Stolen Music Gear

alantig · 20 Sep 2006

Mods, please delete if you feel it's appropriate...

I know this isn't a gear site, but I know there are some players here, not to mention some Aristocrats fans, and a shot in the dark is better than no shot at all, so...

Bassist Bryan Beller has had some of his gear stolen from a storage facility in California, including the bass that's been his #1 for 17 years. Bryan is the bassist for The Aristocrats, and has been touring with Joe Satriani and Mike Keneally over the last few years. He's also been the bassist in Dethklok, Steve Vai's band, and Z way back when.

Full story and pics at https://www.facebook.com/bryanbellerbass/

It wouldn't let me cut and paste the details. Short list of the main axes:

- Mike Lull Modern 5-string, red, s/n 266
- Mike Lull Modern 5-string, brown, fretless, s/n 448
- Mike Lull T-bass, 4-string, black w/white pickguard with black gear sticker, no s/n (the Dethklok bass)
- Mike Lull Jazz bass, 4-string, black w/white pickguard, s/n 513
- Fender P-bass, s/n unknown, sunburst, formerly owned by Wes Wehmiller

Some other gear as well. You can find those details in the Facebook post.

Bryan's a genuinely great guy, and I've been lucky enough to know him for a few years now. No one deserves to have their gear stolen. Especially when that's how they make their living.

ted262 · 22 Aug 2004

God I hate gear thieves.

Hope there's a happy ending as there was to the saga of Joey Vera's stolen ESP.

ETA Bryan's post

Quote:

THEFT ALERT: I'm sorry to report that most of my basses were stolen from my storage unit while I was on tour in South America these past six weeks. I'm hoping you can help me possibly recover them by sharing this post, in which I'll list every bit of info I have on the missing items. They include four Mike Lull basses:

* Mike Lull Modern 5-string, Red (yes, THAT one, my #1 for 17 years), flame maple top, s/n 266
* Mike Lull Modern 5-string, Brown, fretless, flame maple top, s/n 448
* Mike Lull T-Bass 4-string (the Dethklok bass), black w/white pick guard and black "gear" sticker, no serial number (blank indent in headstock)
* Mike Lull jazz bass 4-string, passive, black w/white pick guard, s/n 513

and these other special items:

* Taylor AB-4 acoustic/electric bass, sunburst, s/n 20010214201

and very sadly:

* Fender P-Bass, sunburst w/white pickguard, s/n unknown - it once belonged to my dear friend Wes Wehmiller

I also am missing an SWR Mo' Bass head, s/n ending in 0002 (the second ever made), and a couple of other items

* Voodoo Labs Amp Selector
* SansAmp PSA-1 Programmable Preamp
* ART Tube Pac Mic Preamp

I am including some pictures of me playing the instruments above. I don't have any pics of me playing that black 4-string Mike Lull jazz bass, but everything else has been around.

The items were located at

Public Storage
18650 Vía Princessa
Canyon Country, CA 91387 USA

(It's a long and winding story as to why there were there, involving international shipping snafus and forest fires and crazy touring schedules.)

They were stolen sometime between November 9 and December 27. I have done a quick search on eBay, Craig's List, and Reverb.com, but I don't see anything. Obviously some of these instruments are very recognizable, but I'm just one person. The power of social media far exceeds anything I could do on my own. If you could be so kind as to share this post with anyone you think could help locate one of these instruments (even if you don't live in the United States; it's possible that these are already headed overseas), I would be most grateful. If you don't feel comfortable making public comments, you can always message me. I will also gladly accept anonymous tips if that feels appropriate.

This is my second time around this particular rodeo. My first was in 1994, when someone stole my 1986 pre-Gibson Tobias out of my North Hollywood apartment. That was my #1 bass at the time. So I get that these are just things, and no one got hurt, and life goes on. That said, if anyone out there can somehow help me locate these items - especially the Red Mike Lull 5-string and the Fender P-Bass - I would be very very thankful.

Be good to each other out there, ok?

BB

ranasakawa · 26 Jan 2007

Totally unrelated but story with a happy ending, I used to work in the mining industry years ago.
One thing you don't do is piss off miners, a miners truck was broken into overnight and tools were stolen. This happened again another night. The guys decided to wait out for the next few nights near by as the gear stolen was a 'major' inconvenience to them. Incredibly the thief took the bait left and was caught by 3 or 4 very pissed off mining dudes who are very big guys, all are very don't give a shit type people. This so called theif was very lucky he wasn't belted, he endured several hours of terrifying trip in a mining truck being driven around a stock pile site. He handed back the stolen gear and believe me he won't be stealing anything again.
Another story I saw with my own eyes, I shared a house many years ago with a samurai sword expert. We ended up with a burglar in our place one night.
Friend quote "does anyone know your here"?
Answer: "no"
"Do you know what a samurai sword is"?
Nervously answer....."yes"
As he is being shown a dramatic sword demonstration we watch him piss his pants. He is allowed to leave after a very impressive sword demonstration and discussion of my tomato garden needing more fertiliser

alantig · 20 Sep 2006

Thanks, SDM!

Geff R. · 27 Sep 2006

alantig wrote:

- Mike Lull Modern 5-string, red, s/n 266
- Mike Lull Modern 5-string, brown, fretless, s/n 448
- Mike Lull T-bass, 4-string, black w/white pickguard with black gear sticker, no s/n (the Dethklok bass)
- Mike Lull Jazz bass, 4-string, black w/white pickguard, s/n 513

I didn't know Mike Lull had started making his own line. He's a really nice guy, & quite highly respected in the Seattle area.

He set up guitars for all the major Seattle based bands in (at least) the 80's & 90's (Heart, the 90's grunge bands: Alice In Chains, etc) & I was fortunate in that he set up my guitars too. In fact I wouldn't let anyone else touch them. He is (was?) a very skilled technician. I don't know if Mike's still alive; he was older then me.

alantig · 20 Sep 2006

Too early to know what's going on, but Bryan tweeted a pic of someone getting arrested at the storage facitility today. He doesn't have the basses back, but it's starting to sound like there might be a happy ending!

More to come...

JohnG · 03 Aug 2006

It is good news, I wonder if it was an inside job? Employees of that storage facility? Guess we will find out next week.

alantig · 20 Sep 2006

Here's the update. Long story...

http://www.bryanbeller.com/cms/index.ph ... toragewars

The very short version - it was a couple of lowlifes who were robbing storage units and were pretty well-known to the cops. Seems Bryan did some legwork that accelerated their capture.

No basses as yet. They sold some of the gear at a Guitar Center, which was how Bryan was contacted about it. They got cold feet about selling the basses when GC said they'd have to contact a vintage dealer to get values.

Hopefully there's more to come with this...

JohnG · 03 Aug 2006

At least they were stupid and not pro's. I'm sure he will get his basses back soon.

Stolen Music Gear

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