Studio Robbery - a lot of Neumann Tube Microphones and other things stolen

[Rumi]

Hello all

last week, most of my microphones, some instruments as well as a 4-Track Cassette Tape Deck and a potentiometer (...) have been stolen out of my studio, the Pilgrim Studio, located in Zurich, Switzerland.

Among the stolen things were some unique items, like two custom made black Neumann CMV 563 and a custom Lakewood A-32 guitar (12th fret, wider fingerboard, slotted mechanics).

Here's a short list:

AKG C 414 TL II Serial Number 45151, in plastic box, including clamp and wind shield
Neumann TLM 170 in original wooden box
Neumann TLM 193 in original wooden box
2x Neumann CMV 563, capsules M55k, in grey cases, serial numbers of the CMVs: 3709 and 5970
2x Neumann CMV 563 modified, black with round Neumann Logo, capsules M55kS (modified M55k) and G/B-Adaptors, in black cases
Neumann UM 57, Serial Number 5414 (mic) and 5488 (M57 capsule)
2x Mikrotechnik Gefell / RFT MV 691, Serial Numbers Nr. 10658 und Nr. 5621, in grey cases
2x Sennheiser MKH 405, T-Powered
Echolette (AKG) D12, Serial Number 49717
2x Sennheiser MD441, Serial Numbers 026341 or 026533 or 026535
Sennheiser MD 427, Serial Number 10190, in black case
Audis dynamic Microphone
3x cheap dynamic Microphones, "Proline"
Shure SM57
Acoustic Steel String Guitar Lakewood A-32 in black case
Aria Pro II white E-Bass in black case, Serial Number 8061616
Höfner Jazz Bass
Fostex 280 Multitracker, serial number 0600968
Aura D7A Potentiometer

They didn't take any PSUs, and no capsules for the MV 691s.

Please take a look at the complete list and the pics at Aus dem Pilgrim Studio gestohlenes Equipment (German) or Stolen Equipment - Pilgrim Studio (English), and please contact me as soon as possible if you notice anything that might lead to the re-discovery of those items.

I am very thankful for any help!

As a consequence, I am closing the studio, and selling most of the remaining equipment. I will continue recording and mastering on a smaller scale. Please take a look at the blowout website which will be updated daily: Pilgrim Studio Zürich

If you've got any infos that might be related to this burglary, please contact me as well as George Necola.

Thank you very much, best wishes,

René Hatt, Pilgrim Studio

[Snas]

Very sad.

Remember to post in all the other audio-forums as well.

Maybe this could be made a sticky for a while. Moderators?

[Chaellus]

wow id be beyond furiated at that point people dont understand that robbing other people could put them out of a job...what a lack of morals..i hope karma repay those basards... im very sorry for your loss my friend im sure alot of sweat and blood went into investing that much on your items...thats why im thinking of getting a secruity system when i aquire more stuff....especaillly if opening a studio servalnce camera system on every room....when your spending that much money you bet you need it...

[audiovisceral]

hope you were insured

keep an eye on ebay and talk to all local music stores and police. if they have no psu's for the mics they don't know what they have and will likely try to sell them.

[GoldenOne]

Sorry to hear about that! bump...

[Rumi]

Thank you very much for all those posts in such a short time! What this event showed me is how great the audio community is. Lots of kind words and really helpful advices. Thank you all!

My advice is simple: Get all the serial numbers of all your equipment, AND KEEP IT UP TO DATE, and take pictures of everything from every possible angle. Also, get a good insurance. And maybe even a security system.
I lived in a mindframe that can only be called naive from this side of the events.

I would be very thankful if this could become a sticky. There are some items that should be noticed if they turn up somewhere, so it's good to sensitize as many people as possible.

All the best, and thank you very much for your support!

René

[Rumi]

I created a Site with English descriptions of the stolen items, please visit Stolen Equipment - Pilgrim Studio.

Thank you.

[Reptil]

terrible!
very sad. lost my studio once too.
hope you'll find new energy and start anew.
if you're around feel free to visit my place, anytime.
i'll keep a look out for sure.

ps, SN numbers, insurance and security system is a necessity nowadays.

[Ryan Earnhardt]

The first thing I would do is look back on a calendar and see who you had in your studio in the past couple months. The person who took your gear certainly knew you had it in your studio, and would have either been in your studio as a guest, or seen your gear on a website.

[soundbarnfool]

And perhaps if you have photos of the equipment you could send a mass e-mail out to all music stores, pawn shops (if they have them over there?), etc...

Hope you find these jerks. I think the idea of checking who has been in your studio lately is a very good one. Sounds like an "inside job".

Good luck...

[Rumi]

Thank you for your useful suggestions! I sent mails to a lot of Swiss Studios already, and will include shops as well.

