Always worth walking in that pawn shop

[slowdriver]

Hello all,

I first heard about Collings from an interview with Eric Church (country artist). I started doing some research and learned that these have a reputation for being incredible instruments. I played a used dreadnought while on a trip to Austin, TX a couple years ago and loved it. I have also hung around their booth at NAMM and played the samples that were available.
Not being able to afford one I just figured maybe someday in the future I'd get one...
Then I walked into a local pawn shop and saw a dreadnought behind the glass. I about fell over when I saw the headstock. I asked to play and sat there with this great sounding but fairly beat up Collings D3 from 1995.
They were asking $3,000. I left without buying but kept thinking about this guitar. Went back a couple more times and finally bought the guitar for $1450 knowing I would always regret it if I didn't take it home.
I have since taken it to Gryphon to have them check it out. They agreed that it likely had the bridge re-glued at some point and seemed to be set up for bluegrass playing.
I contacted Collings to get more info and they sent me the specs for the guitar that was ordered originally by a shop in GA. I called the GA shop and they said it was sold in 1996 with the note "wow" on the invoice.
The guitar made it to Northern CA at some point and the pawn shop worker told me the man who sold it had gotten too old to play but was the original owner, who knows if that is true but I like to think it is.
Just wanted to share this story with some folks who hopefully appreciate it. I talk to my friends and family about the Collings I found in a pawn shop but they don't "get it".

I'll upload some pics if I can figure out how to do so.

[slowdriver]

Pics

[armdog]

Welcome to the forum slowdriver, terrific story, best wishes.... bert

[Rev Roy]

Sweet find! Congrats.

[Hokiebob]

You done good. You never know when a true bargain will come along and you for sure found one. Hang onto that beauty. Those love marks just add character to a wonderful guitar.

[slowdriver]

Thank you all. Looking forward to many years of playing.

[Georgelange]

Lucky guy. That guitar looks amazing and I’m sure it sounds great. Keep that one

[MSEV]

Welcome and what a great story.

[Kevin]

Nice find. Just enough marks and wear that you don't need to worry about putting the 'first dink' on it but it still looks perfectly presentable. It's actually quite nice in a way to see a Collings in something other than showroom-condition - not that there's anything wrong with looking after guitars and keeping them in good nick.

[Randy Carone]

Congrats on a great purchase. I bought a used D3 from 1998 to complement my 2000 OM3HG. You are gonna bond with that guitar, especially in light of the story. What an opportunity!