By JOHN DALY
Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones will auction off a 1969 Fender Mustang Bass, a custom Travis Bean Custom Short Scale Bass and the amp that got him the job as the bassist in the world’s most famous Rock N Roll band.
Held by Julien’s Auctions in September, there are a range of items up for bid from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted English bassist, record producer, songwriter and singer. The collection is at the centerpiece of more than 1,000 lots selected from Wyman’s archive amassed over three decades as a founding member and bassist of the The Rolling Stones and from his ongoing solo career.
On the auction block are items including:
— Wyman’s 1962 VOX AC30 “Normal” model amplifier, the important and historic amplifier which helped sealed the deal for Wyman’s audition to join the Rolling Stones, estimated at $80,000-$100,000
— A 1969 Fender Mustang Bass with a Competition Orange finish designed by Leo Fender used by Wyman on The Stones’ concerts and recordings in 1969 and 1970 and exhibited at the O2 Arena Rock Exhibition in 2010, estimated at $300,000-$500,000
— A 1978 custom built Travis Bean Custom Short Scale Bass used by Wyman on the band’s recordings, videos and tours in 1978 and the 1980s estimated at $200,000-$300,000
— A 1981 black Steinberger Custom Short-Scale XL-Series Bass played during the 1988 A.I.M.S. Gala concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London and the Rolling Stones 1982 tour estimated at $100,000-$200,000
— A 1974 Dan Armstrong Prototype Bass used by Wyman on several performances such as, the Rolling Stones’ 1975 performance on a flat-bed truck in New York City, the Rolling Stones 1975-76 tour and Wyman’s 1981 Top Of The Pops performance of his hit single, “(Si Si) Je Suis Un Rock Star” estimated at $100,000-$200,000
— A 1965 VOX ‘Wyman Bass’ Model Teardrop Bass Guitar, used on the Rolling Stones tours and recordings from 1966 through 1968 estimated at $40,000-$60,000
— An early 1960s Framus Star Bass model 5/150 Black Rose Sunburst Finish played in the band’s concerts and recording sessions from 1963-1965 and displayed during the Rolling Stones ‘Exhibitionism’ touring museum estimated at $80,000-$100,000
— A 1968 Gibson Les Paul Standard Model Gold Top guitar and case used by Brian Jones in The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus concert show and film in December 1968 and on other recordings.