The guitar store owner in Tucson who has the Acoustic Black Widow says he bought it in good faith but estate alleges it was stolen by a previous owner
The estate of Jimi Hendrix is suing a music store owner for a guitar once owned by the legendary artist.
The Arizona Daily Star in Tucson, Arizona, reported that Experience Hendrix LLC, the company that runs Hendrix’s estate, wants a judge to order that the guitar be returned.
According to documents filed in court, the estate says Harvey Moltz, the owner of Rainbow Guitars, is not the rightful owner of the Acoustic Black Widow guitar.
Estate attorney, Ed McPherson, says the guitar is valued at between $750,000 and $1 million. The lawsuit is also seeking damages.
Store owners, Moltz, says he bought the guitar in June 2014 from someone who bought it from Sheldon Reynolds, ex-husband of Hendrix’s adopted sister, Janie Hendrix.
But McPherson says Reynolds, who is a former member of the band Earth, Wind, and Fire, stole it.
“The guitar is priceless to our family,” Janie said in an email. She is the CEO of Experience Hendrix.
“It is one of the few guitars that came home after Jimi passed away. We just want our guitar returned safely and back where it belongs,” she said.
Tucson-based lawyer Todd Jackson is representing Moltz.
“My client purchased the guitar in good faith from a private seller, without knowledge of competing claims of ownership,” he said.
Via the Guardian
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“Priceless to our family” says Janie; however, Jimi’s blood brother Leon isn’t quite so “priceless”, since you cut him out of the Hendrix estate, eh, Janie?