Stolen Musical Instruments and Equipment
By: RiFFiT on June 23, 2011 10:57 am EST



Ive been seeing this around the web the last few days and figured id post it here as well. I cant imagine what its like to have your whole lifes collection and passion heartlessly stolen from you. If anyone has any information regarding this instrument or any of the other gear in the list please contact the owner.

To the people who stole my Les Paul (Ladner/Tsawwassen)
(By Maurice)
http://web.me.com/outgolfing/Equipment/Home.html

To the people who stole most of my stuff out of my studio on June 5, including my main guitar of 43 years, let me tell you about it.

Its a very altered, but very real 1953 Gibson Les Paul Model - Serial Number 3 0621 (stamped on the back of the headstock)

This is not a gold-top. In the 1950s, it was refitted with an ABR-1 bridge and stop tailpiece, and then refinished, all by Gibson. The green colour in the picture, (especially on the rear half of the body where the light reflection is less), is accurate. Its one of the lightest Gibson Les Pauls, and the only one of its colour, that Ive ever seen.

Ive made many other changes to this guitar in favour of playability:
--changed the P-90s to humbuckers
--had the neck thinned and it, the back and the sides were refinished
--when it was refinished, the serial number was stamped in
--replaced worn out machine heads with gold Gibson ones
--added brass switch ring, jack plate, and rear cavity covers that were made for me by my now-deceased brother-in-law
--added a truss rod cover with Les Paul on it
--installed strap-locks (for obvious reasons)
--there will be traces of violin bow resin in and under various parts. It is the best guitar ever for bowing.

This is a one-of-a-kind instrument in so many ways. It is completely recognizable, down to every screw on it.

Ive been in the music business all my life, and have a large list of friends and contacts. With the help of countless amazing people, many who I dont even know, http://web.me.com/outgolfing/Equipment (which details what you took) has been sent across Canada and around the world to more people - musicians, music stores, pawn shops, studios, rehearsal rooms, and other musically related businesses - than I ever imagined possible. Its been passed around since you broke in, and is continually going out to more people. In fact, Id bet people reading this will pass the link on to others if they already havent. This will continue unendingly until I find my guitars and other equipment. My green Les Paul is already one of the most recognizable instruments in Canada, I can guarantee you that.

Heres your scenario:
--No collector will want this instrument because its not even close to original.
--No legitimate business will buy it from you.
--Any creep who would knowingly buy a stolen guitar will give you a pittance for it.
--If you keep it for yourself, youll never be able to play anywhere with it, and it will tie you to the crime and to all of the other stolen equipment for as long as you have it.
--You didnt even take the case.

Its my most personal possession, and I have always planned for my son to have it one day. By the way, the other Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier head you took was his.

Its not of much value to you, but to me, I cant buy another Les Paul like it because another one doesnt exist.. Heres a thought:

Have some decency and redeem some karma. Bring my guitar back. Youve fucked my studio up and stolen a life-time collection of my shit. You stole my guitar rig, which was MY sound that Ive spent years achieving.

You havent ripped off a money making business. Youve ripped off my life and my spirit immeasurably by taking away the tools of the pursuit of my passion. Ive worked extremely hard for my whole life to earn my right to do so, and you took it all away in an hour or two. Youve also ripped off my son, now, and in the future. I dont have the money to replace the gear, so its just gone.

Just give it back - NO QUESTIONS ASKED. PLEASE

Maurice

List Of Item Stolen:
-- Vintage 1953 Gibson Les Paul Standard
-- Vintage 1963 Gibson ES 335-TDC
-- Ovation 1868 Elite
-- Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier Amp Head (2 were stolen)
-- Custom Guitar Amp Head
-- Custom Birds Eye Maple Rack
-- Lexicon LXP-15 Digital Reverb
-- DBX 2231 Stereo Equalizer (3 were stolen in rack)
-- Custom Birds Eye Maple Curved Front Rack
-- DBX 162 Vintage Stereo Compressor
-- Aphex Aural Exciter Type C
-- Behringer Composer Compressor/Limiter (3 were stolen in rack)
-- DBX 166 Stereo Compressor
-- CGM-2 Champ Compressor/Limiter (2 were stolen in rack)
-- Ashley Mono Compressor/Limiter (2 were stolen in rack)
-- Symmetrix 544-2 4-Channel Gate
-- Lexicon LXP-15 Digital Reverb
-- Lexicon MPX-1 Digital Effects
-- Yamaha SPX-900 Digital Effects
-- Roland SDE-3000 Digital Delay

Other Instruments and Equipment
-- Mackie 1604 VLZ-3 16 Channel Mixer
-- Roland JX-8P Keyboard
-- Line 6 Pod 2.0
-- Zoom MRT3 Drum Machine
-- Shure SM57 (with stand)