A guy has a bass for sale by me that has the serial number scratched out. Not sure if it's hot but my wife being a ex cop says I should stay clear. Is there any other reason someone would do this?
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Stolen bass?
- Thread starter magic8161
- Start date
Sure it's not just photoshopped out for the listing?
That was my first thought but either it’s photoshopped to look like it was scratched off, rather than just removed for the sake of not showing the serial number, or it was really scratched off.
what does the little man inside you tell you? Why would someone scratch out the serial number? No reason to do that, unless....
Did you ask why its scratched out? Could just be PS like FunkHead mentioned
Did you ask why its scratched out? Could just be PS like FunkHead mentioned
I asked his response: its for sure scratched out
I don't see a serial #, I am not the original owner, there may be a # on the base of the neck, but I have never disassembled the bass.
I don't see a serial #, I am not the original owner, there may be a # on the base of the neck, but I have never disassembled the bass.
But the fact that it is possibly stolen is another. Unless that doesnt bother you. But there is no reason for that info to be removed unless someone was trying to hide something.
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i like how it says The bass is in excellent cosmetic and playing condition, 2 small chips on backside only marks found on the guitar
no mention of the blatant scratch off on the headstock.
no mention of the blatant scratch off on the headstock.
that doesn't look like photoshop to me.
I can think of zero legitimate reasons to remove a serial number from a bass.
I can think of zero legitimate reasons to remove a serial number from a bass.
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Walk away from it . Most retail music stores and even Pawn Shops would pass on it unless the seller could prove they owned it .
He says mid-90's - is he guessing, going by what he was told or did he research? Does mid-90's jive with everything you see?
Even if it's not hot, it's not priced low enough to deal with the hassle you'll face when you go to sell it (and you will).
Out if curiosity - did he happen to mention if Venmo was ok?
Even if it's not hot, it's not priced low enough to deal with the hassle you'll face when you go to sell it (and you will).
Out if curiosity - did he happen to mention if Venmo was ok?
Trust me I wouldn't take it for free.
If money is no object have your wife go with you, buy it and see if the local police will help to find the lawful owner. Call them first to check if that’s feasible. Maybe they could tag along.
Or, perhaps, he swiped an entire van full of equipment?
I’d check his other ads, see if there’s an Econoline with no VIN number listed.
sadly, I’m only half kidding.
There is no legitimate reason to remove a serial number from anything. But there’s plenty of illegitimate reasons to do do.
I’ve run into that a few times myself over the years. I always gave such instruments a pass no matter how much I might have wanted some of them.
I think you should listen to your wife. Since she’s an ex-police officer she knows what you’re going to be in for if that bass is in fact stolen and it’s ever traced back. And even if it’s not, that missing number is going to raise a red flag in a lot of places.
tl:dr - Walk away.
I’ve run into that a few times myself over the years. I always gave such instruments a pass no matter how much I might have wanted some of them.
I think you should listen to your wife. Since she’s an ex-police officer she knows what you’re going to be in for if that bass is in fact stolen and it’s ever traced back. And even if it’s not, that missing number is going to raise a red flag in a lot of places.
tl:dr - Walk away.
I see a mod edited my post.
I think I posted this looks ugly but what I should have said was the scratched out serial on the headstock make the headstock look ugly. The bass itself is cool. Sorry if I offended the op.
