And it reminds me of "The Red Violin" -- a movie about how a musical instrument has a life of its own and can touch many people's lives in unexpected ways.
@urproblem Missing is not the same as stolen. Perhaps the memories for Aunt Pat were too much to bear and she sold the bass to the HoG, or the money was badly needed. Either way, better that it's back in the family where it can actually be played, rather than sitting on display in a box.
People hate on Joe for acquiring too many vintage instruments but no one can deny he TRULY cares a lot about the provenance of these historic instruments and views himself as a temporary steward and not the ultimate owner. He only wants to buy from original person with a good story and pay them an ethical amount of money for it. Really cool story and glad the guitar is home.
@@Philippe-ke3sk Why? Nothing wrong with him expecting some money for it. I'm sure Joe isn't hurting for money but he's probably not as rich as you think he is. And even if he was, why is the expectation he should just because he's rich? It's really a weird comment.
@@Philippe-ke3sk yeah he probably could but it's almost like people just expect "rich" people to do that type of thing when it's on social media. Not everyone is Oprah.
Jeneane is one of my good friends. We met when we worked at a small consulting company in Atlanta back in the 90s and she was my boss. She’s such a wonderful person and she always talked about how she was 100% sure that was her dad’s bass. I know how devastated she was when he died and how much that’s gonna mean to her to have that little piece of him back. Fate is amazing when it’s kind.
This hit home. Years ago my dad bought a 1940s Gibson LG banner acoustic at auction. It had some issues but no cracks. It had a Baldwin pickup and an old plastic cased/Bakelite? Supro 6 x 9 amp. When dad left the auction, he was approached by a young college girl in tears. It was her Grandpa's guitar...still living Grandpa. Dad gave her his number and said she could have it for what he paid. She explained she was broke. Her family was consoling her. Dad told them to take it back immediately but family could not agree. Some time went by and we didn't hear from them so we brought it into luthier. Top needed to come off, slowly flatten, reglue braces, neck set. It needed a lot but never cracked. What came out of this was a truly magical guitar even though we were into it for about max value at the time. A week into restore, family called dad. They would pay the money back. Now dad had to explain that the guitar was being minimalist restored to make it playable and straight. Family would have to pay the luthier fee, another 900 bucks. They agreed to. Dad and I got the guitar back. I played it for a few days. It was truly a special instrument. We seup a time to meet at my home. I played it for them. We packed it up and talked for a while. They thanked us, paid, and left. Weeks later dad got an email with pics of Granpa playing guitar. It sounded better than new he said. It was a well written thank you. We felt good about it but we poured a lot of planning into that special guitar. Last year I lost dad. As I was cleaning out things I found the email. We did the right thing. Life is so precious. Cheers!
The House of Guitars in Rochester NY is legendary. I bought a 1992 Les Paul Cherry burst from there that was literally buried in a bin of about 200 other Les Paul guitars. Back then, HOG merchandized their guitars in bins that were about 4 or 5 feet deep and the guitars were all in upright, leaning against one another. So, you had to be quite careful when sifting through the guitars and especially when taking them out of the bin. On this particular trip, I was looking for Les Paul and I wanted a Cherry Burst. After about an hour of searching, I found one, played it, loved it, bought it and still have it. The interesting aspect of this guitar is it quality of construction and materials, which are unusually good for a run-of-the-mill, off the shelf Les Paul Standard. So, I counted myself fortunate to have found the "diamond in the rough", so to speak. Then, when I brought the guitar to my uncle, who was a Luthier and used to work for Gibson back in the late 60's and 70's, he picked it up, looked it over, felt the neck up and down and strummed a couple chords and said, "if I didn't know any better, I would swear someone was trying to replicate a 1959 or 60 LP Standard". When he put it on the bench to set it up, intonate etc, he decided to remove the neck pickup and see how Gibson was marking their guitars. He not only saw a date and initials, he saw a long neck tenon. A long neck tenon in a Standard that came off the general assembly line was like finding the holy grail. Gibson only used long neck tenons after 1968 in Custom made instruments that were specifically requested such as "signature" models. Otherwise, the last time Gibson used a long neck tenon in the Les Paul Standard was before they stopped making them in 1960. When Gibson started making the Les Paul Standard again in 1968, a short neck tenon was used. In October, 1993, Gibson Opened their Custom Shop. At some point long after that, I read about the history of Gibson's Custom Shop between 1986 and 1993. Quick and dirty, in 1986, the new owners hand selected the best craftsmen and set them up in their own part of the factory. Their only mission was to study Gibson's most iconic and historic models from the 50's and 60's, reverse engineer them and begin remaking them. Their first choice was the 57' Junior. However, between 1986 and 1993, these craftsmen were practicing the old crafting techniques used in the 1950's and 60's. Some of their work was marketed as "Reissues" such as the 57' Junior. Others weren't promoted as "reissues" for whatever reason; and were released into the wild with the guitars that came off the general assembly line. Apparently, this is one of those guitars. And I found this guitar at The House of Guitars.
I never bought any musical gear from there. But, I did buy my first joe satriani T shirt that’s on my wall from the piles of T shirts. I’m in western New York, used to live in Webster. Been to the house of guitars a few times
"The bass just arrived" and so did my tears. What a fantastic story that involves a couple of the coolest people on the planet! Thank you Rick and cousin Genine for experiencing and telling the story! Thank you Joe Bonamasa for your amazing spirit and willingness to be such a positive part of this story!
My dad was a drummer and I started playing his Kit at 5 or so. He passed away when I was 8 and the Kit vanished. When I was around 11 I asked if I could take violin lessons and my Mom said “What about drums?” I answered an ad in the paper and they came over in a van, opened the door and there was my dads Kit. I bought it instantly. Congrats Rick 💜
I was expecting a story how about an aunt in the UK saw a UA-cam clip with let's say Phil Collins showing a drumkit he just bought on a flea market.... showing it a minute 17 seconds 48
These videos about locating long lost instruments are my favourite. Peter Frampton getting back his Les Paul after a place crash in South America, Randy Bachman being reunited with his vintage stolen Gretsch, all amazing, and this story is just as meaningful. PS…I think the general social media public are warming up to Joe B. Much more so than a few years ago when most posts hated on him. He’s a genuine guy, super guitar nerd, and a phenomenal player. Nothing wrong with that.
73 year old bassist here, this is without question one of he most heart warming stories I've read. Thanks for sharing this Rick, and thanks to Joe Bonamassa for making it happen -
Would like to know more about how the bass went missing. If it was stolen, legally it's supposed to be returned to the rightful owner and it's the responsibility of intermediary owners to have vetted any sellers as being the rightful owner. Basically if the shop bought and sold stolen goods they are out of luck and will loose any money invested and the goods are returned to their rightful owner. Who knows about statute of limitations here, but happy ending regardless.
I was touched by your story as they can be quite conincidental. My dad was an amazing guitarist, but his career was cut short by a drunk driver on the way home from a gig with my mom & cousin in the car, leaving him semi-paralyzed, never to play again. In the chaos that ensued my dad's KAY ESS-335 copy went missing, never to be found again. My dad loved that guitar and reminisced about it until he passed away a few years ago. I tried to find it, or at least find one like it, to return it to him. He had suffered brain damage and may not have recognized it as his, but I wanted to at least see him reunited with the instrument he loved. So this story touched me as I was happy to see your uncle's instrument back in the family !!
This really made my day. Is Joe B. the greatest guy in the world or what? He has purchased several guitars from the shop I work in, and they're always the most interesting ones, and often ones that other people might fail to appreciate. Like the 1962 Strat that someone had decoupaged with stickers, newspaper cut outs, and all manner of stuff. They covered the top, the back, and the headstock completely. It has obviously been done long ago because it was quite weathered and yellowed (but completely intact). Most collectors would turn up their noses at a vintage guitar someone had "defiled" in this manner, but not Joe. I posted it on our website and he bought it the next day. We don't know the background on that guitar, and the mystery of that is part of what makes the guitar so special. That guitar had a "life" and that's just the sort of thing that Joe appreciates. God bless Joe. And I'm so glad you got your uncle's bass back. You give Joe a run for the money in the "greatest guy in the world" category by the way. Kudos to you and Joe for being great people as well as great musicians. ✌❤
Great decision to bring it back to the family. My parents were also from Rochester NY and my maternal grandfather and great-grandfather owned a baby shoe factory after the turn of the 20th century. For my mom's 90th birthday I was fortunate to find a genuine pair of Newcomb-Anderson baby shoes in the original box on eBay. It had a picture of a baby on the box, and it turns out that my mom was the model for the baby picture! She was confused and delighted how I managed to produce this strange nostalgic gift. She passed a couple of years ago at age 92, and now we are trying to figure out the best future home for this legacy so that it can pass down for another 90+ years. Hope your family manages to do the same with that wonderful bass!
