Brian Wilson - A Brief Tribute To The Beach Boys Original Bass Guitarist

 

The Beach Boys 1964

I was 12 years old in 1964 when I heard my first Beach Boy song; "Fun, Fun, Fun."  I had not learned to play guitar yet, but I loved to sing. I sang in my church choir, also at the chorus in school. At age 12 girls were just starting to look different and very interesting. The prior year most of my friends were boys, but now I had several special neighborhood girls that were very close friends.

1960's Transistor Radio

Music was becoming quite interesting too. I had my transistor radio dial tuned into the best AM Top 40 station. The Beach Boys really piqued my interest because of their unique vocal harmony. I thought the falsetto voice was awesome. A few years earlier, in 1961, The Lion Sleeps used a similar blend; Falsetto, harmony background voices, and a baritone lead voice. 

Beach Boys Cincinnati 1976

Over the years I have been privileged to attend four Beach Boy concerts. Brian Wilson even showed up at one of them. Brian just  passed away this past week at age 82 on June 11th.

Pet Sounds Recording Session 

In his prime Brian was musically gifted and said to be a genius, which I concur. He was blessed with a not just a terrific knowledge of music, but in his mind he knew the sound he wanted right down to the instrumentation, arrangements, and the vocal harmony parts for the songs. The Beach Boys first recordings the songs he penned were fairly basic. 

At first, Brian worked with what was on hand. He taught his brothers, cousin, and neighbor kids how to play the songs and sing them. His brother and friends learned to play guitar while he learned the bass guitar.

Brian on Pet Sound Session

When he decided that touring was too much of a strain, he left the concert circuit so he could write music for the band, produce it, and direct the studio players.  Session players marveled that this 23 year old kid was always so well prepared. 

He wrote charts for them, helped with changes, and hired the first call session musicians he needed to play the various instruments that he heard in his head. Not many rock songs of that day included harpsicord, accordion, bass harmonica, mandolin, and even orange juice cups. 

Brian on Bass

Although Brian was never a great bass player, but he learned the instrument well enough to create the sound he wanted for those early Beach Boys concerts and the first  recordings. Much like many song writers, Brian wrote the music, but worked with various others for the lyrics.

1964 Beach Boy Concert

At the show I went to in the mid 1960’s Brian played a Fender Precision Bass. This was through a brown Fender Bassman. His brother Carl, and friend Al Jardine played brown Fender Dual Showman amplifiers with separate Fender Reverb units. I am told that in the 1960's an Ampeg B-15 Portaflex bass amplifier was sometimes on the band's stage.

1980 Beach Boys Concert

The concerts I attended in the 1970's and 80's the bands backline consisted of Fender amps covered in white tolex. I am told at one time they were even using Dumble amps. 

50th Anniversary Concert

For their 50th Anniversary tour the guitar players all used Fender Hot Rod Deville amplifiers. 

Brian With Fender Precision Bass 

Brian  Wilson had quit touring in 1964, but returned for a few concert in the late 1970’s through the 1980’s. He was still using Precision Bass when I saw him at a concert in 1976 when he played bass guitar, and sang Surfer Girl. 

 

Sadowsky and Valley Arts
Bass Guitars

Later photos and videos show Brian playing a Sadowsky NYC Precision style bass guitar, and a Valley Arts California Pro Bass. Brian always plucked the strings with his thumb. 

Carol Kaye

Carol Kaye, in her biography, mentions that Brian liked her to play bass guitar with a pick through a guitar amp,  usually she used a Fender Super Reverb or Fender Concert amp or her Versatone Portoflex amp, to achieve a brighter sound on recordings. 

Brian Wilson

Since my childhood the Beach Boys have been my favorite group. Through the years their style has influenced so many bands, both current and past.  During my school years I studied music, music theory, music history, composition, and arranging, but honestly I learned so much by just listening to how Brian Wilson created his recordings, orchestrations, and harmonies. 

I doubt we will see another man like him anytime soon.  I send Love and Mercy to his memory, and to his family.

