A Martin guitar languishing in a pawn shop
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (389357)
Rockingham, Australia
August 9, 2026 7:20pm CST
It’s a while since I’ve had to say the photo doesn’t have anything to do with the discussion but I need to say it today. I don’t have a photo of a guitar but here’s another one from the social evening at the clubhouse. The young man in the background is a visiting grandson. One resident in each household must be 55 or older.
While our son was here from Ireland, we called into a pawn shop (would you believe I just spelt ‘pawn’ the other way and had to correct it?). He just wanted to have a look at the various items they had for sale.
One of the things was a Martin guitar. It had a big notice saying ‘don’t touch’ but when the manager turned up, he let our son play it. I think they wanted offers over $A6,000. There were a few other instruments as well including a neat little concertina.
It was the first time I’d been in such a shop. Luckily there was nothing there that I wanted.
16 people like this
18 responses
@JudyEv (389357)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Aug
It's a fun game but when it crashes the noise is pretty loud.
I was with a foolish friend who had pawned something.
@JudyEv (389357)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Aug
I found it a bit sad really. People having to bring in their possessions just to get some money.
@DaddyEvil (178595)
• United States
10 Aug
Pretty and I used to go into pawn shops to look at what was inside. I couldn't believe some of the things people pawned. We never bought anything but did enjoy just looking.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (178595)
• United States
10 Aug
@JudyEv Things the pawn shops in the US buy outright are placed directly on the sales floor and can be purchased immediately. Things that have been pawned by the owner are normally kept securely in a separate room and aren't normally viewable by the general public until the owner defaults on the loan paid for the item before they can be placed on the sales floor.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (389357)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Aug
@DaddyEvil That sounds about the same as Vince was trying to explain to me. 
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (22762)
• United States
11 Aug
My mother pawns her earrings when she needs money. Those are some pricy guitars.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (170736)
• United States
10 Aug
I do not think I have ever been in a pawn shop.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (389357)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Aug
This was probably my second and I can't remember the first! I find them quite sad places. People have brought in possessions to try to get money. Sometimes they'd be things they treasured. The guitar was probably pretty special to someone.
@snowy22315 (213687)
• United States
10 Aug
The Horse is not going to want to hear that!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (389357)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Aug
No, he didn't want the guitar really and he was going back to Ireland the following week.
@wolfgirl569 (141292)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Aug
The horse needs to go to that pawn shop.
Looks like everyone was having fun
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (101479)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Aug
First time I hear about a Martin guitar, Sure is expensive,
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (125850)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
10 Aug
The first time I have ever heard of a Martin guitar.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (389357)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Aug
If a person is really short of money, they can take something to the pawn shop and 'pawn' it for money. Later, if they get some money, they can return and buy the item back if it hasn't been sold to someone else. I think sometimes the item will be held for you for a period of time.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (15497)
• Ireland
10 Aug
@JudyEv Gosh, 55? On the housing estate where I worked before retiring anyone who reached 50 was classified as old and was entitled to a free Seniors bus trip to the seaside each summer. People there aged very quickly. Maybe is someone had introduced them to Jenga things would have been different.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (389357)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Aug
It's a retirement village rather than a housing estate. I know it's only a difference in wording but everyone here is in much the same boat - oldish and getting older. And of course we keep getting people passing away which is a bit sobering.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (47220)
• Denver, Colorado
10 Aug
You've never been to a pawn shop before? Pawn shops are awesome. I got my XBox at one.
1 person likes this
