Stupid mistake, stolen guitar

Subject: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 02:13 AM

Pardon me, I just have to vent here. Yesterday we had the best Irish music session EVER at Kelley O'Neill's Pub in Waikiki (a charter member of the Out-of-Place Places Society). Two fiddles, two flutes, two guitars, tenor banjo, whistle, two or three bodhrans (well, nothing's perfect), and the leader of our group on mandolin, bouzouki, whistle, guitar, etc. I even got everybody to stop talking and listen (not an easy thing to do in that place) with my rendition of "The Sick Note." Afterwards, one of the fiddlers was going to go and busk out on the street, so a few of us went to hear her. We were all in good spirits as a result of the wonderful music. My friend suggested stashing our instruments and his PA equipment in a corner of the pub, where he said the management had let him store things temporarily on previous occasions. An hour later, when we got back, my sweet little 2-year-old Martin 000-X1 was gone. My friend's guitar and the PA stuff were still there.

Of course, when I looked again I realized that this "safe" corner of the bar happened to be right next to the door! A classic instance of one of my finest faults: letting somebody else make decisions for me. When my friend said, "We can leave our stuff here," a reasonable response would have been, "Wait a minute, this isn't a good place for my guitar, it's right next to the door! Let me ask the guys who are playing after us if I can leave it by their cases, right next to them." My response was: "Duh, OK!"

So the policeman came and I felt foolish showing him where the instrument had been (it was even next to a window so you could easily see it from the street!!!) At least I had written down the serial number. I spent the morning calling a dozen music stores in town (a couple of them asked for the police report number...apparently if they have that number they can tell the person the instrument is stolen and they're legally allowed to hold onto it) and some pawn shops.

I had a brief moment of hope when I got a call back from one of the music stores saying somebody had come in this morning wanting to sell what was almost certainly my guitar, but that was befor I'd called them, and they told him they didn't buy guitars, so he left. No more reports after that.

There's a big swap meet Wednesday at Aloha Stadium, and I've heard that stolen instruments often wind up there, so I'll be there at 7AM and hope my friend is there. One of the musicians who played after us last night told me that he had had his guitar taken from his car last year, and it was recovered. He said, "Someone told me this when my guitar was stolen: Your guitar does not want to be with the person that has it. It wants to be with you. Believe that, and own it." Sounds good to me.

This is also a very good lesson in the Buddhist principle of non-attachment: non-attachment to the guitar, and non-attachment to my feelings of guilt and anger at having been careless.

OK, thanks for the opportunity to rant.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: alanabit
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 02:29 AM

Good luck mate and I hope you get it back. You are a nicer bloke than I am, because anything which threatens my guitar is more likely to bring out the homicidal in me than any Bhuddist tolerance!

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 02:30 AM

Oh, bummer. I think your friend is right though- the molecules that make up your body and your essence are in the body and spirit of the guitar so the urge for reunion is present in both of you. I choose to believe that, with you. I'll hold that thought- let us know when it comes home...

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 02:42 AM

That's a good thought to keep in mind, Mark. I do this with lost pets, even surrounding them with Light, myself as well, then seeing a streamof light extending from them to me, then I "reel" them in. This has worked many times for my own pets and those of others. I'll "see" your sweet little Martin being there for you just at the right moment.

Sorry this happened, though!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 03:27 AM

I made a similar stupid mistake about fifteen years ago that resulted in the theft of my six-month-old Taylor D. I was sure it would come home because Taylors were still pretty uncommon back then and it would stand out like a sore thumb if anybody tried to sell it. Well, it may have wanted to come home, but I guess whoever stole it had it locked in a closet.

The most disgusting thing about instrument thieves is that 99% of them don't play and if they don't sell the instrument for cash it will probably sit in a closet unplayed for years. I could almost forgive the person that stole my guitar if I thought that having it around made a guitar player out of him. But it probably didn't.

