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Topic: Those hidden pawn shop treasures |
Bob Cox
From:
Buckeye State
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Posted 24 Sep 2006 8:30 am |
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Last week I went on a scavenger hunt at several pawn shops.Low and behold there was a session 400, mid seventies mod with a jbl in it.Acting like I needed it to call bingo through,I bought it at a bargin price.While driving home I figured it would have a few sound issues when I tried it with my Emmons.Ka Pow!Man this is the best sounding steel amp I have ever played through.A few shots of control cleaner and it was really happening.Used it on the show last night.
Have any of you all found any treasures at pawn shops?[This message was edited by Bob Cox on 24 September 2006 at 09:32 AM.] http://members.aol.com/SouthernOhioOpry/[This message was edited by Bob Cox on 24 September 2006 at 09:33 AM.] |
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Larry Jamieson
From:
Walton, NY USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2006 8:55 am
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My dad bought me my first 6 string electric guitar, a used "Silvertone" at a pawn shop when I was about 12 years old. It and a little tube amp with an 8" speaker were $50.00.
Over the years, I have bought several musical instruments for resale, and a 35mm camera or two from pawn shops. In the last few years, there are less bargains than there used to be - lots of people sell their items on e-bay, and get more for them than if they pawned them...
Larry J. |
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Rick Schmidt
From:
Prescott AZ, USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2006 9:01 am
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| In 1967 I bought a pritine 59 Les Paul flametop in a pawnshop in skid row Denver for $125. Why oh why did I ever sell that one? I could probably retire on that now. |
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Ron Frederiksen
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas, USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2006 10:51 am
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I found a 6 string silvertone 1957 for $45.00 with a gig bag. I have it at home now. Ron
"steelin is music to my ear"[This message was edited by Ron Frederiksen on 24 September 2006 at 11:52 AM.] |
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Ron Elliott
From:
Madison, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2006 11:41 am
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| I wish I could have done this.....a good friend of mine was visiting and browsing and bought a 1961 D-18 Martin and case for $85.00. I told him he should have been arrested for theft....he just smiled and said "That's cute, Chief." I offered him $100....and he said it again. Ron |
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Ernie Pollock
From:
Mt Savage, Md USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2006 1:26 pm
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Yeah, don't it make ya sick!! My wife & I were in Virgina & went into a little shop that sold videos & junk, my wife stepped into the back room & low & behold a old Shobud S-10 rack & collar 3& 1, when I inquired about buying it, they guy went nuts, he was so-o-o-o happy to have a 'sucker' like me on the hook, of course I bought it for $300.00, my only wish is that I still had that little bugger, I could use one just like it about now, & right around that price would help alot!!
Ernie  http://www.hereintown.net/~shobud75/stock.htm |
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James Stewart Jr
From:
Vero Beach Florida
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Posted 24 Sep 2006 2:23 pm
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In 1990 I saw a Sansui 1000A Tube Stereo Receiver at a flee market.
I had been looking for one for years ( remember there was no e bay). I fakely balked and said this is old tube junk but it looked cherry and I ask how much and the guy said awgh just give me $25.00. I couldn't pay him fast enough. Got it home and it had the most warmest beautiful sound.
BTW -These go on E Bay anywhere from $200.00 - $500.00 depending on condition.
The receiver is still in use today.
James Jr
PS--Edited for spelling errors and wrong price.
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1975 Sho~Bud Pro III Custom (8-7)
1981 Peavey Session 500
[This message was edited by James Stewart Jr on 24 September 2006 at 08:12 PM.] [This message was edited by James Stewart Jr on 24 September 2006 at 08:15 PM.] |
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Casey Lowmiller
From:
Kansas
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Posted 24 Sep 2006 2:25 pm
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I scored a Twin-Reverb for about $350 around a year ago. Last Wednesday, I scored a Session 500 for $250. Both of these amps function flawlessly & are pretty much spotless.
Guitar wise, I got a Fender 800 with added knee levers for $125 & a Fender champion complete with original case & cord for $135.
Also got a $2000 fiddle for $130.
Then again, I have let a few things slip by like a first year Country Gentleman that went for $700, an older Jazzmaster that sold for $300 & several old guns that were bargain basement priced...and I was broke at the time of all of these missed opportunities.
I'm making up for it though!!!
Casey
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Known Coast to Coast as
"The Man with The Plan"
Carter-Starter, Fender Pedal 800, Fender Champion, Guyatone Double-neck, a cheap Artisan & a Homemade Double-neck!
