A CHART-TOPPING musician has been unexpectedly re-united with the guitar he loved and lost – used in the recording of the Specials’ classic number one single Ghost Town.
The band’s bass player Horace Panter bought the Fender Precision bass guitar early in 1981, and a few months later he played it during the recording of Ghost Town at Leamington’s Woodbine Studios.
For whatever reason, Horace traded it in 1989 – a decision he immediately regretted.
But fast forward to May this year when, to his amazement, he spotted the very same guitar in the Coventry shop Noise Works in Far Gosford Street.
“There it was up on the wall on the left,” Horace revealed.
Thanks to shop owner John Williams, Horace is once again the proud owner of the instrument which can claim a true place in music history.
Horace admits: “I bought it back for considerably more than I originally paid for it!
“I occasionally wondered what had happened to it and had a hankering to get it back, so it was always in the back of my mind.
“It was quite a shock to see it up on the wall in Noise Works.
“It was odd to realise that I had such a personal attachment to what is basically a piece of wood but a musical instrument is more than that.
“Especially knowing that I played it on such an important song as Ghost Town.
“I intend to use it in a new project I’m involved in with Steve Walwyn (from Dr. Feelgood) and Ted Duggan (Badfinger).
“To say that I am pleased to have it back is something of an understatement.”
