Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash

Martin Turner and Keith Buck - photo FlyGuitars.com

FlyGuitars You've gigged with, recorded on and produced the Blue Bishops last record was that you getting back in to the live scene, playing out again?

Martin Turner I guess you could say that yeah. I mean not the recording. I got to know Simon the guitar player through a friend of mine Keith Chapman (the creator of Bob the Builder no less) and we used to see each other at parties and dinners and stuff, they'd existed for quite a long time. When their bass player did a walkies or fell over they called me up and said we've got these gigs could you fill in for us you know it would be a doddle for you. So I had a listen to their music and it seemed pretty straight forward really.

FlyGuitars I remember seeing in my local newspaper when you guys were playing at the Wavendon Stables and that was I suppose putting you back on my radar again having been well aware of Wishbone Ash.

Martin Turner Well yeah, one of the dangers is when you become a studio animal that you do develop tunnel vision sound wise. Everything becomes more and more kind of mainline you know direct inject and all that and you can lose the feel for live stuff a bit which I think I was in danger of doing. So it was appropriate timing and it certainly got me back in to the whole live thing because they''re quite a scruffy edged band and because they all had jobs it wasn't heavy gigging, it's like now and again and we could all turn up not having rehearsed count 1, 2, 3, 4 and just plough in to it and if it was out of tune and loose it didn't actually matter because of the kind of music it was. That made it very, very enjoyable for me to keep going, it certainly got me back playing on stage.

Martin Turners Wishbone Ash - promo shot, 2006. Left to right, Rob Hewins, Keith Buck, Martin Turner, Ray Hatfield (courtesy wishboneash.co.uk)

FlyGuitars Did that get your mind back in to thinking about putting together the current band and to start doing the Wishbone material again?

Martin Turner No, not really. I had this kind of gnawing guilt feeling, various people that loved Wishbone asked me when I was going to get up and do it again. Gary Carter who'd run the fan club and helped me run the wishboneash.co.uk site was constantly on to me that I must get a band together. I had always I think like most people involved with the band thought that Wishbone Ash has to get back together eventually you know in some form either with Ted or with Laurie or who knows with both of them and Steve of course. Bearing in mind I'd been constantly putting together albums, every year I did at least one sometimes more, three or four. I was always involved in the background you know keeping the thing alive remixes, re-masterings and odds and sods like the Lost Pearls thing was probably the last one I did which was reject songs some of which were really, really enjoyable. At that stage which was what the beginning of 2004 Andy had had those tapes (I had most of them) and he'd obviously run in to deep water trying to sort them out. They had various different noise reductions on the tapes and they didn't know how to deal with it so I took the project over and sorted it out. It was really difficult to get it done in time to coincide with Andy's Wishbone Ash latest tour, I was working flat out on it for weeks. At that point Andy hit me with a lawyers letter. He must of thought after that album I guess well there's not a lot more Martin can do in terms of albums now because it's all been done already so alright I'll see if I can shut his website down and he had a pop at me, you know sent a lawyers letter saying that they would like me to surrender the domain name wishboneash.co.uk and secondly undertake never to use the name again and thirdly pay their, his reasonable costs in this matter. To which I sent a nice legal lawyers letter back telling him to fuck off basically, to put it simply.

I was very upset and outraged by it, I mean it was the same old stab in the back routine you know and it really, really pissed me off big time. Then low and behold I told him to get lost and they then put in a formal complaint to Nominet who are the kind of UK domain name police. There was a whole dispute procedure that you go through which ended up being found kind of in my favour, that Andy's complaint against me to try and get my website shutdown because it caused confusion with his was found not to be the case and I was allowed to continue to exist. Through that whole nasty little affair instigated by Mr Powell I obviously needed help and it put me in contact with a few people like Martin Darvill who's studio we're sitting in right now. He was just fantastic, I'd only just met the bloke and I think it really offended his sensibilities the injustice of it. He offered to help in any way he could and we've since got real friendly and we're working together and it was like if ever there was a time to get a band together it's now. It really had reached the point where it was perfectly obvious that Andy was making too much money in his own right with just replacing musicians whenever he needed to and there was no possibility really that any original Wishbone Ash was going to reform and so therefore the logical next step for me was to put together my own version of Wishbone Ash.

FlyGuitars Had you seen Andy's Wishbone Ash play?

