Instrument theft remains a widespread issue, with recent research showing that nearly one-quarter of musicians have experienced the loss of their gear. Among these incidents, some involve exceptionally valuable and historically significant instruments, garnering particular attention. Here, we explore 14 of the most renowned instrument thefts from music history, detailing their stories and subsequent fates.
Famous Stolen Instruments and Their Stories
1. Eric Clapton’s Gibson Les Paul Guitar
In the early stages of his career, iconic guitarist Eric Clapton owned a Gibson Les Paul guitar he nicknamed “Beano.” Shortly after the 1966 release of his album Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton, the guitar was stolen and has never been recovered. Guitarist Joe Bonamassa has claimed knowledge of its whereabouts, suggesting it resides in a private American collection. This revelation sparked public interest and petitions urging further information. Guitar experts Baxter and Jonathan from Casino Guitars discussed the potential location and ethical considerations surrounding the possession and return of rare instruments, speculating about a clandestine network trading such coveted guitars.
2. Min Kym’s 1696 Stradivarius
Violin prodigy Min Kym earned a spot at the UK’s Purcell School for Young Musicians at age seven. At 21, she acquired a rare and valuable 1696 Stradivarius violin, mortgaging her flat for approximately £450,000 ($580,000). In November 2010, the violin was stolen near London’s Euston Station, leading Kym into a deep clinical depression that affected her ability to perform. The instrument resurfaced about three years later at a home in the Midlands but was eventually sold to an investor, as Kym could not afford its repurchase.
3. Paul McCartney’s 1961 Höfner Bass
Paul McCartney bought his first bass, a Höfner 500/1, in 1961. This bass is famously associated with many early Beatles tracks. However, post the January 1969 ‘‘Get Back/Let It Be’’ sessions, it vanished, possibly stolen from Abbey Road Studios. Over 50 years later, the bass was discovered in the loft of a family home in East Sussex amid a renewed search and public appeal in September 2023.
4. Roman Totenberg’s 1734 Stradivarius
Polish virtuoso Roman Totenberg played his Stradivarius violin for decades until it disappeared from his dressing room at the Longy School of Music in 1980. The suspected thief, an aspiring violinist, held the instrument for over 30 years. Totenberg had doubted its recovery during his lifetime. He passed away in 2012, but the violin was found four years later among the belongings of the deceased thief’s ex-wife. The instrument is now valued at approximately $5 million.
5. Frank Almond’s 1715 Lipinski Stradivarius
In 2014, Frank Almond, concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, was attacked and robbed of his 1715 Lipinski Stradivarius violin and two bows in a Wisconsin parking lot. Valued between $5 and $6 million, the violin bears a rich history, having survived events such as the Cuban Revolution and the Nazi era. The assailants were arrested shortly after, as such a renowned instrument is difficult to sell clandestinely.
6. George Harrison’s ‘Lucy’ Guitar
George Harrison’s cherry-red Gibson Les Paul, affectionately named “Lucy,” was gifted to him by Eric Clapton in 1968. It featured prominently during the Beatles’ ‘White Album’ period and in several videos and films. In 1973, Lucy was stolen during a burglary at Harrison’s Los Angeles home but changed hands several times before being returned to him after a lengthy process. Harrison kept the guitar until his death in 2001.
7. 1719 Lauterbach Stradivarius Violin
Named after Johann Christoph Lauterbach, this violin has a murky past involving theft during World War II. Stolen in 1944 by retreating German forces from the National Museum of Warsaw, its whereabouts became uncertain afterward. Records indicate it was found in Germany in 1948 and alleged to have been returned to Poland, though this was later disputed. In 2022, the instrument was tentatively identified by the Paris-based organization Musique et Spoliations.
8. Takiko Omura’s 1675 Amati Violin
In 2005, Japanese violinist Takiko Omura’s 1675 Nicolo Amati violin, valued around $388,000, was stolen. Approximately 15 years later, it was recovered in Italy during a police raid on a suspected drug trafficker’s home, returning this historic instrument to its country of origin.
9. Ophélie Gaillard’s 1737 Francesco Goffriller Cello
French cellist Ophélie Gaillard was robbed at knifepoint outside her Paris home in 2018. The assailant stole her 1737 Francesco Goffriller cello, worth around £1.3 million, and additional items. After Gaillard publicly appealed on social media, the thief abandoned the cello in a car and anonymously informed her of its location. The instrument and her bow were recovered in good condition.
10. Bronisław Huberman’s 1713 Stradivarius
This remarkable violin, now played by Joshua Bell, was stolen twice from its former owner, Bronisław Huberman. The second theft occurred in 1936 during a Carnegie Hall concert and went unresolved for nearly 50 years. It passed into the possession of Julian Altman, who concealed its identity until a deathbed confession. After restoration, it was sold to renowned violinists, ultimately reaching Joshua Bell in 2001 and accruing an estimated value of $14 million.
11. Baby Steinway Grand Stolen from Toronto Hospital
In 2013, audacious thieves removed a baby Steinway grand piano from Toronto General Hospital by wheeling it out on a trolley and misleading staff as to their actions. The missing $27,000 instrument was unnoticed for four days until CCTV footage led to the apprehension of the suspects and recovery of the piano a week later.
13. Series of Tuba and Sousaphone Thefts in California
Between 2011 and 2013, multiple Los Angeles high schools lost over 20 tubas and sousaphones to thieves, depriving marching bands of essential brass instruments. These were suspected to have been sold on the black market to banda music groups, where tubas command significant fees for performances at events popular within California’s Mexican community.
14. Sally Beamish’s 1747 Viola: A Silver Lining
In 1989, composer and violist Sally Beamish suffered the loss of her 1747 Florence-made viola, historically linked to the Medici family. This theft marked the darkest period in her life and prompted a relentless search. Though the instrument was never recovered, the experience motivated Beamish to pursue a full-time composing career, a decision she values highly today. She was honored with an OBE in 2020 for her contributions to music.
Featured image: Paul McCartney playing his 1961 Höfner bass.
All images credited to Getty Images.
Source: www.classical-music.com
— The Violin Post Editorial Staff
