What Was THIS Doing in a Pawn Shop (for dirt cheap) ?

🟢My Website: www.troglysguitarshow.com
🔴Reverb: reverb.com/shop/troglys?_aid=...
🐕 Private Help Sessions: troglysguitarshow.com/help-ap...
⚫Amazon: www.amazon.com/Zither-Wooden-...
🍭Shop Sweetwater + Support the Show ➡️ imp.i114863.net/trogly
People talk about "deals of a lifetime" and this was certainly one of those! An easy 20-30k USD guitar sold for just under $4k in an unsuspecting pawn shop! This is the story of Alex Lifeson #1 R40 Axcess Les Paul Standard 5A Quilt Top
🐕 Episode Guide:
0:00 Intro - Check Links in the Description
0:14 The Fateful Listing
0:56 It's No Ordinary Les Paul Axcess
2:33 Why Such a Generous Offer?
4:49 The Day of Arrival
7:15 School of Rock SG Standard & SG Bass
11:15 What to Watch Next!
🎞️ Videos Mentioned:
6:26 2023 Epiphone Alex Lifeson Rush Les Paul Custom Axcess Ruby
• Is The New Lifeson Wor...
7:15 2021 Gibson School Of Rock Original Collection Les Paul Special Black w/ Gold
• The Prototype! | 2021 ...
❓Private Help Sessions ➡️ troglysguitarshow.com/help-ap...
💰New to Reverb? Get $10 on Me ➡️ reverb.grsm.io/earn10
🍭Shop Sweetwater + Support the Show ➡️ sweetwater.sjv.io/x90ZDO
👕 Merch: www.teepublic.com/stores/trog...
🥇 Patreon ➡️ / trogly
📘 Facebook ➡️ / troglys
📸 Instagram ➡️ / troglys
🟢My Website: www.troglysguitarshow.com
🔥 TikTok: / troglys
🛒 Current Inventory ➡️ reverb.grsm.io/CurrentInventory (also on website)
✉️ Email for Business Inquiries ➡️ [e-mail]
❓Guitar Questions ➡️ troglysguitarshow.com/help-ap...
⚙️ Gear Used to Make the Show: (AFFILIATE LINKS)
Guitar + Recording:
George L's Guitar Lead: ebay - goo.gl/6SjCeG
Shure SM57 (Amp Cab Mic): ebay - goo.gl/JK9bAC
Audio Interface - Roland Duo Capture EX - amazon - amzn.to/2tkIBed
+ Universal Audio Apollo Twin: amazon - amzn.to/2uYeeKN
Headphones: Focal Listen Professional: amazon - amzn.to/2tonXtI
Rode Videomic Go (backup audio): amazon - amzn.to/2vHNzm5
Lens: Lumix 12-35mm : ebay - goo.gl/NP6dQd
Computer: Mac Pro 2013 - amazon - amzn.to/37L9eb4
Editing Software: Final Cut Pro X - ebay - goo.gl/oiU3L2
American DJ Eco UV Bar Plus Blacklight: ebay - goo.gl/1E4ELt
Camera:
Panasonic Lumix GH-4: amazon - amzn.to/2Se3akM
Camera Gimbal: amazon - amzn.to/38KxYk9
Camera Slider: amazon - amzn.to/3bTIXK1
Rode NTG-2 (vocal + room mic): amazon - amzn.to/2UjxmxA
Affiliate Links are found in this description + comments section - clicking and purchasing items from partners will help financially support the show.

[@jimmyjames2022]

Now someone who watched this video will chime in with "That's my Lifeson No1, I didn't pawn it, it was stolen!"

[@eric_in_florida]

Then they'll have to prove ownership and have a police report of it being stolen.

[@davidfk2112]

Sometimes you just luck out with pawn shops. I was looking for a Lifeson Epiphone (the first run in viceroy brown) for months and one day I found one on ebay being sold by a pawn shop for around $400 less than what they were going for on Reverb at the time. I was worried it was a dud but the thing was in mint condition when it arrived. It still had the plastic on the pickups and everything. As a die hard Rush fan it is my prized possession. Probably the biggest stroke of luck I'll ever have in my life!

[@Masterfighterx]

When you show the photo of Alex holding it and showing the pawnshops photo, the wood is dark and light in the same places and the signature is in the same place, that's 100% real and the same guitar!

[@216trixie]

Rush has been my number one band for almost 50 years. And I was pawnbroker for years, so this one hit home for me great episode!

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

Pawn shops are the bane of a guitar player’s existence. I’ve lost several of my “number ones” to pawn shops. Damn kids 😂

[@joemomma9177]

Pawn shops are awesome for buying good guitars at cheap prices...