I certainly hope your 000 finds its way home.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 05:57 AM

Thanks, folks. My friend has graciously offered me the loan of an old 00 Martin for two upcoming events: our rehearsal on Wednesday, and a Cajun guitar workshop with David Doucet (of Beausoleil) on Thursday! He felt bad, because he made the suggestion, and it was only because he remembered that we had stashed stuff there on St. Pat's Day. Neither of us remembered, of course, that there had been somebody at the door on St. Pat's Day!

Holding my guitar in the light....I like that!

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Maryrrf
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 09:14 AM

This reminds me of a television program I saw last night - "Strange but True" or something like that. At the age of 18 a girl in Appalachia was given a homemade dulcimer by her Dad. For whatever reason, she criticized it, hurt his feelings, and stuck it away and forgot about it. Years later, after he was long dead and she was in her fifties, the incident haunted her about how she had hurt his feelings. She thought more and more about the dulcimer and decided to buy one and learn to play it. She shopped at music stores, craft markets, etc. and couldn't find one she could afford. Then she went on line and the first one she pulled up was a "Handmade Appalachian Dulcimer - with a few imperfections but obviously hand made with love." The price was only $47. When it arrived IT WAS THE DULCIMER HER FATHER HAD MADE FOR HER! She recognized it because of a little cross he had carved into the wood.

Stranger things have happened! Your guitar may turn up after all!

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: GUEST,reggie miles
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 09:39 AM

Mark, you certainly are not alone. A sad event, stupid mistake, happened to me as well. I had just completed canabalizing two vintage, bottom of the line, Regal resonator guitars and mounting all of the appropriate pieces in a new Regal bodies, with great success I should add. They played and sounded wonderfully in their new bodies. I didn't think I needed two beautiful sounding guitars so I sold one and kept my favorite of the two. They were virtually identical except for some bluing that happened on one cover plate when the nickel plating wore off along an area where it was strummed by it's previous owners.

I was on the way to a gig a number of years ago. A few days earlier I had contracted, what was for me, a rare case of sinus infection. Only I didn't know it was a sinus infection. Thinking my problem was a mere head cold, and needing a certain amount of clarity for an evening of busking with some friends, I bought and swallowed a 50 cent sample package of some kind of new, miracle, nasal decongestant, one that I had never tried before, on the way to join them. Upon arriving, and the sample failing to do it's work, and as time was growing nearer to our preformance, I then took the suggestion of one of my band mates who offered a glass of whiskey to help ease my distress. Well, I knew from experience that whiskey and me almost never agree, but as time was of the essence, and my wellness was critical to our success, I took the bitter glass and did my best to finish it. When it came time to unload my gear from my car, so that I could pack it into my friend's van, which was parked around the corner, I first unloaded my sweet new resonator guitar from the driver's side door of my car. That was the last time I ever handled my guitar. I set it down on the ground right next to the door and then moved, without thinking, to get the rest of my stuff from the other side of the car. Once my hands were full of gear from the passenger's side I walked the stuff around the corner to load it in the van. My friend asked if I had everything and I said yes without even thinking about my guitar setting next to the driver's side door on the ground. So I hopped in the van and we drove off across town to pick up a couple of other bandmates. Halfway there was it struck me, that I had left without it. I asked my friend to turn around so I could retrieve it, but was assured that my guitar would be there when we got back as we continued on to pick up the others. I tried to hurry them along with their loading because of my fear at having left my guitar just sitting there. Of course, it was gone. I postered, offering what reward I could, which wasn't much I'm afraid. I was too broke to offer more. I did receive some phone calls from someone who was not very sympathetic with my plight and only wanted more money than I had to offer. They threatened to turn my guitar into fire wood.

I looked for it, hoping it would show up evetually at a local swap meet, or pawn shop, or festival. Maybe if I write a song about it, it will hear me singing and make it's way back to my arms.

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Wesley S
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 10:02 AM

Mark - Perhaps there is an advantage to living on an island. It's most likely nearby. Have you thought of running an ad in the paper ? "Wanted to buy - Martin guitars - top dollar paid" The thief might just offer to sell it to you. Or you might hear of another good deal in the meantime.

