Craigslist Response to Stolen Guitar

[Calebmundy]

To the people who stole my Les Paul

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To the people who stole my Les Paul (Ladner/Tsawwassen)
Date: 2011-06-21, 9:11AM PDT
Reply to: sale-quajk-2449158332@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
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.

It's a very altered, but very real 1953 Gibson Les Paul Model - Serial # 3 0621 (stamped on the back of the headstock)

This is not a gold-top. In the 1950's, 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. It's one of the lightest Gibson Les Pauls, and the only one of its' colour, that I've ever seen.

I've made many other changes to this guitar in favour of playability:
--changed the P-90's to humbuckers
--had the neck thinned and it, the back and the sides were refinished
--when it was refinished, the serial # 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.

I've 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 don't 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. It's been passed around since you broke in, and is continually going out to more people. In fact, I'd bet people reading this will pass the link on to others if they already haven't. 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.

Here's your scenario:
--No collector will want this instrument because it's 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, you'll 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 didn't even take the case.

It's 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.

It's not of much value to you, but to me, I can't buy another Les Paul like it because another one doesn't exist.. Here's a thought:

Have some decency and redeem some karma. Bring my guitar back. You've ****ed my studio up and stolen a life-time collection of my ****. You stole my guitar rig, which was MY sound that I've spent years achieving.

You haven't ripped off a money making business. You've ripped off my life and my spirit immeasurably by taking away the tools of the pursuit of my passion. I've 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. You've also ripped off my son, now, and in the future. I don't have the money to replace the gear, so it's just gone.

Just give it back - NO QUESTIONS ASKED. PLEASE

Maurice



Location: Ladner/Tsawwassen
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

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[fourstringdrums]

This is all over FB. I sincerely hope the guy gets it back.

[baileyboy]

This perp ought to be severely beaten.

[KsPiNeSh]

I, like most of us, *hate* thieves. I hope I never catch anyone trying to steal my stuff, because one of us is going to end up severely injured.

[Darkstrike]

Hope he gets it back somehow, incredible looking Les Paul.

[Ewo]

Originally Posted by KsPiNeSh

I, like most of us, *hate* thieves. I hope I never catch anyone trying to steal my stuff, because one of us is going to end up severely injured.

+1

[jpTron]

When one of the guitarists from the Dillinger Escape Plan had his guitar stolen after a show, there were a few people in the local scene that found out who it was and told the band members. They found out where he lived and the singer, who has huge muscles, went to the kid's house. His dad opened the door. Without even saying a word, Greg (the singer) just nonchalantly walked past the dad, into the house, up to the kids room, took the guitar back and walked nonchalantly back out of the house.

Anyway, good luck in finding the stolen gear.

[Rattman]

I felt my blood pressure rising dangerously as I got about 1/2 through the description of what would happen to the perp if he tried to sell it (Les Paul).... I feel the need to KILL. Sure hope that either the thief gets caught red-handed, or his conscience finally eats him up real badly. I sure want you to get most or all of your gear back.

[AltGrendel]

I really hope they find this stuff.

You see stories of stolen things turning up, hope this happens here.

[Lowbrow]

Ditto. This one made the rounds big time in my Facebook realm (I shared it too, natch).

As an aside, my '78 Precision getting stolen (in late 1981) was one of the best things that ever happened to me musically; I was free of a lousy bass, and as a replacement bought a new G&L L-1000. I've since switched back to Precisions, but the G&L was a revelation and I still own and cherish the sucker.

[Oopsdabassist]

Dude ya beat me to it, came across this via Planet Rock and was about to post a link here...I'm just glad to see the Brethren are here to help a 6 string brother.

Hope the pratt who did the deed gets his comeuppance!

[BluesBear]

The scum stole SO much more than a Les Paul.

Stolen Musical Instruments and Equipment

Just take a look at the list (and pics) of what those bastards stole.
They stole a big chunk of this man's lifeswork.

[ggunn]

I didn't know they made archtop Les Pauls in '53.

[Epidrake]

Death penalty for the creep or creeps who did this. Sorry if that offends any of you.
They used to hang guys for stealing horses because the thief was stealing someone's livelihood.

[scottfeldstein]

People who steal things like this are usually either kids who don't really understand the value of the item and/or drug addicts who figure it's worth enough in trade to the dope man to score. They will not likely be reading the owner's impassioned pleas, nor do they have anything to gain by returning the item if they did. Think about it. Even if they can't get a single dollar's worth of value out of the item itself, returning it does nothing to change that. But it does bring the possibility of criminal prosecution. Less risky to sit on it, hide it...or even destroy it.

It's sad, but I'd say odds of getting it back are lower than one chance in a hundred. Far lower. Here's hoping the item is returned safely and quickly and that the thief is prosecuted to the full extent of the law. But I wouldn't place money on it.

Finally, I think people who sincerely suggest death as a punishment for theft are demonstrating not only their lack of intelligence but also a profound lack of humanity. Sorry if that offends any of you.

[BluesBear]

Originally Posted by ggunn

I didn't know they made archtop Les Pauls in '53.

The original two Les Paul models (Standard and Custom) were carved tops. The slab bodied Special and Junior came along later.

Originally Posted by Epidrake

They used to hang guys for stealing horses because the thief was stealing someone's livelihood.

Not really. It wasn't their livelihood, it was their lifeline. A horse was an essiential tool for everyday survival.

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

Finally, I think people who sincerely suggest death as a punishment for theft are demonstrating not only their lack of intelligence but also a profound lack of humanity. Sorry if that offends any of you.

If that was my stuff that was stolen, and I found the persons responsible, you can bet your sweet bippy that I'd exterminatre them and never lose a minute of sleep over it.
Heck, if I personally found the persons responsible the aboved mentioned Canadian theft, after everything that could possibly be recovered was recovered, I'd gladly eradicate them.
Scumbags need to know that there are consequences to their actions. Severe actions deserve severe consequences. It just so happens that I strongly believe in rehabilitation through reincarnation.
So sorry if my lack of humanity for scumbags offends you. No, wait... I'm not in the least teensy little bit sorry if my complete, total, lack of humanity for thieving scumbags offends you.

[spaz21387]

wow I hope he gets his stuff back.

[SurferJoe46]

Originally Posted by BluesBear

[font="Comic Sans MS"][color="Blue"]

If that was my stuff that was stolen, and I found the persons responsible, you can bet your sweet bippy that I'd exterminatre them and never lose a minute of sleep over it.
Heck, if I personally found the persons responsible the aboved mentioned Canadian theft, after everything that could possibly be recovered was recovered, I'd gladly eradicate them.
Scumbags need to know that there are consequences to their actions. Severe actions deserve severe consequences. It just so happens that I strongly believe in rehabilitation through reincarnation.
So sorry if my lack of humanity for scumbags offends you. No, wait... I'm not in the least teensy little bit sorry if my complete, total, lack of humanity for thieving scumbags offends you.

The US states that it is a godly-enthroned nation and is quick to readily associate itself with Scriptural references to it's sense of righteousness and the letter of it's legal foundation and moral laws ('One Nation, Under God' and 'In God We Trust') and all that.

That very Scriptural law also states that a thief would be stoned to death - and not with little stones.

Yet the thieves and murders sit in jails waiting to find a loophole in their situation, when they should be removed from the same society that says it is merciful and just.

Bah!

[Toastfuzz]

I'd kill a man for less