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Gary Preston
From:
Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2006 2:26 pm
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| Bobby some people find their wives there ! Hah . Back to the question . My wife found a Fender Lap Steel at a ''Yard Sale '' for $20.00 and i traded it even up for a Nashville 400 that i use when i play . Does this count ? G.P. [This message was edited by Gary Preston on 24 September 2006 at 03:32 PM.] |
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Ted Solesky
From:
Mineral Wells, Texas, USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2006 3:24 pm
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| This still makes me sick. I was an accountant for a new car dealer back in 79 and the shop foreman told me that there's a gas station down the street that has one of those things that I play - steel. I sort of ignored him. Later I checked into it and what happened was a guy was going thru town and was desparate. He needed $40 and a full tank of gas ($1.00 a gal - not the gouging scam we have now). He left his steel equipment there as collateral. After 30 days, the owner of the gas station called a lawyer to get info on his rights, after 30 days, he was allowed to sell it. He sold it for $48 - what he had in it. It turned out to be a D-10 Sho Bud with a folding pack seat and volume pedal. I missed that one. Win one and lose one as they say. |
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Ernest Cawby
From:
Lake City, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 24 Sep 2006 3:29 pm
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In 1982 I went to the pawn shops IN Jacksonville looking for a Trombone, after 15 pawn shops I went back to the first one,looked again as I and was leaving to come home, in the window next to the entrance I could just see a trombone top of the bell end sticking up above the stuff in front. Went back into the store and asked the cleark about the one in that window, it was in a out of the way place hard to see. She brought it to the counter and opened it up, the mouth peice had never been put in the horn the slide had never been oiled, it was new. We asked the price she said,$150.00 but the man. sold it for $125.00.
This was a King 2B like the one Glen Miller played all his days, it had a
silver Bell and slide. King gave Glen a new one before he flew over seas and that went down with him in the plane crash The horn is price less today not for sale at any price.
The good part when he learned I was playing it in Church he charged us no tax, and gave the $25.00 discount. I played it in First Apostolic church for the next 15 years. I do not play it much now but may play it at Saluda in November if they will let me. I talked to the CEO of King, she told me the history of the horn and said the alagator super case I had they did not make anymore becouse it cost more thsn the asking price.
ernie |
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Mark Edwards
From:
Weatherford,Texas, USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2006 4:11 pm
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Found a Epiphone acoustic guitar, $90.00, got it home started really looking at it and found that on the inside it had a date of 1959, made in Kalimazoo, Michigan.
I found out that was the last year they were made in the good ol U.S. of A. then they were made and shipped from China or Japan or somewhere besides here.
I found out had I kept it, it was definatly worth some $$$, but I didn't, and have since never found anything remotely close to a deal like that. But I will keep on looking.
I have a fellow steel player who is my pawn shop shopping buddy, and when ever we get a chance we hit em all, while the ladies go garage sale shopping. |
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R.C. Vick
From:
Moss Point, Ms., USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2006 4:38 pm
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| Bought a very clean, almost new trombone a couple years ago. Was sitting without a case on the counter and had just been put out for sale. Tag had Remington Trombone on it for $149. Bought it immediately, without looking farther for $100 and got it home before investigating. Turned out to be a Conn 88H, Symphony Artist with the extra finger key. The Mouthpiece was a Remington. Paid good money for a D-28 Martin about a year later. Found a good home for it in California. |
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Fred Bova
From:
Connecticut, USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2006 7:32 pm
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Yep, well,... I've had a few good finds in pawn shops,I can't complain, but this is the story I tell the most.
In a very small pawn shop in LA I bought a six string Mosrite Gospel with case. The case was stenciled NERVANA and under some black tape it said "F**K ELVIS". It was a right handed guitar that was strung up left handed, the Bigsby spring had been removed and replaced with a wood screw, and there were white globs of paint on the fretboard to act as fret markers. I paid $ 125.00 for it. Well, I knew who NERVANA were, they were just starting to get a buzz. I was not surprized to find it in a Pawn Shop as I had heard he was a junky. Anyway, I got parts from Mosely, set it up and played it a bit, nice but not my favorite style Mosrite. Then a good friend of mine asked if I would sell it to him as he wanted to give it to a good friend of his as a gift. I sold it for $ 150.., what I had into it. He GAVE it away, to his friend. His friend passed away a little while ago and the family asked for info documenting where I bought it, condition I found it in, etc. Turns out this was the guitar that Kurt Cobain used on all his early stuff. Again, I knew it was his, but who knew he would be the John Lennon of his generation and would commit suicide with a shotgun in his peak. Oh, and the guitar was a rare Mosrite, maybe the only Gospel model made with a type 4 body. They sent me a check for $ 500.00 for my help after it sold in an Auction. It sold for the minimum asking price, to the only bidder. for $ 117,000.00
Oh well, you can't keep everything, and I did make a profit on it, just a wee bit smaller then if I had kept it.
Fred
[This message was edited by Fred Bova on 24 September 2006 at 08:45 PM.] |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2006 9:41 pm
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Interesting story, Fred!
