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Location: Houston, TX | Rockin Robin here in Houston has about 60 cool old guitars hanging from the ceiling that are not for sale. Included in this eclectic mix are a beautiful Deacon, a white Breadwinner, and an impeccable tan Breader with tortoise. I first saw them about 7 years ago, so they've been hangin out for a while. I've inquired before, and was told that the owner of the store wasn't selling them. Last Tuesday I set out on a course to find out if that was true, and if so WHY. Here's the story - the guy won't put a dollar figure on them; he will only TRADE for them. He said he would trade in a heartbeat if somebody could come up with something he wants. He said he's definitely not married to the guitars. He also has pretty broad parameters, but mostly he likes Randall knives, old Colts, authentic military stuff (especially flags), surfboards, koa guitars,...who the hell knows what else. I went through everything I have that he might want, but no deal.
My point to him was that they need to be played -they were made to be played. I even asked him to get them down just so I could clean the dust off and put strings on the white BW (it had four on it, looked kinda snaggletoothed. Anyway, if I can't have them, I at least want someone to have them who will play them. They're useless hanging from the rafters.
Let me know if I can help anyone, or just contact Bart at RR. |
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Location: NJ | Scott;
Seems to me the thing to do here is to find out what ol' Bart "needs".
Let's say you're willing to pay $250 bucks for a Breadwinner. Find yourself a $250 hooker and send her into the store to perhaps partake in a "trade" with Bart.
Everybody goes home happy!!
[ September 23, 2002: Message edited by: cliff d. ] |
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Location: SoCal | Cliff:
You're too damn devious. Sure your not a p.i.? |
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Location: NJ | I'm just the "idea man". |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Sounds like Marketing Rhetoric to me. |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | Scott
You need to get this guy on this board where he can be "influenced" by the fine upstanding type of Ovation lovers here. Nobody here would even think of a devious scheme to acquire a guitar that they covet like the neighbor's wife in the Ten Commandments. If you have to, take a notebook computer into his place and let him browse the board for a while. I suspect he will dump those guitars just to prevent anyone from thinking he had anything to do with this upstanding group. Combine this with Clff's ideas and he might even put new strings on them. Just a warning, if he is into Colts you might not get the notebook out of there in one piece.
Bailey (I'll take any 12 string he has) |
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Location: Atlanta,Ga. | Guys, Bart is not easy to deal with and he looks for old rare drum kits to trade for..He also has a "beat to hell" Josh White model that he thinks is worth a ton of money....I have spoken to him in the past and he does not care to sell anything hanging from the ceiling......You may as well beat your head up against the wall before you deal with him...... |
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Location: Houston, TX | He's in the friggin business of buying and selling guitars. I mean come on. How ridiculous to hold them hostage. He's got no interest in them, and yet won't let anyone else have em.
He is one weird dude.
[ September 24, 2002: Message edited by: intermetroman ] |
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Location: NJ | As a vendor player and collector I can see where he is coming from. I have some guitars that If I were offered the right cash or trade I would let go, others that will never leave me and yet some that are way negotiable.
I don't think it is holding them hostage. Some people like guitars as art. others use them to make music both have valid points to keep each guitar.
I think that some of this is whim. I know if in the right mood or if the situation lends itself I will sell almost anything. Other days you don't want to come within 100 miles of me. It's all perspective. |
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Location: Houston, TX | I know, I know...but I wanted to piss and moan a little cuz he won't let me play with them. |
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Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Scott, I'm from Baton Rouge, LA and was in Houston this past weekend visiting friends and taking care of some personal business. Before leaving for home on Sunday, I stopped by Rockin' Robin (saw its listing in the Yellow Pages, so decided to stop by) and O.M.G., I was NOT prepared for the sight to be seen therein -- there are all these vintage guitars suspended high from the ceiling (like I'm in some guitar cathedral or Smithsonian somewhere). In one of the back rooms (to the left, rear of store) there is a shiny-bowl Ovation Classic so I asked a salesman about it. He replied that it wasn't for sale, just for viewing. Obviously, because there was a great deal of dust all over the top of the guitar. Nonetheless, it was a sight worth seeing. There's an early-model (non-cutaway) Elite for sale there, it sounded bright and great. Other vintage Ovations are available for purchase, and the salesman said prices are negotiable.
Scott, there's another vintage guitar store in the Houston area, Fuller Vintage Guitars, on North Loop. What's the scoop on this place?
At any rate, I plan to be back in Houston second weekend of November for the Anne Murray concert and hope to visit Rockin' Robin again and Fuller Vintage Guitars.
Hell, I could move to Houston! |
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Location: Central Texas | Gee Scott, I wish this topic would've gone up last week. I was in Houston this past weekend for the State Championships of that "other" hobby and I would've tried to swing by there and check it out. I would've tried to hook up witcha too, but I was running on a pretty tight schedule (you know, drive in, get my ass kicked then drive home).
What part of the City of Humidity is it in? I'll try to get by there and hopefully meet you next time I'm in town. |
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Location: NJ | When I was a kid there was a guitar shop in a local town that had all kinds of cool stuff. Everytime I asked about something it was not for sale. I tried everything I could to get in good with the owner. I had him fix an old National duolian I have. He told me it would be $30 at the time a lot of cash for me. He needed to put on some gears and a new nut and something else. Well after a week I called as instructed and got yelled at for calling so fast. I was told to call in 2 weeks. I gave it 3 and asked about my guitar and was yelled at for not picking it up on time and that the cost was now $50. I went to the store we had a shouting match and well my guitar was held hostage so I had to borrow 20 from my sister to get the guitar. I got it back and noticed he did not even do the work I wanted him to do he claimed to have repaired some braces. In reality I was a kid with a really cool old guitar that he wanted and he wanted to rip me off. I told hiim in a store full of customers that I would NEVER be back and I would tell Everyone he was a jerk. I did for probably 15 years and as I got a local reputation for buying selling and trading guitars sometimes I would run into the owner. He would beg me to stop by the store and "hang out" I declined. He was charged with tax evasion and the store inventory was sold to some dealer in MA. The guy he had working for him in later years that he trusted so much was stealing him blind selling vintage parts and instruments out the back door and out of his house.
why I told this story I am not exactly sure but I guess I am always leary of places that tell me "this is not for sale" If someone gives me an outrageous price fine I can appreciate that but no price to me is always suspect.
[ September 26, 2002: Message edited by: alpep ] |
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Location: Houston, TX | Mark - RRobin is on Shepherd, about a 1/4 mile north of Hwy 59. I'm coming back to Austin in 2 weeks, so I'll call you a couple days before. But don't act surprised if I pipe you on the head and run with the Deac 12. By the way, I've played Zilker.
Fling em far, Saucer Man.
Al, I didn't realize Bart once worked in your hometown. |
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Location: NJ | EVERY town has a "Bart"!
For me, it was the old guy who ran "Robbie's Music" on Rte. 46 in Totowa, NJ.
We used to refer to him as "Highway Robbie". |
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Location: Central Texas | Highway Robbie.
Now, dat wuz funny. :) |
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Weird Deacon story
