars! Thanks for the most interesting descriptions also. Joy!

Beautiful playing, Mary! You did them all justice!

Yet another excellent video !! Your playing showcases what is really great in each guitar.

My Dad was a major fan and used to put Dire Straits on almost every week when we used to drive out to my grandparents place on Sundays. I miss those times, they were simpler.

This is fascinating. Wish I had gone to see these guitars.

Wonderful video! So cool that you got to play these iconic instruments!

Mary you are the best. Your chill intelligence is truly therapeutic! Thanks for this!

Thank you for taking us on the journey that was an amazing experience and your playing sounded great.

“The Soundtrack to my life”. I like that. I could say the same. Thank you Mr Knopfler

whatever you played on the '59 LP.... was beautiful . Loved it.

Amazing video Mary! Thanks for bringing this to us!

Wow, what a treat. This must have been a very special time for you, it is a joy to watch you play. This is truly what you were born to do. Awesome job, thanks so much for sharing this time with us.

So special to have video of your experience !

Mary - your playing is beautiful!

Loved this, thank you so much, Mary!

Thanks for a lovely video showcasing these guitars.

Thankyou Mary for all of the insight and a trip down memory lane. So happy you managed to sit down and be able to touch history and meld with the same instruments used by one of music history's greatest! An amazing review. Keep up the great work... I follow all tour posts! 👋👋👋❤

Mary, you keep getting better. This was inspiring.

I am a long time Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler fan. That said, I've never heard you play before this video. I think that if anyone would have the chance to play Knopfler's guitars, I'm glad it was you. You certainly do his style justice.

Mary, what a terrific video! I love the history, stories, and beautiful music. Two thumbs up for sure.

Fantastic vid Mary. A big thanks!! MK and JI remain favourites above all others!! Awesome job.

So many amazing guitars. 🎸 You sounded so good playing them too.

Thanks for sharing Mary.

Mark will always be my favorite 6 string Hero. I’ve seen him live in concert so many times, & going back to a time when Dire Straits first ‘hit the scene’. He’s always captivated me with his guitar presence & expression. Often as if he were just a mere observer of what he was singing about. All part of his personality that was formed in his younger adult years as a news reporter. In any case, all a perfect balance with his authentic vocal story telling. Always with a casual & subtle, yet wholesomely reserved lyrical emotion. I always found that he was a master at letting the guitar express his underlying emotional currents. One of my favorite shows was when I lived in Bucks county PA & he made the Sailing To Philadelphia tour at Tower Theater Philadelphia. How appropriate... 😉 The Last time I saw him was in Montreal in 2019 & he was still the capable & consummate 6 string gunslinger. I saw him numerous times in between & was always amazed. I somehow almost always managed to get amazing seats up close within the first 10 - 20 rows. I almost think that he may have recognized seeing me at numerous concerts over the years & often make eye contact while I cheer him & his band mates on. Regardless of the seating it was always an incredible show, even after only being able to get ‘nosebleed’ seats at the Onondaga War Memorial Arena in Syracuse, & after just returning home from a semester abroad in Europe. Cheers to MK & congrats on being able to feel some of that history in your own hands. Truly magical isn’t it 😉

I've been Mark's fan since 1997 ever since I bought the On The Night live album. The Pensa-Suhr guitar was featured on the album sleeve photos. You're truly fortunate to hold and play Mark's guitar, Mary. I can only dream. To hold a piece of music history, it's exhilarating.

I’ll be forever in love with the Schecter Dream Machines (both the candy apple red and the sunburst) he played, among many other places, in the Alcheny concerts. Great video and channel! 😊

Watching play those guitars was a real joy. Superb

Great video Mary thanks for the info.

A common theme among the Greats, is that they did “ everything wrong” !!!!!!!

I absolutely love everything about this video!

Thanks for sharing your experience, Mary!

Wow, thanks for cataloguing this experience.

Mary - thank you for making this. It genuinely brought me to tears. Ever since the day I first heard his music, Mark has been - and continues to be - my absolute favorite guitarist of all time. By a long shot. And easily one of my most cherished songwriters. I listened to "Brothers In Arms" again the other day after a long hiatus from that song, and it still *utterly* disarmed me. Just like every other time. That song is not beautiful. It is beauty embodied. As a fellow and forever Knopfler nerd...I salute you. Cheers 💜😌

Beautiful playing

Your songs sound great on those guitars. Thanks for sharing this experience.

