Stolen Guitar

Douglas Hudson · From: Galena, Kansas, USA

Hello all,

As many of you remember I had my Zum stolen March of 2005. I recovered the guitar in 2006. I wouldnt have recovered the guitar with out the pure honesty of a gentleman in Norway who paid $2000.00 for the guitar on ebay. He had the guitar shipped to Bruce in Harrisonville MO. Bruce checked out the guitar and because of the serial # being ground off the guitar he felt the guitar was stolen and thought it was mine because of the design of the guitar. So Tore Blestrund emailed me and we started discussing the guitar. I called Bruce and then called the Joplin Mo police. I did then go to Bruces to identify and pick up the guitar. Not going to say how we could positively identify the guitar but we were able to postitivly identify it was my guitar. Since then the person who placed the guitar on ebay has refunded Tore $500. of his money.
Many of you on my posts have shown an interest in helping Tore regain some of his money that he was out of. I again express that I wish I could do that! I am now able to set up a fund and get Tore the money he deserves.
Douglas Hudson
Please email
guitarman56@mobil1.net
for physical address please use stolen guitar as subject
Thanks
Douglas Hudson

ray qualls · From: Baxter Springs, Kansas (deceased)

With the help of the KSGA that Doug is Vice-President and Lee Ogle is Sec-Treas, we're going to get the help started with a donation of $100.00. This is our way of helping a forum member and fellow steel player for his honesty and integrity. We appreciate Tore for what he has done. Also Doug, I am including a personal check for $20.00. All you members of the forum who can help, will be gladly appreciated. This is a "GREAT" way to start of the new year of 2007. Very Happy

_________________
Ray Qualls
Member(KSGA)
Inducted into KSGA
Steel Guitar Hall of Fame 2008

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

Why isn't the ebay seller responsible for refunding 100% of Tore's money?

Phillip Lee Thompson · From: Canby, Oregon

Doug,
This unfortunate set of events are why I would not buy "dollars for dimes" off of e-bay.
When it comes to buying anything Steel Guitar,or associated equipment of any kind,stick to the FORUM.
There are so many honest to a fault dealers, as well as just good Forum individual folks with just about anything you could want.

I say," KEEP IT IN THE FORUM FAMILY CIRCLE"of buyers and sellers. I may get some heat from this post ,but oh well.
Better safe than sorry. Phillip.

Tore Blestrud · From: Oslo, Norway

1. I never asked for any money back. I can live withe the loss of money, and the whole deal my mistake - lesson learned.

2. If a forumite had not bought the guitar on eBay Douglas would probably not have had his guitar back.
_________________
Emmons D-10 P/P 78", Franklin D-10, Zum Encore. Sho-Bud LDG

Douglas Hudson · From: Galena, Kansas, USA

Yes I feel that the seller should have refunded the money to Tore,,, but that is not happening unfortunatly. Following the story of the way the guitar was found was an absolute miracle to me.
On the other hand if the seller refunded the money in total back to Tore, then the seller would have been out also. Everyone got hurt in this deal. I have been without my guitar for 18 months. The seller paid 1500 for the guitar. Tore, bless his heart, was the one that emailed me,,, he is a honest soul and although God will watch after him,
I feel, and so did many others on the original post, that he should be rightfully compensated. No he did not and would not ask for the money back. I took it on myself to try to get it back for him. Tore is the real deal.
I know what it is like to be without money ( and still do). I purchased the Zum from a very good friend of mine who let me have it at an unbelievable price. He virtually gave the guitar to me. If I could I would reward the money my self to Tore.
Or I could just sit back on my butt and do nothing! I chose to attempt to help out a good friend, who I have never ever met in person. We all make mistakes, its called life and living, I know God forgives us for those mistakes, and so should we. I have been back onstage with my guitar for about 5 gigs now and although she is not the prettiest anymore,, she has the awesome sound that i remember. She is a dream to play! She has taught me more about playing than any other guitar that I have owned.
During the time of my loss so many people went out of thier way to help me out so I could keep playing. One good friend loaned me his Zum for 2 months so I could keep playing the gigs that our band had booked. Another loaned me an amp. My first priority was to make sure that those persons know how much i appreciated thier help. The second priority was to work my Butt off to purchase another guitar of my own. I did purchase a Deckly (1970's) model that produces the most beautiful tone on stage or in the studio. I had purchased, some time before my Zum was stolen, a used profex 1 unit. So I had effects to play. Then I purchased a crown amp from a forumite and purchased 2 used peavy enclosures. It took about a year to get back to self sustaining stage equipment.
So now that I have made a huge post here,,,, I hope everyone understands why I am doing this.
Thanks for being my brothers
and thanks to Bob for the forum
Thanks to all my good friends that helped me out in my time of loss
God Bless YOU ALL

