A little lengthy, but here's my story. In 1995 I owned just 3 basses: a 1968 Rick model 4000, a 1973 Rick 4001 and a 1987 Rick 4003. I was in between bands and really wasn't playing much at all. Christmas of '95 my two kids from my "practice" marriage were visiting for the holiday. My 15 year old son expressed interest in learning bass. So I made the decision to send the 4001 fireglo home with him to learn on. I would ask from time-to-time how it was coming along, always the same "ok". He moved out on his own when he turned 18 and had the bass with him, not doing much, but still trying.
After a couple of bands I finally hooked up with the band I'm still in today. So time went by and I would ask now and then about the bass. He told me it was at his mom's house and I just kind of let it go. Finally around 2004 or so I decided since he's not using it I'll just take it back for a while and gig with it. I called him and told him I wanted to use it for a while. "Well", came the reply, "I never told you, but it was in my car that was stolen a few years ago". The car was found, burnt to a crisp. 'Ok, so you told the police?' "yeah" Would have been nice to have known sooner, but at this point waddaya gonna do?
Last summer I was perusing Craigslist when low and behold there it was. This guy had several pics of it including the SN, case and all. $1800. It still has the black PG that I put on it, I still have the original white guard for it.
So I called my son and told him to go get that police report. He went to the police station, got the report and guess what? there's no mention at all of there being a bass in the car. He told them, but they failed to put it in the report. So I can prove all day long that I once owned the bass, but I cannot prove it was stolen. The cops advised not to call the person because that would be harassment. It is my guess that the way he posted the ad with all the pictures and info, he bought the bass legitimately and has no idea it was stolen. I can tell you what is written under the pickguard, I can show you where the binding was broken off and glued back on the neck (cymbal attack) and I have pictures of the bass.
I've gotten all kinds of advice from friends on how to just go get it back, some even suggested that maybe he'll sell it to me for what he paid for it. Buy my bass twice? No. I didn't call him. Still have his number, but legally there's not much I can do. A lawyer would ask 'How do we know your son didn't sell the bass for gas or beer money?'
It's the fireglo in the middle.
After a couple of bands I finally hooked up with the band I'm still in today. So time went by and I would ask now and then about the bass. He told me it was at his mom's house and I just kind of let it go. Finally around 2004 or so I decided since he's not using it I'll just take it back for a while and gig with it. I called him and told him I wanted to use it for a while. "Well", came the reply, "I never told you, but it was in my car that was stolen a few years ago". The car was found, burnt to a crisp. 'Ok, so you told the police?' "yeah" Would have been nice to have known sooner, but at this point waddaya gonna do?
Last summer I was perusing Craigslist when low and behold there it was. This guy had several pics of it including the SN, case and all. $1800. It still has the black PG that I put on it, I still have the original white guard for it.
So I called my son and told him to go get that police report. He went to the police station, got the report and guess what? there's no mention at all of there being a bass in the car. He told them, but they failed to put it in the report. So I can prove all day long that I once owned the bass, but I cannot prove it was stolen. The cops advised not to call the person because that would be harassment. It is my guess that the way he posted the ad with all the pictures and info, he bought the bass legitimately and has no idea it was stolen. I can tell you what is written under the pickguard, I can show you where the binding was broken off and glued back on the neck (cymbal attack) and I have pictures of the bass.
I've gotten all kinds of advice from friends on how to just go get it back, some even suggested that maybe he'll sell it to me for what he paid for it. Buy my bass twice? No. I didn't call him. Still have his number, but legally there's not much I can do. A lawyer would ask 'How do we know your son didn't sell the bass for gas or beer money?'
It's the fireglo in the middle.