Martin Turner I'd been along to his gigs like we all had and I stood there and listened to these pretty much complete strangers some of them, guys in his band playing music that I'd written and to me the notes were there but it just had no bloody spirit. It was missing the whole content, it used to do my head in. Most times I'd kind of head for the bar and get some alcohol down my neck and then kind of go up, it was nice to say hi to the guys after the show you know, Andy included until things got rather ugly. It made complete sense to say to myself well I've been doing this Blue Bishops thing it's not really a career it was an occasional thing and Wishbone Ash is what my life has been about as a musician and I finally started to listen to some of the people around me who were telling me to get my bloody finger out.

New Live Dates Volume 1

Then low and behold I was doing a Lucy Diamond session and I met Keith (Buck) the guy who's become one of my guitar players and we hit it off. He knew a couple of guys he said would be ideal for the band and I'm like woah wait a minute you know one guy at a time I'm really fussy about drummers and all the rest of it but when we finally got together it was just bang. It was obvious that there was a basis there for a band and it's only been what a year/eighteen months since we first put it together but we've done maybe 25 gigs or something. It's early days but there's some momentum and it's going along great. The band sounds good, I'm thrilled to bits with it.

FlyGuitars And you've got the new live album (New Live Dates) obviously.

Martin Turner Yeah, that actually gives us something tangible that we can say ok this is my version of Wishbone Ash and people can listen to it and like it or not. I would have to admit that probably Andy's treatment of me, which I think was pretty unpleasant, certainly seemed to have an effect of stinging me in to action. Partly because it became so obvious that this little thing at the back of my head which was 'well I just know the band will get back together again one day, you know Steve will pop out of the woodwork and Laurie will be up for it, Ted will and well all get back together and it will be wonderful' at that point you know when I realised what I was dealing with it wasn't going to happen. It took me to the next stage.

Rickenbacker bass guitars for sale

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VINTAGE 1972 RICKENBACKER 4001 BASS BRIDGE PU COVER-LOW PROFILE

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 554**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$80

#1 OF 2. NICE VINTAGE 1972 TREBLE (BRIDGE) PICKUP COVER. THIS IS THE LOW PROFILE VERSION WHICH WAS CHANGED IN 1974-75. PERIOD CORRECT FOR 1973 AND EARLIER. BEING 54 YEARS OLD, THIS ONE HAS OBVIOUS VISIBLE USE BUT IS FULLY FUNCTIONAL. PERFECT FOR RESTORATION. $$$$$PAYPAL ONLY$$$$$ PLEASE NO OFFERS, RETURNS OR TRADES. CONUS SHIPPING ONLY-NO P O. BOX. I USE USPS PRIORITY MAIL SMALL BOX FOR SAFETY AND RELIABILITY. THX!... more

VINTAGE 1972 RICKENBACKER 4001 BASS BRIDGE PU COVER-LOW PROFILE

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 554**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$80

#2 OF 2. NICE VINTAGE 1972 TREBLE (BRIDGE) PICKUP COVER. THIS IS THE LOW PROFILE VERSION WHICH WAS CHANGED IN 1974-75. PERIOD CORRECT FOR 1973 AND EARLIER. BEING 54 YEARS OLD, THIS ONE HAS OBVIOUS VISIBLE USE BUT IS FULLY FUNCTIONAL. PERFECT FOR RESTORATION. $$$$$PAYPAL ONLY$$$$$ PLEASE NO OFFERS, TRADES OR RETURNS. CONUS SHIPPING ONLY-NO P O. BOX. I USE USPS PRIORITY MAIL SMALL BOX FOR SAFETY AND RELIABILITY. THX!... more

1973 Rickenbacker 4001 Bass Mapleglo w / original Toaster pickup FLAME MAPLE NECK!

Carbondale, Illinois, 629**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4790

Add Me to Your Favorite Sellers
Olivia's Vintage would like to present this 1973 Rickenbacker 4001 in its original Mapleglo finish. It has a great playing flame maple neck / center piece with great frets. It's all original and 100% complete with the exception of the hand rest. Another pickguard has been on the bass at one time as there are additional screw holes concealed underneath the pickguard. A later road case is included. This bass is in great condition with some minor nicks + ... more

VINTAGE 1974 RICKENBACKER 4001S BASS w / HSC

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 554**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2700

