Unbelievable Guitar buying story !!!!!!

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Arash

Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

Unbelievable Guitar buying story !!!!!!

i still can't believe that this happened to me.

So, there is this local newspaper with classified ads section in my Region.
And there is also a section for musical instruments.
I was looking over it and came across a little private advertisement with these words:

"spanish guitar, 300 Euros"

That was all. No more info. Just these words and a Phone Number from which i saw that
the city must be somewhere near me.

Somehow intuitively i called the number.

A woman (from the voice i guessed that she must have been quite old) picked up the phone.

I said "Hello, i am calling for the spanish guitar", could you please tell me what
guitar this is?

she said: "Hello, what do you mean? ...it is spanish"

I said: "could you please look at the Lable and tell me the name?"

she said: "what do you mean with Lable?"

I said: "please look into that hole in the middle of the Guitar and read the name which is written on that little white
paper, if there is such a little white paper"

she said: "ok, wait a minute.................ok, i am back.....yes, there is a paper.........
Herrmaanoss Coonndee...Sobri.........do you mean this?".

Then there was a few seconds of silence! (YOU GUESS WHY!!)

After the Shock, i said "yes yes, thats what i mean." .... do you have time NOW Madame? I can be there
in about 1 hour."

she said: "hm, yes, ok"

i said: "I will be there in one hour"

So i jumped into my car, drove to the bank, draw 400 Euros (100 more to be on the safe side) and drove to her like
a Formula One racing driver.

To make the long story short , it is a 1985 Conde Hermanos Felipe 2. It has many dings and dongs but seams to be
completely OK. And it sounds fantastic. I have to change the strings though. Seams like they are several years old.
Also i have to clean the guitar. It is totally covered in dust.

It was a guitar from her husband who passed away some years ago and the guitar was wasting away somewhere in the basement.

Am i a Monster? I dont know. Maybe, but what would you do if you were me?

She asked for 300 bucks and i paid that.

I will make some photos as soon as the batteries of my Camera are charged up today afternoon.

I am so excited.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 2:57:41

Escribano

Posts: 6417
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

Good call

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 3:06:13

domzo

Posts: 64
Joined: Jan. 10 2007

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

Wow... it must be good karma. What newspaper do you read?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 3:31:09

pacodegarcia

Posts: 90
Joined: Apr. 22 2007
From: Australia

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

Is it April 1st today ?!

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I think the definition of insanity is hoping to get a different result by doing the same thing over and over again.
- Albert Einstein.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 3:42:22

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

HaHa!

That's brilliant Arash!!

About the 300, I would guess that's about what he paid for it in 1985, so maybe she was making an evaluation on that.

Unless you sensed that she was in any kind of poverty or hard-up circumstances then I wouldn't feel guilty or anything.

She's probably clearing out some old junk that's bugging her and is glad to be rid of it!

She's probably telling her friends that "this nice young man came to the door and bought that ugly old guitar for 300 Euros...I felt guilty about taking the money from him, I would have taken less, but he seemed like he could afford it!"

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 4:02:03

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

Could you ask her if she also has a "Reyyeees"???

You are not a monster, unless she would have really needed the more money (which i dont assume now).
Is this your 1st blanca? I remember you had a negra, but wanted a blanca always.

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Фламенко

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 5:06:52

aleksi

Posts: 528
Joined: Nov. 10 2008
From: Helsinki, Finland

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

Wow Arash, I got also exited as I was reading the story. Concratulations!!

Im still waiting for the pictures

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 5:10:00

gj Michelob

Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

Unless you sensed that she was in any kind of poverty or hard-up circumstances then I wouldn't feel guilty or anything

Ron is unfailingly wise, I am not surprised.
Superficially this is the classic fairytale of a Picasso laying derelict in a garage-sale odds and ends, dismissed as a third-grader’s unsightly drawing. The uniformed seller loses, punished by her own ignorance and carelessness, outsmarted by the educated hasty hand and mind. However, without indulging in (for many absolutely boring) legal analysis of how the theory of “mistake” maybe invoked to rescind such transaction, I suppose a purely ethical concern must have crossed one’s mind.

What would the gentlemanly approach be in this case?

While I am no authority on this field, nor am I immune to criticism for the occasional objectionable conduct, and- above all- while I am truly happy for Arash’s charming story and windfall, I respectfully submit that this is story should have an additional chapter in order to close with the “happy ending” a fairytale requires.

Yet instead of imposing some irritating righteous views, I challenge this crowd to show its noble side.

How would you conclude this story, if you think it needs a supplemental page?

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gj Michelob

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 5:21:06

massa

Posts: 10
Joined: Aug. 19 2008

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to gj Michelob)

Aaaaaa..........khhhhhhh.congratulations.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 5:50:28

henrym3483

Posts: 1584
Joined: Nov. 13 2005
From: Limerick,Ireland

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to massa)

dude all i can say is congrats..thats some pure luck that happened there.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 6:01:44

kovachian

Posts: 506
Joined: Jan. 30 2008
From: Americanistan

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

April Fools eh?

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Don't look at me in that tone of voice.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 6:15:51

Arash

Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

Thank you all for sharing the joy.

Michelob , i fully agree with you that from an ethical point of view, my behaviour
was questionable. In fact, i felt a pang of conscience while i was driving back home
with the Guitar treasure on my back seat. To be honest, the lady seamed to be
in bad financial circumstances and she lived in the part of a town which is known to be
a place for lower class people. I feel a bit ashamed now, really.

But these feelings were totally flown away as soon as i arrived home,
opened the guitar case, had another look at the Lable and saw this:

I wanted to wait for more nice comments LOL but i will not be online for the next 2 days,
so i have to clear up the mystery little bit earlier than usually on this day LOL

PacodeGarcia you are a KILL-JOY!

