'Pawn Stars': Rare Les Paul Gibson 'SG' Guitar (VIDEO)

The "Pawn Stars" (Mon., 10 p.m. EST on History) were the envy of guitar enthusiasts everywhere when singer Mary Ford's nephew showed up with a guitar case in tow.

Inside the case was a piece of guitar history: A cream, 1961 Gibson "SG," once owned by guitar legend, and Ford's ex-husband, Les Paul. Ford's nephew also had a stack of papers documenting Paul's tempestuous relationship with guitar manufacturer Gibson.

How could Rick and Corey Harrison put a price on such an artifact? Well, they were helped by the fact that the owner had a price in mind -- "You're getting history here" -- and he wouldn't budge until their offer matched it.

The price? A cool $90,000.

Catch up with the "Pawn Stars" every Monday, 10 p.m. EST on History.

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Comments

[elderlybros]

09:12 PM on 02/02/2012

Probably worth twice that!!

[Alexandra323]

08:18 PM on 01/24/2012

I like the show hate Corey hate his attitude. I have literally stopped watching because of him. He talks down to people like if he owned the place kid you work for your daddy relax. Love Chumley he's the star lol.

[Fagen44]

08:02 PM on 01/24/2012

I just don't understand why this man settles for 90K when he could have gone to Auction with at least a 125K Reserve and made much more money! This does not make any sense to me! Maybe I'm missing something here!

[henery]

09:58 PM on 01/24/2012

You have to pay the auction house.

[VoteObama2012]

07:49 PM on 01/25/2012

He may have wanted a quick sale.

[smeeg]

07:57 PM on 01/24/2012

I'm from Vegas and those guys are too cool! I think that's the first time he actually took the sellers full asking price! But then again, that guitar is the shiznit :D

[backwaterbandit]

07:48 PM on 01/24/2012

overlooking the obvious, the guy pocketed $90K. when does the I.R.S. get involved in private individuals selling for profit, gifts, to business? and more to the point, what is the tax rate he will suffer? i'm guessing he will pay out ~50%.

[peeowedaboutit2]

08:03 PM on 01/24/2012

I think that might depend on how he came to own it. If it was gifted to him or inherited, Its value would be adjusted to fair market value when he received it, so he would owe taxes on any gain from there, I believe.
Lots of "ifs".

[backwaterbandit]

08:21 PM on 01/24/2012

thanks. my wife googled the question and came up with the same response as your input. thanks again.

[billywms]

07:16 PM on 01/24/2012

I love Pawn Stars!

[ejljr]

07:35 PM on 01/24/2012

I agree! It's better than Hardcore Pawn!

[gonewiththebid2]

09:13 PM on 01/24/2012

I also love fantasy shows! Unfortunately, the real world isn't like this ;-)

[SunCity85373]

07:11 PM on 01/24/2012

People come to them for several reasons,,,
1. they need money, NOW,
2. Any offer is better than the thing sitting in their attic--very common
3. They are lazy, and haven't researched what it is worth...that's their problem, not the shops problem
4. They are told what it is worth, they get a low offer,,, if they think they can get ore somewhere else... go somewhere else.
What it amounts to is the people that go to this shop are,,, well, lazy. Who would take a motorcycle to a pawn shop, and accept half of what it is worth? Selling an airplane to a pawn shop, come on.

Don't blame the shop,,, they make an offer, they are taking a chance on buying it/reselling it,,,, if it was worth more, and so easy to sell, then sell it yourself.
No one is forcing people to sell to them. Hlaf the stuff they get , someone found in a garage sale or grammas attic. Its found money.

[croshatch]

07:57 PM on 01/24/2012

Yeah, but 90 grand might be a little high for this guitar.

[Javadude54]

01:27 AM on 01/25/2012

I'm sure it would be worth more if it had the original pickups on it. Those look like Gibson Dirty Fingers which weren't made until the 80's, if I recall correctly.

[RevenBVH]

07:01 PM on 01/24/2012

Okay can you make it anymore obvious. Last month everyday there was a Kardashian Story interesting or not. Definately not news.

Let me guess there contract expired and TLC bought this page cause everyday there is a story about Pawn Stars or Hoarders. Last year PR purchased space for Gosselin and Palin stories. It didn't work both shows were cancelled. According to Niellson ratings the Kardashians may not survive another season.

Now you really should let Star or the Enquirer handle this. The money is not worth integrity.

[ejljr]

07:51 PM on 01/24/2012

Say what?

[VoteObama2012]

07:52 PM on 01/25/2012

Probably posted in the wrong thread.

[englishman545]

06:47 PM on 01/24/2012

Great Show!!! One of my favorites!! They're all real stand up guys!!!

Las vegas is a very exciting, diverse city.............

All pawn shops offer as little as possible for an item.

