Help! Another missing guitar!

Subject: RE: Help! Another missing guitar!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Feb 12 - 08:05 AM

How nice.

Subject: RE: Help! Another missing guitar!
From: foggers
Date: 09 Feb 12 - 03:09 AM

I like a happy ending!

Subject: RE: Help! Another missing guitar!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 09 Feb 12 - 12:14 AM

I'm guessing that the person who found it had heard Otis play at the Coffee Depot, and I do think it was found by someone who had no intention of keeping it or selling it but only knew of this way to get it back to Otis.

Subject: RE: Help! Another missing guitar!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 10:52 AM

Hurrah!!! Once in awhile the goodness of humanity does come through.

Subject: RE: Help! Another missing guitar!
From: GUEST,999
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 10:48 AM

Wow, talk about restore faith in humans.

Subject: RE: Help! Another missing guitar!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 10:39 AM

Thank you, all! The guitar has been found! Someone dropped it off at The Coffee Depot, a wonderful independent cafe on Main Street (Rt. 114) in Warren that hosts occasional folk music performances.

Subject: RE: Help! Another missing guitar!
From: GUEST,999
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 05:01 PM

It's always a heartbreak to lose a guitar.

Subject: RE: Help! Another missing guitar!
From: reggie miles
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 04:10 PM

It was on one weekend night, during Mari Gras season. I was rather congested, as though a nasal cold had taken hold. I tried some decongestant but that didn't seem to be working.

I met up with two other friends. We were all going to head down to play on the street in the Pioneer Square area of Seattle.

One suggested that I try some whiskey to loosen up the congestion. She said that it worked for her.

I drank some whiskey once, only one other time. It didn't agree with me. Rather, it made me say things, that I wouldn't normally say. It was as though my thoughts tumbled forth uncensored from my lips. That can get a guy in trouble. So, I stayed away from the stuff.

However, the level of discomfort that I was feeling from the congestion caused me to change my mind and try some. I knew that mixing the over the counter meds and booze might not be a wise thing to do but I needed to be ready to play that evening. I was willing try anything that might help.

I went to unload my gear from my car. We were all going to ride together in my friend's van. I set my guitar down next to one side of my car. Then, I went around to the other side to get my washboard. Because the washboard was rather weighty, with all of my additions to it, I loaded it into the van, around the corner, first and then, promptly forgot about my guitar.

We drove off to pick up a couple of other players on the other side of town. Half way there, I remembered my guitar and pleaded with the driver to turn around but she was intent on picking up the others first, before turning back. By the time we got back, my guitar was gone.

I'm guessing that the combination of the congestion, the meds and the whiskey probably contributed to my general lack memory that evening. The really sad news is, that the congestion didn't end up being a routine head cold.

I found out a couple of weeks later, after a visit to a doctor, that I had a sinus infection. It was nothing that the meds or the whiskey could have helped. He offered me some antibotics to clear it up.

So, had I known that what was ailing me was an infection, instead of a simple head cold, I wouldn't have taken the meds or the whiskey and perhaps I would have had the presence of mind to not forget my guitar sitting beside my car. I might be playing it today.

It was a sweet sounding resonator that I had put together. I used the remnants of an old Regal from the 30s and mounted them in a new Regal body.

I postered the area, hoping to find the person who took it and hoping they would be willing to do the right thing and return my guitar to me. Being a street performer left me with little money to offer for a reward. I received only one phone call in response. The person on the phone claimed to have it and wanted to hold it for ransome. Their last words were, "It'll make good firewood."

I've never recovered it. It may have simply been a crank call. I don't know.

Subject: RE: Help! Another missing guitar!
From: SINSULL
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 09:14 AM

Happened on Long Island. Baby in a carrier was put on the roof and they forgot. Drove off and didn't miss the baby until they got where they were going. Meantime, someone saw a perfectly good car seat by the side of the rode and stopped to get it. A happy ending and the baby was unhurt.

Subject: RE: Help! Another missing guitar!
From: GUEST,999
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 08:25 AM

It's not in Snopes, but I recall reading(?) or hearing of it on radio.

I did check Snopes before I posted that--it seems the gal in Alberta has had lotsa company:

http://www.snopes.com/autos/mishaps/babyroof.asp

Subject: RE: Help! Another missing guitar!
From: frogprince
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 11:19 PM

"A lady did that with her baby in Alberta. Story had a happy ending."
            (They had fun making a replacement)

    Okay, so I'm rotten, but there wasn't a tragedy, for which, as gnu said, thank goodness!

Subject: RE: Help! Another missing guitar!
From: gnu
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 10:48 PM

Thank goodness 9!

Subject: RE: Help! Another missing guitar!
From: GUEST,999
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 10:41 PM

A lady did that with her baby in Alberta. Story had a happy ending.

Subject: RE: Help! Another missing guitar!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 10:19 PM

It can easily happen. I came within a hair of doing the same thing once, only the guitar was sitting on the trunk area behind the rear window of the car, not on the roof. I drove about 3 miles before I realized it was there, and it never fell off, and that was a miracle.

After that, I had a basic rule: NEVER put the guitar (or anything else you value) on top of or behind the car, ONLY beside the car...if you must put it down at all...and better yet, don't put it down at all. Just don't.

It's a crappy way to lose a good instrument.

Subject: Help! Another missing guitar!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 07:54 AM

From Otis Read, a Friend of a Friend and great guitarist: Last night I ran out of the house and put my guitar on the roof of my car, and ran back in the house to get a tune book, hopped into the car with my guitar on the roof - and drove off. I remember hearing something drop off the car and drove on to Barrington before I realized what had happened. Drove back and looked - gone in less than 10 minutes. EEEKS! If anyone hears of a guitar - left-handed one please let me know. A Carvin Guitar, acoustic. Hard plastic case, like new. $100 reward. Thanks!
If you have any information, please call the Warren, RI, Police Department, 401-245-1311.
Otis and his friends will be checking eBay and Craig's List.