Rolling Stone gets satisfaction

2004-06-04 08:16

Wellington - Nearly 40 years after he lost it, Rolling Stones bass player Bill Wyman has one of his guitars back - thanks to a New Zealand musician.

Wellington music maker and business consultant Nick Sceats sent the bass to millionaire rocker Wyman two months ago after discovering that it belonged to the music legend.

Sceats has now received a thank-you letter from Wyman in which he says that has regained the bass that he thought was lost forever, local media reported on Friday.

"It doesn't look too bad for wear and tear, considering what it has gone through and the travelling it has done over the years," Wyman wrote in the letter, excerpts of which were printed in Wellington's Dominion Post newspaper.

"Once again, thank you. Your kindness was well appreciated," he said.

The rare guitar, called a Wyman bass, was one of a small number made by manufacturer Vox in the 1960s - and the only Vox guitar adorned with an endorser's name - Wyman.

Mystery still surrounds how the rocker lost the guitar in Wellington in 1966 on tour with the Rolling Stones.

Sceats, who had the guitar in his possession for 15 years, said it was known among local musicians as the "legendary Wyman bass".

So he wrote Wyman saying he had a bass guitar which may have belonged to him, and would he like it returned.

Sceats said he was stunned when Wyman wrote back to say it was definitely his and he would love to have it back.

- AP