Mark Knopfler’s 1920s National Tricone

Mark bought this guitar sometime in the late 60s on Exchange and Mart in Wales. It was his first resonator guitar.

The first National that I got – I saw it in Exchange and Mart, and it was in Wales. I didn’t have any money, I didn’t have a car. So, I borrowed the car, I borrowed the money, and I drove to Wales in a pouring rain and got this guitar from an old orchestral musician.

Mark Knopfler – Guitar Stories

He played this guitar before Dire Straits with Steve Phillips, in The Duolian String Pickers band. At some point, Steve sold him his National Style “O”, and for the most part, Mark moved onto that guitar.