Jamolah Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Last night, around 9pm, whilst I was rehearsing with my electric band, my rear windshield was smashed and my upright lifted from the boot. Luckily a girl who happened to be passing saw this happen, phoned the police and rushed into our rehearsal room to warn us. Two bandmates took off in hot pursuit whilst I stayed to talk to the police on the phone. The guys managed to catch up with the thief and hold him till the cops arrived, but he dumped (read 'hurled') my bass somewhere in the undergrowth surrounding the path, so by the time a search got underway it was impossible to find in the darkness. I'm happy to report that the instrument was found this morning by the day shift, but unfortunately she appears to be in pretty bad nick. The fingerboard is gouged in a few places, the back is splitting away from the ribs on the bottom and there's a pretty nasty crack running from where the post comes out. I'm distraught. It's a pretty cheap Gear4Music bass (I got it to see if I could get on with the upright in general, and of course found it to be even more fun and rewarding than electric, in it's own ways), but it's become pretty much my main gigging instrument over the past two years and I don't know what i'll do if it's going to be more to repair than I can afford. The car insurance company won't cover it, and like a fool I never got round to registering for the free MU insurance. I feel so rotten and stupid all over, from leaving it in the car right down to even parking the car in such an obvious spot, to not having insurance. But most of all I just feel so upset that there are people out there who would throw an instrument away like it was nothing. A musical instrument is not just an object; to a musician it's like a limb, a part of the body, an integral piece of who we are as people and players. I feel so upset that someone could have so little empathy that they would even consider tossing something so precious away, let alone stealing it in the first place. Regretfully yours, basschat, Jamolah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatgoogle Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 So sorry to hear that, im trying to buy a double bass at the mo, and i hope it never happens to me. Is it fixable or is something new needed. How are those G4M DB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 [quote name='Jamolah' post='545360' date='Jul 20 2009, 03:09 PM']But most of all I just feel so upset that there are people out there who would throw an instrument away like it was nothing. A musical instrument is not just an object; to a musician it's like a limb, a part of the body, an integral piece of who we are as people and players. I feel so upset that someone could have so little empathy that they would even consider tossing something so precious away, let alone stealing it in the first place. Regretfully yours, basschat, Jamolah[/quote] Sorry for your stress. These people are just scum! Similar thing happened to my wife long before we ever met, except without any witnesses or finding of the bass. Even many years later no sign. Mates wonder why I bring stuff in from the car even if we're just having a brew on the way back from a gig.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Had the bes bass I ever owned nicked and it's a horrible feeling, hope it can be fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 [quote name='waynepunkdude' post='545377' date='Jul 20 2009, 03:23 PM']Had the bes bass I ever owned nicked and it's a horrible feeling, hope it can be fixed.[/quote] What was it? I've never had an instrument nicked, and i hope i never do, i'd be gutted if someone robbed off with my corvette. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Gah Sorry to hear that... the sods. I'm VERY lucky in that I've never had anything musical nicked. I just can't imagine it. Whereabouts did all this happen? In town? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Makes me fume with rage.... THE BASTARD!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Had my 62 p bass nicked from my house (and to order I reckon) back in the day .. That was horrible. Meanwhile you should ask the citezens advice about the fund to cover stuff like this when scumbags smash your stuff. You may have to wait until the theif is convicted though so it may be tricky .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 [quote name='budget bassist' post='545388' date='Jul 20 2009, 03:35 PM']What was it? I've never had an instrument nicked, and i hope i never do, i'd be gutted if someone robbed off with my corvette.[/quote] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&showtopic=29204&view=findpost&p=300996"]Here [/url]mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 ah that sucks, at least it wasn't too expensive eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 [quote name='budget bassist' post='545414' date='Jul 20 2009, 03:56 PM']ah that sucks, at least it wasn't too expensive eh?[/quote] It kinda was, I was really happy with it and wasn't buying basses since then I have bought about 30 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Oh what a nightmare, I'm sorry to hear that. All I could think about while I was away on holiday in Spain was whether or not my gear was safe at home. Hope you can get it repaired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 [quote name='waynepunkdude' post='545417' date='Jul 20 2009, 03:58 PM']It kinda was, I was really happy with it and wasn't buying basses since then I have bought about 30 [/quote] I know that feeling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-soar Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 [quote name='OldGit' post='545408' date='Jul 20 2009, 03:48 PM']Had my 62 p bass nicked from my house (and to order I reckon) back in the day .. That was horrible. Meanwhile you should ask the citezens advice about the fund to cover stuff like this when scumbags smash your stuff. You may have to wait until the theif is convicted though so it may be tricky ..