Among the icons of British music, Dire Straits naturally stand out. Led by the Knopfler brothers, the band established itself as a rock benchmark through albums, hits, and tours, with elder brother Mark at the forefront on electric guitar.

Every guitar in Mark Knopfler’s collection is scrutinized as carefully as his compositions and solos. A passionate experimenter and skilled musician, he discovered exceptional instruments, even modest brands. Known for collaborating with Pensa to design his ideal guitar or his 1983 Gibson Les Paul used on Money for Nothing, Mark Knopfler also owned more surprising instruments. Part of his collection sold at Christie’s revealed remarkable Eko and Teisco guitars, each with unique qualities.

After the January 2024 sale, it seemed the collection had revealed all its secrets—until a twelve-string Baldwin appeared, absent from that exceptional auction due to its remarkable story.

Knopfler had accumulated instruments throughout his career, as a dedicated collector. In a recent Guitar World interview, he admitted still stopping in front of guitar shop windows to admire instruments. This rare Baldwin/Burns Double Six, however, wasn’t an impulsive purchase. Knopfler had “borrowed” it for around fifty years from his friend Jeff Sadler, who bought it in the mid-1970s. The two school friends regularly exchanged and shared gear.

In Knopfler’s hands, the Double Six was used in studio and on stage. It features on Angel of Mercy and Portobello Belle, from Dire Straits’ second album, Communiqué (1979). It also appeared at Wembley Stadium in 1986 for the Prince’s Trust concert. Knopfler also used it for Sailing alongside Rod Stewart and Eric Clapton.

The Double Six was one of several models sold by Burns in the UK and rebranded by Baldwin for the US market. Knopfler kept it until last year. Initially meant for Christie’s auction, he returned it to Sadler upon rediscovering its provenance. This richly documented, exceptional guitar is now available at Matt’s Guitar Shop!