Incredible guitar players should be playing incredible guitars 🥰

It's great to see you having so much fun....

Wow what a review! Thank you Mary

Thanks for sharing this intimate personal encounter with the MK guitars in both Christie's locations. I can tell how moved you were with the experience of playing those iconic instruments that had been in MK's hands so many times. Beautiful mood to your test playing of the individual guitars, too.

Wow. That must have been an amazing experience.

Mark Knopfler is my most favourite guitar player of all time. The way he can make a guitar sing is what inspired me to start learning the guitar myself.

I went to see the guitars in London. It was so great. I was in there for about 3 hours. Pure butterflies in my stomach the whole time.

Mary..the 1983 Gibson Les Paul Standard Reissue Serial #006 you played. This is in 1983.. I worked on 7th Avenue at my dads Deli near 48th Street. My brother was going to 48th Street almost every day to see what was new at the guitar stores. These first Gibson 59" Reissue Les Pauls went to Manny's. There were 12 of them (0001 thru 0012) I went down there right away and the great sales guy we knew Benny said to me, most are sold going to Japan..there are two left. The one on display and the one still in box. I said I'll take the one in the box. Opened it, looked at it and bought it. It was Serial #0011. The one Mark Knopfler got was one of these first 12 reissue guitars, either the last one at Manny's, or one of the ones I was told were going to Japan. Mark Knopfler was in the neighborhood back then as I served him one evening he had a Tennis Racket on his back and was ordering chicken for his wife. My wife got his autograph.Nice guy. His Fiancé's family had taken care of the Plaza Hotel since before the Beatles first visit to America and her brother used to walk all the way over to order food from us (he was the nicest guy) and I was amazed to ask him about the Beatles visit. Manny's was good to hold back at least two those guitars to sell locally. I ended up selling that guitar through Mandolin Brothers 15-20 years later.

This is the video I’ve been waiting for for DECADES! Amazing to hear the guitars in pure form and your pieces were just sublime. Suffice to say I’m jealous as anything but this was the perfect showcase! Thank you!!!!!

Thanks Mary, great seeing you play my favourite guitar players gear.

Great work Mary!!!

Thank you Mary for the knowledgeable guitar journey, extraordinary gift you have of this beautiful instrument. Classical training has paid off of your beautiful finger picking style.

Such an amazing player Mary. I could listen to you all day.

Excellent ! Thank You Mary !

So well done, thanks for this one

I think and can say with certainty that you made our dreams come true by playing MK's guitars. I told a musician friend last week that my wish as a fan and knowing the sound of most of these guitars is that they are in the right hands, preferably musicians who will make them "cry and sing" for years to come.

Love you Mary ❤ always nearby for us with something special to enjoy 🎉

Brilliant Mary, I could watch you play those guitars all day.

How cool is it that you got to play these guitars. Nice work Mary

Wow! What a day for you! Well done you (and great to hear your work on these instruments. Long Island City - an enduring favourite of mine). 🎉🎉

Love the sound of the Red Strat........an amazing guitar

I had a couple of real emotional moments watching this video, like recognising old freinds in a photograph. Thank you for doing such a classy job of bringing us a glimpse of these magical instruments.

Congratulations Mary. What a great opportunity! You have positioned yourself well as a credible guitar artist in order to get your hands on these, even if just for a short while. Some of us are living vicariously through you.

Thank you for sharing!

The exhibition was great and a nice chance to be in the presence of these great guitars. I think Christie’s did a fantastic job and the sound system used in one of the rooms was just out of this world. Definitely one highlight of this year to have been there. I did touch some of the guitars 🎸

The video essays are always superb, and then this ... a wonderful homage to the man himself (and his guitars)! Brilliant stuff, couldn't stop smiling watching this! 🙂

Thank you so much for this incredible post ❤❤❤

I am absolutely amazed at this important information. Thank you for sharing this wonderful article with us

Thank you Mary. Amazing. So cool you got to play these insanely amazing guitars. I've watched this video about 10 times now but I'm sure that number will increase :)