Interview by Morgan Roussel (JayDee Basses Supernaturally)
Morgan Roussel: How many basses did you own at the point of moving house from Wooton to Ryde?
Mark King: Loads!
MR: Do you still have the ‘pink’ and ‘blue’ pearl basses? If not, do you know where they are?
MK: I no longer have these two basses, and I think I gave both of them for auction, but I don’t know who bought them.
MR: How many JD’s did you sell off?
MK: I sold 2 Jaydees, one was your ‘Starchild Bass’, and the other was an 8-string that John made.
MR: Carl Mueller told me that the famous JD Classic #00002 you signed and auctioned off in 1988 was left in a doorway in California and someone opened the door and the headstock got mashed – is this true and is this why you auctioned it off?
MK: I seem to remember that the headstock was broken onstage in germany when I stepped backwards and stood on it, but I’m old now and my memory is poor, and my eyes grow dim etc. etc.
MR: Is it true that you did not like the smaller bodied JD’s and that all your basses folllowed the original Series 1 shape?
MK: I never voiced an opinion one way or another, but I was cool with the original supernatural shape.
MR: What is the serial number of your first red JD (with the Saturn inlays?) – is it 00003?
MK: The serial no. of my original JD, and by far the best bass he ever made, is 0003.
MR: What happened to your Pangborn basses?
MK: The Pangbourne basses were also given to charity auctions.
MR: Would you be willing to honour us with your presence should a Jaydee Fest be organised for later this year??!!
MK: Keep me posted, and who knows!
MR: Do you have any pictures of your collection you would be willing to post to us here at the Club?
MK: I’m not sure!
MR: Do you still maintain contact with John Diggins and would you ever go back to using a JD live onstage?
MK: I last saw John in 1994, and he seemed to be doing just fine. He is a lovely guy, and made a special bass for my birthday that year! I may well get the ‘old’ red one out again!
MR: Thanks for your time Mark.