Mark’s father bought this guitar for him in 1964 for 50£ when Mark was just 15 years old. It was his first guitar, and at that time he couldn’t afford an amplifier so he played it through a family radio instead.
It’s as close as you can get to a real Fender Stratocaster. I absolutely love this thing, even though it wasn’t the real object of desire. […] Just because it nowhere near a Strat, doesn’t alter the fact that you love it.
Mark Knopfler – Gutiar Stories SkyArts1
Mark’s Hofner was made in 1962, and it features a red finish, celluloid strip fretboard inlays, and two type 510 “Diamond Logo” pickups. Even though it’s been more than 50 years since Mark got this guitar, he still owns it and takes special care of it.
My first electric guitar was a Kramer Pacer when I was 12 or 13 in the mid/late 80’s. I didn’t have an amp either and would run it through my father’s stereo that had a tube preamp in it. I remember when he bought the first CD player in the house he ended up replacing the entire stereo with a modern solid state/digital setup. He threw his old stereo out, and I still wish he hadn’t.