Jimi Hendrix family suing Tuscon shop owner for guitar

TUCSON — The estate of Jimi Hendrix is suing a Tucson man for a guitar once owned by the legendary guitarist.

The Arizona Daily Star in Tucson reported yesterday (Oct 1) that Experience Hendrix, the company that runs Hendrix’s estate, wants a Pima County Superior Court judge to order the guitar returned.

According to the Oct 2, complaint, the estate says Mr Harvey Moltz, owner of Rainbow Guitars, is not the rightful owner of the Acoustic Black Widow guitar.

Estate attorney Ed McPherson says the guitar is valued between US$750,000 (S$1.05 million) and US$1 million. The lawsuit is also seeking damages.

Mr Moltz says he purchased the guitar in June 2014 from someone who bought it from Mr Sheldon Reynolds, ex-husband of Hendrix’s adopted sister, Ms Janie Hendrix.

Mr McPherson says Mr Reynolds, a former member of Earth, Wind, and Fire, stole it.

“The guitar is priceless to our family,” Ms 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.”

Tucson-based lawyer Todd Jackson is representing Mr Moltz.

“My client purchased the guitar in good faith from a private seller, without knowledge of competing claims of ownership,” he said. AP