Fascinating story. I'm Australian. I lived in Ottawa Canada in 1982. We got our US television on the cable from upstate New York. Watertown and Rochester. I used to watch David Letterman late at night and the ads for the House of Guitars used to feature heavily. Oh, and Genesee Beer! While I went to Rochester, then the powerhouse town of Kodak, Xerox, Bausch and Lomb, I didn't visit the House of Guitars. I finally made my pilgrimage in 2018, 36 years later. Indeed I only visited Rochester to go to the House of Guitar. It was great to see. Rick, you forgot to mention the amps section. Talk about a collection of classics. I was blown-away be the place! I'm your vintage Rick, love your work, and really enjoy the Rochester, up state New York stories. People forget it was the global economic powerhouse of the 60, 70s and much of the 80s. The Silicon Valley of its time.
I'm a 60 year-old grown ass man, and sat here with tears when you opened that bass. Joe is a class act all the way, and while I didn't think it possible, he went up even higher in my book. I'm glad that axe is back in the family, Rick. Take good care of it! I'm sure Uncle Al is smiling contentedly now that it's back home!
This is such a wholesome story and just goes to show that JB isn’t just “hoarding” the vintage stuff but he genuinely loves the stories behind. So happy for you
My husband had a ‘74 Fender stack amp since the late ‘70s. He passed in 2019 and I needed to sell some equipment. I “ran into a guy” in SC in 2022 and he bought it saying he too had one from the same year. The two amps ended up being only one digit off in sequence of serial number and came off the production line one behind the other. 🤯
That is true testament to what Joe says in his nerdville videos: "It's not about the Instrument, it's about the stories"... He just made one hell of a story there!
Are you kidding me! What a cool story. Props to Joe B. for getting the bass back to your family. Life has a funny way of providing unexpected, but great surprises.
This is a really great ending to the mystery bass, Rick. It makes me very happy to see you have it back in your family. Though I’ve played classical guitar since 1983, I played violin in grade school thru 8th grade, spring, 1965. Then I put it away. I asked my mom what became of my violin, and she doesn’t know. I can really feel what you might have felt missing the bass. It’s a loss of an earlier time and life period of one’s life, and to reclaim it, is precious.
In 1991 I visited Rochester in a strange twist of events. I'm from italy, just turned 18 then and I didn't even know Rochester existed. I had just lost my grand mother who was like a second mum to me. I had some money i was supposed to spend in case of emergency. A few days before leaving I decided to go to the House of Guitars and spend it without my father knowing. I chose an acoustic black cutaway Guild. My first acoustic guitar, my Black Beauty which is still with me to this day. I probably saw that bass as i saw so many incredible instruments over there. Such a magical place. I decided to go back on the 20th anniversary of my visit and the place is still magical. Thanks for the story Rick, I'm happy you got your bass back.
My uncle died at age 35 from cancer. He was an amazing musician and played around Toronto in the late 1960 through the 1970s. I have a wonderful picture of him holding a Gibson ES 335. That guitar is lost from the family. I couldn’t stop crying watching this video because I know how much items of those who have passed can mean to the descendants. I often day dream of being able to talk to my uncle…and since I can’t…I play guitar and think of him. I am so happy for you and your family that your uncle’s bass made its way home. Maybe someday my uncle’s guitar can find its way back too.
what an incredible story!! Family heirlooms (especially instruments) are priceless!! I own my great grandmother's George Steck apartment baby grand that she bought for $500 in 1929 from HW Perlman in NYC. It's all about the familial connection!!
Rick, first of all I love your channel. Second, I'm also a Rochester boy and have been spending my hard earned money at the House of Guitars for the past 60 years. Third, I am a bass player and have been drooling over that bass ever since it showed up at the HOG. I always would tell Bruce that as soon as I hit the lottery, I'd be in to buy it. It broke my heart when it was sold but took solace in knowing the Joe Bonamassa bought it as he truly was a person who valued the instrument for what it is. I also watched the Reverb video and was taken by the fact that he was showing off the bass. Then when I watched your video about your uncle's lost bass I was absolutely blown away. As much as I lusted (coveted) that bass, I am so happy to see it back with your family. A lot of people would have never let it go but it shows just what a class act Joe Bonamassa is by letting the bass return to its rightful home.
I love this. I hear Stories All The Time of Lost or stolen instruments or instruments that just get away from people overr time that really means something, so I'm glad that you got it back. My grandfather gave a stand up bass to my uncle who's been a lifelong musician and my uncle let somebody borrow it decades ago...he's never seen it since it would be great to have that back in the family...
This is just beautiful! Hats off to Joe. He proved what he was saying for years: you buy the story, the instrument comes for free. Great to see that the bass is back in the family. All the best to all of you!
So happy to see this story. Instruments are more than just tools. They become a part of us. They are there like old friends. It’s great to see this one back where it belongs. Hats off to Joe for being a stellar person who gets the connection one feels with their instruments. He is one of the greats if not the greatest custodian of gear. What a fantastic journey that had me riveted from start to finish! 😊
Wow, Rick! To me, there are two great stories here: the one about your uncle's bass guitar, and then there's another one, about one family being tight and united through the love of music. Altogether, simply wonderful. Wonderful. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I let out an “AWWWW” & burst into tears when Joe responded to you saying you wanted to buy your uncle’s bass. Thank you, Rick. You have no idea how much this story means to me! 🌸💜🌼
Quite a story. Happy to hear you got it back. Family heirlooms are a magical thing. Have a similar story with my father's stereo amplifier. Its a 1972 technics integrated amp. It was his first ever real amplifier. Long story short. He sold it to my uncle when he upgraded a couple years later in 74. My uncle passed in 2019. When cleaning out his apartment. I came across an old amp. Sent a picture to my father. To his surprise it was his original amplifier. Took it out to a guy in Rochester that fixes up gear. Cleaned it. Re-capped it. Runs like new. It's now something that will stay with me until I'm dead and buried with it.
It deserves to be home, with your family, and esp your uncles family. And Joe is it a true gentleman to sell it to you for what he paid forcit. No mark up or whatever. A true gentleman of New York.
This actually brought tears. My father died when I was 2, our house burnt too the ground in 1968 , thereby losing everything thing of my father’s that my mother had saved. To me, getting that bass back was a blessing.
@@55TeleMark Hello thank you for your like and comments on my official page and for being a fan ,it's great to know I have such a devoted fan. ☺️☺️☺️ Much love💜
Just about THE coolest story I think I’ve ever heard, , , Always felt there was something special about Joe Bonamassa the person, I love to hear him talk as much as I like to hear him play , , , , the man is so respectful to other musicians and has obviously studied so many of them - I’ve personally never heard him badmouth anyone. To have an ‘heirloom’ instrument like that pass through such a legends hands AND come back ‘home’ really is “One to tell the grandkids “
Rick!!! Love the story!!! Family guitar history is so important! It was waiting all those years to come back to the family!!! I asked my oldest son which of my 20 guitars he would like when I pass (I'm 77) and he said the 57 Goya classical. I've had it since 1967. It was the first guitar in all of my kids lives. It has real family value and means almost nothing to the rest of the world! Glad you shared the story! Thanks!!
This one hit home. Almost 30 years ago I lost my husband, a guitar player to Leukemia. I had two young kids. Thankfully, his most precicous guitars are still here. My son has the ES-335, my daughter his handmade in Quebec Norman acoustic, and I have his late 60's Strat (currently at my daughters.) Both of my now adult kids play. It would have been a blow to loose those guitars. So happy that the family has that bass back!
@@jodivandyk3649 Hello thank you for your like and comments on my official page and for being a fan ,it's great to know I have such a devoted fan. ☺️☺️☺️ Much love💜
@@jodivandyk3649 Hello thank you for your like and comments on my official page and for being a fan ,it's great to know I have such a devoted fan. ☺️☺️☺️ Much love💜
Love hearing about stories like your Uncle's bass disappearing and the reuniting of it to your family. Joe Bonamassa is a really cool guy, and it is cool that he was so willing to give it back for what he paid for it and not try to make a huge profit from it. He could have said that it couldn't be proven, but he didn't, and that too really speaks to the man's character. Great story, thank you for sharing it with all of us, and enjoy that bass!