VINTAGE RICKENBACKER 4000 / 4001S BASS WITH A FANTASTIC CUSTOM G&G HARD SHELL CASE. CASE HAS CHENEY HARDWARE AND TWO KEYS. THIS BASS STARTED ITS LIFE AS A 4000 MODEL. PREVIOUS OWNER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A 4001S OUT OF IT WITH MIXED RESULTS. I OBTAINED THE BASS, THEN DECIDED THE NON-RICKENBACKER PICKUPS, PICKGUARD, WIRING HARNESS AND TAILPIECE / BRIDGE ALL HAD TO GO THE REPLACEMENTS ARE AUTHENTIC RIC PARTS. THE BRIDGE PICKUP IS A REISSUE RIC VINTAGE STYLE HORSESHOE PICKUP WITH THE SHOES REMOVED ... more

1971 Rickenbacker 4001 a checkerboard bound Burgundyglo 4001 had a few good gigs

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$8495

The Rickenbacker 4001 is a landmark in design to many bass players that appreciate vintage gear. To say many famous players used them just think of Paul McCartney, Chris Squire & Geddy Lee to name a few. It??s the last of the early 70??s originals & was played out a ton mostly by its original & only owner, Mr. Gary Rivenson, who is seen playing it when he was a mere 20 years old w / very long hair @ Madison Square Garden when his band opened for KC & the Ohio Players. Its famous ... more

1976 Rickenbacker 4001 Maple Glow Bass Guitar

Saint Paul, Minnesota, 551**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3100

The bridge has been upgraded with the 'Badass II' bridge. I bought this bass 32 years ago from Guitar Center in Roseville, back when it was across from the Har Mar Mall in the building which is now Erik's Bike and a comic store It was played extensively for the first couple of years, but then pretty much stored the rest of the time I've owned it because I preferred an Ibanez that I bought. And for the last decade or more, I have pretty much not been playing bass at all But, I have recently ... more

Gibson ThunderBird 4 String Bass Tobacco Sunburst With Gibson Case, Strap, & COA

Olyphant, Pennsylvania, 184**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2300

For your review and consideration - we present you with another fine Gibson Guitar from the guitar collection at Magdon Music!
Please read the description below and review the photos. The exact Gibson Bass pictured and in the description is the exact guitar that you will purchasing. If there is something that you need to know that is not in this description - please message us before your time of purchase and we will be very happy to assist!
Please note that our guitars are tech ... more

Vintage 1977 Rickenbacker 4001 4-String Bass Guitar Mapleglo Finish w / OHSC

Front Royal, Virginia, 226**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4000

1977 4001 Rick -- plays like a dream! Does not have the tail lift issues that you often see with these models. One of the first years of the lower neck pickup, which contributes to the added neck strength vs. earlier models. Dual output "Rick-O-Sound" works. It has been sitting collecting dust and I want it back out in the world. I added a zero-mod thumb anchor for playability.... more

1974 Rickenbacker 4001 Maple Glow Bass Guitar

Saint Louis, Missouri, 631**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3900

The 1974 Rickenbacker 4001 Maple Glow Bass Guitar is a vintage electric bass guitar known for its right-handed design and professional performance level. Featuring a solid maple body with a rosewood fretboard and maple neck, this 4-string bass guitar has 20 frets and is highly sought after by musicians for its classic sound and craftsmanship. With its timeless appeal and exceptional quality, the Rickenbacker 4001 Maple Glow Bass Guitar is a legendary choice for bass players looking for a ... more

1975 Rickenbacker 4001 Vintage Neck Through Bass Mapleglo w / Toaster Top, Case

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4400

Up for sale, a 1975 Rickenbacker 4001 in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. This Mapleglo 4001 has been augmented with a genuine Toaster Top neck pickup and a modern Hipshot bridge (original bridge included)
Featuring neck-through maple body construction, this Rickenbacker thumps and growls with the best and offers healthy sustain, weighing 9lbs 12oz. The pickups deliver plenty of midrange power and punch, with the original Hi-Gain ... more

1974 Rickenbacker 4001 Factory Fretless Bass Mapleglo 100% Original (217)

Dayton, Ohio, 454**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4600

1974 Rickenbacker 4001 Factory Fretless Bass Mapleglo 100% Original
For your consideration is this 1974 Rickenbacker 4001 in classic Mapleglo finish. This one is a rare factory fretless example and is an incredibly cool vintage bass with all the unmistakable style and tone that make old Rickenbackers so desirable
Overall, this bass is in very good condition for its age. It shows honest vintage wear, including a small area of buckle rash on the back, but it has been very well kept and ... more

