Midge Marsden's case of harmonicas stolen at Auckland bar

Midge Marsden plays his precious harmonica in a performance with Hammond Gamble. About 30 of Marsen's harmonicas were stolen last week. Photo / File

One of New Zealand's best-known musicians has had his harmonicas stolen.
Harmonica legend Midge Marsden was playing at Dr Rudi's bar in the Viaduct, Auckland, last Wednesday when an opportunistic thief took off with at least 30 of the instruments.

Marsden writes on his Facebook page that the harmonicas are critical to him hitting the right notes and that they'll be useless to anyone else.

"I would appreciate you returning my valuable and needed for my music job harmonicas. There is a reward for their return. Unless the person responsible is a professional musician and plays these diatonic harps, they will be of no use at all. I need them for my job as a musician."

Last Wednesday at Dr Rudis bar in the Viaduct, I lo my entire case of harmonicas, I was packing up after our gig there...

Posted by Midge Marsden on Tuesday, 5 December 2017

Marsden, who is due to play at Millers Coffee Roastery tonight, believed the instruments were taken when his back was turned.

He's since updated his followers by saying he had another gig at the bar last night and would be checking to see if there was any CCTV footage.

However, in the meantime he would try and carry on as best he could.

"I do have some crusty old spares with missing notes which I can get by on, but my case had about 30 good ones that I'm currently using. It's not that they are irreplaceable, but they are an essential part of my gig, with many uncommon keys (sometimes hard to find)."

The harmonicas cost at least $60 each to replace, he said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Marsden or police.

Thanks everyone for your supportive and helpful comments, I appreciate it, just got in from work, going to call the city...

Posted by Midge Marsden on Tuesday, 5 December 2017