Biggest steal you've ever gotten a piece of gear for?

So weird that you say that because years ago we had our old place broken into and a bunch of empty guitar cases were stolen, except for one that had my Father's (technically my Brother's after he passed away) 77ish LP deluxe in wine red with minibuckers stolen. I have a picture of it somewhere. We should have a thread for lost/stolen property.
Back in 2004 I lived in Katy, TX. I bought a 2004 Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster, Vintage white with pearloid pickguard, my first expensive guitar. I had that guitar for about two weeks, until some scumbag broke into my apartment and stole it, My Ltd M250, and my Xbox. I put flyers up all over complex and town. Police caught the guy, said my guitar was located and it was evidence in his case. I followed his court case like a hawk, dude got sentenced to 4 years in prison. I never got my guitar back or anything back, police said it got lost. I'm sure one of them took it home. I was sick, I didn't touch a guitar for 3 years. I hate thieves, especially when its sentimental, irreplicable, items involved.
 
A 1985 Jackson Rhoads within the first 500 produced for $550. It’s kinda beat up but it sounds incredible and plays like buttah. This was back in the 90’s when pointy guitars were out. I found one two serial numbers away from it years later that had no mojo.
 
About 14 years ago, a guying Orange County advertised his 69 Super Bass and 74 Marshall slant cab with G12M Creambacks in it for $1600. After I fixed a few issues (Billy Zoom mod, Jesus, don't ever get one of those!), a couple bad caps and it was good to go.
 
Back in 2004 I lived in Katy, TX. I bought a 2004 Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster, Vintage white with pearloid pickguard, my first expensive guitar. I had that guitar for about two weeks, until some scumbag broke into my apartment and stole it, My Ltd M250, and my Xbox. I put flyers up all over complex and town. Police caught the guy, said my guitar was located and it was evidence in his case. I followed his court case like a hawk, dude got sentenced to 4 years in prison. I never got my guitar back or anything back, police said it got lost. I'm sure one of them took it home. I was sick, I didn't touch a guitar for 3 years. I hate thieves, especially when its sentimental, irreplicable, items involved.

I just visited Katy earlier this year. I don't know if I could survive the humidity in August in that area, but it's very nice in February.

I learned when I was 16 that police are just people, and they often act in their best interest. I'm sure that guitar "disappeared" into one their basements.
 
I just visited Katy earlier this year. I don't know if I could survive the humidity in August in that area, but it's very nice in February.

I learned when I was 16 that police are just people, and they often act in their best interest. I'm sure that guitar "disappeared" into one their basements.
I lived in Katy from 1999-2016, my oldest daughter actually still lives there. I was tired opf the rat race and moved back home to Kansas to help with my parents. Definitely a humid hot area of the country, and the traffic is screwd. I followed dudes case, followed him thru his Prison stays. burnt me out terribly for quite a while.
 
I lived in Katy from 1999-2016, my oldest daughter actually still lives there. I was tired of the rat race and moved back home to Kansas to help with my parents. Definitely a humid hot area of the country, and the traffic is screwd. I followed dudes case, followed him thru his Prison stays. burnt me out terribly for quite a while.

I'm also from Kansas originally, as I grew up just northwest of KC. One thing I did not expect about Houston was that it is enormous. I did not know it was so big. It's almost like another Los Angeles!
 
I'm also from Kansas originally, as I grew up just northwest of KC. One thing I did not expect about Houston was that it is enormous. I did not know it was so big. It's almost like another Los Angeles!
Hutchinson, KS here. po dunk compared to anywhere lol. Yeah Houston is freaking massive, I loved it in my 20s and 30s..
 
Probably a Yamaha 812W......


Top of the line short of their Warmoth model.....


For 100 bucks when I was 21 ^_^
 
Someone gave me a non-functional Fender Super Twin Reverb 2x12 combo. I just had to pick it up. All it needed was power tubes and filter cap job. Cost me about $250.00 and a few hours of labor. I replaced the speakers with Eminence Neo Tonkerlites to make it tolerable to move...

20250503_185054~3.jpg
 
Back in 2004 I lived in Katy, TX. I bought a 2004 Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster, Vintage white with pearloid pickguard, my first expensive guitar. I had that guitar for about two weeks, until some scumbag broke into my apartment and stole it, My Ltd M250, and my Xbox. I put flyers up all over complex and town. Police caught the guy, said my guitar was located and it was evidence in his case. I followed his court case like a hawk, dude got sentenced to 4 years in prison. I never got my guitar back or anything back, police said it got lost. I'm sure one of them took it home. I was sick, I didn't touch a guitar for 3 years. I hate thieves, especially when its sentimental, irreplicable, items involved.


It makes it even worse when it pops back up and you never get it back, doesn't it?
 
I once bought a "Box of microphones" from Craigslist for $200. In it was:
2 Oktava MK012 SDCs
2 SM57s
Rode NT1A
AKG vocal mic
Digital Reference vocal mic
Audix F Series Drum Mic kit
All with cases and pouches.

I sold the vocal mics and the drum mics and more than made my money back, not counting the jobs they've done.

20200521_221549.jpg
 
I once bought a "Box of microphones" from Craigslist for $200. In it was:
2 Oktava MK012 SDCs
2 SM57s
Rode NT1A
AKG vocal mic
Digital Reference vocal mic
Audix F Series Drum Mic kit
All with cases and pouches.

I sold the vocal mics and the drum mics and more than made my money back, not counting the jobs they've done.

View attachment 403004
I’m a fan of Audix drum mics.
 
I’m a fan of Audix drum mics.
I ended up with a collection of the D series mics. I didn't like the F series mics as much.

The drum mics I regret selling were the CAD mics. The kick mic was absolutely garbage, but I went out and rebought the TSM411 because it's mt favorite snare mic.
 
I ended up with a collection of the D series mics. I didn't like the F series mics as much.

The drum mics I regret selling were the CAD mics. The kick mic was absolutely garbage, but I went out and rebought the TSM411 because it's mt favorite snare mic.
Yes the Ds. I never tried the Fs. I like an i5 for snare.
 
Yes the Ds. I never tried the Fs. I like an i5 for snare.
I traded one of my 57s for an i5, but I never put it on snare. I've only done guitar cab with it. The CAD TSM411 is a supercardoid and rejects off axis really well, and is smaller and easier to place.

I even have a D3, which I love on guitar cabs. That's where it is now.
 
I traded one of my 57s for an i5, but I never put it on snare. I've only done guitar cab with it. The CAD TSM411 is a supercardoid and rejects off axis really well, and is smaller and easier to place.

I even have a D3, which I love on guitar cabs. That's where it is now.
It’s been about a decade since I had a PA rig or did live sound, but I usually used i5 or a 57 on guitar cabs. At least with my band. The i5 does a pretty good job of rejecting off axis too. Most of my drummers mics were CAD, but I used my own on his kicks and snares.
 
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