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Maryrrf
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 10:46 AM

Wesley's suggestion is the best yet! I'd try it!

Subject: Lyr Add: REUNION (Bob Clayton)
From: Songster Bob
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 12:07 PM

Reunion

        [Tune: "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down"]

Long years ago, a younger man, I got my first guitar --
A cheapo-cheapo, cost me 15 bucks.
It was hard to play, and sounded like a tin can strung with wire;
It made me want to better my poor luck.
Now Martins, so I'd heard, were among the very best,
But they cost an arm and even half a leg.
But I kept looking on till I finally found one, used,
At a price I didn't have to steal or beg.

The model that I found was a big D-28
Made in 1963, the numbers told.
The top was just as snowy as it was when it was new --
You'd never think that it was five years old.
The trouble is, it also sounded new and kind of stiff;
It didn't have that sound I'd hoped to find.
So when I got a better-sounding, smaller Martin box,
I sold that Dreadnought to a friend of mine.

Now, this was 1969, a score-odd years ago,
When hippie-dom held sway among the young.
This friend went to New York, and left his car to go get stoned,
And got ripped off by some damned passing bum.
So that guitar was gone, from his life and from mine,
And I hadn't thought of that old thing for years.
Though I'd owned some nice guitars, I still hadn't found the one
That felt right to my fingers and my ears.

It's 1989, at a festival with friends,
When I see this odd-appearing Martin there.
A '28 from '63, but looking at the top,
You could see that something wasn't on the square.
The musician who was selling it told a tale of woe,
Of a smashed-in top and a luthier of skill.
But then when I played it, it spoke to me, deep down,
And you could say it's talking to me still.

So now I have the Martin of my dreams, or pretty close,
And I play it every time that there's a chance.
The lifelong search I'd made for that particular guitar
Had had me leading such a merry dance.
But the thing is, once I'd bought it, I finally took a look
At the maker's number stamped inside, and lo!
That "196578" rang my memory's bell --
It's the same guitar I sold off years ago!


© 1992, Bob Clayton, Silver Spring, MD


-----

And it's the truth! .... I think.

Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Mark Ross
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 04:34 PM

Once years ago, when I was playing the basket houses in the Village, I stumbled home half drunk, at what was for me an early hour. Forgetting to lock the door of the apartment, which was on the lower East Side(Alphabet city, 4th St. and Ave.D), I woke up later to find my Gibson LG-2 had sprouted wings and flown the coop. Needless to say I was in a bit of a tizzy, to say the least. One of my roomates, who worked in the kitchen at the Four Winds where I played, came home to tell me that someone had come in the joint trying to sell him my guitar! To make a long story short, I got it back about 4AM at the 9th Precinct. Someone was looking out for a fool and a drunk that night!

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: SINSULL
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 07:39 PM

So sorry, Mark.

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Mudlark
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 08:22 PM

Ah, Mark, what a gutwrenching tale. I worry about leaving my little 016 in the car every time I have to run an errand on the way home from some session, even w/all doors locked and covered by a blanket in its case. Mostly, things don't matter that much to me, but my guitar is on the short list with friends and dogs. May your sweet Martin return to you safely and swiftly! (Good idea, letting go of guilt...not a soul alive who hasn't make a serious miscalculation at some point or another and put something of extreme value into jeopardy!Those that don't pay the price are just lucky.)

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 11:20 PM

It NEVER was yours.

It belonged to the Karma of the Island.

Be thankful, for allowing to be involved in, the "local ecomony."

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

You were stupid in believing it WAS YOURS...and for believing that IT would always, be yours.

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Little Hawk
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 10:04 PM

These things can easily happen, but it's a terrible shock when they do. I think you're handling it pretty well, Mark, if that's any comfort. A friend of mine once left a valuable guitar standing on a sidewalk in downtown Toronto, and drove away. It vanished. Another friend backed his car over his Martin, crushing it. He had put it down behind the car, "just for a minute", started talking to someone, then got it, put 'er in reverse and...CRUNCH!!! Cars have gotta be among the most dangerous darn things out there, I think.