❤❤ about 30 years ago, after my paternal grandfather died, his wife came to town, and wanted to have dinner with all of us. At the end of the dinner she told me that she had a gift for me from my grandfather, it was his 1963 Gibson 125. It now hangs on my wall with my other guitars, and it plays so well.❤️
I sat in tears watching you unbox that beautiful bass. I had a similar experience when a buddy returned a 1985 Epi Rivera that I sold him in 1989 unopened, unplayed, and with the same strings. I teamed up then, too. Welcome home, bass.
That was cool that Joe sold you the Bass guitar for what he paid for it. He understands the story that these vintage instruments mean to people and your story is a great one, glad it made its way back home.
I think it is so cool that you got it back home. My best friend Tom bought a Bass exactly like it. It was in a pawn shop. It was being sold for $115 dollars/whsc. We were young with musical dreams. It was always my favorite bass no matter what we were playing. Well we are both still playing professionally. He's on the East Coast now and I'm still here in California. That is a most wonderful instrument. Everytime I see one as with this one I'm reminded of that summer back in 1969 when I lent him $15 to enable him to get it. From the same pawn shop later I bought a white 1955 hardtail Stratocaster for $125. Times have changed...love all your videos Rick you are a gift to us all.
If anyone ever needed proof that Joe Bonamassa was a 100% CLASS ACT? There you have it! On a side note, Rick, you need to greet each new day with all the GRATITUDE your being can muster; the STAGGERING amount of interconnectivity that your unique life journey has created for you is, whether you believe in a "higher power" or not, a BLESSING of unfathomably beautiful depth. Remember this: "gratitude is the BEST attitude", no matter what. We love you man! ❤
Life's tapestry is so intricately woven, as is evident here. What a profound turn of events that reunited this unique guitar with your family. It's more than an instrument. It's a piece of the patchwork that makes up your families tapestry. Awesomely inspiring story. Thank you for sharing!
OMG. The TONE! WOW. That is an amazing instrument with an incredible story. So very happy for your family that y'all have been reunited with it after all these years!
Quite possibly the original flat wounds on it?!?! What an amazing story Rick!! While Joe would've certainly taken care it it, it's great that it's back home with your family. I live in Mexico NY an hour and a half away from Rochester and it's been ages since I last visited the HOG, 1997 when I saw Marillion perform an acoustic set there and their gig that followed that evening. I bought a few rare LP's and CD's there such an amazing place.
What an awesome story Rick! How cool of Joe to offer it back at the same price. This story brought happy tears to my eyes. I’m sentimental when it comes to family heirlooms. It has to be a very heartwarming feeling knowing you’re holding your Uncle’s Bass. It’s in amazing condition also. 😃
What a cool story! What I love about America and Americans is people like you, your family and Joe and all the wonderful people in the American music scene. Across the pond I don't hear stories like this too much though I expect they exist. Thank you for what you do, Rick. Your dedication and enthusiasm is such a rich and vital testimony to the world of music that will live on long after we've all passed.
Hawdy Rick, Love your videos, they are more than priceless. I know your time is valuable. I too solved a 50 year old family mystery. Since I was about 20 I knew my grandfather (my dads father) was a musician. I was told he played guitar. 30 years pass, before my dad died he told me I need to locate my Aunt Linda, Aunt Sandi and Wanda my step Grandmother. Three years ago I found out my Grandfather was a huge country western star with his own radio shows. He toured with Hank Williams, Bob Wills, Cindy Walker, Cliffie Stone, Buck Owens, Les Paul and Mary Ford among many others. He recorded at Les Pauls studio in the early 1950s.His band was called; Lucky White and His Dude Ranch Playboys. I'm re-recording some of my Grandfathers songs. You can hear them at my UA-cam site. Radio Demo uploads. I'm curious at how you'd apply your guitar skill set to these remakes?
As a Rochesterian who learned to play (and bought my first 4-track) at House of Guitars, I just love the story. I’m not normally all that interested in guitars & gear, beyond what people do with them. But I’m glad getting that getting that piece that has so much sentimental value to your family back worked out for all involved.
I've been there a few times. I always find myself leaving and wonder if they actually keep track of their inventory. So many cool items spaning decades.
Love how everything comes full circle. I'd like to think your uncle was behind the scenes, making this happen. Congrats, Rick and company. This is why Joe B is the perfect curator of vintage instruments with a story.
You, Rick, maintain what's got to be the most agreeable UA-cam channel. What's being produced is never about an individual 'having-things', rather is about common shared-experience. ...and, you're excellent at it! I don't say this as a Musician; I'm familiar with fretted instruments but just never was able to have my guitar talk to Springsteen's guitar which after a while had me feeling foolish... seriously though you and your channel are very well rooted in having what matters within Music keep its relevance. Kudos to you & your other creators too.
It’s wild that all these years it was two blocks from home and it took a class act like Joe Bonamassa to appreciate it and ultimately get it back home. What a cool story. I cried when you open the case! Congrats on getting it home. I had a 1958 Guild stolen from me that was my Father’s guitar who gave it to me. I’m always looking for it.
Brilliant… simply brilliant! And Kudos to Mr Joe Bonamassa who totally understands the “Stories” behind all these vintage instruments…. Fantastic video Rick, and looking forward to seeing a follow up with your cousin holding the bass. 🎸👍
What an amazing story! I am so glad you bought it and brought it back into the family. Heritage! My wife and I are in our 60s and have quite a few instruments in our home. My hope is that one or more of our kids or grandchildren will want to hold on to a couple of them, and pass them and the stories attached down the line…
This made my day! To see a beloved vintage instrument to return home to Rick's family, well, my immense respect for Joe B. just increased 10-fold. What a great turn of events! I'm amazed Rick held it together & didn’t shed a tear when he unpacked it. If i was ever fortunate emough to be reunited with my awesome sounding 1965 Gibson Falcon RVT GA-19 amp (that i was forced to sell ages ago, due to extreme poverty), well, I'd probably, no, DEFINITELY bawl like a little schoolgirl!😭
Admittedly somewhat begrudgingly, I have come to really appreciate Rick's channel. This is a great and crazy story - that bass is special for sure. Stay humble brother.
It's such a big world, but synchronicities like this happen all the time when you start talking to people. It's wonderous!!! I'm happy to hear your uncle's bass returned home after so many years, bless Joe Bonamassa.
I teared up, man. Beautiful, beautiful story. What a piece of history. I agree with your brother your uncles bass belongs to your family. Congratulations on bringing it home. Bravo - a different type of guitar hero is born. Much love and many, many Blessings.
By far the most heartwarming story Ive heard in a long time. Congratulations on the return of a piece of family history that now includes a very generous Joe Bonamassa. A story for the grandkids for sure 🤘🎸♥👍
That's so cool Rick. Glad Joe had the mind and heart to sell it to the family. As your brother said, It needs to be in the family. I'm so glad that you and the family have it back. Brought a tear to my eye's. Because family is so important. More now than ever. Peace and love man.......
I couldn’t love this story more if I tried. My dad played keys in a few bands in the southeast from the late 60s through about 78. He had a like a late 60s model Rhodes that he sold during sort of a dark time in his life. And he regretted it until the day he took his last breath. As a non musician but as a music connoisseur I’ve grown such an appreciation for the tools musicians use to create magic.
I've been doing Genealogy & family history for many years and this story really touched my heart & brought tears to my eyes! ❤😢 What a heart - warming story! Thank you for sharing this! 👍
Great story Rick. I'm 67 years old and got my first bass at 12, it was a cheap japanese beatle bass and it was my love played it till it fell apart, neck twisted body caved in pickups failed. But I still have it just can't let it go. I know it's worthless junk and I had a lot of other basses and still play every day. But I have drug that first bass around with me all my life. there is a mental chain between me and that bass. having it around just completes me.
I got goosebumps while listening to one of the best family stories in the music business. Very respectful of joe to let you buy the bass back without hesitation. Thank you Ric for this touching story
Man, I don't know who you didn't get teary eyed opening that thing, I almost did just watching you unbox it. Congratulations Rick on retrieving a family heirloom, and that speaks volumes to the amount of class Joe has that he made sure it found its way home. Cheers to you and your family.
Fabulous story, Rick! I forwarded, shared it with several friends, two of whom are life long bass players. Also an FYI, I am a retired family therapist. My mentor, colleague, and friend of 30 + years moved to Syracuse around 1990. He was a Dean and teaching child and family psychiatrist at the New York Upstate Medical University. He knew and often saw Joe Bonamassa's dad, who worked in one of the hospitals he worked in (he worked in both Syracuse and Rochester - the latter with returning military service personnel from the Iraq/Afganistan war). I have often shared with friends that guitars are like family you are very attached to (I have 5 unique luthier made handmade classical and acoustic guitars and a Les Paul model I made myself). If you don't play them all at least once in awhile, you feel like a neglectful parent. 🤓
So glad you got it back! Your brother John called me a few weeks ago & asked me what I knew about it, as i also have oggled that bass for many years. So happy for your family! Cheers!
