Whats The Deal With Pawn Shops?

rr5025 · #1 07-11-2009, 06:28 AM

First let me say sorry if this is in the wrong section, it is bass related though.

I've always heard these stories of people finding great basses at pawn shops. Unfortunately every time I go I see nothing but cheap knockoff brands (all the Chinese stuff) and maybe a Squier or Ibanez (only exception to this was in Leeds where I saw a few MIM Fenders). Now I'm not looking for a 60's or 70's Jazz or anything I'd just like to find something that's not a Chinese Fender clone.

I live in Pittsburgh if anyone knows any good places to check, although I think I've exhausted the supply near the city.

coreyfyfe · #2 07-11-2009, 06:35 AM

The issue is education. Most players know not to bring their expensive stuff to pawn shops because they get bottom dollar for it and unless it's a dire situation, they're much better off selling it themselves. Similarly, pawn shop owners are a little more educated about rare/vintage bass prices. There's one in providence which has a huge selection of vintage gear, but the majority of it they bought it specifically to bring in house because they got a good deal on ebay or soemthing like that. Most of their gear that has been sold to them is cheaper low end stuff (with a few exceptions of course).

Thus, the only stuff you'll be likely to see in a pawn shop is cheap low end gear from people who aren't really into it or just need cash quick.

oldrookie · #3 07-11-2009, 06:37 AM

+1

I saw a G&L Trib L2000 the other day, but I suspect most players willing to invest good money in a bass have figured out better ways of selling gear. Lots of options will reap more money than a pawn shop.

Kenny Allyn · #4 07-11-2009, 06:38 AM

"Back in the day" aka: the Dark age pawn shops were a decent place to find stuff ... they all have internet connections now, they know the value of what they have so they either contact dealers who are interested or ebay the items.

... Better deals can be had at GC now!

Indiana Mike · #5 07-11-2009, 06:40 AM

A few here have some Sadowsky's , vintage fenders etc...
but
their prices are HIGH.
One has had a Sadowsky , Eden amp and a 60's fender jazz for at least three years .
and yes they have the junk as well.

I met a guy who came to a yard sale I had a few years ago .
He asked if I had any music gear to sell . I declined but we got to talking and he had already bought some pretty cool gear that day . He goes to yard sales and asks if they have anything in the house to sell . He said you would be surprised how much stuff comes out of the closets.

My brother does this with records, older people drag out their kids old records when he inquires . He buys them for nothing. He has found some worth big $$$ but most are worthless.

maybe start pounding the yard sales?

coreyfyfe · #6 07-11-2009, 06:54 AM

This is the inventory at the place I was talking about, they update every couple months or so:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?f...ogId=384531341

The last time I was in I checked out the SVT, they wanted $3850 for the head and cab. The head was a closet classic, like mint condition with all original tubes, but the cab wasn't a match, it was completely trashed. They said they were brought in separately and they just threw them together.

Some of their stuff can be reasonably priced, I bought my fretless P there for $1800 which is the top end of the blue-book price, but it's in fantastic shape (except the case) and I could justify it

.

Bassmickeyd · #7 07-11-2009, 07:00 AM

I guess the saying goes "Right place at the right time."
The days of pawn shops are over now, I blame it on Ebay and the blue book. Prices are all the same and usually too high of used. It's been about 10-years since I stumbled across anything interesting in a pawn shop.
PS: Thunder storm I'll continue later.

Jim Campbell · #8 07-11-2009, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coreyfyfe

This is the inventory at the place I was talking about, they update every couple months or so:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?f...ogId=384531341

The last time I was in I checked out the SVT, they wanted $3850 for the head and cab. The head was a closet classic, like mint condition with all original tubes, but the cab wasn't a match, it was completely trashed. They said they were brought in separately and they just threw them together.

Some of their stuff can be reasonably priced, I bought my fretless P there for $1800 which is the top end of the blue-book price, but it's in fantastic shape (except the case) and I could justify it

.

most times you will find nothing but overpriced junk but the trick is to wander in often and check......every now and then something good will appear for a real good price.....

RickenBoogie · #9 07-11-2009, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny Allyn

"Back in the day" aka: the Dark age pawn shops were a decent place to find stuff ... they all have internet connections now, they know the value of what they have so they either contact dealers who are interested or ebay the items.

... Better deals can be had at GC now!

+1 Dark ages, indeed. I bought a Gibson EB-? (slotted headstock) for $175, back in those Dark ages, ((1978). Haven't seen a decent bass in a pawn shop since the early 90's.

stflbn · #10 07-11-2009, 07:14 AM

Ebay, and Craigslist happened to pawnshops. All they have to do to research prices is look it up, and most of the time they sell more stuff via online sale than locally so they price it high and hold onto it.

smcd · #11 07-11-2009, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassmickeyd

The days of pawn shops are over now.

True. 15 years ago you could find deals. Now, almost never. As another poster mentioned above, they all have computers and can find the value of a guitar in no time. Not only that, but the sellers have computers too. With ebay and CList a person has to be pretty desperate for cash to dump a guitar at a pawn shop.

