| Author | Message | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 4610 Registered: 6-2002 |
There seem to have been quite a lot of musical instrument thefts reported on-line of late and the one Mica reported here recent of a theft of a load of instruments has rekindled my interest in finding a good GPS tracking device which can be safely fitted inside an instrument without damage or inducing noise into the electronics and output. A few years back I bought a GPS tracker which was the size of a small matchbox that I fitted inside the padding of my flightcase. Whilst it worked and I could see on a map where it was, the downside was that it kept sending me false messages which ran the battery and sim card credit down. Since then I've sporadically done some investigation to see what is new on the market and have seen some small bluetooth technology devices like the "Tile" that would be small enough but it has a small range of 100 feet and since it relies on other mobile phone users having the tracker app on their phones to locate it's whereabouts, being able to find things could take a while depending on how bit the tile network of users is. So I wonder if anyone has any experience of good trackers. I seem to remember Keavin having some cell phone type device inside number 12 at some point. | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 2408 Registered: 11-2004 |
I have the ideal tracker, my bass never leaves my line of sight at a gig and my karate skills are the deterrent ! | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 4611 Registered: 6-2002 |
I guess in your case Terry all you need then is a T-shirt with this on the front or on our bass case. :-)  Not having any recent training in martial arts, I'd rather not have to punch someone and risk hand damage. :-) Can I hire you as my bass bodyguard. :-) Joking aside, unfortunately there are other places where instruments get lifted, not just at gigs where your physical presence can be a deterrent. The keyboard player in one of the bands I was in got his Korg M1 stolen by someone from the crew who were helping clear the stage after the gig. Another friend had his bass stolen from his home whilst he was asleep on the sofa in the same room!!! Fortunately it was found at a local music store having been sold to the shop by the thief. | ||
| serialnumber12
Senior Member Username: serialnumber12 Post Number: 1104 Registered: 12-2004 |
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| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 2409 Registered: 11-2004 |
Jazzy my hands are perfectly conditioned for punching the crap out of anyone who would try! Yes, these people have no morals at all, you save up for yor beloved instrument only for these low life to think it is 'just a guitar'. What is even worse, the police won't even come to yous assistance now over burglaries because they have deduced that it is not serious enough for them to do! | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 2258 Registered: 2-2005 |
I don't have any idea on trackers. If I am out on a gig my wife stays with the basses until I am done loading the rig and ready to leave. I have a monitored alarm system on my house for multiple reasons but my instruments are one of them. I have been looking at getting a larger gun safe that would also hold my basses when we are away from the house traveling. Not only would it provide theft protection but would also provide some fire resistance. Keith | ||
| ed_zeppelin
Junior Username: ed_zeppelin Post Number: 28 Registered: 2-2010 |
I use Snagg: http://tinyurl.com/Snagg-flyer The GPS tracker is about the size of a Tic-tac box. (At my age, I'm considering having one implanted somewhere. Y'never know when you'll get lost on the way back from the bathroom.) The RFID chips (about ten bucks each) are smaller than a grain of rice. I take a strap button off and extend the screw hole a little, dab some glue on the chip, drop it in and stick the button back on. Nobody will ever know it's there (except you guys, of course  ) Oh yeah, here's their website (duh, I knew I was forgetting something) http://www.snagg.com/ (Message edited by Ed_zeppelin on August 07, 2015) | ||
| mavnet
Member Username: mavnet Post Number: 59 Registered: 2-2003 |
Snagg seems brilliant. Would be a great option for Alembic to offer built in, with a tap onto the power coming into the bass (at least on series instruments) to trickle charge the batteries. Might be able to use a smaller battery that way (there's not much room in the electronics cavities of my basses). | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Senior Member Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 999 Registered: 5-2007 |
Carvin used to offer Snagg | ||
| rv_bass
Member Username: rv_bass Post Number: 64 Registered: 8-2014 |
I don't know much about them, but perhaps an RFID would work. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio-frequency_identification | ||
| ed_zeppelin
Junior Username: ed_zeppelin Post Number: 29 Registered: 2-2010 |
There are two methods, each with their own advantages and limitations. GPS trackers (as shown in the innards of the fine *Alembic bass earlier in this thread) allow you and police to track it anywhere on the face of the earth. Handy, that. Their limitations are their size (they're about the size of a Tic-tac box: http://www.lovethispic.com/uploaded_images/45197-Hello-Kitty-Tic-Tacs.jpg ) with a battery life of three years on average. They don't interfere with electronics, by the way. So feel free to take a router to your instruments, or a chisel and hammer. RFID chips only identify it as yours. Most pawnshops, music stores and police departments have scanners that identify all makes of chips, but they don't actually track your valuables. Snagg makes both types, and their GPS trackers seem to be smaller than others I've seen. To see the latest advances in the technologies, search out tracking devices for bicycles. Lo-Jack and myriad other companies make an astonishing variety of devices and strategies, from devices that notify you by phone if something is even moved to death-rays fired from satellites that turn the thieving miscreant into a pile of smoldering ash. (If I had my way ...) *are those two trapezoidal objects in the lower left of the cavity spare pickups? I've studied the innards carefully, and it think I found room for two more knobs. Possibly three. | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 1161 Registered: 6-2002 |
Those trapezoidal objects are hum cancellers for each pickup. I have those in my bass too 72 16. | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 2099 Registered: 5-2002 |
I wonder if the rechargeable Snagg GPS can be powered off the Series power supply. |
