Stolen guitars

Subject: Stolen guitars
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 20 May 06 - 02:56 PM

The following appeared today on the BBC Radio 2 Folk & Acoustic Message Board:

"A quantity of acoustic guitars was stolen yesterday afternoon in the Worsley area of Manchester.

These include:
50-odd year old Martin (dreadnought)
custom built, unique Manson
custom built, unique Eccleshall
custom built Fylde
Avalon
and several others.

They were stolen from the back of a Mercedes splitter van on a pub car park.

These guitars, whilst highly valuable, have little value to the thieves as they will be very easy to trace should they enter the market.

If you are offered any guitars for sale that may fit the descriptions (I will have much better descriptions early next week) then please report the matter to the police.

Keep your ears to the ground please, good people, the owners of these guitars are absolutely gutted. I've got a gut feeling that we are going to get them back.

Can you forward this message on to anybody that you think it would be relevant to, predominantly concentrating on the Merseyside and Greater Manchester areas.

Thanks for your time."

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: stallion
Date: 21 May 06 - 02:03 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: Tyke
Date: 21 May 06 - 02:04 PM

I am very sorry to read this ElGreco I hope that they are returned safe and sound.

It's no joke please don't leave your instruments in Cars and or Vans. At anytime for any amount of time! You have to take them with you no matter how silly you feel carting them about.

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: Bert
Date: 21 May 06 - 05:56 PM

...don't leave your instruments in Cars and or Vans...

'cos even if they don't get stolen the heat might easily pop off the bridge. I KNOW!!!

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 22 May 06 - 10:23 AM

At approx. 2pm on Friday 19th May, five acoustic guitars were stolen from a Mercedes splitter van on the car park of The Bridgewater Hotel, Worsley, Gtr Manchester. What is believed to be a white Transit van pulled alongside the van and took less than a minute to take the guitars and make off.

MARTIN, Model = D18 (1954), serial number D18#1503010
This is pretty battered and has a hole in it the size of a 10p that has been patched. It has a Fishman rare earth pick-up across the soundhole.

ANDY MANSON, Model = MAGPIE1, serial number 970508
Dark brown/crimsony-red sunburst

FYLDE, Model = custom built, serial number 3733

CHRIS ECCLESHALL, Model = custom built, serial number 900
This is natural wood colour with mahogany neck and rosewood binding. This has a Fishman rare earth pick-up across the soundhole

Avalon
Unfortunately at this stage we do not have a serial number for the Avalon, which was a regular production model circa three years old.

All the guitars were taken in black Hiscox liteflite cases. There were Shure radio packs in each case and straps but these may have been discarded.

If you come across any of these guitars or have any information that may lead to their recovery, please report it to Gtr Manchester police on 0161 872 5050, crime number 135272C06.

These guitars, whilst highly valuable, are priceless to their devastated owners and no amount of insurance will replace them.

Can you forward this message on to anybody that you think it would be relevant to, predominantly concentrating on the Merseyside and Greater Manchester areas. Thanks for any help that you may be able to give.

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 22 May 06 - 10:31 AM

I'm sure that the owners will have already done this, but just in case they have overlooked it, don't forget to contact all the Guitar shop in Manchester and especially place's like the Muisc Room in Cleckheaton and Hobgoblin.

Good Luck and heres' hoping for a safe return

Raggy

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 22 May 06 - 01:10 PM

Sorry about this but I am bumping....

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 23 May 06 - 05:19 AM

Do people mind that I'm bumping this?

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: redsnapper
Date: 23 May 06 - 05:30 AM

Bump away Richie,

People who steal precious instruments like this live in the depths of hell, even lower down than the editor of The Sun.

Good luck to those affected in getting these back.

RS

P.S. I have owned both Manson and Eccleshall instruments so know the value to their owners.

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: GUEST,richie
Date: 23 May 06 - 03:26 PM

things go bump in the night!

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 24 May 06 - 01:08 PM

Another bump required. Can't imagine how I'd feel if these had been MY instruments...any news anyone?
                            Nigel P.

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: Mooh
Date: 24 May 06 - 01:13 PM

Having instruments disappear is heartbreaking. Bump again.

Peace, and good luck.

Mooh

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 24 May 06 - 04:11 PM

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 24 May 06 - 08:30 PM

Thanks everyone.

Still no good news to report I'm afraid... The owners, myself and lots of others have been covering lots of the s/h shops, music shops, places where musos hang out, etc., in the last couple of days.

I also heard that a £3,000 PRS (I think a hollow body) was stolen from a new guitar shop in Liverpool on the first day of opening.

Thanks again for support.

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: Effsee
Date: 24 May 06 - 09:08 PM

Richie, you should post this on the Footstompin' site as well. Scotland ain't so far away.

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 25 May 06 - 04:08 AM

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: Maryrrf
Date: 25 May 06 - 08:23 AM

Yes, and also post on www.tradmusic.com . They often have postings about stolen instruments. I sure hope these turn up and get back into the hands of the owners.

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: Leadfingers
Date: 25 May 06 - 01:26 PM

And I hope the rest of you have got piccies of YOUR gear - Digital pics can be E Mailed to shops for Identification dont forget !!

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: Don Firth
Date: 25 May 06 - 06:02 PM

The reason they used to hang horsethieves was because the thief was more than likely depriving the owner of the horse of his means of income. Although I'm generally not in favor of capital punishment, it strikes me that the same principles could be applied here.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 26 May 06 - 10:28 AM

There are lots of photos of these guitars in existence all over the web. I'm trying to edit them so that the identities of the owners remains anonymous, yet leave the guitars at a reasonable enough resolution.

As for depriving the owners of income, like I've said already, the monetary value is really irrelevant and the band completed their remaining commitments with borrowed guitars. But now, more than even the sentimental values, there is a real loss of motivation and tension within the band concerned...

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 28 May 06 - 06:55 AM

bumpy-bumpy

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: folk1e
Date: 28 May 06 - 01:12 PM

I could be wrong here but the last time I waas at the "brdgewater" I thaught they had CCTV on the car park!
Hope you get them all back soon!

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: Ebbie
Date: 29 May 06 - 11:21 AM

The empty, betrayed feeling that sinks one's heart when a theft occurs is something that no one should have to feel. I don't know the feelings within the thief but I hope the thief will not rest until the instruments are returned.

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 06 Jul 06 - 10:28 PM

Hope you don't mind me bumping once again, just as a reminder, thanks.

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 06 Jul 06 - 10:56 PM

Watch EBAY!!!

Subject: RE: Stolen guitars
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 10 Jul 06 - 04:36 AM

Visited the British Music Fair in Birmingham UK last week. Met a guy who runs an instrument insurance company who, as part of the policy, will mount an identification chip in a secret location on your guitar, harp,violin...any instrument. Doesn't enable a tracking device, but it does establish pretty conclusive ownership if a stolen instrument is subsequently offered for sale. A quick scan reveals all.
            A bit of info & not very subtle bump!
                                                 Nigel P. :)