Stolen Rickenbacker (and others)

stephena · Post by **stephena** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:03 am

I had a break-in at my home in Houston on July 20, 2007, and along with a computer, a couple of DVD players, and a couple of dozen DVDs, the thieves got my Gretsch Tennessean, my Alvarez acoustic 12-string (once played by Bob Shane of the Kingston Trio), my Hohner Classical, and... my 1980 Fireglo Rickenbacker 620/12 (serial number TB444). The pickguard is actually much more badly cracked than this picture shows.

I've got pictures and descriptions at my Stolen Guitars page

If anyone can help me to recover any of these, I'll pull a reward together somehow.

Thanks very much.

8mileshigh · Post by **8mileshigh** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:16 am

Sad news Stephen. I hope you manage to get them back real soon.

elysrand · Post by **elysrand** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 6:02 am

I am so sorry this happened, Stephen, and I actually had something like this happen to me. Labor Day 1987, I had my one and only burglary in my life, and they got a number of items. The worst was my beloved March 1971 BG 4001 21-fretter bass.

Beware, though! Severe RAS may develop if you go looking to replace it! My search to replace my 71, which began a year or two ago, has resulted in a really bad runaway case of RAS, over 100 Ricks now and still counting....

Regardless, I hope the police are successful in finding and recovering it all for you, undamaged and intact.

tennis_nick · Post by **tennis_nick** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 6:11 am

I posted this on another forum where I am a moderator. at least one of the other members there is a gigger from Houston. I hope you get your gear back real soon

tennis_nick · Post by **tennis_nick** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 6:15 am

Another thing. call the local guitar Center. not only will the be on the lookout for all the missing gear (trade ins and such) they'll send messages to all the guitar centers so that they all know it's stolen gear. you'll have better luck doing that as well.

wmthor · Post by **wmthor** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 6:29 am

Stephen, that's a bummer! I too live in Houston (actually Cypress) and will be on the lookout whenever I visit some the local shops in the area.

I also passed the link to your page to a couple of colleagues who like to troll pawn shops during their lunch hour.

dr_bob · Post by **dr_bob** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:06 am

Hey Stephen, I'm sorry to hear about the burglary. I'm passing your Stolen Guitars link along to a colleague at the University of Houston. Maybe the university has a web link to post something like this. A college campus might be another place to unload stolen guitars. Good luck.

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 12:30 pm

Don't forget that Vintage Guitar magazine has a stolen guitar section. Classifieds are free to subscribers. Good luck on retrieving you items back.

longhouse · Post by **longhouse** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 3:35 pm

Oh no!!!!! Sorry to hear about this.

Suitable punishment when they catch the thief / thieves = prostate exam with the neck of a Rickenfaker ...up to the 5th fret!

shackleton · Post by **shackleton** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:38 pm

Not only G center but pawn shops also. I had this happen and found the guitars at a local pawn. Turned out to be someone I knew who needed money and couldn't come to asking me for a loan. Probably keep and eye on ebay.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:05 pm

Sorry to hear that, Stephen, I hope your gear is recovered and the perps caught (and punished).

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:15 am

I hope your gear is recovered soon, Stephen.

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 6:37 am

Always bad news to hear of a theft. Good luck in finding your gear.

stephena · Post by **stephena** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:31 am

Thanks so much for the support, everyone!

Beware, though! Severe RAS may develop if you go looking to replace it! My search to replace my 71, which began a year or two ago, has resulted in a really bad runaway case of RAS, over 100 Ricks now and still counting....

Elysrand, you are so right! While taking flyers to various music shops, I have encountered some very nice Gretsch Country Gents and a couple of fantastic Rickenbacker Amber Fireglo hollow-body twelve-strings. I am trying to remain optimistic about getting some of my guitars back, so I won't let myself think about replacements. I guess the question is, how long do I wait?

Tennis_nick, Wmthor, and Dr_bob, I really appreciate your passing the information along. The more the word is spread, the better I feel.

The stolen Rick has been my back-up 12-string to my Mapleglo 360/12. Now I will start taking my Telecaster Thinline 12-string (custom job, made from parts I collected on various tours) as my backup. That ought to make some eyes pop!

Again, everyone, thanks for the support.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Fri Aug 24, 2007 9:50 am

Wow! Do you string that Thinline Rickenbacker-style?