ALMOST the same story on Jimmy Page’s Black Beauty was stolen in NYC and was returned almost 50 years later...
“Jimmy Page’s Stolen ‘Black Beauty’ Guitar Was Returned After 45 Years”
Same sequence of events: Stolen. Bought by someone else. Realizes it belongs to someone else who is famous. Research. Contacts famous musician. Musician gives $$$ reward BUT Bachman being a cheapskate pays him by adding lyrics to a song.
Bachman relied on one of his acquaintances who handles vintage guitars to find a different Gretsch made in 1957, and decided to exchange it with his lost Gretsch now in the possession of Takeshi.
If I were somehow in Takeshi's position, I'd rather have the "different Gretsch" that Bachman (or Bachman's buddies) tracked down for me than reward money.
Peter Frampton had a similar story with his Les Paul that was missing for decades. Interesting story.