Great story, and so nice of Joe B. to offer it back to you and your family. Some questions: Fender made quite a few of these basses, so I wondered what convinced your family that the was your uncle's bass and not another one like it? Was it the correct serial number or did it have wear marks in all the right places as your uncles? Also, did anyone discover how or from who the music store The House of Guitars got it?
Yeah I was wondering the same. Just because it was in close proximity to the family home doesn’t necessarily make it THE bass. I thought they were going to bring up a certain chip or scratch or something that would positively ID the bass as his Uncle’s.
Always cool to hear about a missing or stolen instrument being found & reunited with either its owner or family members as was here Rick . The Fact that Joe was so willing to get it home doesn’t surprise me one bit , because he does truly enjoy life & it’s little quirks that come with being able to buy what he wants and enjoy them , even if it means letting it go back home . Glad to see this story here & congratulations on a tale well told .😎👍
Rick, like tearing into an old house where you find newspapers or a jar with coins in the wall, you need to write the history of this bass down on paper, including Bonamasa's brief ownership, and roll it up like ancient parchment paper and put it in the control cavity. Guitars can live well beyond the lifetimes of many owners because they are special, they are nostalgic vessels of history. Make notes. Anything mods or repairs you can document over the years, put that on the paper in the guitar. Fifty years from now that paper will be super important to guitar players and collectors, the stories (added onto by future owners), will be important. My best friend in high school has a Monopoly game he's kept dates and players recorded on the back of the board since he was a kid, and high school was as long ago for us as it was for you. Keep jamming with that bass.
I love this story! Which only adds to the magical feeling of reunion that you and your family mistook for feel! Truly a ‘meant to be’ occurrence!!! Thank you for sharing!!
Oh, I am crying now. It is a wonderful and extremely lucky event for you guys. And it brings me to tears since it stirs up so much of our loss of my dads dad Erik. My grandfather became a musician and leader of a jazz orchestra at age 15 back in 1937. He was the leadguitarrist and frontman of ”The Red Jackets” untill he had to quit for two reasons - he was drinking heavily to the point that he got reall problems and he met my grandmother and found God at the same time. In Sweden he might have been in the first orchestra that had stage clothes, red smoking jacket and white pants. He played all kinds of instruments, but mostly guitarr. And he changed from playing jazz and dancemusik of the day, to play in churches and in the context of the church. In 1994 he tragically died in a car accident. He was on his way to play at a refugee housing in a near by town for people who had fled the Balkan war. He had his elecrtic guitarr in the car - a Levin 360 M2 - and also his accordian and violin. We lost him too soon, he was only 72 years old. And of course his instruments were totally ruined. About a year ago my father agreed that I could have his Levin 360 M1 if I learned to play it. I have allways wanted to play guitarr, and at age 51 I decided it was time to fulfill that dream. I started playing for a guitarr teacher, and also I found you here and bought four courses from you that you sold for an unbelievably low price. I did what I allways do - got super focused and today I am actually about to learn SRVs ”Lenny” and ”Mary had a little lamb”. From day one of playing on my dads guitarr I was hit by so many memories of my grandfather and my dad playing guitarr together all of my childhood. The sound, the feel of the guitar, the beautiful color and the first really nice chords I manager to make, everytime I sit down playing I feel closer to my grandfather than I ever did since he passed. I would have done anything for him to live longer, and it would have been so wonderful if at least I could play on his guitarr. But it wasn’t so, and I am so greatful for my dad letting me play his guitarr. So this morning I saw this video and though ”great, now I have something good to look at during breakfast”. I as not at all prepared for my reaction. Thank you so much for sharing this! It really helped me realize that I am still grieving my grandfather, even if the grief is not raw, but a long sense of missing him and his joy in making and perfoming music. Thank you for doing what you did - listened to others convincing you to buy back the base of your uncle. I hope you will get many heartwarming moments of remembering him and also that you can play the base for your family members for them to connect with your uncle through the sound of his base. You are trully fortunate to have such a miracle happening. I am so happy for you all!❤
I am not commenting so frequently on UA-cam, but after watching this video, I felt I have to. First, this is truly an amazing story, and second, please play it in some of your future videos, don't just store it under another plexi display! I have an 51 years old motorcycle which my father bought new back then, the best feeling is when you ride it and you somehow relive the moments he told me about his youth. I wish you to relive some of the family memories with this bass, even if you only have the stories from the relatives
Wow, Rick, I love everything about this story, especially the outcome. Incredible. Congratulations on bringing that great old bass back where it belongs, with your family.
You’re right Rick, when I’m visiting Rochester, I stop into House of Guitars. One of the greatest guitar stores - EVER! Whenever Joe plays in Ithaca I make sure to go to his show at The State Theater. My HS buddy was the guitarist in Joe’s first band up in Utica. ( I went to HS in Westmoreland and got my Bachelor’s from IC, class of ‘79. ) Be well and keep bringing us your great videos!! ✌🏼❤️🎸
This is simply beautiful. And that vintage bass is SO beautiful. And this is a first for me - for one of your videos to bring tears to my eyes. Many smiles, sometimes laughter, always deep appreciation. And now, tears.
Joe has everybody's gear!!! When I was a teenager I took my favorite pedal to get him to sign it & he really wanted to buy it, so I sold it for $150 & a reissue distortion plus... Wish I had that thing back It was one of the earliest BK Butler tube drivers with a hand etched serial number worth about $1,000.
@RickBeato awesome that the whole time it was down the street from your sister’s home and that Joe picked it up and was willing to sell it back to you for that amount. I’ve got some memorable items my dad had. Been in the family since new. This story choked me up. Glad again that it’s back in your hands.
This story blew my mind! I am originally from Syracuse and I have traded in some very high dollar vintage guitars and gear at the House Of Guitars (HOG) over the years! One of my vintage Strats I traded in they actually have is in a case on the right side wall in the back with a rubber protected chain wrapped around the headstock with a Master lock! I did that deal back 92’ when I was 18! It’s an all Natural Alder‘73 Strat with a Bullet Truss Rod Maple Neck and maple fingerboard and an all black pick guard and black Pickups and knobs . Apparently they are very rare! I also know Joe Bonamassa and have been to his house and sold him a few of my guitars! Joe is such a great guy! I am so glad he sold it back to Rick for exactly what he paid! What an incredible story!
Now THIS is what the internet is all about. SO DAMN COOL.
And it reminds me of "The Red Violin" -- a movie about how a musical instrument has a life of its own and can touch many people's lives in unexpected ways.
@@rhsatrhs fantastic movie
I thought it was all about cat memes.
FACTS❤
@urproblem Missing is not the same as stolen.
Perhaps the memories for Aunt Pat were too much to bear and she sold the bass to the HoG, or the money was badly needed. Either way, better that it's back in the family where it can actually be played, rather than sitting on display in a box.
People hate on Joe for acquiring too many vintage instruments but no one can deny he TRULY cares a lot about the provenance of these historic instruments and views himself as a temporary steward and not the ultimate owner. He only wants to buy from original person with a good story and pay them an ethical amount of money for it. Really cool story and glad the guitar is home.
Which people hate on him? Got any examples?
Love joe's music, but couldn t he afford to offer the bass in this story? I was a bit surprised in fact...
@@Philippe-ke3sk Why? Nothing wrong with him expecting some money for it. I'm sure Joe isn't hurting for money but he's probably not as rich as you think he is. And even if he was, why is the expectation he should just because he's rich? It's really a weird comment.
@@doublestrokeroll he should not, but he could my friend
@@Philippe-ke3sk yeah he probably could but it's almost like people just expect "rich" people to do that type of thing when it's on social media. Not everyone is Oprah.
Joe is a stand up guy. I’m glad you’re reunited with a family member. And by the way, I’m not crying…I’m chopping onions.
Jeneane is one of my good friends. We met when we worked at a small consulting company in Atlanta back in the 90s and she was my boss. She’s such a wonderful person and she always talked about how she was 100% sure that was her dad’s bass. I know how devastated she was when he died and how much that’s gonna mean to her to have that little piece of him back. Fate is amazing when it’s kind.
Great story, my best friend passed recently from the same thing , hits hard.
Big shout out to Joe Bonamassa for being a mensch and doing this for the larger Beato family!
I like that: Fate is amazing when it's kind.
What a beautiful wrapup to this beautiful story.
This hit home.