[@martin-1965]

Many years ago when I was desperate for rent, I pawned a gorgeous Les Paul for a few hundred bucks but by the time I had the money it was gone... sob. It's a business, I get it, but that one still burns :)

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

@@joemomma9177 Awesome for buyers, sucks for sellers. Every “good deal” on the wall they get for pocket change.

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

@@martin-1965 That guitar for me was a 2004 MIM Sparkle Red HSS Strat. Thing was drop dead GORGEOUS. Bought it my last year in the service then had to sell it following my medical retirement. Took me a year to getting a living wage again.

[@sgt.grinch3299]

🥉

[@JokersWild70]

🤦🏻‍♂️ Someone must've been REALLY hurting for money. They were made for Rush's 40 anniversary. I wouldve been all over that for $3800 since its obviously not a fake. That shop didnt know what they had!

[@MikeE-]

“Down there at the pawn shop….” -sublime

[@wyliepenn7962]

I went to School of Rock for years and it's genuinely crazy how many kids I knew who grew up to be in super popular bands. It's awesome to see more models for music education/educators like Rick Beato or Marty Schwartz

[@Viper-dz2kw]

Yup if you pay attention at those schools they really do set you up, I never got super big but I’m doing better then most people I know getting paid to produce stuff

[@Steve.Cutler]

The pawn shops cant sell a guitar until the pawner defaults on the loan. Someone basically sold it dirt cheap to the shop.

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

Most shops do a 30 day window to get your stuff back. Interest is usually 10-15%. Guy was hurting for sure. I’ve been there.

[@acdclexu6296]

i really want that sg

[@mboyer68]

Hardly anyone does loans, pawn deals. They sell them to the pawn shops 99.9% of the time. Plus, if it was in a pawn deal, the pawn shop wouldn't have advertised it.

[@rocketpigrecords3719]

Buddy of mine is a Guitar Tech to the Stars. He has a few pieces he literally used to pawn for 50 bucks & immediately pay the interest for a year - more than the loan was worth. Why? He was hitting the road, & it kept them safer than a storage unit, which he had learned the hard way. He jokes that "that shop is always hoping I die so they get a clownburst converted Deluxe and an RD Artist for ~100 bucks!"

[@RolandSpecialSauce]

​@@mboyer68thats definitely not true. Tons of people take a loan and many of them don't came back to get it.

[@starrybear9778]

This is AWESOME!!! I love Rush, I wish I would of found this. Congrats to the buyer, well done! I have a guitar I have owned for over 20 years that was built for someone everyone should know and is a RRHOF inductee. Not sure if or when I will part with it but it is a 1 of 1.

[@JeansBootsGuitars]

School of rock doesn't just do lessons, they also hold performance groups for teens, and recently we got to play at summerfest thanks to them! Amazing place, and that SG looks amazing..

[@mightyV444]

Yeah... Taking up a loan on my Hamer 'Steve Stevens I' and being unable to pay it back on time was how I'd lost it, too 😏 That money did help me to get through the roughest times of my whole life five years ago, though. I'm pretty sure whoever bought it _also_ got a crazy-good deal on it.

[@rudiyantohalim736]

The SoR Black LP Special was so gorgeous, even for someone like me who doesn't like black finish on guitar. For the new one, the spark mini is perfect for daily practice

[@drdelewded]

I bought a 1974 Les Paul Special for $400 a 1964 Fender Mustang with OG case for $250 And a 1975 Les Paul Deluxe for $1300.. Love pawn shops. Well Loved them before the internet.

[@mollygrubber]

Ah, the one that got away... I had one of those in the late 80's. Rick Emmet's double-neck 6/12 white Yamaha, for $500. Too much for me at the time, but I regret missing that one.

[@billyblackwell3495]

I got $900 guitar for $300. Out of a pawn shop in Dallas.

[@madazz01]

Hey Trogly, I'm in Australia and there's a few pawn shops and antique stores that advertise like 59' goldtop's and rare amps etc for stupid prices, I don't think they ever even had the guitar, just advertising to get punters through the door.

[@KatmanJazznBlues]

Unfortunately, people get strapped for cash and guitars are a quick turnaround. I knew of several guitar merchants in my town that regularly scoured the pawn shops for deals and steals.

[@Podcastforthewin]

Thats true. Could have been a medial emergency, or hell, stolen even

[@eric_in_florida]

People pawn for all kinds of reasons. That's their business not ours.

[@davidmarks5400]

It's been years since I've seen any really good guitars in pawnshops. If there are any ,then in every town guitar junkies scour the pawnshops non-stop and get them before anyone else. What I usually see are Squiers,Epiphones, cheaper Ibanez, etc.

