A recent conversation with my favourite guitar tech (Jim Mozell, genius!), left me unhappy, and disturbed (well, more than usual).

I had assumed that pawn shops were subject to controls, like a 90-day waiting period before new stock can be sold, and regular visits by the local constabulary. Both of these are in place, but in practical terms, its entirely possible that a piece of gear being sold in your town was stolen somewhere else, and neither the shops nor the cops have the time or resourses to keep that from happening. :confused:

I could find myself being relieved of one of my guitars in mid-gig, if a member of the audience recognised it as stolen, even though I have receipts for everything I own. :eek:

From the other side, if your axe is stolen, and you find it in a pawn shop, you can get a cop to confiscate it, but you may still have to reimburse the shop owner for the money he spent buying your guitar! :mad:

Comments?