There aren't many 'success' stories out of the shops these day's here on Oahu but they still happen on occassion.
A friend recently walked out of a pawn shop with an awesome steel guitar GIVEN to him.
It was a 58/59 dbl. neck 8 string Gibson Consolette w/the very big black PUs, in excellent condition w/beautiful pink plush lined case.
The capper, it was a 1 owner originally bought by one of Hawaii's greatest steelers,
Barney Isaacs.
The shop owner who had previously sold him Barney's bag of bars for a pitance was so thrilled to (finally, after 30 years in the buisness) have someone come into his store with an interest in steel guitar that he was moved to the gift, as he was soon to be getting out.
What a way to go.[This message was edited by Ron Whitfield on 24 September 2006 at 10:47 PM.] |
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Tom Quinn
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Posted 24 Sep 2006 11:11 pm
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In 1997, my wife and I traveled from Tokyo to Young Harris, Georgia to see my parents at their summer house. This town is smack on the N.C. border and has a population of about 350.
I bought a mint fixed-arm Bigsby Gretsch 6120 for 450 dollars at a flower shop... |
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Dale Dorsey
From:
Granger, Indiana, USA
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Posted 25 Sep 2006 1:23 am
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| Echoplex for $25.00 about 8 years ago. That one is long gone...and still kicking myself for it. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 25 Sep 2006 3:01 am
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earlier this year I too found a 78' Session 400 with a 1502 BW, it is now my #1 amp.
A month or two back I found yet another Session 400 with a JBL...I made an offer but was rejected. I walked.
I already had 3 Peavey Steel amps at home , 4 would have been nuts.
Like many here, I work on the road. I pretty much stop at every Pawn shop that I pass.
I found a basically brand new Peavey Classic 50/2x12 amp last year and brought it home for my bandmate. Black Tolex..$340. I should have kept that one for myself, it has since been sold.
t[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 25 September 2006 at 04:01 AM.] |
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George McLellan
From:
Duluth, MN USA
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Posted 25 Sep 2006 3:09 am
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I was in a hawk shop here a few years ago looking for a mic cord. Found one and offered $2.00 for it. He said OK and handed it to me. Attached to the end was a SM58 - and it was in near new condition.
Geo |
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Rick Johnson
From:
Wheelwright, Ky USA
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Posted 25 Sep 2006 4:17 am
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I 1979 bought a '69 Martin D-28 from a friend who used to operate a big Country
and Bluegrass place in Columbus, Ohio.
My friend had loaned a blugrass
artist 450.00 for some lawyer fees.
Several years had passed and the guy
who previously owned the guitar went to prison, I think. I bought it for 450.00
I still have the guitar.
I took it to Gruhns is Nashville several
years and it was apprasied for 3500.00
Rick
www.rickjohnsoncabs.com |
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Posted 25 Sep 2006 8:45 am
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Back in the mid & late 60s, while on the road, i found treasures in pawn shops !
55 Tele
57 Strats
64 Strat
59 Les Paul tiger maple top - Jrs, TV, ES330 - ES335
Rickenbacker T8
Gibson Br6 - Eh100 - EH150 - Electraharp - console grande
National Tricone
& a bunch of Fender amps
man, when i look at what they're worth today, i break down & cry
i done sold all that stuff ......
that's all right, i steel got a Zum |
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Charley Adair
From:
Maxwell, Texas, USA
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Posted 25 Sep 2006 8:52 am
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| How about thrifty nickel? In 1990 I found a ShoBud ProII Custom '85 model 8 floors two knees, Red Birds eye maple, mint condition, with case, Deckly low boy volume pedal and drummers throne for $650. Might not have been a good deal, but I thought it was. |
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Brendan Mitchell
From:
Melbourne Australia
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Posted 25 Sep 2006 11:58 am
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| My one and only was a little 5T 27 Martin tenor I found at a flea market .Had a $10 price tag but before I could say a word he said I could have it for $5 . It needed $150. work on it but it is a sweet little guitar . |
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Scott Henderson
From:
Camdenton, Missouri, USA
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Posted 25 Sep 2006 12:46 pm
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I too am a pawn shop hound. My favorite place to shop. I bought a Viola for 60.00 and have been told it is worth around $500.00 but don't know. In fact if any body wants to buy it I will make you a deal on it. The rest of the stuff my wife calls dust collectors is stil laying around here but I love to shop at Pawnmart!!!
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Steelin' away in the ozarks and life,
Scott
www.scottyhenderson.com
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Richard Cooper
From:
Eads,TN,USA
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Posted 25 Sep 2006 1:12 pm
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| Find of a lifetime pawn shopping. I bought a Martin D35 with a small hole in the top and with the Original case, in Memphis for $99.00, I didn't try to get a lower price! |
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