My name is Tambora Pipkin, lead singer of II Funk ky Shu’s Wit Nu Soles. My husband, Shepard Pipkin, is the founder, leader, and bass player for our band. He and I have been local Bay Area musicians and entertainers for a number of years. We play locally, nationally, and internationally. Music is what we do. It is all we’ve ever done. It is our life.

There is no greater negative impact to any musical artist than to have their instruments (tools) stolen. The impact is more than financial. The loss is not of a plaything. It is almost feels like a loss of life itself.

On November 9, my husband and I were burglarized. Thieves broke into our locked storage facility and took every single instrument and all of the sound equipment we owned. We were robbed of every single microphone, amplifier, and monitor. Cords to instruments and mics. The burglars took ALL of Shepard’s five prized bass guitars. Percussive instruments. All of our custom-made show clothes have been stolen from us. Master tapes of our original musical compositions, performance videos, (which we use for promotion). I lost irreplaceable jewelry items. Our laptop. It has taken us years to collect all of these items which we use to put on shows nationally and internationally. We paid cash for everything we had through our work as performers. Our hard work, our carefully tailored wardrobe, our instruments and tools. All of it is gone.

Theft of our instruments and other tools is a devastating loss for reasons beyond the obvious. Our instruments are more than just tools of the trade. As you may already know, many of us develop relationships with a special guitar or other instrument of choice. We are indeed very often emotionally attached to these “tools”, which often means that they are not easily replaced not just because it can be cost-prohibitive (EXPENSIVE!!!), but because that instrument has become a part of who we are. It is often the “thing” in which we find the most joy. It is the “thing” we use to share that joy with others. We (and any other musician who’s ever had this horrible experience) were robbed of more than just “things” in that regard. Along with the instruments and other items, we were robbed of our joy. Our audiences and fans are being robbed every moment that we are unable to entertain them or fulfill contractual obligations. Looking at this situation that way, it is easy to see how such a loss is devastating in every way. Our possessions were rummaged through as the thieves searched for items to take from us. We have been violated. Our hearts are broken.

Many times, we musicians hear people say things like: “You look like you’re having such fun!” We usually are, but the fun and the joy we deliver often come at great personal and/or financial cost to us. Our tools are often not easily replaced for various reasons, but lack of money is the biggest obstacle. Listed below are the instruments and other items we lost last week. We are looking for donations that will cover the cost of replacing these items as much as we can.

We are also asking the music community, musicians and sound engineers especially, to be on the lookout for any of the items you see listed below. All we ask is that if you are approached with a black market offer for a piece of equipment that appears to be something we have listed here, please don’t buy it. We realize we may never get our property back, but please do not help the thieves add insult to our injury by selling to someone in our own musical community.

We appreciate any help you can offer. Any monetary gift is appreciated beyond measure. And we sincerely hope that nothing like this ever happens to you.

The items we lost include:

Marcus Miller five-string bass; color – white w/ burgundy pick guard $1,500

Marcus Miller five-string bass; color – natural wood w/ no pick guard 1,500

Marcus Miller four-string bass; color – Starburst, no pick guard 1,500

Music Man antique five-string bass; color – natural wood w/pick guard 10,000 Alembic custom designed (w/lights) 4-string bass; – natural wood, no pick guard 5,000

(1) Mark bass speaker 750

(2) Peavey Bass Speakers 1,000

Bergantino bass amp head 1,500

Bass tuner 150

Behringer 32-channel mixer 6,000

Mackie 12-channel mixer 2,000

(2) Mackie main speakers 6,000

(2) Mackie side wedge main speakers 3,000

(4) Fender monitors 2,000

(1) Set of drum mics 500

(4) Shure vocal mics; (1) Sennheiser vocal mic 2,000

Cords 5,000

100-ft snake 1,000

50-ft snake 500

Stage lights 2,000

Lenolo laptop computer 700

Jewelry (gemstones, onyx, pearls, jade) 3,000 – 5,000

Custom made clothing 30,000 – 40,000

Again, any and all help is needed and appreciated. We thank you again.