Have You Ever Had Gear Stolen?
Ever have any gear stolen or purposely destroyed?
I've been lucky since I've been back into guitar in the last couple years... but in my early 20's, I wasn't so lucky. One time I bought a brand new Orange 100watt Tube head and matching 4x12 cabinet, and it was stolen within a couple months that I bought it. I still owed on the majority of that gear yet. It was real tough paying off gear I no longer had. Also taken was my 1970 Cherry finish Gibson SG Deluxe, that I had about 4 years up to that time.
That same year, I had a hot-blooded ex-girlfriend wig out on me, when I refused to take her back, she used my Ovation acoustic like an axe in my bedroom, destroying everything she could. I just left the room and listened to her rage from outside. She made a mess of everything I had, but the guitar is what I cared about the most.
Comments
A friend of mine had some gear stolen many years back. He found some insurance for guitar gear. It's a minor cost to him, but it makes sure all of his gear is covered, no matter where the theft occurs. I'll ask him about it.
I was a renter then, with no rental insurance. I shared a house with 3 other Bro's, and we were all gone for Christmas Holiday. Our house was robbed and we all lost stuff. It wasn't a \"bad\" neighborhood. Ron Banks of \"The Dramatic's\" lived across the street, and Diana Ross lived a couple blocks away. I think I'm covered now under my homeowners insurance... at least while my gear is at home.
I was just listening to a video of Eric Johnson saying how he recovered an old '58 Strat that was stolen from him years ago. (one of his first guitars) One day, he was in a Music Shop, and spotted it. It made me think of the gear I've had stolen. I still to this day wonder, while looking at an Orange amp, or a '70 Gibson SG...if they are mine.
I think maybe most of us loose gear one way or another.
Stealing amps or f/x's or boards or whatever is wrong, but stealing someone's ax is just evil. It's too personal a thing.
I once read a book by a guy who was a pilot, and when he'd approach someone's classic airplane, he wouldn't touch it - kept his hands clasped behind his back - as a sign of respect. He said pawing someone's airplane is like walking up and handling his wife, just to see what she feels like.
May all git'r thieves rot right here on earth. Instant Karma's gonna getcha!!!
Once out of a vehicle I was transporting it in, the other (several years later) from our rehearsal studio.
Both times I got hit for about $10k, both times my insurance covered the entire loss.
in texas, we shoot thieves if we catch em in the act.
I had to quit my band and move because of that. I hope whomever stole the stuff rots in hell, they stole my livlihood
\"Survivors will be prosecuted\"
It was regarding trespassing, but the sentiment is the same!
I asked about insurance in another thread. Can you tell me what kind or where you got your insurance? Was it a personal policy or one for the whole band/gear? As I said elsewhere, we are transporting thousands of dollars worth of equipment to these gigs and at the moment any loss would really hit us hard.
I have not had any real gear stolen yet. I have lost numerous guitar picks borrowed and not returned (I keep a pocketful of 10 cents picks) but no big deal. And I have somehow \"misplaced\" some instrument and speaker cables over the years. But I would expect most of that was lost due to unintended use and packing up of my gear along with theirs. I don't think it was theft. Also, on the other hand, I host band practice at my \"studio\" and have found gear left behind that was not mine. Don't know why that happens either. Take care.
When I asked why it costs so much, insurance companies told me its because the gear gets used in a 'high risk' environment. That makes sense I suppose because a lot of the venues around here shove a band etc right in amongst the crowd in some corner, quite often without a stage. And a lot of people just don't have any respect for a bands gear whatsoever. Its great to have a crowd really gettin into what ya playing but quite often they go overboard and wanna man handle ya gear.
Some muso's I've seen actually let people, especially chicks, dance on their subs etc. This peeves me off no end! So when you play at the same venue the following week, no freakin wonder you have people wanting to crawl all over your gear and you end up with something stolen or damaged. These muso's should be strung up by the short n curlies with barbed wire!! :twisted: :twisted:
Yep, I've had stuff stolen over the years, all taken from the stage - 6 Shure mics to be exact which aren't exactly cheap to replace. People are too lazy to steal stuff thats heavey! My biggest issue is having gear damaged from idiots in a crowd, seems to happen more and more lately. They should be tortured Inquisition style..... :evil:
Has anyone else had gear damaged by w*nkers in a crowd?? Share your stories with us.
Stolen Gear? Yes. Guitars, LP, Ovation 12 str, Tele, Mic's, Strings. Most when someone gave another permission to help load up. Guitars stolen during battle of the band or when they have several bands on ticket. It was hard to babysit and mingle, but the end result was stolen gear.
Most were recovered or id'd by police at a pawn shop or Mom and Pop no questions asked type places. Mine was never recovered but I always suspected who did it, but never proved anything. The last time it happened was a roadie. We had a wireless mic stolen recently but still have the transmitter in the rack. A full DJ rack was stolen and just rolled right out of an event. A local owner called us since our contact information was on every piece of gear in the rack. The theif ran out of the shop but we recovered the gear within a week. Most perps are stupid when it comes to getting exchange for stolen gear. This store owner realized the suspicious actions of the seller, and called us.
Our cases and equipment are UV labeled. Clearly marked and Id'd so anyone would know it was ours. Going back to the Insurance post, see other ways you can ID and prevent theft and at least recover gear.
It's been ~16 years since the last time I lost equipment and had to file a claim, so policies may have changed since then.