Years ago my dad bought a 1940s Gibson LG banner acoustic at auction. It had some issues but no cracks. It had a Baldwin pickup and an old plastic cased/Bakelite? Supro 6 x 9 amp.
When dad left the auction, he was approached by a young college girl in tears. It was her Grandpa's guitar...still living Grandpa. Dad gave her his number and said she could have it for what he paid. She explained she was broke. Her family was consoling her. Dad told them to take it back immediately but family could not agree.
Some time went by and we didn't hear from them so we brought it into luthier. Top needed to come off, slowly flatten, reglue braces, neck set. It needed a lot but never cracked. What came out of this was a truly magical guitar even though we were into it for about max value at the time.
A week into restore, family called dad. They would pay the money back. Now dad had to explain that the guitar was being minimalist restored to make it playable and straight. Family would have to pay the luthier fee, another 900 bucks. They agreed to.
Dad and I got the guitar back. I played it for a few days. It was truly a special instrument. We seup a time to meet at my home. I played it for them. We packed it up and talked for a while. They thanked us, paid, and left.
Weeks later dad got an email with pics of Granpa playing guitar. It sounded better than new he said. It was a well written thank you. We felt good about it but we poured a lot of planning into that special guitar.
Last year I lost dad. As I was cleaning out things I found the email. We did the right thing. Life is so precious.
Cheers!
Beautiful story brother!❤
The House of Guitars in Rochester NY is legendary.
I bought a 1992 Les Paul Cherry burst from there that was literally buried in a bin of about 200 other Les Paul guitars. Back then, HOG merchandized their guitars in bins that were about 4 or 5 feet deep and the guitars were all in upright, leaning against one another. So, you had to be quite careful when sifting through the guitars and especially when taking them out of the bin.
On this particular trip, I was looking for Les Paul and I wanted a Cherry Burst. After about an hour of searching, I found one, played it, loved it, bought it and still have it.
The interesting aspect of this guitar is it quality of construction and materials, which are unusually good for a run-of-the-mill, off the shelf Les Paul Standard. So, I counted myself fortunate to have found the "diamond in the rough", so to speak.
Then, when I brought the guitar to my uncle, who was a Luthier and used to work for Gibson back in the late 60's and 70's, he picked it up, looked it over, felt the neck up and down and strummed a couple chords and said, "if I didn't know any better, I would swear someone was trying to replicate a 1959 or 60 LP Standard".
When he put it on the bench to set it up, intonate etc, he decided to remove the neck pickup and see how Gibson was marking their guitars. He not only saw a date and initials, he saw a long neck tenon. A long neck tenon in a Standard that came off the general assembly line was like finding the holy grail. Gibson only used long neck tenons after 1968 in Custom made instruments that were specifically requested such as "signature" models. Otherwise, the last time Gibson used a long neck tenon in the Les Paul Standard was before they stopped making them in 1960. When Gibson started making the Les Paul Standard again in 1968, a short neck tenon was used.
In October, 1993, Gibson Opened their Custom Shop. At some point long after that, I read about the history of Gibson's Custom Shop between 1986 and 1993. Quick and dirty, in 1986, the new owners hand selected the best craftsmen and set them up in their own part of the factory. Their only mission was to study Gibson's most iconic and historic models from the 50's and 60's, reverse engineer them and begin remaking them. Their first choice was the 57' Junior.
However, between 1986 and 1993, these craftsmen were practicing the old crafting techniques used in the 1950's and 60's. Some of their work was marketed as "Reissues" such as the 57' Junior. Others weren't promoted as "reissues" for whatever reason; and were released into the wild with the guitars that came off the general assembly line.
Apparently, this is one of those guitars.
And I found this guitar at The House of Guitars.
Very cool. Almost like it was hiding in plain sight. I wonder if the former owner realizes what they might have blithely sold. Interesting.🤔😎
I never bought any musical gear from there. But, I did buy my first joe satriani T shirt that’s on my wall from the piles of T shirts. I’m in western New York, used to live in Webster. Been to the house of guitars a few times
"The bass just arrived" and so did my tears. What a fantastic story that involves a couple of the coolest people on the planet! Thank you Rick and cousin Genine for experiencing and telling the story! Thank you Joe Bonamasa for your amazing spirit and willingness to be such a positive part of this story!
My dad was a drummer and I started playing his Kit at 5 or so. He passed away when I was 8 and the Kit vanished. When I was around 11 I asked if I could take violin lessons and my Mom said “What about drums?” I answered an ad in the paper and they came over in a van, opened the door and there was my dads Kit. I bought it instantly. Congrats Rick 💜
I was expecting a story how about an aunt in the UK saw a UA-cam clip with let's say Phil Collins showing a drumkit he just bought on a flea market.... showing it a minute 17 seconds 48
These videos about locating long lost instruments are my favourite. Peter Frampton getting back his Les Paul after a place crash in South America, Randy Bachman being reunited with his vintage stolen Gretsch, all amazing, and this story is just as meaningful.
PS…I think the general social media public are warming up to Joe B. Much more so than a few years ago when most posts hated on him. He’s a genuine guy, super guitar nerd, and a phenomenal player. Nothing wrong with that.
73 year old bassist here, this is without question one of he most heart warming stories I've read. Thanks for sharing this Rick, and thanks to Joe Bonamassa for making it happen -
One of the BEST stories from one of the BEST STORYTELLERs of all time. :)
Would like to know more about how the bass went missing. If it was stolen, legally it's supposed to be returned to the rightful owner and it's the responsibility of intermediary owners to have vetted any sellers as being the rightful owner. Basically if the shop bought and sold stolen goods they are out of luck and will loose any money invested and the goods are returned to their rightful owner. Who knows about statute of limitations here, but happy ending regardless.
Amazing story
I was touched by your story as they can be quite conincidental. My dad was an amazing guitarist, but his career was cut short by a drunk driver on the way home from a gig with my mom & cousin in the car, leaving him semi-paralyzed, never to play again. In the chaos that ensued my dad's KAY ESS-335 copy went missing, never to be found again. My dad loved that guitar and reminisced about it until he passed away a few years ago. I tried to find it, or at least find one like it, to return it to him. He had suffered brain damage and may not have recognized it as his, but I wanted to at least see him reunited with the instrument he loved. So this story touched me as I was happy to see your uncle's instrument back in the family !!
This really made my day. Is Joe B. the greatest guy in the world or what? He has purchased several guitars from the shop I work in, and they're always the most interesting ones, and often ones that other people might fail to appreciate. Like the 1962 Strat that someone had decoupaged with stickers, newspaper cut outs, and all manner of stuff. They covered the top, the back, and the headstock completely. It has obviously been done long ago because it was quite weathered and yellowed (but completely intact). Most collectors would turn up their noses at a vintage guitar someone had "defiled" in this manner, but not Joe. I posted it on our website and he bought it the next day. We don't know the background on that guitar, and the mystery of that is part of what makes the guitar so special. That guitar had a "life" and that's just the sort of thing that Joe appreciates. God bless Joe. And I'm so glad you got your uncle's bass back. You give Joe a run for the money in the "greatest guy in the world" category by the way. Kudos to you and Joe for being great people as well as great musicians. ✌❤
Great decision to bring it back to the family. My parents were also from Rochester NY and my maternal grandfather and great-grandfather owned a baby shoe factory after the turn of the 20th century. For my mom's 90th birthday I was fortunate to find a genuine pair of Newcomb-Anderson baby shoes in the original box on eBay. It had a picture of a baby on the box, and it turns out that my mom was the model for the baby picture! She was confused and delighted how I managed to produce this strange nostalgic gift. She passed a couple of years ago at age 92, and now we are trying to figure out the best future home for this legacy so that it can pass down for another 90+ years. Hope your family manages to do the same with that wonderful bass!
Fascinating story. I'm Australian. I lived in Ottawa Canada in 1982. We got our US television on the cable from upstate New York. Watertown and Rochester. I used to watch David Letterman late at night and the ads for the House of Guitars used to feature heavily. Oh, and Genesee Beer!
While I went to Rochester, then the powerhouse town of Kodak, Xerox, Bausch and Lomb, I didn't visit the House of Guitars.
I finally made my pilgrimage in 2018, 36 years later. Indeed I only visited Rochester to go to the House of Guitar. It was great to see.
Rick, you forgot to mention the amps section. Talk about a collection of classics.
I was blown-away be the place!
I'm your vintage Rick, love your work, and really enjoy the Rochester, up state New York stories. People forget it was the global economic powerhouse of the 60, 70s and much of the 80s. The Silicon Valley of its time.
