Serial Number

[GriffithLea]

Let me frame a question to you luthiers: my Solano bass does not have a serial number inside, only a paper tag denoting that it was made by Rumano, in MD, in 2007 . The tag originally said 2006 - I guess he finished later than he thought he would since the 6 was crossed out and a 7 written in.

Anyway, what I'm curious about is, do stringed instruments such as URB's generally not have SN's? I can't recall one way or another, though I can't say I've peeked inside many.

It doesn't bother me, since in my mind any sort of paper label could easily be removed and replaced with anything someone with a devious mind could want. Probably a much better means of identification would be photos of unique patterns in the woodgrain and such. However, my dad, who is something of a worrywart (albeit a well-meaning one) thinks we ought to create some sort of label that makes my Solano unique to me, and affix it next to the label that Rumano put in there.

So, finally, my question - what do you all think about this idea? Will it:

a) do nothing?
b) work as Dad intends?
c) devalue the instrument?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts you all may have regarding this.

[KSB - Ken Smith]

First off, I looked at all your pics and it's a beautiful Bass. I guess that is important. Second, on Bass markings it is first off to know that on Basses at least (not necessarily violins thru cellos) only a small fraction of the instruments out there are correctly marked as far as who made what. With a newer instrument like yours or even a 50 year old German shop Bass, any type or ID inside the Bass is a good thing going 50, 100, 200, 300 years down the road.

On labels, it is common with some makers to have no date at all. I see this more so on shop instruments than with handmade makers but not as a rule. I recently had a J.F.Lott Bass in my possession for a few weeks and that is all that we found marked from the maker written on a strip of linen glued to a Rib inside. I spoke to another person who had owned another Lott and his was marked the same way. Others are labeled J.F. Lott ~ Maker (on 2 separate lines) on a paper label.

Prescott and Dearborn labels (19th century Yankee makers) have no date at all on their rather fancy label. My Martini has a date and place but no #. However the record keepers happen to know that he made 45 Basses, 50 cellos, 10 violas and 'about' (not sure about the 'about') 300 violins. This must be from his accounting records as he died only about 60 years ago.

I have seen many American makers with just the opposite and a # placed on the violin or Bass. The Bollbach Lion head Bass I had was #4. My Loveri is branded on the Back button, name, date and location. My Hart Bass 4 stamps stamped in tiny letters inside the Back 'J.Hart' and nothing else. My Gilkes has a regular label with location and date as well as being branded on the button.

I guess #s of Basses would be nice like we do on our Electric Basses but I don't think it hurts the value at all one way or the other. If he is or becomes a famous maker an early number and/or date might indicate a period of his work within his life but then again, if that matters for value, someone will figure out a way to forge it.

I have heard of Strad labels being altered to put the violin in his 'golden period' in order that it may command a higher price. Recently I was shown pictures of two Guarnieri violins with the FFs filled in and re-cut in spots to make them look more like the hand of Del Gesu rather then another member of the family purely to jack up the price. The work is so fine, you can hardly notice it with a trained eye. It was done so well that you would think the markings around the FFs were just from 300 years of natural use. When looking very very close, one can see that it was an f hole 'fill 'n' cut' job.

I think that with new makers it is more common to see a full label with at least a date if not a # additionally. Value wise, the # thing is not that important unless the resale market is shopping for a particular period or number within a particular makers work.

You might be interested to know that the Bow maker Arthur Bultitude (1908 - 1990) of England who at one time ran the Hill Bow shop additionally stamped his Bows under the frog with a the date and # made that year. I have personally owned and used #2864 (28th bow of 1964) and #4662 (46th bow of 1962). Most Bows just have the makers stamp on the stick with maybe the city or country of make. Dates for bows as well as #s are rare to find. Bultitude is the only bow maker I know of that marks it all.

If Solano knows the exact # of your Bass, have him write a certificate for you if not already done. This is almost as good as having it inside the Bass if it ever becomes important in the market place to actually know # of the Bass.

If anyone wants to see the labels or brands of any of the Basses I just mentioned, either ask and I will post them or go to my DB pages and have a look for yourself. You are welcomed to copy and post them if you like.

[GriffithLea]

Ken, thanks for your thoughts.