The 12 Rarest and Most Expensive Guitars In Pawn Stars
One of the most renowned pawn shops is the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, which gained fame through the television show Pawn Stars. Run by the Harrison family—grandfather Richard “The Old Man,” father Rick, and son Corey—the shop has been in business since 1989. The show highlights their daily interactions with customers looking to buy, sell, or pawn a wide array of items, from the ordinary to the extraordinary, while also showcasing the occasional family disputes that help keep viewers entertained.
Despite early struggles on the Las Vegas Strip, the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop’s journey is a classic tale of hard work and determination. Rick Harrison credits his inspiration for the shop to his late father, Richard Benjamin Harrison, and his father’s small coin business. Rick’s vision included a pawn shop filled with unique items like samurai swords, American Civil War weaponry, rare artwork, and celebrity-signed memorabilia.
While not every item that comes through their doors is a treasure, many unique pieces have fetched surprisingly high prices over the years. Here are just some of the unique guitars on the list:
1952 Fender Telecaster
The first solid-body electric guitar was pivotal in music history. This model was valued at $13,000 but later estimated to be worth between $25,000 and $30,000.
1939 Gene Autry Roundup Guitar
A collectible guitar is associated with the famous cowboy singer, although its condition and historical significance were questioned, resulting in a lower valuation of around $150.
1979 Karl Sandoval Flying V
A custom-built guitar with unique diamond-shaped paint, notable for its thicker body designed to handle heavy metal playing, valued at around $3,700.
Beatles Signed Guitar
A guitar allegedly signed by all four Beatles in 1964, though experts doubted its authenticity due to the type of ink used, making its real value questionable.
Phil Collen Def Leppard Guitar
A colorful guitar painted and played by Def Leppard’s Phil Collen, valued at $10,000, is noted for its high-tech features and signature artistry.
Gibson Custom Shop SJ 200 (Serial Number 1)
The inaugural guitar in Gibson’s Master Museum series is known for its intricate pearl and abalone inlays and a Sitka spruce top. Valued between $50,000 and $60,000, it’s celebrated for its unique craftsmanship.
1961 Fender Stratocaster (Owned by Vic Flick)
This Stratocaster, used by session guitarist Vic Flick on iconic recordings like the James Bond theme, is valued at $60,000 to $70,000 due to its historical significance and pedigree.
Les Paul SG (Owned by Mary Ford)
Once owned by Mary Ford, the wife of Les Paul, this Les Paul SG is valued between $100,000 and $150,000, reflecting its connection to innovations in electric guitar and its documented history.
Find out about the rest of the rare and expensive guitars in Pawnstars by watching the video below:
