My banjo stolen

[Jody Stecher]

My Cammeyer Vibrante Royal zither banjo did not make it home after a Secret Life Of Banjos concert in Berkeley, California last night. It was in a brown hard English case, the kind that is straight on one side and round on the other, odd looking. It must have been taken during the packing up of the car outside the venue. The case has a name (now forgotten) and the Canadian address of a former owner hand written on the outside. If anyone sees the banjo or has information please let me know. I am posting 3 rather poor photos of the banjo itself.

thanks,

Jody Stecher

[Adam]

Jody, so sorry to hear that ... Here's hoping it turns up, safe + sound.

[Ray Jones]

That must be heart rending mate. It's not like having money stolen, a banjo is like a member of the family. Please, lets all keep our eyes open for it. Make a banjo theft like stealing a famouse painting, so that the thief can't put it on the market or sell it. It was only the other day that our mate Dave Wade also had his banjoes stolen. For this kind of crime, I say bring back the lash.

[Jody Stecher]

Thanks for the kind words. Yes this banjo is dear friend, very special to me. The whole thing is of course upsetting but also a bit odd. It was in the least attractive looking of the cases out on the street as we loaded the car and there were very few passersby. So I don't know for sure that it was stolen, only that is missing. If the banjo was indeed stolen, it must have been simply for the thrill of taking something because the old case did not look like it contained anything of value. Well if anyone *does* see an unfamiliar Cammeyer zb of this model, one unusual feature that might identify it is the strings. The 1st, 2nd, and 5th string are steel, the middle G is gut and the bass string is copper wound.

[thereallyniceman]

I am so sorry Jody.
We all know EXACTLY how you feel. I am sure everyone will be watching the likely places where it could surface.
Good luck

Ian
ps.. Ironic really! You know what I mean!

[Sylvia]

Sorry to hear about the Banjo Jody, perhaps someone knew what they were looking for....least attractive = old, old = valuable? Hope you get it back in good condition.

[marc dalmasso]

the zyther is already for sale in a UK shop ... just joking ; sorry , Jody

[Jody Stecher]

Marc, now *that* is funny, and a bit of humor is just what I needed.

[Trapdoor2]

"If the banjo was indeed stolen, it must have been simply for the thrill of taking something because the old case did not look like it contained anything of value."

Naturally, no one in their right mind would take a Z-B. Hopefully they'll open the box whilst at the top of a multi-story staircase. As they recoil in horror, they'll step backwards off the stairs and tumble crushingly to the bottom, spending the rest of their miserable lives haunted by cruel visions of Z-Bs from hell.

I recommend leaving flyers posted at the local toxic waste facilities. ;-)

Sorry for your loss, I hope it returns soon!

[David Wade]

Bad news Jody, takes me back 3 months - lets hope they turn up, I suspect mine ended up in skip somewhere. Does it have a Camm signature or is it a JAT, I can't remember the heel shape on the Royale.
My daughters think there is an international conspiracy of good taste....

[Jody Stecher]

Thanks for all the comments, serious and humorous. Bill Evans lives near the venue and searched every corner yesterday. No dice. And no banjo either.

Having spent a day consulting participants and witnesses to the transfer of banjos from venue to vehicle and comparing my wife's memory to mine concerning the unloading back home I've come to conclusion that the banjo had to have been taken during the transfer of banjos from the venue to the car. A police report has been filed and I'll be contacting some music shops.

I keep trying to add better photos of the banjo but Ning keeps converting them to meaningless text. I'll post them in a separate message and see if that goes better.

What I lack is a photo of the case. It's the older english type that is straight on one side but has a curve on the other. Does anyone have a photo of such a case? The police say that would help. They are hopeful because I have photos of the banjo.

Giving a description of the banjo to the police was easy. They are professionals. Did you ever try to describe a zither-banjo to a rock-n-roller teenage shop assistant at a music shop? Near total non-comprehension.

thanks, everyone.
Jody