©UniqueGuitar Publications (text only) 2025

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The Story Of A Guitar Named Lucy And A Tribute To The Owner, Rick Derringer

The McCoys with Rick Derringer
 playing his gold top Les Paul

It was in 1965 that The McCoys were on top of the charts with their hit, “Hang On Sloopy.” Guitarist Rick Derringer owned a 1957 Les Paul gold-top that had originally belonged to John Sebastian of the Lovin’ Spoonful. This guitar had come with a stock Bigsby vibrato.

The McCoys with Gold Top
Les Paul

Derringer loved that guitar, but his father complained that it looked “beat up.” Derringer died in Ormond Beach, Florida on May 26, 2025, at the age of 77. 

According to TMZ, Derringer's wife, Jenda Derringer, said he "died peacefully after being taken off life support Monday night following a medical episode". 

His caretaker and close friend, Tony Wilson, said Derringer had undergone a triple bypass two months earlier but had been doing well.

John Sebastian with the Les Paul

Derringer’s family made their home in a small town in central Ohio called Ft. Recovery. His given surname is actually Zehringer, but he was inspired by the derringer pistol that was on the label of Bang Records an used the stage name Derringer throughout his career.



Rick took his Dad’s suggestion to heart. In 1966 decided to make a 3 hour drive to the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo Michigan where he asked that his guitar be refinished.

Instead of going with the original gold-top finish, Derringer decided he liked the clear red finish that was featured on Gibson’s SG models.

After the work was finished Derringer was disappointed, because, in his opinion, the guitar never played or sounded as good as it originally did. He states that he could not keep it in tune and felt that Gibson had done more changes than just the finish.

Eric Clapton with Les Paul

On a trip to Manhattan, Derringer traded the Les Paul at Dan Armstrong’s guitar shop. 

Shortly after that Eric Clapton was in Armstrong's store, and he liked the red guitar and purchased it.

Not too long after that Clapton gave it to his friend George Harrison. Harrison loved the Les Paul.

Harrison With His Gibson SG

This was during the time George had been mainly using his Gibson SG. With the acquisition of the Les Paul, Harrison rarely played the SG and gave it away to Pete Ham, the guitarist for Bad Finger.

Pete Ham with SG

At the time Bad Finger had just signed a contract with Apple Records and the SG was laying around the studio, which gave Ham an opportunity to play it and he fell in love with it.  Sadly, Pete Ham took his own life in 1975. 

His wife sold the SG at a garage sale!! 

It was later found and was placed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame until June of 2015 when an anonymous bidder paid 294,000 pounds ($570,000) for it. But I digress.

Harrison With Les Paul (Lucy)

Harrison had given the name Lucy to his beloved red Les Paul as a reference to the great redheaded comedian/actress Lucille Ball aka Lucy.

Ironically Lucille Ball and Lucy the guitar both started out as blonds.

Harrison and Lucy - Let It Be

Harrison had used this guitar on the White Album and subsequently on the Get Back and/Let It Be recordings. 

Harrison - Delaney and Bonnie Tour

He had traveled with it when he joined the Delaney, Bonnie and Friends Tour.

Harrison With Lucy

In 1973 Harrison’s Beverly Hills home was burglarized and Lucy, his beloved Les Paul was stolen from under his bed. He wanted it back. George even went on television issuing a plea to have his guitar returned. It must have meant a lot to him.

Lucy 

Guitarist Mark Havey maintained residences in both California and in Mexico. Back in 1973 he was residing at his California home. His friend, Miguel Ochoa, was visiting the United States to buy guitars and make a little money reselling them in Mexico when he stopped in to see Havey.

 

George Whalin

After the visit, Ochoa went to the Whalin’s Sound City in Hollywood (which later became the first Guitar Center) and saw this gorgeous red Les Paul hanging on the wall and he bought it for $650. 

Unbeknownst to Havey, Ochoa had given the store Havey’s phone number as his own contact number. The next day Whalin’s owner, George Whalin contacted Mark Havey with the story that the store owed Ochoa some money because they had overcharged him for the Les Paul. The story seemed pretty suspicious.

Finally Whalin explained they should have kept the guitar for 30 days to make certain there were no claims against it and see if it clears their “hot property” list of stolen instruments. This guitar was on that list and furthermore Whalin learned it belonged to George Harrison. He was in trouble.

