Austin, Texas, is renowned for its vibrant music scene and the plethora of guitar shops that line South Lamar Street. These shops are havens for professional musicians and vintage guitar collectors alike. Among them, “Heart Of Texas Guitars,” run by the well-respected Ray Hennig, stands out as a premier Fender dealer. Just around the corner, another vintage guitar haven, Fulton’s shop, adds to the area’s musical allure. It was in this buzzing environment that an incredible story unfolded, a story that guitar aficionados are still talking about, especially those who are fans of the legendary Eric Johnson and his guitars.
The tale begins on a seemingly ordinary Tuesday a week prior to when this story spread through the Austin music community. An elderly lady, estimated to be in her mid to late 80s, walked into Heart Of Texas Guitars. She approached Ray Hennig with a proposition: she had several guitars she wished to sell. Her husband, she explained, had recently passed away, and these instruments had been in his possession for many years. She mentioned she had already received an offer of $350 for all four guitars but wanted Ray’s expert opinion on whether this was a fair price for these “used” instruments.
Ray, with years of experience handling vintage guitars, agreed to assess them. He brought the cases into the shop, and upon opening the first one, he was met with a stunning sight: a 1958 Fender Stratocaster, complete with its original strap, in remarkably good condition. The surprises didn’t stop there. The second case revealed a 1961 Gibson ES-335 dot-neck with an orange label, also in excellent shape. The third held a 1962 Fender Stratocaster, again, in superb condition. The final case contained a Martin acoustic guitar, though details were less immediately clear compared to the electric treasures.
Recognizing the potential significance of these finds, someone in the shop quickly alerted Fulton from the nearby vintage repair shop. Fulton, known for his expertise in vintage gear, rushed over to Heart Of Texas Guitars to witness the unfolding scene. A palpable excitement filled the air as Ray and Fulton, trying to maintain professional composure, informed the lady that her initial offer was, to put it mildly, a significant undervaluation. Ray, in a moment of understatement, suggested, “Yes, I think they are worth every bit of $350… you could probably add a zero or two on the end,” or words to that effect. Understanding the magnitude of the situation, Ray enlisted Fulton’s help to broker the sale, knowing Fulton’s connections with numerous well-known and financially capable musicians, including Austin’s own guitar virtuoso, Eric Johnson.
Eric Johnson, residing near Austin, was promptly contacted and invited to examine the guitars. He arrived at Heart Of Texas Guitars, and his attention was immediately drawn to the ’58 Stratocaster. As he sat down and began to play, an almost magical moment ensued. Those present were captivated as Eric became deeply engrossed in the instrument, his playing resonating with the vintage guitar’s unique voice. After several minutes of spellbinding playing, Eric looked up, a smile spreading across his face. He declared, “This is truly my guitar…” Everyone in the shop nodded in agreement, witnessing the evident connection between the guitarist and the instrument. But Eric then clarified, “No, really, I mean this is REALLY my guitar… it was stolen with three others from my north Austin apartment in 1982, and unfortunately, I had no insurance at the time. But I did report it to the police and gave them the serial numbers!”
A call was immediately placed to the downtown Austin police station. After a few tense minutes, the incredible news came back: the police records confirmed the serial numbers matched. The 1958 Stratocaster, and potentially the other guitars, were indeed Eric Johnson’s long-lost instruments, stolen decades ago. The atmosphere in Heart Of Texas Guitars erupted in amazed excitement. The story quickly spread like wildfire through the Austin music community, leaving everyone in disbelief and awe at this remarkable and serendipitous reunion of Eric Johnson and his stolen guitar. As for the elderly lady who unknowingly brought in these treasures, there’s no further word, but one can only imagine her surprise and the continuation of this extraordinary tale.
