| Hi,
Sometime around 1993, while on the road on business, I stopped into a pawn shop in Augusta . . . not really expecting to find anything.
They had a mid-late 80's Model 37* lacquered Bach Strad that had a few minor dents, but otherwise pretty decent. The price? $200!
I put on my usual "poker face" as I looked all over the store at OTHER things . . . all the while hoping that no one would come in and snatch it up until I finished my "bluff."
My heart was beating pretty bad, as I asked 'em about other things I really wasn't interested in. Then I got to the Strad and said, "My son needs an old trumpet to play, what would you take for that old dented trumpet?" "Oh, we'll take $150 for it," they said. I replied, "Nawwww, it has some dents in it." I then made my "ofer" . . . and GOT 'EM DOWN TO $125 ON THAT STRAD! . . . then bought it without playing in or anything!
THE BEST PART . . .
That ol' "ugly duckling" Bach turned out to be incredible . . . one of those "1-in-a-100" Strads that would slot accurately well past double C and play effortlessly!!!
I spent only $25 getting the dents out . . . then another $250 getting it prepped and silverplated (at Andersons).
It was the best Bach I've ever encountered . . . and now was beautiful too, so it became my main horn. I later put a gold trim kit on it and a custom Pilczuk pipe that opened it up to Triple C."
I'd still be playin' it today . . . if I hadn't discovered that slightly used Wild Thing trumpet that I now play. Uh . . . it cost a WHOLE LOT more.
Most times you won't find deals in pawn shops . . . but every once in a while you'll get extremely lucky . . . and this fact keeps ya checking 'em out!
Sincerely,
Tom Turner |