Mark Knopfler’s Pensa MK-2

This is the second version of the MK model produced by Pensa. Mark received the first prototype sometime prior to the recording of the Golden Heart album in 1996. A different guitar followed after this one in the late 90s and was a more finished version of the final product.

This first prototype guitar was produced by Rudy Pensa (John Suhr parted ways with Pensa in 1991, so he was not involved in making this guitar). It featured a mahogany back with a flamed koa top finished in a dark shade of orange, and three single-coil pickups – allegedly custom-made by Lindy Fralin. Mark used the guitar during the Golden Heart tour in 1996 on “Father and Son” and on “Golden Heart”.

The second prototype featured an almost identical design and was finished in 1996. Although it did look almost identical to the first model, it did feature a maple top when compared to the koa on the first one, three Seymour Duncan Antiquity single-coil pickups, and a thicker neck with a bigger fretboard radius.