Rock Legend Kim Mitchell’s Stolen Guitar Sparks New Search

The quest to recover a cherished guitar belonging to rock musician Kim Mitchell has resurfaced, more than 50 years after it was stolen following a performance in Hamilton, Canada. On January 11, 1975, the band Max Webster finished a weeklong engagement at Duffy’s Rockpile Tavern. After loading their equipment into a van, the band made a stop for food, inadvertently leaving the vehicle unattended. Upon their return, they discovered that two electric guitars, a bass, personal belongings, and Christmas gifts had been stolen.

Among the missing items was an orange 1963 Gretsch Nashville 6120, a guitar with deep sentimental significance for Mitchell, who received it as a gift from his father. “My dad’s house was 11 grand at the time. The guitar was 700 dollars. Do the math today and know that he really spent huge bucks for me,” Mitchell reflected in the coffee-table book “Max Webster: High Class” by Bob Wegner.

Reviving Interest in the Stolen Instrument

Wegner, who is currently updating his book for a second printing, has launched an initiative called “Kim’s Lost Guitar Project” to locate the missing instrument. His efforts are inspired by the recovery of Randy Bachman’s stolen Gretsch guitar, which was also an orange 6120 model, taken in 1976. Bachman’s guitar was successfully returned to him in July 2022, thanks to a fan who used facial recognition technology to identify it based on its unique wood grain and blemishes.

The iconic Gretsch 6120, highly coveted by collectors, can sell for between $5,000 and over $20,000, depending on its age and condition. This model is renowned for its association with legendary musicians, including Chet Atkins, Eddie Cochran, and Duane Eddy. In recent years, the music world has seen other high-profile recoveries, such as Paul McCartney’s original Höfner bass, which was found after being missing for over 50 years.

The Search for Mitchell’s Guitar

The challenge in finding Mitchell’s guitar is compounded by the lack of a serial number. Wegner noted, “Kim doesn’t remember it,” but he does recall distinctive features, such as a scratch on the back and a cigarette burn on the headstock. The guitar also has unique characteristics, including double cutaways, red felt around the mute switch, painted F-holes, and a horseshoe inlay on the headstock. Wegner possesses photographs from the 1970s that could assist in confirming a match.

Given the technological advances in identification, Wegner is considering the use of similar facial recognition-style software to help verify any found instruments. This approach could streamline the search process and bring the guitar closer to being identified. Although Mitchell was not available for comment, Wegner expressed his support for the campaign.

The issue of gear theft remains a significant concern within the music community. Larry Feudo, president of the Hamilton Musicians’ Guild Local 293 A F of M, emphasized that musicians often avoid taking instruments of high monetary or sentimental value on tour due to the risk of theft. “Thefts happen all the time,” Feudo stated. “Guitars are regularly stolen out of vans. Thieves scope it out. Never leave your gear unattended.”

The theft of Mitchell’s guitar was documented in real-time by John Laycock, a rock writer for the Windsor Star, who covered the band closely. Laycock described the connection between musicians and their instruments, stating, “A musician develops a special relationship with a guitar that’s something like sex and something like family and something like best friends.”

While Max Webster disbanded in 1981, marking the start of Mitchell’s solo career, the band is remembered for their energetic performances and whimsical lyrics during a time when bands frequently played multiple nights at venues like Duffy’s. The tavern, a historic location for live music in Hamilton, closed its doors in 1979 and has since seen various transformations, yet its legacy endures.

As the search for Kim Mitchell’s beloved guitar continues, the hope remains that one day, the instrument will be returned, allowing for a new chapter in its storied history. Perhaps a song will emerge from the journey, celebrating the reunion of a cherished guitar that once echoed through the lively atmosphere of a long-lost barroom on King Street.