I've always wanted a red stratocaster since the first Dire Straits Gray whistle test video when I was about 12. Anyone have one? is it worth buying?

If you can spare the funds; go for it!

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Mark ... 1148573.gc

If not, then buy one 'like it' in color, etc...

SL~61`

Hi fenderpaman16, welcome to the Forum.

Be careful about Knopfler's Strats. There was more than one red one and some of 'em turned out not to be real. For example, just the other night I was watching the clip from The Old Grey Whistle Test where the Straits did Tunnel of Love. That was the guitar with what looks like a Candy Apple type red finish - but the neck was visibly not a Fender even though it had a spaghetti logo on it. I don't know when fake decals first came along, but it was clearly a long time ago. I seem to remember reading on this very Forum that Knopfler himself was surprised and dismayed to discover that one of his red Strats was a fake - though it can't have been that one, because it is so obvious to the eye.

Also, there is an interview with his tech from the period where he says a white Strat Knopfler was playing on early '90s tours was also an imitation. He said it was in fact built by John Suhr who put fake Fender decals on it with the full knowledge of MK. Naughty!

On the other hand, he has played some real Fenders too. Whatever: his Signature Strat is a nice one and worth the money if you are up for it.

Cheers - C

His first strat, the fiesta red one with the maple board was a fake. The board of that guitar was laminated on instead of a rosewood board. Later when he met John Suhr, Suhr informed him that the guitar was a fake despite the luthier who did the laminate telling him it was kosher. It was shortly after that he had his spate with Schecter guitars, then the Pensa Suhr's.

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No no and no

The Candy Apple red strats he used to play back in the day are all Schecter strats.

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It's a mix between Jazz and Funk, it's called "Junk"

Hi bluestube: so he had more than one CA red Strat? Interesting. The one I saw on the TV the other night from the early '80s had no dot markers on the fingerboard - which was kind of a giveaway!

A lot of people were using Schecters at that time. In 1980 Pete Townshend switched from the LPs to Tele style guitars. Those had Schecter necks on bodies made by Roger Giffin. Unlike Knopfler he didn't have fake Fender decals on them, though...

Cheers - C

i'm in love with mine...beautiful nitro hot rod red...texas specials...love it to death and plays so smooth and easy

if you click on the picture in my signature you can see a better picture of mine

The 79/80 whistle test guitar that MK played was the fake he bought as a Fender that he had the maple board laminated onto.
It was Suhr who told him it was fake when he visited Ruddy Pensa's little shop. That was when he went to Schecter or more probably Schecter parts bolted together by Suhr in Pensa's basement. Those guitars were very much the forerunner to the Pensa Suhr branded guitars. (I for one love the black tele used on solid rock in the Alchemy vid).

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No no and no