I'm a 60 year-old grown ass man, and sat here with tears when you opened that bass. Joe is a class act all the way, and while I didn't think it possible, he went up even higher in my book. I'm glad that axe is back in the family, Rick. Take good care of it! I'm sure Uncle Al is smiling contentedly now that it's back home!
Dude, I was crying too!!!!
I was thinking the exact same thought except I am 61. Tears in my eyes.
72 and same reaction...what a bunch of softies!
Yeah I’m 61, same here. Great story. I think that’s the first unboxing I’ve ever seen Rick do. Well worth the wait.
I’m Rick’s age…62…and can’t play a note, but I’m very nostalgic and a sucker for great family tales. The tears were flowing at the unveiling.
This is such a wholesome story and just goes to show that JB isn’t just “hoarding” the vintage stuff but he genuinely loves the stories behind. So happy for you
My husband had a ‘74 Fender stack amp since the late ‘70s. He passed in 2019 and I needed to sell some equipment. I “ran into a guy” in SC in 2022 and he bought it saying he too had one from the same year. The two amps ended up being only one digit off in sequence of serial number and came off the production line one behind the other. 🤯
That is true testament to what Joe says in his nerdville videos: "It's not about the Instrument, it's about the stories"... He just made one hell of a story there!
Are you kidding me! What a cool story. Props to Joe B. for getting the bass back to your family. Life has a funny way of providing unexpected, but great surprises.
This is a really great ending to the mystery bass, Rick. It makes me very happy to see you have it back in your family.
Though I’ve played classical guitar since 1983, I played violin in grade school thru 8th grade, spring, 1965. Then I put it away. I asked my mom what became of my violin, and she doesn’t know. I can really feel what you might have felt missing the bass. It’s a loss of an earlier time and life period of one’s life, and to reclaim it, is precious.
In 1991 I visited Rochester in a strange twist of events. I'm from italy, just turned 18 then and I didn't even know Rochester existed. I had just lost my grand mother who was like a second mum to me. I had some money i was supposed to spend in case of emergency. A few days before leaving I decided to go to the House of Guitars and spend it without my father knowing. I chose an acoustic black cutaway Guild. My first acoustic guitar, my Black Beauty which is still with me to this day. I probably saw that bass as i saw so many incredible instruments over there. Such a magical place. I decided to go back on the 20th anniversary of my visit and the place is still magical. Thanks for the story Rick, I'm happy you got your bass back.
My uncle died at age 35 from cancer. He was an amazing musician and played around Toronto in the late 1960 through the 1970s. I have a wonderful picture of him holding a Gibson ES 335. That guitar is lost from the family. I couldn’t stop crying watching this video because I know how much items of those who have passed can mean to the descendants. I often day dream of being able to talk to my uncle…and since I can’t…I play guitar and think of him. I am so happy for you and your family that your uncle’s bass made its way home. Maybe someday my uncle’s guitar can find its way back too.
what an incredible story!! Family heirlooms (especially instruments) are priceless!! I own my great grandmother's George Steck apartment baby grand that she bought for $500 in 1929 from HW Perlman in NYC. It's all about the familial connection!!
That's the coolest story about an instrument I've ever heard. Kudos to Bonamassa for being a great human.
Rick, first of all I love your channel. Second, I'm also a Rochester boy and have been spending my hard earned money at the House of Guitars for the past 60 years. Third, I am a bass player and have been drooling over that bass ever since it showed up at the HOG. I always would tell Bruce that as soon as I hit the lottery, I'd be in to buy it. It broke my heart when it was sold but took solace in knowing the Joe Bonamassa bought it as he truly was a person who valued the instrument for what it is. I also watched the Reverb video and was taken by the fact that he was showing off the bass. Then when I watched your video about your uncle's lost bass I was absolutely blown away. As much as I lusted (coveted) that bass, I am so happy to see it back with your family. A lot of people would have never let it go but it shows just what a class act Joe Bonamassa is by letting the bass return to its rightful home.
Awesome story, James. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I love this. I hear Stories All The Time of Lost or stolen instruments or instruments that just get away from people overr time that really means something, so I'm glad that you got it back. My grandfather gave a stand up bass to my uncle who's been a lifelong musician and my uncle let somebody borrow it decades ago...he's never seen it since it would be great to have that back in the family...
This is just beautiful! Hats off to Joe. He proved what he was saying for years: you buy the story, the instrument comes for free. Great to see that the bass is back in the family. All the best to all of you!
How cool is Joe?! What a gentleman to do the right thing. Happy that this family treasure has found its home, especially for your cousin.
Joe is a class act, all the way!
So happy to see this story. Instruments are more than just tools. They become a part of us. They are there like old friends. It’s great to see this one back where it belongs. Hats off to Joe for being a stellar person who gets the connection one feels with their instruments. He is one of the greats if not the greatest custodian of gear. What a fantastic journey that had me riveted from start to finish! 😊
Wow, Rick! To me, there are two great stories here: the one about your uncle's bass guitar, and then there's another one, about one family being tight and united through the love of music. Altogether, simply wonderful. Wonderful. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I let out an “AWWWW” & burst into tears when Joe responded to you saying you wanted to buy your uncle’s bass. Thank you, Rick. You have no idea how much this story means to me! 🌸💜🌼
Greatest (family) story.
Quite a story. Happy to hear you got it back. Family heirlooms are a magical thing. Have a similar story with my father's stereo amplifier. Its a 1972 technics integrated amp. It was his first ever real amplifier. Long story short. He sold it to my uncle when he upgraded a couple years later in 74. My uncle passed in 2019. When cleaning out his apartment. I came across an old amp. Sent a picture to my father. To his surprise it was his original amplifier. Took it out to a guy in Rochester that fixes up gear. Cleaned it. Re-capped it. Runs like new. It's now something that will stay with me until I'm dead and buried with it.
It deserves to be home, with your family, and esp your uncles family.
And Joe is it a true gentleman to sell it to you for what he paid forcit.
No mark up or whatever.
A true gentleman of New York.
This actually brought tears.
My father died when I was 2, our house burnt too the ground in 1968 , thereby losing everything thing of my father’s that my mother had saved.
To me, getting that bass back was a blessing.
@@55TeleMark Hello thank you for your like and comments on my official page and for being a fan ,it's great to know I have such a devoted fan. ☺️☺️☺️
Much love💜
Just about THE coolest story I think I’ve ever heard, , ,
Always felt there was something special about Joe Bonamassa the person, I love to hear him talk as much as I like to hear him play , , , , the man is so respectful to other musicians and has obviously studied so many of them - I’ve personally never heard him badmouth anyone.
To have an ‘heirloom’ instrument like that pass through such a legends hands AND come back ‘home’ really is “One to tell the grandkids “
Rick!!! Love the story!!! Family guitar history is so important! It was waiting all those years to come back to the family!!!
I asked my oldest son which of my 20 guitars he would like when I pass (I'm 77) and he said the 57 Goya classical. I've had it since 1967. It was the first guitar in all of my kids lives. It has real family value and means almost nothing to the rest of the world! Glad you shared the story! Thanks!!
This one hit home. Almost 30 years ago I lost my husband, a guitar player to Leukemia. I had two young kids. Thankfully, his most precicous guitars are still here. My son has the ES-335, my daughter his handmade in Quebec Norman acoustic, and I have his late 60's Strat (currently at my daughters.) Both of my now adult kids play. It would have been a blow to loose those guitars. So happy that the family has that bass back!
@@jodivandyk3649 Hello thank you for your like and comments on my official page and for being a fan ,it's great to know I have such a devoted fan. ☺️☺️☺️
Much love💜
@@jodivandyk3649 Hello thank you for your like and comments on my official page and for being a fan ,it's great to know I have such a devoted fan. ☺️☺️☺️
Much love💜
Love hearing about stories like your Uncle's bass disappearing and the reuniting of it to your family. Joe Bonamassa is a really cool guy, and it is cool that he was so willing to give it back for what he paid for it and not try to make a huge profit from it. He could have said that it couldn't be proven, but he didn't, and that too really speaks to the man's character. Great story, thank you for sharing it with all of us, and enjoy that bass!
❤❤ about 30 years ago, after my paternal grandfather died, his wife came to town, and wanted to have dinner with all of us. At the end of the dinner she told me that she had a gift for me from my grandfather, it was his 1963 Gibson 125. It now hangs on my wall with my other guitars, and it plays so well.❤️
I sat in tears watching you unbox that beautiful bass. I had a similar experience when a buddy returned a 1985 Epi Rivera that I sold him in 1989 unopened, unplayed, and with the same strings. I teamed up then, too. Welcome home, bass.
