John Deacon's basses

[spectoremg]

The usual apology if I've duplicated an existing thread.
I've been trawling for info about John Deacon's situation lately and I wasn't surprised to find there isn't anything we don't already know; he's retired, he speaks to Roger and Brian occasionally over Queen legacy issues and he chooses to lead amprivate life. Respect to him for that.
I wondered if any of his old basses have ever been up for sale?

[stingrayPete1977]

I still think it would be the Ray that the collectors would want, people who pay silly money for stuff want to impress people that don't much so regarding JD I think the ultimate would be "that's the bass that was used to write and record 'Another One Bites The Dust' on". That would be the song American collectors would most associate John Deacon with, it was used on big US tours and other hits too.

[lowregisterhead]

I've often wondered what he's up to these days. As far as his basses go, I doubt they will ever turn up, as he most certainly wouldn't need the money, and if he doesn't want to attract attention to himself, no doubt he will have had the good sense to simply consign them to his attic. I wish him well.

[spectoremg]

Well said above, I'd like to think that's exactly what he'd do.

[lojo]

What about some of the amps and equipment he built (not sure if it's true or not)?

[Bassman Steve]

Not sure which but one of the stripped basses was refinished in black with gold hardware and continued as his main bass. I am pretty sure I've seen that his Music Man and the slab Precision are at Hard Rock cafes somewhere.

I would love to chat to the guy about basses. He has a spare tort scratchplate knocking around so I'd put in a bid for that. What I'd really like is a play through that awesome Acoustic/Hiwatt/Gauss rig he used in the early days.

[stingrayPete1977]

I wonder if he had more than one Ray? There are clips with him using one with a white plate and a black plate but both tobacco burst so could be the same one. He was one of the first high profile players to use one, I've seen clips from January 77 with him using one.

[EBS_freak]

What do you mean Pete? What about Dek? :-p

[stingrayPete1977]

Holty?

[Bassman Steve]

Just checked, apparently the 'ray is at the Hard Rock Cafe in Cleveland.

[stingrayPete1977]

Calling mcnach!
http://elblogdequeen.com/2012/12/las-cuatro-cuerdas-de-deacon.html

[Bassman Steve]

http://www.deaky.net/bass/indexE.html

Conveniently in English.

[Twincam]

Was watching the BBC queen documentary from a couple of years back that was repeated recently. Which is a good watch!. Not always been a queen fan but they were a great band.

Thought it was a bit odd he just retired but i guess he did have a very good career, not very much he hadn't achieved really and of course lots of other things happened.

[Pukie]

[quote name='Bassman Steve' timestamp='1419280939' post='2638378'] the 'ray is at the Hard Rock Cafe in Cleveland.[/quote]

Close,.......The Rock and roll Hall of Fame Museum, Cleveland.

[spacey]

I wonder if the same people would buy Gordon Ramseys old rolling pin ?
That pie must have been so good because he had a magic rolling pin /

It's an instrument, the talent is the player.

If buying expensive basses made you good I would be the best there is,,,

Edited December 23, 2014 by spacey

[Bassman Steve]

There's a probably a market for GR's rolling pin. I'd buy it if I were allowed to deliver 6 stout blows to the head with it.

[stingrayPete1977]

[quote name='spacey' timestamp='1419345271' post='2638962']
I wonder if the same people would buy Gordon Ramseys old rolling pin ?
That pie must have been so good because he had a magic rolling pin /

It's an instrument, the talent i yer.

If buying expensive basses made you good I would be the best there is,,,
[/quote]
Stingray collectors would want it for being potentially a first year production run stingray, 1976 rays don't come up very often throw in a worldwide hit written and recorded with it and in fairness surely it's THE stingray to own? People lap up anything Adam Clayton puts his squiggle on regardless of how little he uses a similar model for so to own the actual bass makes more sense to me, as for playing and the tone of it it's unlikely any of these basses get played ever again

[stingrayPete1977]

Oh and celebrity chef endorsed rolling pins have been purchased for many years!

[Cosmo Valdemar]

I'm surprised the Stingray seems to be thought of as his iconic instrument, he didn't use it that much.

[jezzaboy]

The natural P bass he used in The Miracle video shoot was a 61 which belonged to Phil Harris of Harris Hire.

Apparently the natural one used in the 70`s had been smashed, so they stripped the red finish from one of his hire basses and this is used in the video. It is the most popular hire bass he owns and to quote Phil "It is simply an astounding bass. Hit the low E and it vibrates like a rampant rabbit!"

[stingrayPete1977]

More than some bands would in a whole career though, they just happened to have a good long career! Plus he used it on all their best tunes.

[4000]

P for me....on all their best tunes. ;-)

[Owen]

I have a flight case reputedley used/owned by him. Obv there is no way of confirming this and I only use it to challange couriers.

[Bassman Steve]

[quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1419363998' post='2639234'] The natural P bass he used in The Miracle video shoot was a 61 which belonged to Phil Harris of Harris Hire. Apparently the natural one used in the 70`s had been smashed, so they stripped the red finish from one of his hire basses and this is used in the video. It is the most popular hire bass he owns and to quote Phil "It is simply an astounding bass. Hit the low E and it vibrates like a rampant rabbit!" [/quote]

Seemingly now on sale at £8000 on his website (as is everything else).

[stingrayPete1977]

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1419362528' post='2639196']
I'm surprised the Stingray seems to be thought of as his iconic instrument, he didn't use it that much.
[/quote]

This is apparently 1976 (confirming his Ray to be worth a few quid regardless of who owned it)
[url="http://youtu.be/dQ9J8zgFMhU"]http://youtu.be/dQ9J8zgFMhU[/url]

Here he is in 1981 Great version and Freddie's shorts well what can you say, Lol
[url="http://youtu.be/9E-WasNzVpI"]http://youtu.be/9E-WasNzVpI[/url]

1985
[url="http://youtu.be/sXRsjTuBxMM"]http://youtu.be/sXRsjTuBxMM[/url]
He used it both live and in the studio for various things between those dates at least so that is 9 + years and 5 or 6 Albums depending if he used it on Hot Space? including two number 1 albums and all Gold or Platinum/ double Platinum. No hardly used it did he