On a recent episode of Pawn Stars, Rick Harrison, the savvy pawn shop owner, had an unforgettable moment when a vintage guitar once owned by legendary musician Vic Flick made its way into his shop. Known for his appreciation of rock memorabilia, Harrison’s excitement soared upon seeing the 1961 Fender Stratocaster, which Flick, a renowned guitarist, had used on numerous iconic records. Without hesitation, Harrison offered a substantial $55,000 for the piece of music history.
As Flick opened the guitar case, Harrison was immediately struck by the instrument’s significance. “That’s a big WOW factor right there,” he said, recalling his childhood memories of Jimi Hendrix playing a similar guitar upside down. With a keen eye for detail, Harrison was impressed by the guitar’s pristine condition and wanted to learn more about its backstory.
Flick, who had worked with legendary artists such as Nancy Sinatra, Petula Clark, and Tom Jones, revealed that this guitar had been by his side for many years, contributing to some of the most memorable records of the ’60s. He even recounted his time working with the Beatles and his role in the film A Hard Day’s Night, where the guitar can be heard playing Ringo Starr’s theme.
To further solidify the guitar’s value, Flick produced a 36-page list of records he had worked on, including his iconic contribution to the Goldfinger James Bond theme. Harrison, visibly intrigued, was eager to learn the price for the guitar. When Flick requested $70,000, Harrison called in his expert, Jesse Amoroso of Cowtown Guitars, to verify the details.
Upon meeting Flick, Amoroso shared his admiration for the guitarist, recalling how Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin had once sought Flick’s advice in the studio. Amoroso confirmed the guitar’s pristine condition and estimated its value at around $35,000, but noted that with its provenance, it could fetch $60,000 to $70,000 at auction.
Despite the guitar’s storied past, Harrison wasn’t willing to meet Flick’s $70,000 asking price. Instead, he made an opening offer of $50,000, which Flick countered with $60,000. After some negotiation, they settled on a deal, with Harrison agreeing to pay $55,000 for the guitar.
In the end, Flick expressed satisfaction with the deal, remarking that $55,000 was exactly what he had hoped for. “I thought he was gonna go down to the 30s or something like that. I knew he’d probably go for 55, and I’m happy now I’ve got the money in my back pocket,” he said, leaving with a smile and a fair deal.
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