[@localcrew]

Thank you, John!

[@john564holloway]

Crazy story, Austin. Wish you could've nabbed this one for your collection. Thanks for sharing!

[@eddiejr540]

Could you imagine being a kid and having an SG and a spark mini…thats like getting a Mercedes for your 16th birthday….holy crap!!!!!

[@OliverAmberg]

Great episode! Thanks Austin.

[@chairmankaga101]

Same situation here in Austin! You can find all sort of high end gear for not too many dollars.

[@sgt.grinch3299]

I like the SG. That is a very nice color and the bolt is very sharp.

[@dio1304]

Damn man, I've totally forgot about your channel for a good 2 years! Glad to be back :)

[@schreds]

yup still some good pawnshop deals out there ,, i just found a 1992 les paul standard heritage cherry plain top in pretty much perfect condition for $1000 needles to say i grabbed it right away ,,they also had a 1988 es175 in great shape for $2500

[@smartmammal9926]

A friend of ours daughter goes to the School of Rock program and we have gone to several performances. Have always been blown away.

[@chrisguitars5167]

Speaking of Nashville shops, Steve Earle used to be a customer of mine. I've only heard a few of his stories from this town but if he were to ever write a book on the guitars he essentially gave away, it would make you laugh and cry and that same time. Thanks as always Trog for a well produced and informative piece.

[@stephenstevens6573]

As someone who has been there, done that, know that life throws you curveballs sometimes. When you pawn something, you have to pay interest and storage on the item every 90 days...if you miss by eben one day, your item is gone with the wind. Your only option is to buy it back at whatever retail they decide to charge. If you had to pawn it, chances are you dont have the money to do that, so you have to suck it up and let it go. Hurts, man...real bad...lessons learned...

[@eric_in_florida]

Most pawnshops will sell it back to you for the interest you owe. If not find another pawn shop. Trust me, in most cases they'd rather not keep your stuff.

[@drjsmajor]

Vastly most people would be far better off simply selling it. Pawning is a minimum of 22% interest. That is never a good idea.

[@eric_in_florida]

@@drjsmajor Why? They'll get the same amount. Pawning gives the you option to get it back by paying off the loan. Yes there's interest but if you want money for free you better talk to your family because no one else is gonna do it.

[@drjsmajor]

​@@eric_in_florida pawning does not give you the same value and you have to pay 22% interest to get it back. That is how poor people stay poor.

[@eric_in_florida]

@@drjsmajor The value is totally up to the pawn shop. Take a guitar to 5 different pawn shops and you'll get 5 different prices.

[@marcraygun6290]

I was in a pawn shop once here in uk when a guy came in with a 94 candy apple fender japan jaguar, tney offered him 60 pounds!, he walked out i bought it off him outside for 200

[@BrentAdams]

Dang! That Alex Lifeson #1 was a fantastic find! (Even though i am a Lifeson Fan...I'm not wanting one of those styles of guitars)

[@melvined]

i saw this ad on FB and i only live 10 minutes or so from Antioch. (i think i even know what shop it was). passed as i hate FR trems. the week before i picked up a '98 LP standard cherry burst in good condition for 1250! seller said it was used on several records but didnt ask who played it.

[@peejay6930]

We don't really have pawn shops here in England, but about 15yrs ago I got a lefty MIJ Fender Jaguar from Cash Converters for £125

[@davequantrill1049]

Last week i bought a 24 year old Epiphone SG Les Paul 3 pick up Custom from a charity shop for £25 !

[@mitchellkruszyna109]

Amazing story! So you had to buy in person, not buy over the phone? I think Alex made a promo video with that guitar also. I’m a huge Rush fan since 1976, I would have loved to have it, I can only afford his Epiphone guitars.

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

Usually they google the values of things nowadays though… So even if they rip the owner off, they sell them for closeish to used retail value. I think this shop just didn’t do their googling right, or was worried it was stolen and wanted to move it.

[@drjsmajor]

He claimed that he looked up the value. Then argued that he knew what he was talking about.

[@nbenning25]

Great story! I would have loved to pick up that Lifeson LP!

[@hamiltonburger4574]

You have an amazingly good attitude about missing out on the AL Gibby. Thanks for sharing!

[@GaveMeGrace1]

Wow! Great story and great find for someone.

[@danrunnoft6642]

Gosh Trogly, so generous of you to offer a $1k finders fee on a guitar that's stands to make you $25k.

[@BlockDefender]

I think $1k to drive to a pawn shop and back is a pretty good hourly wage.

