Stolen in NYC

[smallfry]

I was playing a gig in New York, this weekend, and my upright was stolen. While it is not a remarkable bass it is sentimental and has many distinguishing features.

Does anyone think there is anyway i could look for it in pawn shops... put out some kind of internet APB? The police precinct i visited said I might be able to track it down because it is fairly unique But i am not sure where to start... where instruments like that might be fenced in New York, etc.

Does anyone have any ideas or should i just pack it in and move on (arrrr).
Has anyone ever heard of any successful recoveries.


Here are details on stolen equipment.

Stolen 1.27.08, between 5-7 am in Tribeca.


*Double Bass*
1939 Johann Nurnberg, Plywood Bass (tag inside)
Light color
Flat back
Damaged on left side (previously repaired)
Pegged at the rear of the headstock (two pegs)
Inlay around the edges and on the back, but chipped (repaired with superglue to smooth chips)
Non-Adjustable Bridged
D-String Machine head is broken off. Screw/Ring mechanism in place

*Double Bass Pickup*
Pierre Josephs String Charger Pickup
w/ Bridge Charger addition


*Electric Bass*
Carvin LB 75 5-String Electric Bass
Serial Number 66839
Blue

[Marcus Johnson]

Post pics.

[downneck]

like marcus said, pix would be handy

check ebay and craigslist *constantly* it's virtually guaranteed to show up there, especially craigslist

honestly, the police themselves should have a fairly good network of pawn shop info...afaik there are ny state laws that make it easier to track stolen items through the pawn shops

[Kevin Hsieh]

How'd you get it stolen?

[jisbass]

that sucks.

If not pics, at least a description?

[smallfry]

Pictures coming soon.

[Don Carrigan]

STOLEN BASS? SEND A FLYER TO ALL LUTHIER SHOPS.

Here's a true story. A student assistant of a bass teacher from New Eng. Consv. stole his boss's string bass and immediately drove to a New York luthier to sell it. His story was that his uncle died and left it to him, but he didn't play bass, so he wanted a quick sale and asked what it was worth. The luthier looked inside and saw repair markings from a Boston luthier, and signed "Lennie". The luthiers knew each other. The New York luthier told the thief to come back tomorrow afternoon and he would have a check for him. The Police were called and present when the thief showed up, accepted the check and was arrested. In Court the Judge allowed the thief to pay all court costs, and other expenses involved and the bass was returned to the owner. True story. Oh, by the way, the thief was an "Assistant Professor". If the bass ends up in the hands of a private collector, you may never hear about it again. One collector of prized basses is said to be Bill Cosby, the comedian. Another rumored collector is said to be Mr. Honda, the Japanese auto maker. My 1820 Prescott 5 string Busetto is so unusual it can be spotted a mile away, but still isn't safe. In an local upscale jazz bar a musician laid his Benge trumpet on the band stand, walked to the bar and back, and it was gone. At least a bass is big. I like to spread pictures of my Prescott widely in hopes that it is so unique fewer will be tempted to steal it.

Donald Carrigan, prescottviol@earthlink.net See Prescott Data & Photos: http://home.earthlink.net~prescottviol
PHOTOS:
http://home.earthlink.net/~prescottv...strgANGLED.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~prescottv...5strgFRONT.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~prescottv...TTdonSMALL.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~prescottv...arborBEACH.jpg

[Carl Johnson]

student assistant of a bass teacher from New Eng. Consv. stole his boss's string bass and immediately drove to a New York luthier to sell it.

Crazyness... I'm also going to keep my eye on that Colsby guy

Checking craigslist would be my first bet, insurance?... Pick up a second-hand ply and get back in there!

[mburd]

you can search both ebay and craigslist from one page here

There's a "stolen" section over on the slab side of TB you could post on. Try www.bassgear.com too.

Another fairly effective tool is google maps. In the search block enter your desired info such as "pawn shop near 48th st NYC". Business name, Physical addresses and phone numbers as well as their relative location on the map will show up. Good little utility. Mess around till you get the sort of results you're after.

Try not to obsess too much tho..it'll drive you nuts..do the best you can, then try to move on..

good luck..

[rachelcalin]

A friend's very 'fancy' cello was stolen in NY and it showed up at a pawn shop VERY quickly after the theft.

Would it be possible for you to list the exact date/location of when it was stolen here? plus, even if ittakes a while to get pics up, maybe you can list the distinguishing features here in the meantime.

my gut says that because of a bass's size theyre going to want to unload it sooner than later; plus, also because of size, i would guess that the person lives in the area it was stolen from and will also take it to a pawn shop nearby, if not craigslist.... i just dont picture the theif toting it hours away on the subway. check the shops in an extending radius from the theft location.

[Don Higdon]

It would help us to help you if you had filled out your profile.
Describe your bass, and say where you were when it was stolen. It's a big city.

[smallfry]

new pix at the top

[dgelting]

Originally Posted by Kevin Hsieh

How'd you get it stolen?

I think he deserves the benifit of doubt that he wasn't the one who "got it stolen". Yes, there are stupid things person can do that result in things getting stolen, but we can hope that this isn't one of those instances. And it's still no excuse for theft, even if it is one of those instances.