Letter’s Postscript : Bassist Strung Along Other Stores

At first, Dan Shattuck of Sightsinger Music in Orange thought he was the only store owner tapped by a poor Polish musician who wanted some free guitar strings.

But on Friday, a day after The Times published the letter Shattuck received from Poland asking for the strings, Shattuck learned that he wasn’t alone.

“I’ve been getting calls all morning from other music stores in Southern California who got the same letter from this guy. This guy probably peppered every music store in Southern California,” Shattuck said.

The letter from Jerzy Laba of Wroclaw, Poland, who described himself as a “bass guitarist,” arrived in the mail this week.

Shattuck said the plea was accompanied by a set of metal pins from Polish musicians clubs, including the Heavy Metal Club of Poland.

Music stores in Orange and Los Angeles county reported receiving similar letters.

“The guy must have gotten hold of a phone book from around here and just sent a whole bunch of letters,” he said.

On Friday, Toby Capalbo of La Habra Music Center in La Habra couldn’t stop laughing when asked whether his store received a similar letter.

“Sure we did. But it was from another guy named huh, Ann-dug, huh, Anndy-jug. Wait, I’ll spell it. A-n-d-z-e-j Goralski. You pronounce it--I can’t. He wants us to send him a free, heavy-duty 20-foot guitar cable,” Capalbo said.

“Maybe they’re trying to start a music store, huh?” he added, starting to laugh.

The second letter, dated Nov. 30, 1987, wished everyone a “Merry Christmas from Poland.” It was signed Andzej Goralski, a “rock guitarist” from Wroclaw, Capalbo said.

“You should see the handwriting on this letter. It’s like a work of art,” he said.

Instead of anger, Capalbo was amused and commended both Goralski and Laba for their c hutzpah.

“We’ve sold instruments to foreign customers before but never have had anything like this. I think it’s very enterprising on their part. But let’s face it, what have they got to lose?” he said.

Both store operators said they intend to write to the Polish musicians before they send anything.