[bowace1]

07:51 PM on 01/24/2012

Stand up guys my butt, they are thieves and what they are doing should be illegal.

[englishman545]

11:51 AM on 01/25/2012

Go to a pawn shop and pawn something, these guys are right on.

[ddocdetroit16]

06:17 PM on 01/24/2012

WOW! I'm heading to Vegas with my S.G. '57 PAF's and a Bigsby should be worth zillions.

[trollinabucket]

06:10 PM on 01/24/2012

Okay last time I aid I thought thesae guys wer a bunch of greedy jerks--acting like wanna be ough guys...sooooooooooooooooooooo I watched it again last night...gyuess what...I think they're still greasy sorry excuses for human life preying on the poor downtodden and offering them a pitance for items that are worth a great deal..they are taking advantage of human sorrow and desperation and I hope Jesus comes in and upturns their little den of greed and sorrow and turns them all into the fat little greasy gloating oinkers they really are.

[kcaron1504]

07:04 PM on 01/24/2012

Then I guess that you would open a business with the intention of loseing money ?

[trollinabucket]

08:18 PM on 01/24/2012

Ive been in business...I worked hard and did not overcharge my customer..I gave them quality work for monetary compensation..often just barely making a profit...Busines is successful on how you treat your customers...I had repeat customers for over twenty years....they liked my prices and I did what they needed done plus..these guys are just out to see how much money they can squeeze some down to..and then sell at an exhoribtant price..all the while when negotiating with the customer thnking to ethem self.."this guy will take anything I offer him..I'll start lowball"...then I'll sell it and make a small fortune..heee heee heee giggle"

[ssnugsbug]

08:21 PM on 01/24/2012

Jesus will do nothing as Rick and Corey have done nothing wrong. I have watched the shows and I feel they are fair with their offers based on what they can learn about an item and the market. It is not up to the pawn shop employees to make sure that customers who bring in items get more money than they should no matter their circumstances. No one is in business to lose money. You also have no idea if any of them make their own donations helping the less fortunate. You are making an awful lot of nasty assumptions about something you do not have information on. I am wondering what your expertise is that you are able to "know" what is fair pricing and what is not. Unless you own a pawn shop you are speaking out of your zone.

[gonewiththebid2]

06:04 PM on 01/24/2012

This show is so full of BS. No pawn shop pays what these guys pay! I never been to one where the owner takes the time to educate you on the value of the item. That will never happen in real life. If they know it is worth 10K and they ask you how much and you say $100 they will talk you down to $50. Then they take the item and sell it for 10k. It is your responsibility to know what it is worth.

[Alexandra323]

08:14 PM on 01/24/2012

Lmao a 100 n they talk to you down to 50!!! and resell for what its actually worth. So true!!!!

[BMGSRBEAR]

06:04 PM on 01/24/2012

90 k is nothing compared to all the "ROYALTIES" they are making from their show!they dont even need to work in a pawn shop anymore!use your brains,nuckle head journalists,or as archie bunker always said,"MEATHEADS"!!!!!

[gatsby191]

05:53 PM on 01/24/2012

Okay, no beating me up on this one. I believe it is a great piece signed by a great musician. Here it is: I have a brand new acoustic guitar(forgot brand of guitar and it's stored away)that is signed by John Mellencamp and his entire band. The historical value, which I think is an added bonus, is the fact that it was signed the same year that he was inducted into the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame. Anyone have a decent idea of what it may be worth? Thanks! JB

[shootr687]

06:46 PM on 01/24/2012

If it's not a guitar the was owned and played by him wouldn't it just be another autograph? Just saying....

[gatsby191]

07:34 PM on 01/24/2012

Sorry, should have been more specific. Every year, in John Mellencamp's home town, Seymour, Indiana, he signs a guitar for the garden/art gallery raffle that was built in his town. The art gallery also features paintings done by Mellencamp.(he is also an accomplished painter) I won the guitar a few years ago, and I've always wondered what it may be worth, and even more so since it was signed just months(weeks?) before he was inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame. Some fans claim that due to the fact, that his entire band never signs anything with him--but did this time, and that this guitar was signed during the year of his R&R Hall of fame induction, that this guitar may be worth a considerable amount. But, I am a novice in this department. So I was looking to see if anybody out there might have an idea of what a piece like this might be worth. Thanks again! JB

[electros]

07:33 PM on 01/24/2012

Oh yeah, I bet thats worth at least $145.00 !! Huge money in Kentuckey!

[gatsby191]

07:38 PM on 01/24/2012

Thanks Di#k Head, really. JB

[mds308]

05:48 PM on 01/24/2012

Some more observations:

Pawn Stars = Antiques Roadshow meets pawn shop

Hard Core Pawn = Jerry Springer meets pawn shop

American Pickers = 2 guys right place right time

Ricks Restoration = antiques & collectibles meet Maaco