1982 Squire P Bass - Made in Japan

[jslash]

PLEASE, IF YOU CAN HELP! I am desperately searching for a BLACK 1982 Squire P Bass with an after-market red and brown tortoise shell pickguard, the standard black pickguard cracked, I replaced it. I was in need of money and had very few options and did what I had to do.
So, I stupidly pawned it in 2022 in the east end of Toronto, on Danforth Avenue after having it 40 years. It was purchased in 1982 from Kalua Music on Kingston road, just west of Midland Ave in a strip mall (across from a Tim Horton's - north side). It was a birthday gift from my mother and means much to me.
It had an IRON MAIDEN concert pass sticker on it, plus a couple more stickers but there was also a dent on the bottom of the body beneath where the volume knob is.
I am willing to pay so that no one is out money. The sentimental value of it rips my heart out daily. It was regretful but I had to do it. If anyone can help me, I would be grateful and indebted.
John

 

[stringthrough]

Many of us have experienced seller's remorse. I for one traded in a Gibson SG guitar my parents presented me on my 16th birthday.

Your best option is to contact the buyer, presumably a pawn shop, and ask them to contact the person they sold it to. They won't give you that person's contact info, but they may act as an intermediary. You'll most likely have to find them a "finder's fee" should you recover your bass. They'll probably need at least 15% of its value, and of course the buyer, might ask double what he paid for it.

It's a longshot, and it will cost you if you're lucky enough to get it back.

Good luck.

 

[frankie5string]

Wow... Being from Toronto, I suggest that you don't expect to see it again. Stuff seems to move very fast in pawn-circles in Toronto. There's also no vacuum of knowledge anymore - everyone knows what stuff is worth and whoever has it probably knows it's now a unique "vintage" instrument.

Have you posted on Toronto Kijiji. If the person who bought it is a gear-hound, they might see it and offer to sell it for the right price.

Good luck...

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Sincerely, good luck. That must be tough to live with.

My parents didn't buy it for me, I bought this Martin guitar in 1992 with my own money. $1132.08 actually. The guy who ran the store (and still does to this day) let me stretch the layaway plan out to whatever I could afford. He would even let me take the guitar for weekends and return it to the store on Monday for special events. It took me until early in '93 to pay it off. And... in 1999 I sold it in a time of hardship. I've regretted it every day of my life since. 26 years later, I still look for that guitar online... eBay, Reverb, Craigslist, everywhere. It's just gone. I'd buy it back in pieces if I could only find it. I still have the original owner's card...

So I hope you find yours.

 

[friskinator]

I've got a sunburst 83-84 for sale in the classifieds here

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I hope you find it, but as you must realize, a hell of a longshot. I stupidly sold my first bass, a 1978 Ric 4001, enticed by a shiny new toy (G&L L2k), and amost immediately regretted it. I tried contacting the buyer, but he ghosted me. In retrospect, the G&L was a better bass in almost every respect, except the emotional attachment. Truth be told, if I suddenly ran across that bass now, I probably wouldn't buy it. I didn't touch a Ric for years after, and when I finally did.... the magic had dissipated. I eventually built my own clone, a near exact replica of the original, so that itch has been fully scratched. Get youself a brand new version of the same bass and mod it to your taste, then it will be Yours in a way that feels true. Better yet, build a parts bass with everything exactly to your specs.

 

[Fonkamex]

Have you look at Montreal? As someone who lives here, I would say there is a lot of back and forth between our two cities. I remember seen an old Squier for sale a long ago. Maybe it was yours. What color it is? Maple or rosewood fingerboard? Do you have any pictures?
Also check in Ottawa, just in case. If I was you I would check mainly in Kijiji but also Marketplace which seem to be growing these days. Good luck!

 

[jimmydean]

If you get that bass back , please go out and buy a lottery ticket ............you are lucky as Hell .

 

[Five or Six]

You don't say where you have looked. If I was wanting something that bad I'd be all over it. You need to do some leg work. Lots of good suggestions from folks around you. Good places to start, and start simple first. Good luck!