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

I am a friend of the man who put the steel on ebay. He did not know it was stolen when he placed it on ebay. He has the receipt where he bought the steel from a music store in Lewisville,Texas. He did refund $500 profit he made on the steel. Everyone loses in this situation. He feels awful that any of this has happened. He just happened to buy a steel guitar from a music store and sold it on ebay, not knowing it was stolen. I personally feel like he did what was right by refunding the $500. There are many people who would have never done that. The shame is that no one has been caught or prosecuted for this crime. That individual is the one who should pay the other $1500. Chances are the criminal will never be caught. I am donating $25 to help out in this situation. As for my friend, you will never find a better human to be friends with. I hope no one slams him since he does not have $1500 just laying around to spend. His work has been slow and that is why he sold the steel, not because he was trying to sell a stolen guitar. I am happy the guitar is back where it belongs in the hands of it rightful owner. As for the gentleman overseas, I hope we can raise enough to help him to get back the money he lost.

Roger Miller · From: Cedar Falls, Ia.

Tore, you are a gentleman and your honesty will pay you off a thousand times. I feel great to be associated with such great, honest people. Great story and wish you all the luck in the world for being so honest.

Bryan Rankins · From: Missouri, USA

I guess this whole scenario is why reputable guitar shops get a copy of the seller's driver license and signature on a bill of sale. This way when a guy comes in with an instrument with the serial number scratched off (which is where the store owner should have guessed it was stolen) you have a record of who to arrest. Just my 2 cents. But I guess common sense has gone out of style in a lot of circles. Thank God it still seems to be alive on the forum.

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

Bryan is so right. Any music store or pawn shop should get the serial number and the sellers name, address and drivers license. Had the music store done their job right, the guitar most likely would have been back to Douglas sooner and two other men would not have been burned either. Anyone who steals from another person is a scumbag in my opinion and even worse if they steal from a steel playing brother. I hope they do find the knucklehead who stold the guitar and lock him up and throw away the keys. No one deserves to have to go through what Douglas has been through.

Fred Justice · From: Mesa, Arizona

Its real good to see forum members step up and help out here on this matter. Personally, if I was the Detective on this case I'd be checking out the connection between the music store and the person that sold it to the music store. Has the music store bought from this person before, does the store buy from them on a ongoing bassis.
In my opinion, as a store owner, you don't just plop down a $1000.00 or more buying a used item like this without knowing either the item or the fellow trying to sell it to you pretty darn well. like I said, just my take on it.
_________________
Email: azpedalman@gmail.com
Phone: 480-235-8797

David Biggers · From: Texas, USA

Unbelieveable!!!!
I went into this music store in question,6 months ago, and I was never helped and totally shunned by the person behind the counter who was watching TV and never turned his head to even look my way. Feeding his face! He never got off his butt either! I was in the store for at least 20 min. looking at acoustic guitars. This guy is very rude. How people like that stay in business I will never know. I guess I do know! But, I didn't have any hot items to sell that day!!!! By the way I bought a $2000.00 Takamine from another store that same day! Oh and it wasn't hot!

ray qualls · From: Baxter Springs, Kansas (deceased)

Bottom line on this post is we're not trying to find out who's guilty or responsible for the theft of Doug's Steel. We're just trying to help an honest forum member to recoup some of his losses because he was so honest. I have never met Tore but I wish that I could one of these days. I'm from the old school where a handshake is your word. If the $145.00 that we have already is all we get, then thats still offsets some of his losses. Doug has his steel back and its because of the honesty of Tore.
Thanks to b0b also for the Forum, for giving us an outlet where we are able to help each other.
_________________
Ray Qualls
Member(KSGA)
Inducted into KSGA
Steel Guitar Hall of Fame 2008

Ray Riley · From: Des Moines, Iowa, USA

Not much but hope it helps Doug. For Tore.