[@danrunnoft6642]

@@BlockDefender And you would still be thrilled with your $1k, when you saw the guitar up on Trogly's website for $30k.

[@drjsmajor]

$1k to drive 7 miles (that is how far it was) is quite generous. Trogley tried to get me to buy it for myself.

[@deedeebutler]

This was BS. No pawn shop is closed on Saturday.

[@drjsmajor]

it was closed on Sunday. The listing was started around 5 or 530 pm on Saturday night--around closing time.

[@larryburwell8550]

interesting stories and guitars. thanks for sharing

[@jenniferlawrence2701]

my immediate thought would be that it is stolen

[@blodpudding]

Doy inlay with bindings on Gibson is killer! I almost should the bolt made it worse, and I am an AC/DC fan who love Angus signatures! 😅

[@dwightvoeks9970]

That quilting is stunning!

[@speedunknown]

I’ve got a Billie Joe Armstrong Les Paul Jr. With the double cut away, and in TV yellow. I’m trying to find what it’s worth, any advice?

[@johnpick8336]

Pawn Shops customarily loan half of the wholesale price of the item. About 20% - 25% of what we paid for the item to be pawned.

[@ArnulfVonMetz1]

He is a big collector of very rare an very expensive Guitars 👌

[@clarkbabin9799]

When you first showed the picture of Alex Lifeson I thought it looked a bit like Anthony Michael Hall. But when you showed it again I knew it was Alex Lifeson. I looked into the school of rock some years back. You could bring your own but they did have guitars for sale at a fair price if you were a student. But my I couldn't align my schedule to be able to attend so I dodnt het to go. Just got in my Spark Cab to go with my Spark 40. But i haven't had much time to check it out.

[@Davidckennedymusic]

Thanks John!

[@thebaneofyourexistence.3377]

I had the opportunity to buy an Alex Lifeson prototype prs… didn’t pull the trigger 😞

[@i.p.knightly149]

The finish on that thing is making me dizzy, I'll always associate Lifeson with the ES355 and Geddy with the Rickenbacker.

[@stonodo]

The $5849. was in Canadan dollars I believe. It's LA Music, my local guitar shop near Toronto Canada.

[@andybungert]

Thank you John! ❤

[@Wargasm54]

John, why you didn’t just whip out your credit card and buy it on the spot is beyond me. 😂

[@drjsmajor]

I saw it online on Sat night, after they closed, while I was on my way to a hockey game. Went there (nearly) first thing Monday am.

[@Masterfighterx]

Well, there was that one time when a guy got an ESP Custom Shop Steph Carpenter 7 string at a pawnshop for, I think it was, $300. But still, less than $4000 for a guitar worth about 5-7.5 times that, not bad.

[@davidrees1840]

Well, #1 is signed with a new Sharpie, right? :)

[@voodoochild1975az]

I've owned 9 strats in my life. Mostly MIM, a few MIA... the best of the bunch, my absolute favorite and current #1... was a MIM with a limited finish (Candy Red burst) that I hotrodded. Best playing, best sounding, best looking Strat I've ever had. It was $300 in a pawn shop. My favorite Strat, the one I like even more than my MIA Lonestar Strat... was the cheapest I've bought.

[@10NESS3E]

I'm in TN (obviously LOL) and saw this listing! Congrats to the new owner!

[@tauruschorus]

this is such a wild ride

[@MarkEdward-bl6cr]

The SG is cool love the bolt inlay I would not care about the dots it's unique no need for the amp and strap I'd take it for less $$$ minus that stuff 👍🤘

[@Relayer6a]

IIRC the signed ones were listed as a 7A quilt top while the non signed ones were 5A. While I don't know exactly how Gibson rates their tops, that's the highest numerical rating I've ever seen.

[@kennethcarlin9629]

I bought a 85 Schecter Mercury years ago dirt cheap, $100. Now it's going for around $1000.

[@jcsolomon6470]

Waitin 4 U and The Trogly Trust Fund 2 Get This!Take care,Keep On Showing and Collectin!

[@rowbags3017]

It would be really neat if someone who watches the channel bought the guitar and there's a way for you to document it fully.

[@jeffholliday8304]

Great video I was watching a Rush concert on TV last night. Yeah that’s one hell of a deal. Unbelievable I got the cash right here man it shows that you got to keep searching.

[@robertartese808]

I gotta say, you offered that guy a thousand dollars. WTF kind of job does he have that he couldn't get away. I would have taken the day off to go get that guitar and make a thousand dollars! Im sorry but i have to say it. That guy is not swift. To put it nicely.

[@Charles53412]

Alex's custom is the most all around universal utility guitar ever made !

