producer Tucker Martine's studio robbed; GoFundMe launched by Decemberists' Nate Query

April 9, 2019

Even if you don’t know producer Tucker Martine by name, you probably know tons of the artists he’s worked with, including The Decemberists, R.E.M., My Morning Jacket, Modest Mouse, Sufjan Stevens, Spoon, Neko Case, First Aid Kit, She & Him, Mavis Staples, The Jayhawks, The Avett Brothers, Beth Orton, Death Cab For Cutie, and many others. Tucker posted in March that his “new (and almost finished)” studio was broken into and over $70,000 worth of gear was stolen, and today, The Decemberists’ Nate Query launched a GoFundMe to help Tucker recover from the loss. The campaign reads:

Last month, my friend Tucker Martine’s new recording studio was broken into and more than $70,000 worth of microphones, amps, and guitars were stolen. Tucker spent years collecting these unique pieces of equipment, and the theft comes just as he was opening the newest version of Flora Recording in a building Tucker and his wife, singer-songwriter Laura Veirs, have gone deeply into debt to finish building out. It’s a huge setback just as this studio was getting off the ground. Currently the insurance company is trying to use a loophole to avoid helping with the loss. Tucker is trying everything possible to get them to honor his claim but the outcome is uncertain and will take a long time to unfold.

A beloved member of the music community for more than 25-years, Tucker makes records with bands big and small. He has worked for bands you have heard of and bands you haven’t. His love of music comes through in every record – he has even been nominated by his peers for more than one Grammy.

This GoFundMe campaign will help Tucker replace the critical gear to get the new studio properly up and running. This campaign is being run in conjunction with a Portland, OR benefit concert, also being organized by the greater music community. Details to be announced soon.

As Jim James, of My Morning Jacket, wrote recently: “Anyone who owns a small business knows how difficult it is to build it up and get it just right – so it is incredibly painful when someone comes along and takes away what you have worked so hard for so many years to build. Tucker is the best both as a person and a musical wonder. Let’s help him!”

UPDATE: A number of the guitars were just recovered. A guitar store in Tacoma, Washington bought them from the thieves before realizing they were stolen instruments. Some of the proceeds of this campaign will be used to repay the store owner what he paid for them.

Thank you for any support you can give Tucker and his family at this difficult moment.

Best,

Nate Query (Tucker’s longtime friend and bass player for The Decemberists)

Here’s the list of gear that Tucker posted back in March:

Dear beloved music community of Portland and beyond. On the night of March 14th my new (almost finished) studio was broken into and robbed. As you can imagine, I am devastated. I am still figuring out the entirety of what is missing but I wanted to post the start of the list ASAP in case anyone comes across these things online or in a store etc..

Police report # 2019-82755

UPDATE: more equipment added to the list. Thank you all so much for your shares and kind words. ❤️

Microphones:

Neumann U67 Serial #4196 with Klaus Heyne mod #1200
Power supply for above microphone is serial #11173

Neumann U67 Serial#1531 with Klaus Heyne mod #1196
Power supply for above microphone is serial #11322

Wunder Audio CM7-GT with M7 capsule and pelican case. Serial# 117.

Mojave MA-1000 Serial# 100088

Guitars:

Gibson J45-TV acoustic guitar Serial# 11953011.
Gibson B25 12 string acoustic guitar serial# 515105.
Hofner 1967 viola bass – these don’t have serial numbers.
Jerry Jones baritone guitar – sea foam green – these don’t have serial numbers.
Gretsch Chet Atkins signature – Serial# JT14093574.
Silvertone brown electric guitar – These don’t have serial numbers
Fender Telecaster American Vintage Wildwood Thin Skin 1952 reissue 2016. Serial# V1632473
Gibson ES-125 – No Serial number .
Fender Mustang Bass 1970’s black serial# 642643

Guitar Amplifiers:
Fender Deluxe Reverb blackface: Serial# A 06978.
Vox AC30 – No serial number
Peavey Classic chorus 212 amp. Serial# BA-03695777