That was cool that Joe sold you the Bass guitar for what he paid for it. He understands the story that these vintage instruments mean to people and your story is a great one, glad it made its way back home.
I think it is so cool that you got it back home. My best friend Tom bought a Bass exactly like it. It was in a pawn shop. It was being sold for $115 dollars/whsc. We were young with musical dreams. It was always my favorite bass no matter what we were playing. Well we are both still playing professionally. He's on the East Coast now and I'm still here in California. That is a most wonderful instrument. Everytime I see one as with this one I'm reminded of that summer back in 1969 when I lent him $15 to enable him to get it. From the same pawn shop later I bought a white 1955 hardtail Stratocaster for $125. Times have changed...love all your videos Rick you are a gift
to us all.
If anyone ever needed proof that Joe Bonamassa was a 100% CLASS ACT? There you have it! On a side note, Rick, you need to greet each new day with all the GRATITUDE your being can muster; the STAGGERING amount of interconnectivity that your unique life journey has created for you is, whether you believe in a "higher power" or not, a BLESSING of unfathomably beautiful depth. Remember this: "gratitude is the BEST attitude", no matter what. We love you man! ❤
Life's tapestry is so intricately woven, as is evident here. What a profound turn of events that reunited this unique guitar with your family. It's more than an instrument. It's a piece of the patchwork that makes up your families tapestry. Awesomely inspiring story. Thank you for sharing!
Amazing how "things" acquire emotional value because of circumstances. SOOO glad to see you reunited with this guitar Rick.
OMG. The TONE! WOW. That is an amazing instrument with an incredible story. So very happy for your family that y'all have been reunited with it after all these years!
Quite possibly the original flat wounds on it?!?! What an amazing story Rick!! While Joe would've certainly taken care it it, it's great that it's back home with your family. I live in Mexico NY an hour and a half away from Rochester and it's been ages since I last visited the HOG, 1997 when I saw Marillion perform an acoustic set there and their gig that followed that evening. I bought a few rare LP's and CD's there such an amazing place.
What a great full circle story. JB is a cool dude with a big heart
What an awesome story Rick!
How cool of Joe to offer it back at the same price. This story brought happy tears to my eyes. I’m sentimental when it comes to family heirlooms. It has to be a very heartwarming feeling knowing you’re holding your Uncle’s Bass. It’s in amazing condition also. 😃
Well from the story, it (sadly) wasn’t played for long, so not much wear on it
Yeah, in one sense it’s just a thing, in another there is something about it that transcends that, and it becomes more than just a thing. Much more.
What a cool story! What I love about America and Americans is people like you, your family and Joe and all the wonderful people in the American music scene. Across the pond I don't hear stories like this too much though I expect they exist. Thank you for what you do, Rick. Your dedication and enthusiasm is such a rich and vital testimony to the world of music that will live on long after we've all passed.
The internet is undefeated. Great story! Every instrument has a story. I’m happy your family has that memory back in hand.
I have been watching your channel for years and this is the first time I have ever cried over such an incredible story.
Hawdy Rick, Love your videos, they are more than priceless. I know your time is valuable. I too solved a 50 year old family mystery. Since I was about 20 I knew my grandfather (my dads father) was a musician. I was told he played guitar. 30 years pass, before my dad died he told me I need to locate my Aunt Linda, Aunt Sandi and Wanda my step Grandmother. Three years ago I found out my Grandfather was a huge country western star with his own radio shows. He toured with Hank Williams, Bob Wills, Cindy Walker, Cliffie Stone, Buck Owens, Les Paul and Mary Ford among many others. He recorded at Les Pauls studio in the early 1950s.His band was called; Lucky White and His Dude Ranch Playboys. I'm re-recording some of my Grandfathers songs. You can hear them at my UA-cam site. Radio Demo uploads. I'm curious at how you'd apply your guitar skill set to these remakes?
As a Rochesterian who learned to play (and bought my first 4-track) at House of Guitars, I just love the story. I’m not normally all that interested in guitars & gear, beyond what people do with them. But I’m glad getting that getting that piece that has so much sentimental value to your family back worked out for all involved.
I've been there a few times. I always find myself leaving and wonder if they actually keep track of their inventory. So many cool items spaning decades.
Love how everything comes full circle. I'd like to think your uncle was behind the scenes, making this happen. Congrats, Rick and company. This is why Joe B is the perfect curator of vintage instruments with a story.
You, Rick, maintain what's got to be the most agreeable UA-cam channel. What's being produced is never about an individual 'having-things', rather is about common shared-experience. ...and, you're excellent at it!
I don't say this as a Musician; I'm familiar with fretted instruments but just never was able to have my guitar talk to Springsteen's guitar which after a while had me feeling foolish... seriously though you and your channel are very well rooted in having what matters within Music keep its relevance. Kudos to you & your other creators too.
It’s wild that all these years it was two blocks from home and it took a class act like Joe Bonamassa to appreciate it and ultimately get it back home. What a cool story. I cried when you open the case! Congrats on getting it home. I had a 1958 Guild stolen from me that was my Father’s guitar who gave it to me. I’m always looking for it.
Brilliant… simply brilliant!
And Kudos to Mr Joe Bonamassa who totally understands the “Stories” behind all these vintage instruments….
Fantastic video Rick, and looking forward to seeing a follow up with your cousin holding the bass. 🎸👍
What an amazing story! I am so glad you bought it and brought it back into the family. Heritage! My wife and I are in our 60s and have quite a few instruments in our home. My hope is that one or more of our kids or grandchildren will want to hold on to a couple of them, and pass them and the stories attached down the line…
This made my day! To see a beloved vintage instrument to return home to Rick's family, well, my immense respect for Joe B. just increased 10-fold. What a great turn of events! I'm amazed Rick held it together & didn’t shed a tear when he unpacked it. If i was ever fortunate emough to be reunited with my awesome sounding 1965 Gibson Falcon RVT GA-19 amp (that i was forced to sell ages ago, due to extreme poverty), well, I'd probably, no, DEFINITELY bawl like a little schoolgirl!😭
Admittedly somewhat begrudgingly, I have come to really appreciate Rick's channel. This is a great and crazy story - that bass is special for sure. Stay humble brother.
This is just heartwarming. I love this!
Best episode yet. You had me in tears with this. So glad your family got the Bass back !
It's such a big world, but synchronicities like this happen all the time when you start talking to people. It's wonderous!!! I'm happy to hear your uncle's bass returned home after so many years, bless Joe Bonamassa.
THIS. Not random. There are no coincidences.
I teared up, man. Beautiful, beautiful story. What a piece of history. I agree with your brother your uncles bass belongs to your family. Congratulations on bringing it home.
Bravo - a different type of guitar hero is born.
Much love and many, many Blessings.
When you brought out the box Rick, I got choked up. This was totally heartwarming. So glad this worked out for everyone.
By far the most heartwarming story Ive heard in a long time. Congratulations on the return of a piece of family history that now includes a very generous Joe Bonamassa. A story for the grandkids for sure 🤘🎸♥👍
That is so awesome that Joe parted with it to go back to the family. What an amazing story unfold.
Good for the heart, good for the soul. Fantastic storyRick!
That's so cool Rick. Glad Joe had the mind and heart to sell it to the family. As your brother said, It needs to be in the family. I'm so glad that you and the family have it back. Brought a tear to my eye's. Because family is so important. More now than ever. Peace and love man.......
I couldn’t love this story more if I tried. My dad played keys in a few bands in the southeast from the late 60s through about 78. He had a like a late 60s model Rhodes that he sold during sort of a dark time in his life. And he regretted it until the day he took his last breath. As a non musician but as a music connoisseur I’ve grown such an appreciation for the tools musicians use to create magic.
I've been doing Genealogy & family history for many years and this story really touched my heart & brought tears to my eyes! ❤😢
What a heart - warming story! Thank you for sharing this! 👍
Great story Rick. I'm 67 years old and got my first bass at 12, it was a cheap japanese beatle bass and it was my love played it till it fell apart, neck twisted body caved in pickups failed. But I still have it just can't let it go. I know it's worthless junk and I had a lot of other basses and still play every day. But I have drug that first bass around with me all my life. there is a mental chain between me and that bass. having it around just completes me.
I got goosebumps while listening to one of the best family stories in the music business. Very respectful of joe to let you buy the bass back without hesitation. Thank you Ric for this touching story
Man, I don't know who you didn't get teary eyed opening that thing, I almost did just watching you unbox it. Congratulations Rick on retrieving a family heirloom, and that speaks volumes to the amount of class Joe has that he made sure it found its way home. Cheers to you and your family.
