On Halloween 2005 my friend called to tell me that the EBMM Guitar I was loaning him was stolen from his house.
Things to know about this guitar.
1. My friend and guitar teacher was terminally ill. (He did pass away January of this year)
2. This was my college graduation gift from my mom.
3. This was my first EBMM Guitar
4. To this guitar I "customized" it by:
a. EMG Pickups
b. Steve Morse Bridge pickup activation switch (OEM part)
c. Schaller straplocks
d. From Hardtail to a Lowers pitch only Floyd (OEM part)
e. D-Tuna
When I called my mom to tell her the guitar was stolen and the circumstances around it I knew exactly what she was going to stay.
Mom- Son, You playing guitar with that man gives him reason to live.
Me- Yes Ma'am
Mom- Son, You take him another guitar right now.
Me- Yes Ma'am (What else could I say)
Still, I was surprised that I was surprised.
So I called John (my friend) and told him what my mom said and that he had no choice in the matter except to choose which one he wanted. John did ask if I would bring him one that wasn't so expensive. Again I told him that doesn't matter.
A SUB came up on ebay in Phoenix so I pulled the trigger, drove up there and had the guitar in John's hands before the week ended.
I miss John.
God Bless GWDavis and Lame Duck on this forum!
The guitar came up on ebay and in less than 12 hours they both contacted me to say they thought this was my guitar.
Armed with the case number I made a quick call to the sheriff's department here in Tucson and here is how it happened.
The detective told me to "bid to win" so I bid $10,000
The detective contacted ebay and got the sellers information
Turns out the seller bought the guitar from a local pawn shop and was turning it on ebay. With the help of the detective and the seller and the pawn shop we agreed to meet when I returned to Tucson (I was on business travel for the entire month of July)
So we met at the Pawn shop and the ebay seller got a full refund. He is a really good person.
So by now we all know the deal with pawn shops in returning stolen merchandise and the law here in Arizona is no different. Pawn shop dealers are entitled to be reimbursed
for the amount they paid. In this case it was $325. What we finally worked out was I paid $400 + tax to get the guitar back.
Yes Virginia, By definition Pawn Shop dealers are scum. I think that society dictates that they need be; So let's just leave it at that.
The guitar,
had the dimariazo type strap locks added under the schallers
has some extra scratches
had the D-tuna removed
has modification to the back scratch plate (It use to fit so nice)
had the neck plate either replaced or ground down to remove the serial number.
had a string tee added behind the lock nut.
has a blue magic marker stripe around the pickguard (I kinda like that and I'm just gonna leave that there)
The guy who pawned it told the detective he gave a couple hundred dollars for it to a girl who said she paid $1200 for it but couldn't really remember who it was blah blah blah. The DA ties the detectives hands to not make arrest that might not stick.
Cut to the Chase:
I had fun driving to Phoenix to buy a SUB at a great price. I got to give a guitar to my friend. I got to play guitar with my friend. (The SUB rocks)
If the forum members hadn't contacted me
If the guy hadn't decided to sell the guitar on ebay
If the pawn shop hadn't excepted an un serial numbered guitar
If some Dumb ass hadn't given $200 to a lying thieving crack whore ( I embellished here)
I would have never gotten the guitar back.
I got lots to be thankful for including a guitar with a helluva story.
Exhausted from fighting with the pawn shop owner I took this picture with my phone just moments later. (Good thing I remembered to shave)
Thank You for letting me share I changed my signature today.
Things to know about this guitar.
1. My friend and guitar teacher was terminally ill. (He did pass away January of this year)
2. This was my college graduation gift from my mom.
3. This was my first EBMM Guitar
4. To this guitar I "customized" it by:
a. EMG Pickups
b. Steve Morse Bridge pickup activation switch (OEM part)
c. Schaller straplocks
d. From Hardtail to a Lowers pitch only Floyd (OEM part)
e. D-Tuna
When I called my mom to tell her the guitar was stolen and the circumstances around it I knew exactly what she was going to stay.
Mom- Son, You playing guitar with that man gives him reason to live.
Me- Yes Ma'am
Mom- Son, You take him another guitar right now.
Me- Yes Ma'am (What else could I say)
Still, I was surprised that I was surprised.
So I called John (my friend) and told him what my mom said and that he had no choice in the matter except to choose which one he wanted. John did ask if I would bring him one that wasn't so expensive. Again I told him that doesn't matter.
A SUB came up on ebay in Phoenix so I pulled the trigger, drove up there and had the guitar in John's hands before the week ended.
I miss John.
God Bless GWDavis and Lame Duck on this forum!
The guitar came up on ebay and in less than 12 hours they both contacted me to say they thought this was my guitar.
Armed with the case number I made a quick call to the sheriff's department here in Tucson and here is how it happened.
The detective told me to "bid to win" so I bid $10,000
The detective contacted ebay and got the sellers information
Turns out the seller bought the guitar from a local pawn shop and was turning it on ebay. With the help of the detective and the seller and the pawn shop we agreed to meet when I returned to Tucson (I was on business travel for the entire month of July)
So we met at the Pawn shop and the ebay seller got a full refund. He is a really good person.
So by now we all know the deal with pawn shops in returning stolen merchandise and the law here in Arizona is no different. Pawn shop dealers are entitled to be reimbursed
for the amount they paid. In this case it was $325. What we finally worked out was I paid $400 + tax to get the guitar back.
Yes Virginia, By definition Pawn Shop dealers are scum. I think that society dictates that they need be; So let's just leave it at that.
The guitar,
had the dimariazo type strap locks added under the schallers
has some extra scratches
had the D-tuna removed
has modification to the back scratch plate (It use to fit so nice)
had the neck plate either replaced or ground down to remove the serial number.
had a string tee added behind the lock nut.
has a blue magic marker stripe around the pickguard (I kinda like that and I'm just gonna leave that there)
The guy who pawned it told the detective he gave a couple hundred dollars for it to a girl who said she paid $1200 for it but couldn't really remember who it was blah blah blah. The DA ties the detectives hands to not make arrest that might not stick.
Cut to the Chase:
I had fun driving to Phoenix to buy a SUB at a great price. I got to give a guitar to my friend. I got to play guitar with my friend. (The SUB rocks)
If the forum members hadn't contacted me
If the guy hadn't decided to sell the guitar on ebay
If the pawn shop hadn't excepted an un serial numbered guitar
If some Dumb ass hadn't given $200 to a lying thieving crack whore ( I embellished here)
I would have never gotten the guitar back.
I got lots to be thankful for including a guitar with a helluva story.
Exhausted from fighting with the pawn shop owner I took this picture with my phone just moments later. (Good thing I remembered to shave)
Thank You for letting me share I changed my signature today.
