The Smiley Smile Message Board

Beach Boys co-founder Al Jardine is missing one of his priceless vintage guitars. The guitar, which was a mainstay of Jardine's '70s shows with the band has been lost, and he's posted a message to fans seeking their help on Facebook: "Folks, I recently 'lost' a black '56 Les Paul guitar in the Monterey area. It was 'borrowed' but apparently not returned due to apparent forgetfulness. I treasure this black beauty a lot and would appreciate any information relating to its whereabouts (i.e. pawn shops, craigslist, etc) that you might have. Please message me with any info that could lead to the recovery of one of my favorite guitars. Thank you, I greatly appreciate your help."

http://www.wmmr.com/music/news/story.aspx?ID=1971873

Maybe written by Howie. Maybe just PR for the new C50 album. Wonder if Matt has it?

What a bummer. I really hope he gets her back.

Sorry to jump this thread, but I have a vintage black '56 Les Paul guitar for sale if anyone's interested?

I'd be interested if you can verify if there are any Jardine skin cells deposited on the strings. Because I want to clone him and teach him to swear.

You should just give  it back to Al, instead of trying to sell his guitar. here or anywhere

It's mine, I can prove it. It has my name tippexed on the back and there's an Iron Maiden sticker.

I've just asked the California Highway Patrol to block Highway 1 between Monterey and Morro Bay, where barrancas carve the coast line, and they will conduct a car to car search for the missing guitar. Roadblocks have also been established North and South of the town of Big Sur, with Dobermans doing a "smell search" at Pfeifer Beach and near the Red Barn Studio. In addition, a thorough search will be done at Penny's Place where the sun shines on the bay and over to Salinas way where Steinbeck found the valley.

Film at 11.

DIng Dang Mikie! In the Back Of My Mind I think you've already gotten it Back Home; Still, I'll  Break Away to go Honkin' Down the Highway to see you in Cell Block Number Nine this summer; ( right now I'm Busy Doin Nothing)

Wow. Its heart-breaking to lose a beloved instrument like that and its extremely valuable to boot.

 Here's hoping that Al will recover his "black beauty" soon.

It must have been someone pretty close he allowed the guitar to be borrowed by. Either of his twin sons play? They used to be seen often at shows, ES Tv programe and even the Stars and Stripes doco.

Anyone know what they are up to?

I reckon it's just been stolen rather than been actually borrowed by one friend  of a friend of a relation too far, otherwise you wouldn't be asking if you saw it on a public forum. Stiill, a '56 Les Paul? sh*t. Your children need that guitar! Humanity needs that guitar!

Sure, stolen. Still, it would seem Al knows who "borrowed  it" and is trying to shame them into bringing it back, rather than accusing them outright of stealing

I can see doing that as a private citizen like you or me, but on your celebrity facebook page? Then again, I understand the urge to really want that guitar back...

Or inversely, if I wanted to get my guitar back from some friend of a friend, I'd text them. I'd ring them. I'd go round. Suggesting it's been stolen on facebook is a bit rich?

Perhaps someone borrowed it and did something stupid like leaving it behind somewhere.

I expect California to go on total lockdown if Brian's moog is stolen.

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(http://gspawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/pawn-stars-at-the-counter.jpg)

Chumlee: Who is Al Canteen?
Corey: I think he was in The Monkees or something, ask my dad.
Rick: It's JARDINE, and he was in The Beach Boys, don't you know them?
Chumlee: The Beatles?
Old Man: Shut up Chum.
Rick: How did you get the guitar?
Al's Unidentified Friend: I'm Al's friend, he said I could have it for mowing his lawn and feeding his dogs.
Rick: Sounds legit.
Old Man: I'll give you 375 sir, not a dollar more.
Al's Unidentified Friend: Deal.
Rick: Write it up, Chum.

And that's the story of Al's 1956 Les Paul.

No this is the fault of another Michael.

Michael Bush's fault.

 :lol
Perfect.

Out of curiosity, is the guitar in question the one Al is pictured playing on the back cover of the Holland LP?

Looks like a black Les Paul

But Al is a famous musician, so he has every right to post about it in his FB page, isn't it? And also, what if he already did those things you enumerated & there're no results? I highly doubt that it's just a lend thing. Surely, Al wouldn't write insignificant news in such a big site, so it's a serious incident. I genuinely hope that soon his gorgeous black guitar will be returned to the owner.

Well put. Al is surely a wealthy guy. But he had to have an attachment to it, and it is a rare guitar in and of itself. I hope he gets it back. I'm curious to know what this "borrowing" situation was, but bulletin to Al, don't let people borrow your guitars! At least, not a '56 Les Paul.

If he ever played "lady liberty" on it, it should, nay must be destroyed

By the By: There is a lot of revisionist theories about Al that don't stand up. He was Mikes right hand man until he lost his position then he suddenly seemed to appreciate the talents of Dennis etc and repositioned himself. Best remaining voice of the Beach Boys no question but also a good politician.

All jokes aside, I hope Al sees the safe return of his stolen guitar.  I remember when the members of Sonic Youth had a whole gaggle of instruments stolen.  It sucks.

What gets me is the way it's written, it sounds as if Al is going out of his way to be cool about the whole thing and avoids going as far as to outright call somebody a thief.  Good on Al for that, but he seems like a genuine, nice fella and while nobody deserves to be ripped off, it takes a certain kind of asshole to steal from good folks, especially.

I don't know where I'm going with this, other than I guess to say again, "I really hope you see the safe return of your Les Paul, Al."

Not sure why  Al needs his Les Paul. His Fender Strat is his "go to guitar".

http://www.fender.com/news/fender-qa-al-jardine/

http://www.fender.com/artists/profile/aljardine/

Always wondered what happened to the Al Jardine Signature Strat. Maybe Fender realized that the iconic early BB guitar sound was Carl and David.

Always wondered about that myself.  Ever since Al supposedly loaned Fender his '62 Olympic white Strat for Fender's custom shop to reproduce in 2006, I haven't heard anything since. I think it was the guitar with the light green pick guard. Al then received a '71 Hemi Cuda named "Rhonda" in return.

Al's first white strat was stolen, the one in those early Beach Boys photos. He later bought a red '62 strat to replace it, sometime around 1970...he had that one painted white, or it had already been painted white. It's the replacement guitar that Al still owns and that Fender was suppose to be for the Jardine signature model...that's why its a '62. Al didn't play a Fender strat in '62...Dave did. Al got his first one in early '64 after he'd replaced Dave on guitar.

Al also had another one of his guitars ripped off in 1968 - he thinks one of the Manson family members absconded with it. He doesn't have very good luck with hanging onto guitars!

Fender probably figures why do a '62 Jardine special, when he didn't even play one then; might as well do  David Marks '62. They're probably just waiting to see who ends up with more name recognition before they make them available...

I think Fender backed down.  They gotta be a little nuts.

The '71 Keith Partridge Signature "Strat" took priority over Al's.

It only took Peter Framptom 30 years to get his "black beauty" back - I hope Al has better luck.

Probably because it's his??

Keith Partridge? I must have one.

Leave it to Al to lose a vintage guitar.  It's probably in his attic.