[@adrianmarquez2489]

Wow what a story! Just goes to show never hurts to check your local pawn shops or Facebook marketplace

[@bassplayer2011ify]

I love the Liveson Les Pauls but if I wish they would do an ES 335.

[@CorkElectric40]

Yes............. Yes...... yes........ Austin, good one........., get the SoR guitar or bass..................................... ...... Thank you John......... .. yes.

[@acdclexu6296]

Were you can get this sg ? The problem is im in Switzerland

[@Trog]

You might be able to use my forwarding service troglysguitarshow.com/international-forwarding-service/

[@stevemahoney1733]

First price, $5849.00 is in Canadian dollars. Second price of $3800.00 is American. If you add in duties and taxes the purchase price would be similar.....YYZ resident here.

[@leddygee1896]

That #1 Alex Lifeson was the S#/T!! I hope a Rush fan got it too... Way cool.😁

[@richudson8727]

I own one bought it when it first came out it’s amazing

[@brendanstewart5074]

There was a lot of orange peel on that one in the pawn shop. Doesn't strike me as a #1 of a custom guitar. I wonder if they damaged the guitar, had it fixed cheaply. And pawned it to an unsuspecting Pawn Shop. Look at the photos. It's really bad.

[@ernieb3626]

Thanks John what a story

[@atmos4197]

I have a friend, who had a friend (I know) who bought a PRS off of eBay (years ago) He received it, looked nice, played nice but he wanted to find out the year so he sent an email to PRS to find out. They messaged him back and asked him where he got it and he said eBay. They responded it was made for Alex Lifeson on Rush's such and such tour. So......I don't know what's up with Alex and his guitars but I wish I could be so lucky!

[@therealalexmullins]

Ugh I need to start searching for ultra rare guitars more. An Alex lesson guitar under 4k is a steal even if it wasn't limited and signed...

[@stumpythedwarf8712]

Thank you John. :-)

[@CarlBWood]

Alex Lifeson also works with Godin guitars. Phenominal guitars - check them out.

[@jimilee459]

Oh man, I was all invested in that story, and disappointed when you didn’t get it.

[@GuitarNerdMichael]

The best deals I have ever gotten on guitars and gear is stuff I have bought from pawn shops. Its hit or miss, you can walk in there a dozen times and they wont have anything worth buying or will not come down in price. Then one day you walk in and its like your in an alternate reality and you score big time!

[@roofkorean6948]

Epiphone needs to update the current Ruby Alex Lifeson model to include Gibson pickups.

[@krispykremekiller]

The Lifeson guitar was likely park of his auction that he held for charity earlier this year. I'm guessing whomever bought it had to pawn it.

[@nickp8659]

My experience: If it has a floyd Rose, YOU have to pay ME for me to get it, I hate those things...

[@heavybrett-al4082]

I'm not an SG guy, but that school of Rock bass is really cool.

[@larrocovarry9027]

Always check your pawn shops !!! Never know what ur gonna find !!!! I've found several great price for some great deals ....

[@Katman_Music]

trogly when’s the kh epiphone v coming?

[@G-Man-kc2nm]

I live next to Antioch……Fantastic looking guitar….If you ever see anything in the Nashville area you want….I’ll go for you…

[@kushking420]

It looks Beautiful! ❤

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

That's one passive-aggressive pawn shop!

[@Microtonal_Cats]

The Piezo is so you can play "The Trees" without switching guitars.

[@ManOrWomanIDK]

You could’ve bought it and held it for the guy and if he didn’t want it then sold it for whatever more!

[@aliensporebomb]

Unbelievable. So lucky! Some Alex fan is very happy!

[@IndigoJo]

I periodically see older Taylor 314s show up in Reverb or FB Marketplace and wonder if it's a bargain or if the seller just doesn't know how much he could actually get for it (older Taylors are sought after, b/c the V bracing isn't universally popular yet X bracing isn't still an option, and because they were more handmade in the past than they have been recently), or if it's fake or stolen. Talking about sums of around £1,000 when you'd expect it to be a couple of hundred more.

[@FKITMANE]

Antioch TN! guarantee that was probably in the Gibson employee. Or maybe somebody associated because that's where the factory is located

[@jbryan8864]

The quilt top was stunning for a Gibson... It even puts the PRS tops to shame.

[@jesse1koda2]

I have the 2011 custom shop version along with both epiphones, II was offered 7 k for mine with no signature, I would have drove down there in a heart beat

[@nater3312]

i am not one who flips things, but if I had got my hands on that I would've been buying a very nice used truck.

[@markdalton6662]

Alex lifeson is my biggest guitar hero