Gibson Gene Simmons G2 Thunderbird Bass Electric Guitar with Case

Newman, Illinois, 619**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2000

Gibson G2 Thunderbird bass in great shape with official case. There are some markings near the volume pots and a bit of wear here and there but overall in great shape and the Emg's are awesome in this. This has relatively no neck dive compared to most of the T birds and the new bridge is awesome and a lot easier to work with. Fantastic bass Gibson really knocked it out of the park with this one
Gene Simmons is a legendary rock icon and the bassist from KISS, and his new Gibson Gene Simmons ... more

1973 Rickenbacker 4001 Bass Left handed very cool & rare 4 your next Beatle gig.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$6495

The Rickenbacker 4001 is a landmark in design to many bass players that appreciates vintage gear. To say many famous players used them just think of Paul McCartney, Chris Squire & Geddy Lee to name a few. This is a very clean & all original factory ??Left Handed?? 1978 Rickenbacker 4001 Bass that has all the right stuff. Its famous Mapleglo finish is clean w / a cool factor that only Rickenbacker has. It also has a Walnut stripe from its headstock to its neck-thru body only done during a... more

1965 Rickenbacker 4001 Vintage Neck Through Bass Fireglo w / Case

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$12000

Up for sale, a 1965 Rickenbacker 4001 in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with a vintage hardshell case. This 4001 is a rare example with an early feature set including checkerboard binding, a horseshoe bridge pickup with tapered surround, and silver reflector top knobs
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1964 Gibson Thunderbird IV Bass 1 of the best originals it's 1 of a kind & Minty

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$27495

These early production Reverse?? Thunderbird??s & Firebird??s were so far ahead of time & very few were ever made comparatively to Fender??s P & J Basses. This particular example was ordered in Gibson??s most popular color of a Dark 2-tone Sunburst finish all over its neck & body. Very little yellowing appears yet she has slight playtime all over. These tend to get funky from playing in bars & clubs & get nicotine stained. Its rosewood fingerboard is straight as an arrow ... more

1980 Rickenbacker 4001 Bass White w / OHSC

San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4495

1980 Rickenbacker 4001 Bass In White Finish
This Bass Is Located At IVG Sherman Oaks
In Very Good Overall Condition (Please See Photos)
Finish Shows Heavy Fading And Checking With Some Cosmetic Playwear Including Various Small Dings, Marks, And Scratches Throughout
A-String Saddle Screw Replaced And Non-Adjustable, Slightly Sharp Intonation On That String Only
Small Fingerboard / Finish Crack As Shown
All Original Pickups And Electronics
Pots Date To Late 1979
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1972 4001 Rickenbacker Bass Guitar. Great Christmas gift!

Hayward, Wisconsin, 548**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7800

Unveil your musical creativity with the 1972 Rickenbacker 4001 Electric Bass Guitar, a legendary choice for both players and collectors alike. Sporting a vibrant red body color, this four-string bass guitar embodies the iconic style and exceptional craftsmanship synonymous with the Rickenbacker brand The Model 4001 is known for its rich, warm sound and durable construction, making it a favorite for performances and studio sessions. An ideal gift for the music enthusiast or a seasoned musician, ... more

Bass guitar string mute From 1966 Gibson Thunderbird

Cumming, Georgia, 300**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$400

This bass guitar string mute is a must-have for any Gibson Thunderbird owner. Made in 1966, this mute is a rare find for collectors and musicians alike. It is designed to fit perfectly on your bass guitar and provides a unique sound that is sure to impress
Crafted with precision and care, this mute is made to last. It is made from high-quality materials and is built to withstand the wear and tear of regular use. Whether you are a seasoned musician or just starting out, this bass guitar ... more

NOS 1976 Rickenbacker 4001 Bass Potentiometers Pots

Fort Wayne, Indiana, 468**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$150

NOS 1976 Rickenbacker Bass Potentiometers Pots
New old stock
See photos for exact condition
See my ebay store for more vintage music items
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Rickenbacker - 4001 - 1978

Asbury, New Jersey, 088**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5000

rickenbacker 4001 . Condition is Used. Shipped with UPS Ground.... more

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