Derailer's Brian Hofeldt Telecaster ---------RECOVERED!!!

Chris Schlotzhauer · From: Colleyville, Tx. USA

Good news! Brian Hofeldt's '68 silver sparkle Tele has been recovered. I'm sure Brian is releived, because he spent this past weekend fearing the worst. We notified this forum, the Tele forum, all music stores in Wichita Falls, and all pawn shops immediately, last Friday. All of the work paid off.
Here's a brief recap of what happened.
This past Friday, we were heading out on a road trip to Santa Fe, NM and Silveton, Co. The band left Austin, picked me up in Ft Worth and we drove NW. It was around 3:15AM and we came into Wichta Falls. There was a horrible thunderstorm, so we pulled into a LaQuinta and got rooms. We parked the van in a well-lit space right outside the rooms, ran in and went to sleep, because we had to be on the road by 9:00AM.
I went outside the next morning with my coffee, and saw that the rear window in the van was smashed out. I ran over, opened the door and saw that Brian's case was gone (I know, I know, should have never left it in there). My steel and amp were so crammed in there, they would have had to unload the whole van. I went around the side door to see if anything else was missing, and the side sliding door was unlocked. Later we discovered the thief took our piano player's script sunglasses (2 pair), and his digital camera, but didn't bother with the 2 bass guitars right next to him. So we knew this was a crack-head smash and grab.
We went to the office and told the mgr about it and he said "yeah, we've known about it for a couple of hours". What??? Nice. (You guys remember NOT to use LA QUINTA). The police came, did full report, etc. We have to get back on the road to make our gig.
Shortly, we get a call from McCarty Music in WF. It was the mgr telling us there was a man there trying to sell him the guitar and he wasn't sure how long he could stall him. We immediately called the police and told them, but he got spooked and split, leaving the strap, which BTW, says "Brian Hofeldt" and "Derailers" on it (this guy is really an idiot). But, we have a license plate, car and personal description, the direction he went, etc. We were feeling optimistic.
Brian used loaner guitars for our shows (thank you and shout-out to those folks). Monday, we were driving back through WF. We had to go the whole weekend without knowing if they found it, because only the dispatch worked over the weekend. We called McCarty again, and the mgr said he saw the suspect across the street at a liquor store, and he called the cops, but they didn't even respond. Our optimism was sinking. While in WF, we went by McCarty to thank them, hit another music store, then went to the police station to talk face to face with them. The police acted like they knew nothing about it. Our optimism was zero. So we come home.
I didn't mention that a police friend of ours ran the plates and they came up stolen, so we wouldn't be able to get an address. We found out today, the plates weren't stolen and the police went right to his house and arrested him and got the guitar.
We want to thank everyone for their concerns and helping spread the word. Brian really needed this good news. A couple of weeks ago, he was in a bad car accident, where a drunk driver hit him and knocked him over a bridge. He walked away thank goodness.
A big thanks to all.

Chris Schlotzhauer · From: Colleyville, Tx. USA

Dave Biller · From: Texas, USA

man that's great news. i sold Brian that guitar many years ago (you can see me playing it on Dale Watson's "South of Round Rock" video) and i know that he's very attached to it. i was really bummed when i found out it was ripped off. i'm so glad he got it back and hopefully this won't happen again. people who steal instruments from hard working musicians are the lowest scums on earth.

Chris Schlotzhauer · From: Colleyville, Tx. USA

Thanks Dave. I told Brian to go out and buy a Squire Tele TODAY. The silver sparkle needs to be retired.

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

As a Derailer fan, my reguards to ya'll. Glad the guitar is back where it belongs. Sick world out there--watch your backside. They have too many laws out there to protect scum like that. Police were really right on top of it--that really makes me feel safe. Mad

Jody Sanders · From: Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.

Thank you JESUS . Jody.

Milton C. Willmann · From: Spring Branch, Texas, USA

Chris,
That's great news. Look forward to seeing you folks at Anhalt Hall on Saturday night. Kudos to the Wichita Falls Police folks, that's not an easy task.
_________________
Milton C. Willmann

Danny Naccarato · From: Burleson, Texas

That is great news Chris.

Billy Murdoch · From: Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.

I am really pleased to hear the happy ending.
Billy

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Chris Schlotzhauer · From: Colleyville, Tx. USA

I talked to Brian last night. He said when the police went to the crackhead's house, he told the police, he would tell them where the Tele was, if Brian wouldn't press charges. The police told him, no deal, Brian's in Austin, and you're going down. We would consider going easier on you if you hand over the guitar. Apparently, he had taken it to a Pastor of a church. He left it with the Pastor, after the Pastor told him he did wrong. I think the known criminal was feeling guilty about his transgretion, so who knows, it may have turned him around.
The detective was just flabergasted that they solved this.
Thanks for your kind words.

Grant Johnson · From: Nashville TN

That is awesome news! Maybe Brian should consider having a replica made to take on the road? There are plenty of good builders who could make a nice silver sparkle 68 replica...

Rick Alexander · From: Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Chris, that's great - I love a story with a happy ending.
It sucks that you can't take your vintage gear on the road unless you're driving a Brinks truck and have armed security.
I don't take anything that can't be replaced.

RA

Mike Winter · From: Portland, OR

Cool...great news! Smile

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