Bill Wyman is reunited with bass

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

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’s.

Music maker and business consultant Nick Sceats airfreighted the bass to the millionaire rocker two months ago after discovering that it belonged to him. Wyman lost it in Wellington in 1966 during a tour with the Stones. Sceats had it in his possession for 15 years.

Sceats has now received a thank-you letter from Wyman. “It doesn’t look too bad for wear and tear, considering what it has gone through and the traveling it has done over the years,” Wyman wrote in the letter, excerpts of which were printed in Wellington’s Dominion Post on Friday.