It's a tough lesson in coping with loss when something like this happens. Good luck. Maybe you will get your guitar back. Maybe not. In any case, life goes on. I have learned that the best way to deal with loss is to just surrender to the fact and accept it...it may take awhile...but it works way better than staying angry. And you learn something useful from it too. I know I have...every time I have experienced loss. I learned to give back what life temporarily lent to me, and not have any regrets about it. (Losing girlfriends can be just like that too.)

One thing you've learned powerfully is...don't let other people do your thinking for you. And that one's a doozy for most of us. It's so easy to get careless and miss it when we customarily fall into that mistake.

- LH

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: M.Ted
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 10:19 PM

These things do show up--though it may take time--Check out Janice Ian's Lost Guitar --

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: M.Ted
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 10:21 PM

Oh, also, as Janis mentions, call Martin to register the guitar as stolen--

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Willie-O
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 10:31 AM

Bad luck. To be sure, and I hope you get it back shortly and in great shape. Mistakes happen, and usually you're lucky...

I am curious about one thing: was it in one of those highly identifiable MARTIN cases? I've always thought those were a bad idea, like writing I'm VALUABLE, STEAL ME on it.   

Here's hoping...

W-O

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 12:07 PM

Not exactly the same thing, but a related sort of story.

A friend was playing at a festival a few years ago, and another banjo player was showing her a banjo that he had recently bought. She looked at it and said, "That's my banjo!" He said, "No, it's mine, I just bought it!" She repeated that it was hers. She had sold it several years earlier. He had not bought it from the person she sold it to and they couldn't make a connection between the two, so it had passed through at least two and perhaps more owners before he so proudly showed it to her.

So things do come around again. Perhaps yours will, too.

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Little Hawk
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 02:26 PM

Yeah, those Martin cases are a problem all right. I would be quite nervous about sending one through the luggage system at an airport for that very reason. Too identifiable to the potential thief. What I have done to ease that problem is gotten an outer nylon and foam-padded case that covers the entire hardshell case and hardly adds any weight at all. Grit Laskin used to sell them...maybe he still does. They're specially intended for air travel. They work great, and they keep your fancy Martin case from getting old and worn looking too.

- LH

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 10:53 PM

Thanks, M.Ted, I will notify Martin. Excellent suggestion.

The case had a little brass "C.F. Martin" plaque near the handle, but otherwise looked like a garden-variety black hardshell case.

Odd info from the music store: seems the person who brought the guitar in is a musician who is known to Clayton, the music store guy. He used to come into the store to buy strings and such, and Clayton got the impression he took good care of his instruments. But now it seems he sees him occasionally on the street and, as he puts it, "Seems like he must have lost his job...or his mind." The thing is, he brought the guitar in without the case, but with the strap attached, and he wanted, not to sell it, but to trade it for a nylon string guitar! Puzzling.

A pawn shop owner I talked with, who's an ex-cop, said that in Honolulu the pawn shop owners are required to turn in all their pawn tickets to the police once a week so they can be checked against the stolen goods reports. If one matches, they can arrest the person (they take name, address, and thumbprint when they lend on something). The bad news about this, he says, is that most experienced thieves don't try to fence stuff at pawnshops because they know there's a good chance they'll get caught. The things you don't know...

I agree completely, LH. It's an interesting balance, accepting that it's gone and still visualizing its return. I'm sure not turning down any prayers!

Aloha,
Mark

PS, the old 00 Martin had been coated with dark brown lacquer from head to toe, and sounded like it was being played under a blanket...so my friend is graciously lending me his Takamine for tonight's David Doucet workshop.