Yes, it looks like an "inside thing", and there are candidates, but you never really know. On one hand they knew where to look and what to take, and on the other hand they left all the PSUs, and took strange things too. We will see, hopefully. I'm really glad that the internet gives me the possibility of spreading this quickly. The better part of our modern times...

[Rumi]

They were obviously not interested in the studio next door, although both doors are not labelled, and are rather hard to find anyway. So even if they knew the studio from the internet, they seem to have known where to go.

[Rumi]

Originally Posted by soundbarnfool

And perhaps if you have photos of the equipment...

There are photos on the websites I linked to in my first post. Some items are very recognizable. I hope this will help me get the things back.

Thank you.

[CorkyTart]

Originally Posted by Ryan Earnhardt

The first thing I would do is look back on a calendar and see who you had in your studio in the past couple months. The person who took your gear certainly knew you had it in your studio, and would have either been in your studio as a guest, or seen your gear on a website.

And/or asked about your gear or had an audio background.

[Rumi]

Originally Posted by Reptil

terrible!
very sad. lost my studio once too.
hope you'll find new energy and start anew.

So you obviously did start anew? Moved to share anything?

I am glad that they didn't take everything, they left the Wagner U 47 and the Telefunken V 76s and 78s, among other things. But I would love to have my guitar back (I'm a professional musician, and this was my main guitar), and the CMVs.

And all the rest.

[Rumi]

Originally Posted by CorkyTart

And/or asked about your gear or had an audio background.

Yeah, there was especially one who behaved strange, I told the police about him. Though I don't know what can be done.

[Reptil]

Originally Posted by René Hatt

So you obviously did start anew? Moved to share anything?

I am glad that they didn't take everything, they left the Wagner U 47 and the Telefunken V 76s and 78s, among other things. But I would love to have my guitar back (I'm a professional musician, and this was my main guitar), and the CMVs.

And all the rest.

I took the loss, worked my arse off for 5 years, and got a new setup slowly.
The best thing, looking back, is to reorient as soon as possible, and keep doing music.
I dwelled too long trying to get some money back, it was a flood, caused by negligence of the landlord. my carreer suffered because of this, and I was just back on my feet when I got a hernia. OUCH which I fully recovered from, and right now it's better than before! I know you must be in a dark place, but try to stay focussed on the music itself. I kept on dj-ing to stay connected to the sound.
On a side note, I may have to leave the building that I rented for 10 years, because of the landlord is going to put in some friends, in a few months. I did a LOT of work on construction.. fuuck
one BIG think I learned is the knowledge of music assembled over the years.
more important than gear, or a nice vibey room.
I'll be moving south. This place has had it's best years. LOL

btw.. i see you sold your NTP compressors
you kept the EQs right? they didn't take that did they?
thank you again for the information on the midrange mod. I'll be doing this before I pack up. Never felt the need, but it can't hurt. (will use a switch)

feels very sad to see your studio go, it looked like a special place.
just start again, meaner, leaner thumbsup

[Rumi]

Ah, Reptil, now I know why your name sounded so familiar! It's not just the many posts... Nice to hear from you, despite all that mess.

Thank you for sharing your ups and downs! I'm sure many people will find that they are not alone reading your post.

Yes, I sold the NTP 179-120 today, probably much too cheap, as there were surprisingly many inquiries (and as far as I remember I didn't even advertise them). You know, I just grew out of that "I will fix all this old equipment someday" time, I want to work with reliable equipment. Although the NTPs are great, no question.

Yes, I've still got the NTP EQs, but might sell them soon. I'm sorting out what stays and what doesn't now. I'll probably keep the four NTP 179-250B, they are great limiters.

You know, I just listed all the clients and other people who came to the Studio during the last two years, and I must say a high percentage of them were quite strange. Maybe it has to do with me - which would mean I'm in the wrong place anyway - but I'm glad that I no longer am dependant on such strange characters. Like the Hip Hop producer who wants to start a revolution in the Hip Hop community with the sound of his bass drum, and my mastering prevents him from doing so... Because the kick was not as inappropriately sticking out after the mastering, becase of course they also wanted the whole thing to pump and to be as loud as Jaylib, but with tons of low mid muddiness in the mix... And of course his listening situation didn't even allow him to match levels, so I made a CD with matched levels of the kick in the mix and in the master, to prove that I didn't alter the sound of that kick, but that everything else is louder now, which of course didn't change anything in his mind. It all led to some gangstar behaviour I really have no need to experience.
Etc. The list goes on, and it quite struck me when I listed the clients of the last two years. Few were really nice people and nice clients, and knew what they bring and what they can realistically expect from my work, and what is appropriate. Some were really strange characters, and would have benefit from psychological support. It's more obvious when you list them all, instead of dealing with one after the other.

Which also means that quite a few could be candidates for the burglary. Hmm.

In the future I will only work for friends, or people of whom I know that they will behave appropriate (which often are the real professionals, interestingly enough). And I will do my own stuff.
It's also refreshing to have a 'spring clearance', and to see what I really need for my work, and what not. Unfortunately some of the stolen items were very high on my "must keep" list.

