I had to go to the wonderful VA Hospital in Orlando today, so I didn't go to work. The appointment was in the middle of the day, and being an hour away, it was not practical to show up at work before or after. I was done over there around 12:30, so I decided to make a pawn shop run on my way home. I knew where several were from past experience over there, so I made a mental route and started in.
First shop... I saw an Aria 335 Lawsuit copy in Greenburst with P-90s. All original, very nice condition. It was marked $319. A little conversation and I found out that I could walk out for it for $240 out-the-door. Tempting. But I passed. I thought maybe I could score $100 or so on it on the bay... but wasn't sure.
Second shop.... Nothing.
Third shop.... BINGO!
As soon as I walked in the door, I caught a glimpse of a yellowish strat with maple neck. Getting closer... I see it's beat to shit. My heart is beating now. I get to the counter, and see it has a spag logo and gold hardware. I'm expecting a Partsocaster or hotrod MIM, but it's ASH! and BLONDE! My adrenaline is up now. All the clerks were busy so I paced around waiting. Finally I get some guy and tell him I wanna see the yellow guitar. He hands it over the counter to me and says "it's pretty expensive". I flip it over and see... R0306 on the neckplate. I look at the headstock and see the Custom Shop logo impressed into the end. This is a MARY KAYE CUSTOM SHOP RELIC! It's marked $799.99. I ask him if it has a case. He checks the tag and says yeah. I ask to see it. He disappears while I'm looking this thing over. He comes back with a tweed Fender RI case, stained but intact. I'm so excited now. I open it to see it's a CENTER POCKET case, like only found on the Custom Shop '56s and such. I open the compartment, and it's chock full of stuff; I pull out the trem arm, bridge cover (still wrapped), owner's manual, envelope with extra springs, the back plate, miscellaneous strings (old and new), the polish cloth, a bottle of Fender cleaner, a photo of some Jamaican-looking guy drinking a beer, a sheet of hand-drawn blues scales, the orange sheet of setup instructions.... AND THE HOLY GRAIL! I find the original Certificate of Authenticity with the matching serial number, dated Dec. 95 and signed by John Page!!!
I offer $500. No, it just came out on the floor yesterday and we have $500 in it. I offer $650. No, it just came out yesterday. I offer $750. No, it just came out yesterday. Plus some guy who works there says its a good guitar and should be alot higher than the $799.99. I ask him to go ask the manager. He comes back. No, it just came out yesterday and that one guy said its a good guitar... plus all it needs is A GOOD PAINT JOB! So I say, OK... I'll give the $799.99 but can you eat the tax? No. And if you don't buy it we're going to raise the price. That one guy said it's a 1953 and its really a good one. Since it just came out on the floor we can't take nothing off. So I buy it. It all came to $851.99.
I come home and look it up on ebay. Someone just listed one with a BIN of $5500!!! I was thinking $2500 - $3200 or so. Of course, it's just listed for that, I'm anxious to see what it actually brings.
I still can't believe it, my head is swimming.
I'll post a pic shortly....