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: syren
Date: 13 Jul 03 - 06:11 AM

Hi Mark!!!! (mary in Portland, here!!) I just finally started checking in here and found this thread.....I have to tell you a story.
My band partner, Tony worked for National Guitars long enough to be able to make one for himself. A lovely sounding National and we used it extensively in Spinnaker. Well, one morning, someonew broke into Tony's car, in the garage, and stole the National, along with a new Ovation and his old trusty mandolin. (long story about why they were in the car.) Anyway, he fortunately had photos and spread them around to the local pawn shops and music stores.....but as time went on, we lost hope. Losing the National was devastating to him and tho he replaced the Ovation and the mandolin, he never bought another National. About two years later, we were at a festival and some of us were talking about the National and he said that he somehow had a feeling that one day it would come back to him. That night, as we were about to go on stage, he noticed there was a message on his cell phone and lo and behold, it was from the President of Natinal Guitars telling him that the guitar had been found and that it was at Artichoke Music in Portland. He had it back in three days time. It had no strap, no case, no strings....but it was unharmed and stills sounds as beautiful as ever. Even I had tears in my eyes the first time he played it at a gig!
So hang in there my friend......it may find it's way home yet! Good luck!

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Jul 03 - 06:39 AM

..."no strap, no case, no strings..."

No strap and no case, I can understsand that - but a thief taking off the strings and then either handing in or discarding the guitar, that is really weird.

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 13 Jul 03 - 06:46 AM

Thanks, Mary, that does help. I've heard a number of similar stories. I've decided to buy a new one. Went to the local Martin franchise, who had a 000-X1 two weeks ago, but it was gone already. They said they may be getting another in about a month. Which is fine, since next week I'll be going to the East Coast for 2 weeks. I figure if I buy a replacement, mine might come back then...sort of like the impaired-fertility couples who get pregnant right after they adopt!

There was a D-X1 in the shop, for the same price, but it didn't really speak to me: it sounded kind of dull and boring, unlike mine, which had a very sweet tone, and sounded as good (to my ears, and to some other people) as the $1000+ instruments. I don't know if another instrument of the same model will have the same feeling and sound--I hope it will be close.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Deckman
Date: 13 Jul 03 - 07:57 AM

Hi Mark, I hope my story will add to the discussion. A hundred years ago, 1967 actually, Eastern airlines landed their airplane using a beatiful Martin I owned as a landing skid. This all happened in Indianappolis. Needless to say I was upset when I claimed the wrecked guitar. Eastern said they'd make it good, and they did ... remember that this was years ago when airlines were still trying to please customers. There was a very good music store in town and Eastern sent them a claim saying they'd pay for a replacement. I was in town for three months, so I took my time. The store had 6 guitars that were all my model. I played them all over several weeks. The differences in each instrument were amazing. I finally chose the one that spoke best to me. It still wasn't as fine an instrument as the one they had busted, but it was close. I don't know if you'll find several Martins together in the same store again, but maybe. Actually, I do remember that Honolulu had several large music stores. CHEERS, Bob (P.S. One bonus that I did get out of all this was a couple of dinner dates with the Eastern airlines baggage claim lady ... a blonde as I recall. Oh well, that's another thread!)

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 13 Jul 03 - 07:27 PM

Cool...did the company pay for dinner, too?

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: PoppaGator
Date: 13 Jul 03 - 10:17 PM

Here's my stolen guitar story. I thought of it when this thread first appeared, but didn't have time to write at the time.

I got a D-18 Martin upon graduating from college in June 1969. This was to replace my first guitar, a no-name nylon-string instrument that I'd had for five years.

Within a couple of weeks, I went to the Newport Folk Festival with a couple of friends for the second consecutive year. Being young, broke, and stupid, we had no accommodations, not even a tent - just sleeping bags. If if rained, we'd sleep sitting up in the car. And, of course, our possessions could stay locked in the car. Also, of course, I *had* to bring my brand new Martin along with me.

Long story short, I somehow got separated from my buddies and went to sleep one night on the ground, with my hardshell case under my head like a pillow. When I awoke in the morning, no guitar.