Don't waste your time scouring pawn shops. Every once in a great while you might find a deal on something that's a little confusing to research like a BC Rich, but that happens so rarely that it ends up not being worth your time.

Bassconbeatz · #12 07-11-2009, 08:38 AM

+1 I remember seeing a Gretch Country Gentlemen at a pawn shop in Reno for $150.00 in the early 80's but being only twelve at the time, I didn't have the money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny Allyn

"Back in the day" aka: the Dark age pawn shops were a decent place to find stuff ... they all have internet connections now, they know the value of what they have so they either contact dealers who are interested or ebay the items.

... Better deals can be had at GC now!

pigpen02 · #13 07-12-2009, 05:10 PM

I kick myself today because, as a teenager, I used to see all these 70s fenders for 150, 200, 250 bucks but....they weren't black, or pointy, and so....

I never see anything musically worth the $$$ in pawn shops any more, those days are done.

fdeck · #14 07-12-2009, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassconbeatz

+1 I remember seeing a Gretch Country Gentlemen at a pawn shop in Reno for $150.00 in the early 80's but being only twelve at the time, I didn't have the money.

Reno had fabulous pawn shops when I visited there, 20 years ago.

Ripper · #15 07-12-2009, 07:27 PM

just this past december i almost scored a white t-40 for $150 in one... didn't have the money though... one of my buying regrets over the past year... that and the audi i almost had for 500 that needed an engine rebuild but had all the parts

cassanova · #16 07-12-2009, 09:53 PM

I was just in a pawn shop yesterday looking for either a PS3 or Xbox 360. Saw a Roland (i think) digital recorder, asked what they wanted for it and he told me $200 because thats what they're going for on ebay. So I know the shops are using ebay prices as a guide.

If you want to find a nice bass in a pawn shop amongst all the crap then give them you're name and number and ask them to call you when something decent comes in.

Spector_Ray · #17 07-12-2009, 10:00 PM

I really can't add anything else to this thread except that in 1990, I found an early 80's USA B.C. Rich Mockingbird with a clear finish(quilted maple body) for just shy of $500 at a pawnshop. Still kicking myself for not buying it.

Bassmickeyd · #18 07-13-2009, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassmickeyd

I guess the saying goes "Right place at the right time."
The days of pawn shops are over now, I blame it on Ebay and the blue book. Prices are all the same and usually too high for used. It's been about 10-years since I stumbled across anything interesting in a pawn shop.
PS: Thunder storm I'll continue later.

In 75 I drove from Toronto to Miami checking out pawn shops along the way. In Atlanta I found 4-pawn shops in a row. In the third one was a 68-Strat, for $250. It was heavily played, real road worn. I got the guy behind the counter laughing and loose then talked him down to $125.-with a 50's Fender blonde plush case thrown in.
Now you walk into a pawn shop and they treat you like dirt and act like everything they got is gold. But, it's covered in dust and mostly made in China. Or somewhere in that vicinity.
But, between having to deal in a world full of crack-heads and 'bring us your old, used unwanted gold' I'm sure the life of a Pawn Shop keeper can get pretty low.

In 92 I walked into a local Pawn Shop and found a 1966 Fender P-bass, with original stings that hadn't been played a day in the last 25-years. They weren't sure of the year and wanted $350. for it. I got it for $325.

There's a great film from the early 60's called The Pawnbroker staring Rod Stieger. Black and white with a very cool sound track by Quincy Jones.

jojobean39 · #19 07-13-2009, 08:35 AM

Down here in FL the pawn shops are pretty decent. The best bet is to hope your item sets there for a while. Then they typically want to get rid of it.

Here are some things I have purchased at a pawn shop:

Mesa Nomad: $400

Marshall JCM 900 Half Stack: $400

Rainsong D-1000: $600

Fender Vibroverb: $300

1976 Fender Pro Reverb: $150 (Put in some $$ re-tolexing and stuff, so more like $250)

Fender Jazz Plus 5: $300

Parker Fly Deluxe: $1300

Other stuff for which I have no pics:

1973 Marshall MKII Head: $70 (yes $70)
Trace Elliot Bass Pre-Amp: $5 (They thought it was a power amp and couldn't get it to work)
SWR Workingman's 15": $150
Mesa Rect-O-Verb: $400 or $600 (can't remember)
Mesa Stiletto Trident: $700

The key is that you just have to look often. However, the deals have slowed down a lot since eBay has come about.

Here in my area, they can still be found though.

jaywa · #20 07-13-2009, 03:29 PM

Gotta agree with the majority here... the days of finding a vintage instrument or amp for a fraction of its value in a pawn shop are long gone. There are too many other outlets now, not to mention that anyone with an Internet connection and an hour of free time can get online and get a pretty good idea of the market value of things. I.e., even Granny Smith can find out that the 66 Jazz Bass that Junior left in her attic 30 years ago is worth a lot more than the $250 the pawnshop guy wants to give her for it.