Happy loaner

>> Pawnbroker lends an ear to sweet music and sour grapes

by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Rob Lacombe

Age: 37

Title: Pawnbroker, proprietor of J.R. Comptant (5350 Sherbrooke W.) in NDG.

Job description: Wheeling and dealing in used musical equipment, lending desperate people money.

Salary: Under $25,000 per annum.

Time spent working: "60 hours a week, easily."

Years on the job: Seven.

Bio: Word has it this former military man is the most considerate, honest and personable pawnbroker the world has ever known. A talented musician in his own right, Rob says that few things give him more satisfaction than introducing a great instrument to a great player. He claims to "love working" and modestly admits he can fix an ornery VCR or broken guitar like nobody's business. Raised in beautiful St-François, Laval, he currently resides in Montreal-West.

Childhood dream occupation: Truck driver

Favourite part of the job: Listening to some of the incredible musicians who come into his shop to wail on his axes.

Worst part of the job: Listening to liars. "It gets on my nerves when people come in to pawn stuff and figure that I will give them more money for their merchandise if they tell me some long sob story that is obviously a pile of bullshit."

Has the emergence of video-poker terminals been a big boost to the pawnbroker business? Absolutely. "It's sad how many people come in here to pawn their stuff for gambling money."

How often constantly dealing with desperate people gets him depressed: Rarely. "You learn to turn off after a while."

Is it still possible for a lucky person to find a $5,000 guitar for $150 in a pawn shop? Absolutely. "I know a ton of guys in Montreal who make their living this way. A lot of pawnbrokers continue to have no idea how much any one guitar is worth. If it's an American-made guitar they generally know to ask more for it, but they often don't know the difference between a vintage Les Paul Junior and a late-model Stratocaster."

How much stolen stuff he sells: None at all. "It's a myth about pawn shops selling stolen stuff. Everything I buy gets registered with the police and I demand a ton of personal ID from the seller. It's much easier for a thief to simply unload their stolen stuff in a tavern or something."

How often people come in trying to pawn their stinky old sex toys: Occasionally.

Is there a big market for used dildos? No.

His tattoo artist: Dave Cummings, at Tattoomania.

Percentage of his body covered in tattoos: Just under 50 per cent.

Percentage of his body that he hopes will one day be covered in tattoos: 100 per cent.

Something he does for fun: Jamming with friends in his basement.

Last book read: Rob is more of a magazine guy. He likes magazines about sport fishing.

A few of his favourite bands: Rancid, New York Dolls, The Zambonis, Social Distortion, Beastie Boys.

Favourite band of all time: The 222's.

Philosophy: "If you give a man your word, that's it. Your word is truly what you are."