Fortunately, somehow, my parents' homeowners insurance policy paid for the loss. I think this occurred *only* because the insurtance agent was a family friend who pulled a few strings. It took a while for the insurance check to come in -- seemed like months, but it was probably 2-3 weeks -- but I got another new D-18, which I still have to this day.

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 11:41 AM

Mark, it's agonizing to read of your self-inflicted misfortune. Makes you want to beat yourself over the head with said-guitar, doesn't it? And I can visualize the senior-Dwyer's wince at learning of this loss.

Any more leads to follow? Perhaps place an advertisment looking for a guitar to buy, see who bites?

Maggie

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: CraigS
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 06:04 PM

Take Clayton's description of the guy to the other music stores, particularly the Make and gauge of the strings he bought, if Clayton can remember. Or the way he selected strings - or did he mention they were for a specific guitar? When I worked in a music shop we'd get people who were memorable for their preferences - you didn't refer to them as "the tall guy with the glasses", you said things like "Mr two packs of La Bella silk and steels and a pack of extra slinkies".

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Deckman
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 07:16 PM

Mark ... perhaps this next story will take a little of the pain away from your experience. Back in the 70's, when several of us ( including the late and great John Dwyer) were teaching and festivaling at Everett Community College, a similiar thing happened. One of the kingpins of the teaching staff was "Bill." Great guy, darned good teacher, made you want to cut off your fingers after watching him. One time, he was heading off to teach night school (guitar) at the college. He had just set his guitar by the trunk of his car when his lady came to the door and said he had an urgent phone call. His day job was that of a Doctor. You can see where this story is going. A few minutes later, he came out of the house, got in his car, and backed over the one of the most beautiful classic guitars I've ever played! What's worse, he couldn't blame anyone but hisself! Oh, the pain. By the way "Bill," aren't you glad that I didn't post your last name! CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jul 03 - 12:19 AM

GeezLouise, Bob, that's even worse than having the guitar stolen! I did that with a fishing rod one time (slammed it in the camper shell) and it was bad enough. But to demolish a guitar! Ouch, ouch, and ouch!

A medical doctor, eh? I have some of those old ECC posters around here. I'll have to find one and take a look at the participant names.

SRS

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 15 Jul 03 - 12:39 AM

Now, what would a doctor be doing playing a guitar? insert stupid smiley face thing here

False hope yesterday: got to the gig at Kelley O'Neill's (I played a borrowed guitar) and my friend said, "Did you hear they caught the guy who stole your guitar?" Apparently he showed up at the music store recently and the clerk recognized him and detained him long enough to call the police. I figured, great, they arrested him and searched his place and found my guitar. No such luck. They didn't arrest him. I don't know where the breakdown in communication was, but it happened.

I called the detective today and gave him all the info again (including the serial number of the guitar, which I'd left in a message for the investigating officer but never got to the detective--Grrrr!). Maybe now he'll get a warrant and check the guy's place... Another lesson, straight out of the Four Agreements: Don't Make Assumptions! I'd told the officer that I would call and leave him a message with the serial number, and I did...but either he didn't get the message or didn't pass it on to the detective.

Oh, well, what I'm focusing on now is Saturday, when I get to see my daughter and play music with Amos et al in San Diego before spending two weeks with my daughter in Boston and Philly. One way or another, I'll have a guitar in August.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: GUEST,Mike
Date: 15 Jul 03 - 05:48 AM

Reading this lot has really brought back the hurt and pain. I was 21 ( I'm 48 now) and I had a beautiful 000 18 that I had bought several years before from a bloke in Eastbourne. I played around the Wallasea area for several years. I had several guitars in the flat I was living in. Someone broke in and stole just the Martin. They knew me, knew my guitar and went for it. I cried for weeks. And still do from time to time even though I have now other Martins. I'm sorry to hear of such stories. It is one of the sadder fraternities, musicians who have their souls torn through theft of an instrument. If there is a law, Buddhist, Christian or otherwise, I hope……

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: curmudgeon
Date: 15 Jul 03 - 11:19 AM

Hi Mark -- In the event that you haven't replaced your guitar by the time you get to New Hampshire, we have a couple shops that might have what you're looking for; go here and
here.

