Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Today I saw an ad for Antique Roadshow on PBS that shows someone playing a Lightshow guitar. It only appears for a few seconds, but I've seen the ad several times. Also, if you watch this show very often, you're likely to spot a Forumite who is one of the appraisers.

Missed that ad, but Mike Gutierrez is seen on air once in a great while. When he was in Milwaukee with the show, he was kind enough to supply us with a couple of tickets to see the gathering for the taping. My wife and her friend went and enjoyed it. I keep looking for Mike on the show, but I've seen him only once.

I've seen Mike on the show more than once. Although he's an expert on musical gear and rock 'n' roll collectables, he mainly handles appraisals on sports collectables.

Diane is always watching for Mike on the show also. She loves that show.

Apparently, I missed tonight's ARS and it featured the Lightshow. I'll check to see if it is repeated; they usually repeat the episodes later in the week on our PBS stations.

I was flipping channels and caught it while it was playing so missed it's family history. It is an early 70s lightshow that some relative bought for around $250. It was appraised (for insurance) at 20K. The owner had no idea of it's worth.

I've been on the show for 5 seasons but never saw a lightshow spotting, so it must have been before me.

This was a new episode out of Louisville I believe. Guitar looked to be in pristine condition.

not up on PBS.org yet but should be soon.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/index.html

I've always wondered how genuine the owners responses are when they are told of the value of thier items.
I didn't see the episode in question, but I always wonder why someone would bother to bring an old guitar in if they didn't already know it was worth a lot.

Are people really there to get genuine valuations or are they actually there to show off thier cool stuff, knowing full well what it's worth?!

Maybe Mike can answer this one.

But you're seeing only the interesting and valuable ones. For every one that makes the airing, there's probably a couple of dozen worthless items that show up for the taping sessions.

bails wrote:I've always wondered how genuine the owners responses are when they are told of the value of thier items.
I didn't see the episode in question, but I always wonder why someone would bother to bring an old guitar in if they didn't already know it was worth a lot.

Are people really there to get genuine valuations or are they actually there to show off thier cool stuff, knowing full well what it's worth?!

Maybe Mike can answer this one.

The owners responses are genuine. Nothing is rehearsed. When we view an item we think has a shot at a filmed segment, we report it to one of the producers, who decides if the collectible is something that would be good for the show. Therefore, the appraisal you see on TV is what they hear from us for the 1st time. From when we first see the piece to filming is about 1/2 hour so there is little time between make-up (sorry, guys, it's a must) and any preparation. Good question about showing off! --- I think there are a few people that know they have something good and are hoping to get picked for a filmed segment. The majority, though, are really salt-of-the-earth people that have little idea. My personal guesss is that there are about 15% of the public that know how to browse the internet for information; know the auction companies; follow prices realized from dealers & auction houses ie. in other words --- informed. The rest really a combination of: don't care; don't have computers. It's a strange reality in this computer/information generated world now.

Paul - about 6,000 enter the arena where we will get enough segments for 3 shows out of that city. I guess we air about 17-20 per show, so the chances are super slim -- 1%? When I was a dramatic development executive for ABC TV in the early 80s, we took in about 80 scripts in development for new possible shows, about 5-7 made it to pilot shows, maybe 2 made it to the fall schedule and maybe.....maybe one made it. Talk about slim chances!!

They just played it again tonight- glad I caught it!

My reception sucked, so I could hardly see the lights working, but the florescent lights, and camera lights were on, so it probably wasn't too bright.

Talk about an awesome guitar though. Mark 1, absolutely PERFECT shape. Methinks it's the one for sale (at $20,000) here:

http://www.jayrosen.com/catalog/index.p ... 821dea0d9d

They said the owners picked it up at a garage sale for $250. Damn, I think I'd wet myself finding a 331LS at a yard sale! It's always the clueless people who find that kind of stuff, and then flip it! bah!

Cheers,
-Collin