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Peter Frampton's Prized Guitar Found Over 30 Years After Plane Crash

Gregg Roth

Peter Frampton can make a guitar talk, but he couldn't make his most-prized axe phone home from the Caribbean, where it had been lost for over 30 years. Fortunately for the rock legend, some enterprising fans were able to track down the Gibson Les Paul Custom (pictured at left) that he used on 'Frampton Comes Alive' and two Humble Pie albums.

In 1980, the 1954 guitar was among Frampton's equipment on a cargo plane that crashed while en route to Panama. All of the instruments were thought to be destroyed until it was located on the Dutch island of Curacao by two fans, one living there and one in Holland. With the assistance of the Curacao Tourist Board, by unknown means.

When the Curacao Tourist Board heard about the fans' search, they decided to help, tracking down the instrument to an unnamed individual. Once the guitar -- which was also used on sessions with George Harrison and Harry Nilsson -- was found, it was reunited with Frampton in Nashville last month, and experts from Gibson confirmed it was the original.

"I am still in a state of shock, first off, that the guitar even exists, let alone that it has been returned to me," Frampton said in a statement. "I know I have my guitar back, but I will never forget the lives that were lost in this crash. I am so thankful for the efforts of those who made this possible ... And, now that it is back I am going insure it for 2 million dollars and it's never going out of my sight again! It was always my #1 guitar and it will be reinstated there as soon as possible -- some minor repairs are needed."

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Zell Bales

Cool story bro

Sunday at 10:49 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lady Warwick

I hope he at least thanked the fans for finding it, that's no simple task.

January 07 2012 at 7:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dimitri

do you "YOU"! feel like i do!"

January 07 2012 at 6:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
girlfromcork

Well there is no reward.. no reward at all. There was no real way to not give it back- it has history and deserved to be brought back to its rightful owner... and what do you accept when you return something worth 2 million- do you take a million- you would be insulted to get anything...it was an exchange of love- pure and simple- nothing exchanged hands.

January 05 2012 at 10:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
s1glendening

Thats an awesome story to hear. I think that guitar was also called a Black-Beauty because it was the gibson les paul with the three humbuckers. Glad to hear you are reunited with your favorite guitar Peter. Scott

January 04 2012 at 7:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
love50

I hope he give those fans who found it and returned it a reward. They deserve it.

January 04 2012 at 6:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rkeeeballs

Cool for you Peter, no doubt that you tweaked a little finder's fee ..You are as good a person as you are entertainer !..god bless ya !

January 04 2012 at 5:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Cynthia

I am sure that it was in the possession of autorities since it was on a cargo plane that crashed. It went unclaimed and was just stored somewhere, these smart young men went on a mission of love to find a way to retrieve it and return it to Frampton with pleasing success. I would hope it would eventually go to a museum to be viewed along with the entire story of the crash not just that it's Frampton's first guitar. As he said when it was returned to him that he didn't want to forget or take away from the memory of those who died in that plane crash. So it is a bitter sweet story and thank you Mr. Frampton for sharing your music and this wonderful but also sad story. We want to say Happy you got your guitar back and to those who lost loved ones in that tragedy we send our sorrow. Can't wait to hear you play that beauty once again.

January 04 2012 at 2:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bill

I wonder if he will buy a new one for the guy who had this for giving it up.

January 04 2012 at 12:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mykingcomforter

That is amazing that they found his guitar after all those years!

January 04 2012 at 12:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply