Pawn Stars: THOUSANDS of Dollars for 1973 Gibson Guitar (Season 23)

Summary

This video script follows the evaluation of a 1973-1974 Gibson ES-150D hollowbody guitar. The seller hopes to sell the guitar for $6,000, sharing its family history and unique walnut finish. After a thorough inspection, the buyer discovers some issues, including a headstock repair, which affects the guitar’s value. While the guitar is largely original, the buyer offers $2,000, citing the repair. The seller, valuing the sentimental connection, decides to keep the guitar, opting to display it as artwork instead of selling it. The video delves into the history, rarity, and the factors affecting the value of vintage guitars.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Gibson ES-150D is a 1973 to 1974 full hollowbody guitar with a walnut finish.
• 😀 The Gibson ES-150 was the first commercially available electric guitar, priced at $150 in 1936 during the Great Depression.
• 😀 The guitar's walnut finish is rare for Gibson guitars, which typically feature starburst or cherry finishes.
• 😀 The owner inherited the guitar from an uncle, who passed away, and believed it was something special.
• 😀 The ES-150D guitar has remained in nearly perfect shape, with all original electronics.
• 😀 The guitar’s value is being assessed, with the owner hoping to sell it for $6,000.
• 😀 The ES-150 was considered a risky venture for Gibson due to its high price during the Depression, and people also had to buy an amplifier to use it.
• 😀 The guitar has been barely played, and the finish and condition suggest it has been well cared for.
• 😀 The guitar's tuners were replaced, indicating some history of repairs or changes made to the instrument over time.
• 😀 The guitar's headstock appears to have undergone a repair, as identified by a distinctive finish delineation visible under black light, which affects its value.
• 😀 After inspecting the guitar, it was determined that its value would be closer to $3,200 due to the headstock repair, though it would have been $5,000 if it was in perfect condition.
• 😀 The owner decided to hold onto the guitar rather than sell it for the offered price of $2,000, as it had sentimental value from being a family heirloom.

Q & A

What is the Gibson ES-150D, and why is it significant?

The Gibson ES-150D is a full hollowbody guitar from the 1973-1974 period, significant for being part of the evolution of Gibson's electric guitars. It was the first commercially available electric guitar from Gibson, originally released in 1936 during the Great Depression.

Why was the original price of the Gibson ES-150 set at $150?

The ES-150 was priced at $150 in 1936 because it was an innovative electric guitar, and the price reflected both the novelty and the challenge of selling such an expensive item during the Depression, a time when most people earned very little.

How much is the 1973 Gibson guitar currently valued at by the owner?

The owner of the 1973 Gibson guitar is hoping to sell it for $6,000, citing its pristine condition and original components.

What makes the walnut finish on the guitar unusual?

The walnut finish is unusual for a Gibson guitar, as most Gibson guitars typically feature a starburst or cherry finish. The natural wood finish makes this guitar unique and visually distinctive.

Why is there skepticism about the asking price of $6,000?

The asking price of $6,000 is considered high because the guitar's condition, despite being in excellent shape, has a history of a possible headstock repair, which could lower its market value.

What was the purpose of bringing the guitar to an expert, Mike?

The owner brought the guitar to Mike, an expert, to assess its authenticity, condition, and any potential repairs or issues, particularly to verify if all the components are original and determine its true value.

What did Mike find when inspecting the guitar?

Mike found that the guitar's tuners were not original, having been replaced with Gibson deluxe gears from the 1980s or 1990s. However, the original patent number pickups were still intact, confirming the authenticity of the guitar's electronics.

What issue did Mike identify with the headstock finish?

Mike identified an unusual delineation of the finish on the headstock, which suggested that the guitar had likely been cracked and repaired at some point, even though the repair was not immediately visible.

How did the expert's assessment affect the guitar's value?

Based on the expert's assessment, the guitar's value was estimated to be closer to $3,200, due to the headstock repair and the replacement tuners, despite the guitar's overall good condition and original pickups.

What was the owner's reaction to the $2,000 offer for the guitar?

The owner rejected the $2,000 offer, feeling that it was too low, especially given the guitar's sentimental value from a family member. The owner decided to keep the guitar, potentially displaying it as artwork instead of selling it.