Tony Bacon

Havey assumed this to be a joke until George Harrison called him. Havey knew Tony Bacon, a well known collector and author that lived in California and through Bacon a meeting was arranged with George Harrison.

At the meeting Harrison said his home had been broken in to and property was stolen, which included the cherry red Les Paul. Harrison said it actually belonged to Clapton and was only on loan to him. He needed that guitar back.

Havey left a message for Miguel Ochoa.to call him. A couple of days went by and Ochoa called back. Havey let Miguel know that Harrison was willing to pay for the guitars return, however Ochoa hedged. He was now in Guadalajara, Mexico and would only return it on the condition that he receive a 1958 Sunburst Les Paul, an early model Fender Precision Bass and four other guitars. He was holding this guitar hostage!

Part of Harrison's Collection

Havey haggled with him and got the bargain down to just the Sunburst Les Paul and a Fender Precision Bass. Harrison, Havey and Tony Bacon scrambled and visited some nearby guitar stores in search of the requested guitar and bass.

Norm's Rare Guitars

Eventually Norm Harris, from Norm’s Rare Guitars in Tarzana happened to have a 1968 Sunburst Les Paul and a vintage Fender bass. Harrison bought the instruments on the spot..

George then flew Havey and Bacon to Mexico and the instruments were swapped and Lucy made it safely home. 

Harrison later quipped, "My guitar was kidnapped and I had to pay some guy in Guadalajaura Mexico to get it back."

In 2013 Gibson produced a limited edition of the Harrison/Clapton Lucy guitar. Gibson used MRI scans to document every nick and scratch and modification made to this remake of only 50 guitars.

But wait, there's more!

The purchase included a Certificate of Authenticity, hand signed by Eric Clapton that was encased in a white leather bound, embossed folio. Also a 180 gram vinyl copy of the White Album. Plus owners manual, adjustment literature and coverage under Gibson’s Limited Lifetime Warranty. Asking price at the time was $15,000.

But I digress. 

The McCoys 1965

Rick Derringer first came to my attention in the mid 1960's when The McCoys had a hit record called Hang On Sloopy. The song had been recorded by a group called The Strangeloves. 

Their record I Want Candy was a hit, and they didn't want to interfere with that records success. So The Strangeloves got their opening act from Dayton, Ohio to do the song. 

The track was already recorded. They had the lead singer of Rick and The Raiders, Rick Zehringer sing the lead vocal. The song became a number one hit, The management company felt the band's name sounded too much like Paul Revere and The Raiders, so it was changed to The McCoys. Around this time The McCoys did local appearances in southern Ohio, near where I have lived for most of my life.

The McCoys "Fever"

After Sloopy, theband followed up with their rendition of Peggy Lee's hit song Fever and a Richie Valen song, Come Oh, Let's Go.  

Zehringer changed his name to Derringer. His brother Randy went on to be known simply as Randy Z. 

Derringer with Edgar Winter

The McCoys called it quits in 1968. Rick and Randy went on to join The Edgar Winter Group. In 1973 Derringer then went on to do a solo act. 

Later on Rick played guitar on a few Steely Dan songs. Derringer also recorded the guitar solo for Total Eclipse Of The Heart by Bonnie Tyler, and the solo on Air Supply's song, Making Love Out Of Nothing At All. 

Derringer producing 
Weird Al

He collaborated with Barbara Streisand, Cyndy Lauper, Jim Steinman, and produced most of the recordings for Weird Al Yankovic. 

In 1997 Rick Derringer became a born again Christian. He recorded a couple of Christian albums with his wife, Jenda, in 2001. 

2010 Ringo Starr's All Stars

By 2010 he went on three world tours with Ringo Star and The All Star Band. He and his wife recorded two popular Chinese songs as Ricky Tu and Jenda Tu for their Asia project. 

In 2014 he and other well known players went on tour as Peter Frampton's Guitar Circus. 

Derringer's Guitar Auction

In 2008 Rick sold some of his prized guitars to Gruhn Guitars. Then starting in January of 2025 and lasting to February of that year he auctioned off many of his favorite guitars. Perhaps he knew something was up?  

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    Click on the links in the text for further information