“It’s devastating to realise people this cruel actually exist”: Mason Stoops posts cryptic message alleging friends stole vintage gear from him
Mason Stoops has taken to social media in a bid to retrieve some stolen gear. However, the Californian guitarist is claiming that he knows who is in possession of his gear – and says it’s some of his close musical peers.
According to an Instagram story posted today, Stoops claims that the anonymous culprits have stolen some of his most precious instruments. “Never thought I’d have to say this – but close members of our own LA music community have admitted to stealing extremely valuable and sentimental gear of mine,” he writes.
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While Stoops hasn’t given a full list of missing gear, he mentions one particular “priceless family heirloom Rhodes keyboard that’s been in [his] life since before [he] was born,”.
While it’s implied that there was a stage of attempting to blackmail Stoops for money, the guitarist goes on to say that the culprits are now being elusive as to how and when Stoops can reclaim his belongings.
“They’re now refusing to return it, and have started fabricating conflicting stories to justify keeping it,” he explains. “First trying to extort me for money, then saying they sold it all, then claiming a mutual friend sold it to them. None of it adds up.”
Credit: Mason Stoops
“They’ve lied to me, my family, and the police – all while knowing my partner and I already lost so much in the Eaton fire.”
While the guitarist never shared exactly how much was lost in the Californian Eaton fires, a story he posted at the time of the California fires stated that he evacuated his house and studio as the fires were just a stones’ throw away. “We grabbed what we could as the house directly from ours went up in flames,” he told fans.
Credit: Mason Stoops
Despite Stoops potentially losing a bulk of his belongings in the fires, his ethos towards sharing gear with his peers remains the same. Unfortunately, his claims suggest that people may have taken advantage of his sharing nature. “I’ve always loved sharing gear – guitars, amps, pedals – anything to support friends in the community,” he writes. “I’ve never had to involve police or take legal action… until now.”
“It’s devastating to realise people this cruel actually exist,” he concludes.
The post “It’s devastating to realise people this cruel actually exist”: Mason Stoops posts cryptic message alleging friends stole vintage gear from him appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.
Source: www.guitar-bass.net