[/quote]This has made me feel sick, do you know who did it and did you ever get it back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 [quote name='steve-soar' post='545460' date='Jul 20 2009, 04:47 PM']This has made me feel sick, do you know who did it and did you ever get it back?[/quote] no and no. just strange things abut the robery like walking straight past stuff a normal drug-habit-funding burgler would take and putting the bass in it's case and taking that too .. Stuff like that .. Anyway the one that came up in Cardiff on ebay last week was the spitting image... except for the serial number Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soopercrip Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Sometimes think you're not allowed to own something nice, drive something nice, or go anywhere nice, because theres always some bugger that wants to spoil it for you (and everyone else) people suck sometimes Sorry to hear of your bad news matey, maybe the removal of a few of their fingers everytime they are caught will discourage them. Sadly I know some people who will do this for a small remuneration... Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdgrsr400 Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 And the damage to the car is not inconsiderable either - glass shards everywhere and aggro with insurance company etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 [quote name='sdgrsr400' post='545522' date='Jul 20 2009, 05:40 PM']And the damage to the car is not inconsiderable either - glass shards everywhere and aggro with insurance company etc. [/quote] Make sure you get the agreement to have orginal manufacturer's glass fitted by the replacement people. they will try to stuff you with "just as good" after market stuff if you don't get the insurance co's agreement beforehand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarcher Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 So sorry to read about your loss. I've had my van broken into on three occasions and stuff (tools etc)stolen. These people are wothless pieces of sh*t. Apart from the hassle and inconvenience of the theft it makes you feel absolutely awful emotionally. I do hope you get over it ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 [quote name='OldGit' post='545531' date='Jul 20 2009, 05:50 PM']Make sure you get the agreement to have orginal manufacturer's glass fitted by the replacement people. they will try to stuff you with "just as good" after market stuff if you don't get the insurance co's agreement beforehand.[/quote] True story, I used to work for RAC Auto Windscreens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 I rejoice in the wonderfulness of the human race, and despair of its cruelty and inhuman treatment of itself, every day. Really feel for you. I read once, I think in a '80s Guitar Player Magazine, that an interviewee in the mag who used to walk the streets of New York carrying an instrument to gigs and rehearsals, never once got mugged, they always left him alone because there was a sort of empathy, a poor musician trying to earn a living, some weird respect thing for musicians going on. I've always felt pretty safe carrying my bass around, even in dodgy places in London at night. Try to keep your chin up, man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beerdragon Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 [quote name='silddx' post='545544' date='Jul 20 2009, 06:02 PM']I rejoice in the wonderfulness of the human race, and despair of its cruelty and inhuman treatment of itself, every day. I read once, I think in a '80s Guitar Player Magazine, that an interviewee in the mag who used to walk the streets of New York carrying an instrument to gigs and rehearsals, never once got mugged, they always left him alone because there was a sort of empathy, a poor musician trying to earn a living, some weird respect thing for musicians going on. I've always felt pretty safe carrying my bass around, even in dodgy places in London at night.[/quote] Was it a Violin case? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 [quote name='beerdragon' post='545551' date='Jul 20 2009, 06:10 PM']Was it a Violin case? [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamolah Posted July 20, 2009 Author Share Posted July 20, 2009 Cheers for the sympathy, basschatters. It happened down by the Cluny, WoT, outside the rehearsal room we've been using for over a year or so (and longer, before i joined the band) without incident. Folks i've told about it have given me similar stories about thievery from their vans/practice rooms/etc, so I don't feel too victimised, just one of many. Like I said, the depressing part is the lack of empathy; I can't conceive of the mind of a person who would treat anybody else's property with such thoughtless disdain, particularly an instrument. On a related note, if anyone has a decent upright for sale around the £1000-£1200 price range then I'm pretty certain I'll be looking for an upgrade fairly soon! Cheers, JP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Sorry to hear this story JP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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