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Help Andy recover from instrument theft.

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**UPDATE** Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this campaign by sharing, donating, spreading the word, keeping an eye out and for giving me direct support. This has been a huge success as I have received enough to THANKFULLY purchase an almost-exact replacement if my stolen 2003 Epiphone Elite Sheraton from Japan. While it doesn't have John Abercrombie's mojo or DNA on it, I am so looking forward to having a familiar guitar back in my hands. It's a 2004 Epiphone Elitist Sheraton, blonde natural finish, with the same specs as my firmer Sheraton from '03.

I am officially closing down this campaign, at least the monetary portion, as I have received, through gofundme and private donations, funds to help replace everything that was taken from me last week. I thank you all so so much for helping me during this really annoying and difficult time and incident. Thank you barely begins to cover the gratitude I feel for each and every one of my community and you all are the best. See you soon I hope!
Love,
Andy
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PREVIOUSLY:
Hi everyone, this is Andy here. I am asking for your help in working towards replacing an irreplaceable instrument to me (and other items), stolen out of my vehicle early Thursday morning, Oct 20, 2022. *Police report has been filed. This instrument is a beautiful natural-blonde "bear claw" birdseye maple body Epiphone Elite Sheraton from 2003*, made in Japan at Terada. I purchased it from the estate of a hero of mine, jazz guitar legend John Abercrombie. I was extremely fortunate back in 2002, when I met and got a chance to play with John, while attending Western Michigan University. He was visiting for a masterclass, and I got to play 1 song with him; he lit up the fretboard, and the classroom, and changed my life with his spirit.

I bought this guitar in 2020 on auction, with provenance, from Skinner Auction House in Boston. John's wife Lisa was selling his entire guitar collection (over 30 instruments) after his untimely death in 2017, and I was lucky enough to purchase one of them. It was my finest guitar and impressed almost everyone who played it or even heard it. Needless to say it is near-impossible to replace.

In the midst of a busy day preparing music for a high school musical I am playing guitar for, I left my beloved Sheraton in my car overnight. When I woke up Thursday morning? Someone had broken into my vehicle (parked in my parking spot in the driveway behind my apartment)... left the doors wide open, and my valuables inside (cash, prescription sunglasses, and my Epiphone Sheraton in its case) were gone.

This is a devastating loss to me as I am looking at more than a few important performances and recording sessions in the next several months. I sadly don't have the funds to replace this piece. Any thoughtful help will be so gratefully appreciated. Thank you for anything you can do to help me. - Andy
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    Organizer

    Andrew Szumowski
    Organizer
    Grand Rapids, MI

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