Missing Two Rock Amp Found in Germany
Joe Bonamassa's social media appeal helped locate blues guitarist Josh Smith's amplifier, which had been left under a stage in Leverkusen.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Rock
Josh Smith's Two Rock amp, declared missing last week, was found in Leverkusen, Germany, underneath the stage where it had been left after a previous gig. Joe Bonamassa had publicized the disappearance on social media and promised a generous reward for its safe return.
Why it matters
The recovery highlights how quickly social media appeals can help locate stolen or misplaced touring equipment, which often carries high value and sentimental weight for musicians. It also underscores the vulnerability of gear that travels between venues on tour.
The recovery followed a public appeal by Joe Bonamassa and is reported as the amp was found beneath the stage at a Leverkusen venue. Comparable cases include a $12,000 guitar theft involving Paul Gilbert, while the reported circumstances of this amp's disappearance remain unclear.
The players
Joe Bonamassa
Joe Bonamassa is a prominent American blues rock guitarist and singer known for a long solo career and extensive touring.
Josh Smith
Josh Smith is a blues guitarist who serves as Joe Bonamassa's right-hand man in his live band.
The details
Josh Smith, a blues guitarist and right-hand man in Joe Bonamassa's live band, had his Two Rock amp declared missing last week. Bonamassa posted a video on Instagram, filmed in Dortmund, Germany, asking Smith what he would use for amplification on stage, and the amp was later found underneath the stage in Leverkusen where it had been left after a previous gig.
Timeline
Last week: Smith's Two Rock amp was declared missing.
Days later: The amp was found in Leverkusen, Germany, and the report was published on November 2, 2026.
Roadmap
Cases such as Jerry Cantrell's G&L Rampage, which was innocently misplaced last year, and the nearly 20-year disappearance of a Van Halen guitar gifted to him show how valuable instruments regularly vanish from rock musicians. This quick recovery of Smith's amp contrasts with those longer searches.
For fans attending tour dates, the recovery means Bonamassa's band can keep its planned gear setup without delay. The episode also shows how musicians rely on public appeals to recover equipment left between gigs.
The takeaway
Musicians touring between venues should keep detailed gear logs and confirm equipment is loaded after every show. Public appeals on social media can be an effective recovery tool when gear goes missing abroad.
Further reading
Explore more stories in our Rock section for coverage of touring musicians and their gear.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Guitarworld.