Ray

Phillip Lee Thompson · From: Canby, Oregon

To Tore Blestrud :
First of all,please let me say to you that in regards to my post on this situation,I also have this to say to you -- you are a credit to the human race. When a man puts self worth and honesty above "profit" of any kind,that Man is,as they would have said back in Texas," a Man to Ride With ".
I congradulate you Sir,and I am proud to call you a Brother.
Phillip.

Douglas Hudson · From: Galena, Kansas, USA

YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN
you are a credit to the human race.
ONCE AGAIN GUYS
guitarman56@mobil1.net
for physical address
Thanks
You guys all rock!

David Doggett · Posted 5 Jan 2007 10:29 am

Well, it is nice that Tore is being so forgiving. But hard times or not, I'm thinking the seller owes Tore another $500. That way they have each lost $1000. That's still cheaper than the entire $2000 the seller actually owes Tore.

It is unfortunate that naive individual buyers have learned the hard way that you have to see the serial number before buying. The music store is a different story. It is hard to imagine a music store or pawn shop that is not fully aware that a ground off serial number indicates stolen property. It is a crime to fence stolen goods. The store should be threatened with prosecution unless the seller is refunded the full amount, which should be forwarded to Tore. He is in a foreign country and cannot pursue the proper course of action. The seller should demand the refund from the music store; and, if they don't come through with a full refund, the original owner should have the proper authorities prosecute the music store. Why should that crooked dealer engaged in illegal fencing be let off the hook and allowed to profit, while honest individual buyers suffer? If the store looses money - tough. They're in the business and know better. I'm sure they bought the stolen property for a lot less than the $1500 they sold it for. So they have the least to loose. And refunding the money is a much better deal than going to jail, which is where the law says they belong. Mad

Tore Blestrud · From: Oslo, Norway

Just to clarify, I did asked the eBay seller to return the money me made on the deal - 500 USD. He did, and he is obviously a good guy - I have no hard feelings to him at all.

I'll accept the money Douglas collects, and make a donation to this great Forum who helped sort this thing out, and then I can forget about this whole thing (and start looking forward to the Texas trip in March)
_________________
Emmons D-10 P/P 78", Franklin D-10, Zum Encore. Sho-Bud LDG

Leland Ogle · From: Baxter Springs, Kansas, USA

I hope that I can go to Dallas in March and meet you Tore. It's nice to know that we could " ride the river with ya", as we cowboys like to say. It might not mean much, but I think we need to make you an honorary member of the KSGA.
Lee

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

Everyone knows the seller on ebay was a friend of mine. I have stated he did not know the guitar was stolen and sure would have never done anyone wrong by selling a syolen guitar intentionally. I will see him tomorrow and tell him about the advice to contact the music store and demand a refund. Everyone in this situation has lost and not a one of them deserved such treatment. I would not suspect the music store will refund any money but it would be worth a shot. I am sure they have rights as well and I would say they did not know the guitar was stolen. Tore deserves every dollar he has lost plus some the way I see it. I will post again after seeing what my friend comes up with. Tore, you are a class act and when you come to Texas I want to meet you, and my friend will be at the Texas show as well.

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

I failed to ask where to send the money I pledged. Anyone know please let me know so I can mail it off.

Leland Ogle · From: Baxter Springs, Kansas, USA

E-mail Douglas at guitarman56@mobil.net.
Lee

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

I sent Douglas an email this morning. Thanks for the help LeLand.

Ole Dantoft · From: Copenhagen, Denmark

Douglas/Tore
Glad to be able to help, even if it's just a small amount !

Ole

Douglas Hudson · From: Galena, Kansas, USA

Thanks every one,

Every little bit will help.
I want to say a special thanks to my fellow brothers in the KSGA you all are the best! I do miss not making meetings,,,, but hopefully that will change this year.
Douglas Hudson

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