Looking forward to your visit -- Tom

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 02:12 AM

If it had been surrounded with light as KL suggests if never would have been stolen. You can probably get 50% of the value back from her for poor crafts-woman-ship.

Subject: Stolen Ernie Ball/Music Man Honeyburst w/ Maple N.
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jun 11 - 02:02 PM

Stolen from Cambridge Cantab Lounge on 5/29/11.
Ernie Ball Silouette, Honeyburst ash body with Birdseye maple neck & fretboard. White Pick guard, knobs, and pickups. Humbucker/single coil/ Humbucker pickup configuration. Chrome Graph-Tech saddles, Round Electro-Socket replaced square input jack plate and 4 screw holes are visable around input jack, round chip showing wood in finish near bottom strap button, wear mark on body next to pick guard near neck pickup, chrome Ernie Ball locking strap buttons with black cartoon skull guitar strap attached. Case is black rectangle, slightly shorter and thicker than strat case and has gold piping and blue latches, right latch has broken spring.
If found please contact [e-mail].

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: GUEST,Guest - Betsy
Date: 01 Jun 11 - 03:57 PM

Is there any chance of these instruments being sold /shown on Ebay ?

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 01 Jun 11 - 04:10 PM

Seems unlikely to be found in a folk/traditional setting.

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: DebC
Date: 01 Jun 11 - 04:32 PM

The Cantab is a blues club but has a folk and acoustic open mic on Mondays and a Bluegrass jam on Tuesdays. Makes sense that someone might post here.

Debra
who goes to the Cantab occasionally

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 01 Jun 11 - 09:26 PM

The location of the "Janis Ian's Lost Guitar" story posted above (by M.Ted) has changed, so here's an updated blicky for her article
"Of Guitars & Righteous Men", originally published in Performing Songwriter Magazine, Issue #33, January 1999

It's a moving, well-written piece. Here's an excerpt:

"There are men who steal silver, and men who steal gold
"But the worst kind of thief is the man who steals your soul"

I grew up with that guitar. It was miles too big for me, a colorful, beat-up window into another world. My small fingers could barely fit around the neck. As I began learning chords, I discovered new ways of fingering them to compensate for my size. To this day, I play a D chord "wrong", but it works for me. By the age of eleven, I was arguing over it; when we went to see friends whose sons played with fingerpicks, and they insisted that was what "real" guitarists did, I just sneered.

GUEST, 01 Jun 11 - 02:02 PM -- good luck!

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 01:16 PM

Hi:

First off, I want to say that I am sorry to hear of your loss of this guitar. It hurts to lose things but especially when they are stolen. Don't know if anyone mentioned this or not (I didn't have time this morning to read all the responses) but by any chance is there any kind of security cameras in this establishment? Sometimes a business will have even just one (when they can't afford an elaborate security camera system). Often times the camera will be pointed towards the door.

Also, I would return to the swap meet the following Wednesday's in the event that the thief might wait a week to try and dispose of it.
He/she might think the owner of the guitar would try immediately to find it (be it swap meets or pawn shops) so might hold off on trying to sell it somewhere. Just a thought...

I hope you find it. Don't give up. Have you also looked in the paper to see if anyone has placed an ad to sell it? I think someone posted a message for you to place and ad "looking for a guitar to buy". Also try Craigslist and EBAY to see if this person might have an online to try and sell it.

Subject: RE: Stupid mistake, stolen guitar
From: Sven Baserat
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 03:58 PM

A couple of years ago Me and the Missus were joining in with the evening garden session at the Swan, Sidmouth Festival and I had left my cheapie acoustic bass laying around nearby in It's soft case while I played guitar. Suddenly the Missus said "Someone's going off with your bass". I jumped up and challenged him and it turned out he had just picked up the wrong case as he had an identical one right next to mine. His case had no guitar in it, it was full of cans of beer. Would have been an interesting talking point back at the camp site.