Fabulous story, Rick! I forwarded, shared it with several friends, two of whom are life long bass players. Also an FYI, I am a retired family therapist. My mentor, colleague, and friend of 30 + years moved to Syracuse around 1990. He was a Dean and teaching child and family psychiatrist at the New York Upstate Medical University. He knew and often saw Joe Bonamassa's dad, who worked in one of the hospitals he worked in (he worked in both Syracuse and Rochester - the latter with returning military service personnel from the Iraq/Afganistan war). I have often shared with friends that guitars are like family you are very attached to (I have 5 unique luthier made handmade classical and acoustic guitars and a Les Paul model I made myself). If you don't play them all at least once in awhile, you feel like a neglectful parent. 🤓
So glad you got it back! Your brother John called me a few weeks ago & asked me what I knew about it, as i also have oggled that bass for many years. So happy for your family! Cheers!
Great story, and so nice of Joe B. to offer it back to you and your family. Some questions: Fender made quite a few of these basses, so I wondered what convinced your family that the was your uncle's bass and not another one like it? Was it the correct serial number or did it have wear marks in all the right places as your uncles? Also, did anyone discover how or from who the music store The House of Guitars got it?
I had the same question!
Yeah I was wondering the same. Just because it was in close proximity to the family home doesn’t necessarily make it THE bass. I thought they were going to bring up a certain chip or scratch or something that would positively ID the bass as his Uncle’s.
I was wondering the exact same things!! Especially how the House of Guitars got it. Surely they would have some info, no?
Great story. Had me cutting onions over here for a second. Joe is a good dude.
Always cool to hear about a missing or stolen instrument being found & reunited with either its owner or family members as was here Rick . The Fact that Joe was so willing to get it home doesn’t surprise me one bit , because he does truly enjoy life & it’s little quirks that come with being able to buy what he wants and enjoy them , even if it means letting it go back home . Glad to see this story here & congratulations on a tale well told .😎👍
This is a wild story. All things considered, Joe was probably the best guy that could’ve bought the bass, outside of family members.
100%
Rick, like tearing into an old house where you find newspapers or a jar with coins in the wall, you need to write the history of this bass down on paper, including Bonamasa's brief ownership, and roll it up like ancient parchment paper and put it in the control cavity. Guitars can live well beyond the lifetimes of many owners because they are special, they are nostalgic vessels of history. Make notes. Anything mods or repairs you can document over the years, put that on the paper in the guitar. Fifty years from now that paper will be super important to guitar players and collectors, the stories (added onto by future owners), will be important. My best friend in high school has a Monopoly game he's kept dates and players recorded on the back of the board since he was a kid, and high school was as long ago for us as it was for you. Keep jamming with that bass.
I love this story! Which only adds to the magical feeling of reunion that you and your family mistook for feel! Truly a ‘meant to be’ occurrence!!! Thank you for sharing!!
Oh, I am crying now. It is a wonderful and extremely lucky event for you guys. And it brings me to tears since it stirs up so much of our loss of my dads dad Erik. My grandfather became a musician and leader of a jazz orchestra at age 15 back in 1937. He was the leadguitarrist and frontman of ”The Red Jackets” untill he had to quit for two reasons - he was drinking heavily to the point that he got reall problems and he met my grandmother and found God at the same time. In Sweden he might have been in the first orchestra that had stage clothes, red smoking jacket and white pants. He played all kinds of instruments, but mostly guitarr. And he changed from playing jazz and dancemusik of the day, to play in churches and in the context of the church.
In 1994 he tragically died in a car accident. He was on his way to play at a refugee housing in a near by town for people who had fled the Balkan war. He had his elecrtic guitarr in the car - a Levin 360 M2 - and also his accordian and violin. We lost him too soon, he was only 72 years old. And of course his instruments were totally ruined.
About a year ago my father agreed that I could have his Levin 360 M1 if I learned to play it. I have allways wanted to play guitarr, and at age 51 I decided it was time to fulfill that dream. I started playing for a guitarr teacher, and also I found you here and bought four courses from you that you sold for an unbelievably low price. I did what I allways do - got super focused and today I am actually about to learn SRVs ”Lenny” and ”Mary had a little lamb”. From day one of playing on my dads guitarr I was hit by so many memories of my grandfather and my dad playing guitarr together all of my childhood. The sound, the feel of the guitar, the beautiful color and the first really nice chords I manager to make, everytime I sit down playing I feel closer to my grandfather than I ever did since he passed. I would have done anything for him to live longer, and it would have been so wonderful if at least I could play on his guitarr. But it wasn’t so, and I am so greatful for my dad letting me play his guitarr.
So this morning I saw this video and though ”great, now I have something good to look at during breakfast”. I as not at all prepared for my reaction. Thank you so much for sharing this! It really helped me realize that I am still grieving my grandfather, even if the grief is not raw, but a long sense of missing him and his joy in making and perfoming music. Thank you for doing what you did - listened to others convincing you to buy back the base of your uncle. I hope you will get many heartwarming moments of remembering him and also that you can play the base for your family members for them to connect with your uncle through the sound of his base. You are trully fortunate to have such a miracle happening. I am so happy for you all!❤
I am not commenting so frequently on UA-cam, but after watching this video, I felt I have to. First, this is truly an amazing story, and second, please play it in some of your future videos, don't just store it under another plexi display! I have an 51 years old motorcycle which my father bought new back then, the best feeling is when you ride it and you somehow relive the moments he told me about his youth. I wish you to relive some of the family memories with this bass, even if you only have the stories from the relatives
My daily rider is 42 years old, doing what it was made to do, Puts a smile on my face every time i hop on it....
That is just so freakishly awesome. Absolutely fabulous, cheers
That smile on Rick’s face after he plays the bass is proof that he made the right decision in buying it and bringing it home 👍
Wow, Rick, I love everything about this story, especially the outcome. Incredible. Congratulations on bringing that great old bass back where it belongs, with your family.
You’re right Rick, when I’m visiting Rochester, I stop into House of Guitars. One of the greatest guitar stores - EVER! Whenever Joe plays in Ithaca I make sure to go to his show at The State Theater. My HS buddy was the guitarist in Joe’s first band up in Utica. ( I went to HS in Westmoreland and got my Bachelor’s from IC, class of ‘79. ) Be well and keep bringing us your great videos!! ✌🏼❤️🎸
Love ya Rick. Always great! 7:34
"It would be really cool to see it go home." Am I the only one that choked up a little bit at that?
Nope, that got me too.
Not even close...If a music lover and Beato fan didn't get a little emotional, they may be in serious danger.
Who's cutting the onions?
Same here
Yeah
This is simply beautiful. And that vintage bass is SO beautiful. And this is a first for me - for one of your videos to bring tears to my eyes. Many smiles, sometimes laughter, always deep appreciation. And now, tears.
Joe has everybody's gear!!! When I was a teenager I took my favorite pedal to get him to sign it & he really wanted to buy it, so I sold it for $150 & a reissue distortion plus... Wish I had that thing back It was one of the earliest BK Butler tube drivers with a hand etched serial number worth about $1,000.
Yes, if your vintage gear went missing and you are looking to get it back, the best bet is to call Joe B. first. He has everyone's gear. Lol
You guys , and guys like Richard Dolan all continue to amaze, and captivate my serious interest !
What a great story! Rick, this has to be one of the top 10 family instrument searches of our time, and to have Joe B involved is icing on the cake!
Definitely have to get Joe Bonamassa to do an interview. He has many stories to tell about his career.
He’s had Joe on, great interview
It was maybe a year ago? It was a fairly recent interview.
Absolutely watch it. It was great (as usual) but especially if you are a Joe B fan.
He already has interviews joe😊
Two absolute legends.
@RickBeato awesome that the whole time it was down the street from your sister’s home and that Joe picked it up and was willing to sell it back to you for that amount. I’ve got some memorable items my dad had. Been in the family since new. This story choked me up. Glad again that it’s back in your hands.
This story blew my mind! I am originally from Syracuse and I have traded in some very high dollar vintage guitars and gear at the House Of Guitars (HOG) over the years!
One of my vintage Strats I traded in they actually have is in a case on the right side wall in the back with a rubber protected chain wrapped around the headstock with a Master lock! I did that deal back 92’ when I was 18! It’s an all Natural Alder‘73 Strat with a Bullet Truss Rod Maple Neck and maple fingerboard and an all black pick guard and black Pickups and knobs . Apparently they are very rare!
I also know Joe Bonamassa and have been to his house and sold him a few of my guitars! Joe is such a great guy! I am so glad he sold it back to Rick for exactly what he paid! What an incredible story!