This Crosby, Stills, And Nash Guitar Sold For Hundreds On Pawn Stars
How fair is it when somebody wins something they don't care one whit about, while you're out there pining and saving up for the very same item? Not fair at all, but thankfully, that's how deals are made at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. One person's trash is another person's treasure, as in the case of a signed Crosby, Stills & Nash guitar that seller Nick had no use for at all.
As he explained, he won the Martin backpacker guitar in a radio contest by answering ten trivia questions correctly (He's the guy to ask if you want to know the name of the van on Scooby-Doo, by the way. It's the Mystery Machine, not the Mystery Wagon, as Chumlee guessed).
Rick checked out the signatures scrawled on the guitar and had only good things to say about the band. "They're all in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame," he said. "The way they harmonized was amazing, and they were a huge hit."
So, did that mean he was already in and prepared to deal?
Signed rock 'n roll merch always sells
Under most circumstances on "Pawn Stars," it would make sense to get the signatures checked out, to be sure they were authentic. In this case, Rick didn't feel that was necessary. "Your story sounds completely legit, and I don't think anybody in their right mind would put these autographs on a backpacker," he said.
From there, he went directly into business mode, sussing out Nick's hopeful starting price of $1,000. On a regular guitar, that might have worked, but Rick wasn't sold and offered a not-too-shabby $700 instead. When Nick tried for $800, Rick returned quickly to those unauthenticated signatures and the risk he was taking in making the purchase. But the seller drove a hard bargain, telling him $700 just wasn't enough. It was a bold move considering this was a free prize in which Nick had no sentimental interest in. His tactics worked, though. Rick agreed to $750 and the deal was done.
"I love signed rock memorabilia, because it usually sells quick," Rick said. "I just have to make sure the signatures are the real deal before I can put it on my shelf."