Right now I don't know what I'm going to do as work in the future, but currently I'm in an intense spiritual process anyway, and who knows where that will lead me. I'm looking forward to what will come. I might have decided to close the studio anyway, this event has made it more clear and speeded up the whole thing.

I wish you all the best for your future movements! And let me know when you do the EQ mod! ;-)

And thanks a lot for the kind words about my (former...) studio space! Yes, I would say it's a nice and special place.

[seaneldon]

Originally Posted by CorkyTart

And/or asked about your gear or had an audio background.

If the thief had a background in audio the power supplies and cables for the tube mics would also be missing.

I hate hearing about this stuff. Very sorry for your loss, and I hope you get every ounce of it back.

[Rumi]

Originally Posted by seaneldon

If the thief had a background in audio the power supplies and cables for the tube mics would also be missing.

I hate hearing about this stuff. Very sorry for your loss, and I hope you get every ounce of it back.

Thank you for your good words!

You know, as I was starting to sort what I keep and what not, I stored all the PSUs away, while the mics were either on the "Shall I sell those?" stack, or in the "used every day" drawer - both much more easily to find than the PSUs and the cables.

Except for the U 47, which was close to some stolen mics - but then they also left the U 87, which was in the same drawer than all the stolen ones, only a bit further back. Maybe they didn't have much time.

But I don't understand why they demounted the potentiometer (it was installed and used for Stax electrostatic headphones, which they didn't take, although of higher value than the potentimeter), but not the V 76, which would have been easier and quicker to do.
Well, I just don't know what made them do what they did.

[pan60]

sorry to hear: (~
i just hate thief's with a passion!
i hope you are able to recover the gear!

[opposite.lock.]

Be optimistic.

You have done a lot so far to try and get your gear back. Why don't you hold off selling your remaining gear in the event some of some good news?..

especially hold off selling your ms-20! don't be crazy now!

Good Luck.

[Rumi]

Originally Posted by opposite.lock.

Be optimistic.

You have done a lot so far to try and get your gear back. Why don't you hold off selling your remaining gear in the event some of some good news?..

especially hold off selling your ms-20! don't be crazy now!

Good Luck.

Thanks for the cheer up!

What's that about the MS-20? Am I missing something?

[MonoBrow]

Originally Posted by René Hatt

Thanks for the cheer up!

What's that about the MS-20? Am I missing something?

First..i am terrible sorry for what happened.
Second...Ms20..its one of the things you will miss the most
I hope you catch the gear you lost and/or the guys who stole it,make sure to give em propper treatment!

[TanTan]

that's very sad to hear, I'm very sorry for your loss bro, I've added your stolen gear list to my favourites and will look at it if i something similar pops up for sale somewhere.

It's a shame people like him\her\them exists. i wish i could help.

[Inca]

As a teacher of first graders, I get sickened everytime this kind of thing happens. These disgusting people were somehow lost in the loophole of life and never had any good role models. They go out in the world and wreak havoc on others.

I have been ripped off before and know exactly what you are feeling. I'm sorry to hear about your loss. Those are some really sad human beings. Good luck my friend.

[andychamp]

Keep your eyes on Ebay and Ricardo.
A Studio here in Basel got robbed last year and the thieves were stupid enough to try and sell the stuff online. Duh!

[jabney]

hi René,

I sympathize with your loss.

Originally Posted by René Hatt

In the future I will only work for friends, or people of whom I know that they will behave appropriate (which often are the real professionals, interestingly enough). And I will do my own stuff.
It's also refreshing to have a 'spring clearance', and to see what I really need for my work, and what not. Unfortunately some of the stolen items were very high on my "must keep" list.

Here's a thought I've had about screening potential clients: require links to or lyric sheets of (copyright registered) songs to be submitted before even giving out the studio address. Thuggish or hate-filled or threatening lyrics can be a good indicator of the type of people involved. Not 100% foolproof, of course. Bluegrass icon, Dr. Ralph Stanley has sung his share of 'murder ballads' for example. But even then, usually there is remorse and recognition of the humanity of others somewhere in those lyrics.

best,

john

[lambro]

very sorry to hear about this Rene,

I'm affraid with the economy as it is, and where it is headed, we are going to be seeing more crime across the board

as for the sore spot of stealing from artists, let alone the infrastructure of one's income, well thats why cross bows were invented...

[Rumi]

Originally Posted by TanTan

that's very sad to hear, I'm very sorry for your loss bro, I've added your stolen gear list to my favourites and will look at it if i something similar pops up for sale somewhere.

It's a shame people like him\her\them exists. i wish i could help.

Well, you DO help by keeping the list and acting when something conspicious appears! Right now that's the best help I can get. Thank you very much, and thanks to all the good words! Your encouragement really cheers me up.