Randy Bachman's Stolen Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins Found after 45 Years

Dru Edwards · #1 10-09-2021, 11:02 AM

In case you don't know who Randy Bachman is, he's the "Bachman" in Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO). His 1957 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins model, a holy grail model, was stolen from a hotel room in Toronto in 1976. It was just found in Tokyo when his neighbor started looking for it and found a YouTube video with only 250 views! How amazing is that?

The Gretsch was purchased by someone who didn't know it was stolen. He agreed to return it "on the condition that Bachman find him a guitar of the same make, model, colour, condition, year and factory specs." (source below). The hunt was on for another '57, of which only 40 were made, and one was found with the serial number only 2 digits off in Ohio so Bachman bought it to exchange with his original.

What a great story.

Source:
https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/r...okyo-1.5614775

pieterh · #2 10-09-2021, 11:47 AM

Very generous of the new owner to give it back with preconditions…

I guess there have been so many “owners” since it was stolen you can’t really use the law regarding stolen property - if there is one (in many European countries stolen goods remain the property of the original owner leaving subsequent buyers out of pocket if it turns out something they bought is stolen property).

Dru Edwards · #3 10-09-2021, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pieterh

Very generous of the new owner to give it back with preconditions…

I guess there have been so many “owners” since it was stolen you can’t really use the law regarding stolen property - if there is one (in many European countries stolen goods remain the property of the original owner leaving subsequent buyers out of pocket if it turns out something they bought is stolen property).

Sounds like the owner got pretty much the same guitar. It was amazing that another was able to be found for sale. Very nice that the owner was willing to make the trade. The guitar has always meant a lot to Bachman.

Bob Womack · #4 10-09-2021, 02:07 PM

It would be wise to remember that the new owner isn't bound by either U.S. law or Western morals.

But, I am glad that Randy is going to get his guitar back, one way or another, and Randy seems to be as well. I wonder how well the binding has held up?

Bob

Bob from Brooklyn · #5 10-09-2021, 02:48 PM

Randy seems like a genuinely nice man. I'm happy for him.

Glennwillow · #6 10-09-2021, 06:01 PM

That's a great story! What a great old guitar, too!

- Glenn

pieterh · #7 10-10-2021, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Sounds like the owner got pretty much the same guitar. It was amazing that another was able to be found for sale. Very nice that the owner was willing to make the trade. The guitar has always meant a lot to Bachman.

I hear you. I’m just saying that if it was proved to be stolen property in some countries the “owner” wouldn’t have had a choice…

guitararmy · #8 10-10-2021, 05:14 AM

I thought it was interesting that someone used facial recognition software to identify the wood grain of the guitar…
And how Randy amassed a large collection of Gretsch guitars along the way.

Dru Edwards · #9 10-10-2021, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitararmy

I thought it was interesting that someone used facial recognition software to identify the wood grain of the guitar…
And how Randy amassed a large collection of Gretsch guitars along the way.

Yea, Randy has 400 guitars and has bought a dozen orange Gretsch 6120s from that era. I wonder where he keeps them all. Some must be in a secure storage unit rather than all at his home.

fpuhan · #10 10-10-2021, 05:32 AM

A story with a happy ending! As a side note, Randy Bachman was a member of Guess Who prior to BTO. Two very successful bands!

Dru Edwards · #11 10-10-2021, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fpuhan

A story with a happy ending! As a side note, Randy Bachman was a member of Guess Who prior to BTO. Two very successful bands!

Both bands from Winnipeg! Bachman was a cowriter of The Guess Who's American Woman and, obviously, the guitarist.

Steve DeRosa · #12 10-10-2021, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

It would be wise to remember that the new owner isn't bound by either U.S. law or Western morals...

Case in point: around the same time Mr. Bachman's guitar was stolen I came within inches of buying a similarly uber-collectible (acoustic) guitar which, as I would discover a year or so thereafter in a well-known niche-market publication, was also stolen from another '70s A-list player/collector...

Had I done so and found myself in the same position, I would have happily (and immediately) returned it - simply as a matter of personal respect (this guy was one of my major influences) and our mutual appreciation of fine instruments - my sole request being that his/his label's legal team assist me in recovering my original purchase price from the seller...

upsidedown · #13 10-11-2021, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Both bands from Winnipeg! Bachman was a cowriter of The Guess Who's American Woman and, obviously, the guitarist.

Huh! I thought he was from Moose Jaw, Moosomin or Medicine Hat.

Bob from Brooklyn · #14 10-11-2021, 12:52 PM

Here's a cool clip on the story:

wguitar · #15 10-11-2021, 03:29 PM

I'll go with my first impression, which was "Wow, what a great, feel-good story"! Made me smile!

Cheers!