Pawn Shop Basses

[pflash4001]

Oops...forgot the 4000 pics...

[smcfarland1337]

You have enough Rics already!

Send the old cheap one my way!

[pflash4001]

Never enough Rics!!! I'm lusting after a sexy 4004cii!

[smcfarland1337]

*cry*

[Carl320]

Originally Posted by abstractart06

Great pawn shop finds are still possible. You have just have to be ready to jump on a deal when you see it and it helps to be a good negotiator. I recently tried out an early Gibson era Tobias Growler 5 string in near mint condition in a local shop

This. I picked up a Parker p-42 recently at a pawn shop for $350. It was there on a wednesday and when i went back Friday it was still there. New the guitar sold for $650, and the thing really didn't have any damage on it, save for a few small dings on the headstock.

I picked up my first bass (Westone Spectrum GT) for $250 from a pawn shop almost 20 years ago when I started playing.

I like going thru pawn shops just for the possibility of finding that one deal

[pflash4001]

Originally Posted by Carl320

I like going thru pawn shops just for the possibility of finding that one deal

I tell my wife it's like me getting in touch with my feminine side shoe shopping, except its something infinitely more interesting than shoes. It does feel good when you score a great deal. You really have to know the gear and whether or not you would be able to get it up to proper order if repairs are needed to see if a deal is worth it.

[manolo578]

Originally Posted by pflash4001

I tell my wife it's like me getting in touch with my feminine side shoe shopping, except its something infinitely more interesting than shoes. It does feel good when you score a great deal. You really have to know the gear and whether or not you would be able to get it up to proper order if repairs are needed to see if a deal is worth it.

Any tips for dealing with a mother who wouldn't understand a good deal when I see one?

[Astreaux]

Originally Posted by manolo578

Any tips for dealing with a mother who wouldn't understand a good deal when I see one?

If she gets it for you, you can make money with it and finally move out?

[pflash4001]

Get a job then get a paying gig. Pay for your expenses using gig money and show that to her.

[nashvillebill]

I agree with the other posters: the Internet has made most pawn shops owners pretty well aware of what they have, and if anything they think their merchandise is worth far more than what it actually is ("well there's 10 of these on Ebay for $1000"--yes but nobodys willing to pay that!).

Estate sales and yard salws used to have some good bargains as well, but too many shows like "American Pickers" and "Storage Wars" (with their inflated values) makes everyone think their old crap is worth a fortune.

[pflash4001]

Originally Posted by nashvillebill

I agree with the other posters: the Internet has made most pawn shops owners pretty well aware of what they have, and if anything they think their merchandise is worth far more than what it actually is ("well there's 10 of these on Ebay for $1000"--yes but nobodys willing to pay that!).

Estate sales and yard salws used to have some good bargains as well, but too many shows like "American Pickers" and "Storage Wars" (with their inflated values) makes everyone think their old crap is worth a fortune.

The deals can still be found. Not too long ago my uncle found an old Fender Super Six. If you all aren't familiar with it, it's essentially a Fender Twin Reverb with 6 10's instead of 2 12's. The lady said "the speaker" belonged to her son who had been killed in a car wreck more than 10 years ago. She said her grand kids had poked holes in all the speakers in the box. She sold it to my uncle for $5. It had all the original Jensens in it. After reconing the speakers, the amp is in near perfect condition. Like I said earlier, it's a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

[sondich]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Any pawn shop that's done their homework won't be selling a bass for much less than its value.

BUT - there are some who don't do their homework, and there are basses which are difficult to value. Every now and then a good value turns up.

+1

95% of merchandise in pawn shops is tagged well above any reasonable notion of market price. They negotiate for a living and know enough to err on the side of caution when pricing. If it sits too long, they'll start to mark it down.

Most of the deals that I've heard of seem to occur when they've misidentified a product and priced it accordingly (they think they have an import but it's an american model, for example).

[Maxdusty]

Live in a smaller town in the Midwest. The pawn stores here have the Squiers and Yamaha basses. They also have basses that you don't typically find in nearby pawn stores in Detroit (as I imagine the good ones are usually picked over really quickly). There's a couple of Warwicks, higher end Ibanez basses- some at very reasonable prices. Better deals are to be had though at Craigslist. Most people will put their basses and other instruments on Craigslist rather than sell it to the pawn store as pawn stores don't pay too much unless one is absolutely desperate to sell it right away. So Craigslist imo is where the good used instruments have gone to.

[Astreaux]

Added another one to the collection from the pawn shop today. Pristine Squier P Bass... coupled with the Yorkville XM100, paid under $200 for the combination of both of them!

[rapidfirerob]

Back in grad school, the rhythm guitarist in the band said he had an SG guitar from the 60s and I could have it if I got it out of hock. He wasn't sure of the year as he bought it from someone else. I asked how much to get it out of hock. He said $200. I said, "Let"s go!" That doesn't happen very often though admittedly. It is a 67 SG.

[MIMike]

eBay is what ruined our fun at the pawn shops, but a deal will turn up every now and then. I think the trick is to establish a relationship with the owners and let them know what kind of things you're interested in. The other key in NEVER want anything too bad. Ask them what they really need to get for something, sometimes it's not only less than the price tag, it can also be less than you thought it would be.

[ggunn]

Sure, eBay has provided the Pawn Stars info on what things are worth, but another thing to consider is how long they have had an item. Their business depends on fast turnover of merchandise, and the longer something has been out on the floor, the more they will deal.

Of course, here in Austin, like many other towns with a musician under every rock, my odds of scoring are not as good as they would be if I were somewhere else.

[fenderslaper]

I haven't been in a pawn shop in many years, but I got a 62 slab board p with original strap and case for $200.00. Same pawn shop same night, Travis Bean Koa for $150.00. This was 1983 or there abouts in Oceanside CA.

[fenderslaper]

Also got a made in Japan strat for $100.00 here in Vista around 1996 or so. Nice guitar.