What makes John Entwistle's bass guitar so valuable?

Its value tripled after it was identified as the bass played by Queen's John Deacon at the 1986 Montreux Pop Festival.

How was the bass guitar linked to Queen?

The unique wood grain pattern of the 1986 Warwick Buzzard matched footage of John Deacon playing it.

What is the estimated value of John Entwistle's bass?

The 1986 Warwick Buzzard is now estimated to fetch between £20,000 and £40,000.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Queen Bass Guitar Value Skyrockets

Queen Bass Guitar Value Skyrockets

24 Nov, 2025

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Summary

An electric bass guitar owned by John Entwistle has tripled in value.
The 1986 Warwick Buzzard was played by Queen bassist John Deacon.
Its connection to Queen was confirmed by matching wood grain patterns.

A 1986 Warwick Buzzard electric bass guitar, previously owned by The Who's late bassist John Entwistle, is set to achieve a significantly higher price at auction. The instrument, initially predicted to sell for £10,000, now has an increased estimate of £20,000 to £40,000. This remarkable surge in value is due to the recent identification of the bass as the one used by Queen's bassist, John Deacon.

Auctioneers meticulously matched the unique wood grain patterns of the guitar to archival footage of Queen performing at the 1986 Montreux Pop Festival. This painstaking analysis confirmed the instrument's provenance, linking it directly to a legendary performance by the iconic band. The distinctive wood grain served as a natural fingerprint, validating its historical significance without the need for any surface treatments.

This discovery has dramatically elevated the bass guitar's desirability and market value. The auction, scheduled for December 2 in Corsham, Wiltshire, now anticipates a much larger sum, reflecting its dual legacy as a cherished possession of John Entwistle and a key instrument in Queen's performance history.