BTW, AM I A GOOD LIAR OR AM I A GOOD LIAR?
(Blame it on my Ex-girlfriend .... she was a professional liar LOL)

See you ;-)

Deniz, she also had a Reyes for 100 Euros , but it was from the Son and not the Senior, so i didnt buy it. But she still may have it.

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 6:18:00

Arash

Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

However, maybe in a parallel universe i really bought this guitar , who knows?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 6:29:09

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

Ah...but then again Arash, in another Universe, the innocent old lady might have been a psycho and once a victim had taken the "bait" and entered the house, would have been repeatedly stabbed and the body dissolved in a bathfull of acid.
Then a month later the advert would once again appear in the paper!

Wooooooooooo....

Creepy stuff!!

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 8:04:30

mrMagenta

Posts: 942
Joined: Oct. 25 2006
From: Sweden

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

:D You had me there for a while! Man, that story makes all kinds of emotions swell to the surface.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 8:11:59

Posts: 524
Joined: Jun. 15 2006

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

Arash, the minute I read the 1985, I knew you were referring to this guitar.

http://www.trilogyguitars.com/www2/shop/guitar/1985-hermanos-conde

Actually the guitar is at Trilogy in California no where near Germany and is still availble for $8,000. 2 weeks ago I was there and played this guitar. It was indeed a very nice conde Negra but very light. It seemed to me that it was an experimental guitar but the sound was good and very different than the new AF25R.

Nice joke though...

TK

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 9:24:48

Escribano

Posts: 6417
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

Even better call

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 10:29:51

duwen

Posts: 68
Joined: Mar. 25 2009

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

lets hope its no April Fool....?

But if not, it is a gift from the duendes!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 11:03:28

kovachian

Posts: 506
Joined: Jan. 30 2008
From: Americanistan

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

duwen it is definitely an April Fool's joke, beyond any reasonable doubt.

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Don't look at me in that tone of voice.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 11:23:17

gj Michelob

Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

quote:

had another look at the Lable and saw this:

Intolerably..... funny!!!

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gj Michelob

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 11:42:22

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

wait, you got us all excited and jealous for nothing?!
this exact scenario is something that i wish, all the time, would happen to me. seems like im not the only one who has this fantasy.
in real life, i would have given her an extra 50 bucks, or help her clean out her house, or probably both.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 12:16:56

pacodegarcia

Posts: 90
Joined: Apr. 22 2007
From: Australia

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

Arash,
That was too funny and i loved your story and the picture!
When I was a poor student I used to dream of stumbling across a fine guitar. But i still havn't, but I now own 3 fine guitars so I can't complain. I'm still hopeful though!

_____________________________

I think the definition of insanity is hoping to get a different result by doing the same thing over and over again.
- Albert Einstein.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 13:41:00

Arash

Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

Actually, something similar REALLY happened to me in a different field. And this is not an April joke.
I used to collect stamps until some years ago (any stamps collectors here?).
And i used to sell and buy stamps on ebay.
One day i bid on a collection of stamps. There were several albums, only one picture showing the closed albums next to eachother and a very short item description. Just something like: Stamp collection from all over the world.
So i won this auction and later while inspecting the stamps, i descovered a stamp with a market value of about 1500 Euros
at that time. I dont want to go in to details but I bought the whole collection for 170 Euros if i remember right

Must have been a guy who inherited these stamps and had no idea about them or something.

However, with Flamenco Guitars i think you have to have much more luck!!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 2 2009 7:33:24

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to duwen)

quote:

it is a gift from the duendes!

I dunno, but "duendes" has always seemed quite a Scottish Dialect word to me, like "scunner" or "dreich" or "shoogle" or something.

It sounds like some sort of mild malady like the flu or a stomach bug.

So my mind scenario goes something like...

Secretary to Boss...

S: "MacIver's jiss phoned tae say he'll no be in the day."
B: " Hoozzat? Whit's wrang wi' 'im?"
S: " Sez he's doon wi' a bad doze o' the Dwendies."
B: " Jings!....that's fowwer(*) o' them awreddy this week, an' it's only Wednesday!"
S: " Aye, ah know... it must be this terrible weather wirr huvvin the noo."

Fits perfectly!

(Hope you all can decipher it OK...it's just phonetic spelling...

)

(* = 4 )

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 2 2009 12:01:42

peghead48

Posts: 36
Joined: Oct. 16 2008
From: Cheltenham

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Ron.M)

When I used to collect pocket watches etc, I put an ad in the paper offering to purchase them.

Someone phoned for me to have a look through a box of old watches at their house. I offered them £30 for a watch that dated back to about 1770 which they accepted. I suppose at the time it was worth about £250. This person was not old or short of a penny so I did not feel too guilty.

The only other bargain I got was to buy a Master clock off a company I used to work for. I tendered £25, for it ,which was acceted, now worth well into three figures. Did not feel guilty with that one!

Be nice if something happened like that with a guitar... but I doubt it

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 2 2009 13:07:23

Pimientito

Posts: 2481
Joined: Jul. 30 2007
From: Marbella

RE: Unbelievable Guitar buying story... (in reply to Arash)

Arash... You spiked my blood pressure 20 points this week.

Considering that long Conde thread a couple of months ago and all the research in it I couldnt believe your amazing luck.
I was totally fooled up until you posted the label and then I shouted out loud in the office when I saw it (which meant nurses started running in all directions) and I couldn't login for some reason to rant.

I won't forget this one dude

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 4 2009 5:22:43