Pretty cool.
Not sure how many watch any of the U.S. cable TV pawn shop shows. About a month back on the one that is based in Las Vegas, some guy walks in with MARY FORD's '63 Les Paul Custom...her famous white one with the 3 PUPs. He also had a folder FULL of personal letters and documants from Les Paul. Apparently, he was a family member who the guitar had be left to.
So, they brought in an expert who confirmed everything was real and legit. What was really interesting was that one of the letters from the 1950s was from Les to an attorney of his, complaining that he was unhappy with Gibson and thinking that he should find a different company to build his designs. Pretty amazing.
Just wild what walks through the door of these shops.
Around the same week, on a similar show based down near New Orleans a childhood friend of Jerry Lee Lewis walked in trying to sell an acetate that he claimed was the first recording ever done by Jerry Lee. The guy claimed he was a childhood school friend who fronted $2.50 for Jerry to go in and make the recording because Jerry "wanted to hear what his voice sounded like on record." Again, some expert came in and verified the disc was legit. Another amazing thing to find existed that probably belongs in a museum.
A friend of mine who is a retired horn player has a Strat Hendrix gave him when they were friends and used to play in the Village in NYC back in the 60s. He just has it sitting under his bed as a keepsake for the last 40+ years.
