The Strokes Are Offering $US1000 To Get Back Their Guitarist's Missing Instrument

Celebrated US rockers The Strokes have turned to their fans for support in locating a wayward guitar belonging to the band's six-string slinger, Nick Valensi, after it went missing during cross-country transit.

Taking to their website and social media channels to spread the word, the band advised "in a bit of unfortunate news" that Valensi's "beloved Epiphone guitar [had] gone missing while being shipped from NYC to LA", consequently adding that they would be offering a reward of $US1000 (about $1400) to the person who directs the band to the whereabouts of the axe.

"We ask that you join us in keeping an eye out for it," the band wrote. "It goes without saying how bummed [Valensi] is that it's gone missing.

"If you have any info at all about the guitar — perhaps see it in a pawn shop or on eBay — please send an email to info@wizkidmanagement.com."

The band provided photographic and textual details of the instrument, an "orange-ish" 1995 Epiphone Riviera, uniquely identifiable through its removed pick guard, "E"-emblazoned headstock plate, trapezoidal mother-of-pearl neck inlays and modified P-94 pick-ups and trapeze tailpiece, the band says. It was travelling in a black Calzone flight case with metal edges and butterfly latches, obviously well-travelled ("Fragile" stickers, etc) and with a crack in the base covered over with gaffer tape.

It's not that we're necessarily expecting Johnny Average of Newtown to come across the instrument in the street or anything but, hey, we have eBay here, and you never know. Every hand helps, we suppose, and The Strokes say they "deeply appreciate the extra eyes and ears", so if you see something, say something.