Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler is set to auction more than 120 of his guitars and amplifiers in London next year. British auction house Christie’s announced this today. A quarter of the proceeds will go to the British Red Cross and other charities.

According to Knopfler, the collection symbolizes his sixty-year “love affair” with guitars. However, he says it’s time to get rid of most of them. “We had great times together, but I can’t play them all.”

The former Dire Straits singer and guitarist is selling, among other things, his Gibson Les Paul from 1983. Knopfler used it to record the world-famous album. Brothers in arms From 1985 Op. He also took the stage with the same guitar during the Live Aid concert that same year.

The auction house estimates the Les Paul will fetch between £10,000 and £15,000. This amounts to between 11,000 and 17,000 euros.

In a video on X Today, Knopfler announced that he will be auctioning off his guitars early next year:

Knopfler is also selling his 1959 Les Paul, known among guitarists as the holy grail of electric guitars. Also up for auction is a mandolin once owned by blues musician Yank Rachel.

British rock band Dire Straits were active between 1977 and 1995. Knopfler was particularly famous for, among other things, his guitar solos. The sultan of fun And Telegraph Road.

An auction of more than 120 guitars and amplifiers will be held in London on January 31. The instruments will be shown for the first time in New York and London.