Ex-Alarm bassist, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Eddie Macdonald is going to auction off some of his clsssic Alarm guitars on
eBay starting December 5th, 2002!
The exact URLs are linked below. Below is an interview conducted today with Eddie, as well as detailed descriptions and photos of the items he is putting up for sale.
Bring us up to date on Eddie MacDonald. What has the past 10 years been like for you?
Well, there’s been a lot of ups, a few downs and a few in betweens and
a few things I’d rather forget about altogether, but all in all, I’m in good
health, good shape mentally and physically and am enjoying life. As a few
people are now aware, I’ve changed direction in life and taken up
photography. I still love music but very rarely get to play nowadays but
that’s not saying I won’t ever play again – far from it. I’m still living in
London and am happy here. The one thing I do miss is visiting different
countries. I don’t get to travel as much as I’d like but we’ll see what the
next couple of years brings.
Is there any music in your future?
I suppose the sale of guitars would indicate no. But I’ve kept hold of my two
main writing guitars – my Gibson J45 and my Status bass so I’m still armed
and ready and could go off at anytime! I’ve written quite a few songs since
the last show in Brixton with a few different artists but I haven’t found the
right vehicle for them as yet. But Alarm fans, don’t worry! I’m not going to
help Gary Barlow/Gareth Gates have hits.
What prompted the eBay auction?
Feng Shui! I thought it was time to give the guitars a better home! I thought
someone else could make better music with them than I can having them sitting
under the stairs! Sometimes it’s good to let go of certain things. They
brought me a lot of luck, maybe they will bring someone else the same. I
would like to think they would end up in someone’s house rather than a Hard
Rock cafe!
Just seeing those instruments prompted an nostalgia-drenched, emotional
response from me that I did not anticipate. Were you gripped with nostalgia
when you started this process, or are you past that stage?
Not really no. I think it was more nostalgic when Mike was putting together
The Alarm Box Set. He sent me through a great deal of searching questions,
some of which I found very very difficult to answer, in other words, they
brought a smile to my face. To answer it fully, I would say that when you
haven’t played a guitar for quite a few years, I felt a bit guilty.
What are your expectations from this auction? Monetary, satisfaction, closure, or all or none of these things?
It would be fair and honest to say a mixture of all three. The guitars are a
fine tool in their own right and the fact that they are sentimental would
probably mean more to fans of the band and myself than any outside collector.
Saying that though, the guitars are very collectable.
When will the eBay auction start?
It goes up Thursday night UK time and if I’m right, finishes on Saturday 14th
December. But I will confirm this and also send you a locator for eBay.
Is there anything you’d like to say to Alarm fans who are still “keepin the flames alive”? (besides “Get a life!!)
I’d put it in a football analogy. If you follow a team you have to follow the
through thick and thin and that’s what makes it special – the bad times count
as well as the good ones. It creates a perfect picture – you have to have
light and shade in anything to make it special. I’m always glad to say that
at least all of us are in good health, all reasonably sane, and still around
to tell the tales. There aren’t many bands that can say the same. And
finally, thank you to all the fans for keeping our feet firmly on the ground
by not buying enough singles and not putting us in the top ten!!! Only
kidding! Correct me if I’m wrong but in the UK terms The Alarm still has the
record for having the most Top 40 singles without having a Top 10 single. I’d
like to sign off by thanking everyone for emailing me. If I don’t speak to
you again, have a great Christmas and enjoy The Gathering in the new year!
All the best
Eddie
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Ex The Alarm (Eddie Macdonald) 1964 Guild Starfire For auction a 1964 Guild Starfire semi-acoustic electric guitar -of interest to The Alarm aficionados and guitar and rock memorabilia collectors. Fans of the The Alarm will remember this guitar, held by Dave Sharp, on the cover of the �68 Guns� 7″ & 12″ singles. The guitar was the instrument on which most of the music for the albums Declaration and Strength was written and was used on the songs Howling Wind, Third Light and Tell Me (Declaration) It was re-sprayed and meticulously restored by Guild in 1985 after the War Tour with U2. The Starfire comes with its original case and documents of authenticity and can be autographed on request. |
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Ex The Alarm (Eddie Macdonald) Squire Telecaster (Japan)
For auction a 1980s Squire (Fender) Telecaster solid electric guitar-of interest to The Alarm aficionados and guitar and rock memorabilia collectors. This guitar, played by Eddie Macdonald of The Alarm, is a much sought after Japanese made Squire. The guitar was used extensively during the Change and Raw albums and toured on The Electric Folklore & Change tours and also on tours with Bob Dylan and Queen. The guitar is in good playing order but, having been toured long and hard, bares a few scars (the plastic toggle switch cover is missing.) Comes with gig bag and strap. The guitar can be autographed on request. |
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Ex The Alarm (Eddie Macdonald) Fender Jazz Bass Special For auction a 1980s Fender (USA) Jazz Bass Special electric bass guitar -of interest to The Alarm aficionados and guitar and rock memorabilia collectors. The Fender Jazz Bass Special was used for recording throughout the eighties on LP�s such as Strength, Electric Folklore, Change and Raw and was used on the accompanying tours. It can be viewed on The Alarm web site (http://thealarm.com/) in many pictures including the inside cover of the album Electric Folklore Live. The Fender Jazz Bass Special has a Jazz width neck, a P bass pick-up in the middle position and a J bass pick-up at the bridge. Sold with the original aluminium flight case. This guitar can be autographed on request. |
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Ex The Alarm (Eddie Macdonald) Ovation Preacher 12 String
For auction an Ovation Preacher 12 string solid electric guitar -of interest to The Alarm aficionados and guitar and rock memorabilia collectors. This rare guitar from Eddie Macdonald�s The Alarm collection dates from the early seventies and comes in the original and rare natural finish. The versatile controls make it a great live and recording guitar. Often used on over-dubs to fatten acoustic and lead lines, this guitar has not been toured and comes with original Ovation case. This guitar can be autographed on request. |
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Ex The Alarm (Eddie Macdonald) 1980�s Guild Starfire 4 For auction a 1980�s Guild Starfire 4 semi-acoustic electric guitar -of interest to The Alarm aficionados and guitar and rock memorabilia collectors. This guitar was custom made especially for Eddie Macdonald of The Alarm by Guild USA and was used on all live work and albums from 1985 onwards. The guitar is finished in black with a Kahler floating tremelo bridge. The pick-ups are a Gibson humbucker at the bridge and a Di Marzio humbucker at the neck. Also included are two, unused, original Guild pick-ups. Comes with its original touring case (see image.) and can be autographed on request. |
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Ex The Alarm T Shirts (Eddie Macdonald) Set #1
All these T-Shirts were worn on stage for encores by Eddie Macdonald of The Alarm. Consisting of five T-Shirts from the Chant Has Just Begun period �Old but Gold� Can be autographed on request. |
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Ex The Alarm T Shirts (Eddie Macdonald) Set #2
All these T-Shirts were worn on stage for encores by Eddie Macdonald of The Alarm. Rare collectors pack consisting of a 2 Nike sponsored band only shirts plus 2 early declaration shirts and one Change tour shirt. Can be autographed on request. |
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Ex The Alarm T Shirts (Eddie Macdonald) Set #3
All these T-Shirts were worn on stage for encores by Eddie Macdonald of The Alarm. Three early shirts plus one hand made calligraphy shirt. Can be autographed on request. |
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