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Stolen bass?

#45
I can tell you that some dealers would sell Fender instruments w/o being franchised to do so by buying them via another store that was franchised. This required the selling store to eliminate the Serial number. This is the only way the situation could 'justify' removing the serial number. I think its more likely that the bass was stolen at some point. Its a good looking Jazz Bass Plus .
 
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#46
Hopefully, the rightful owner sees this and gets whats left of his/her bass back. I use the bottom of my business card as a neck shim. Unless the thief takes the bass apart I can prove it was mine. I just sold a bass I'd had for 45 years. It had a piece of paper under the control plate with my name and my parents old address written on it. I think I'll write my initials on the back of my basses pickguards.

I have a friend who's guitar was stolen. He reported it to the police and got a phone call a week later. The officer had him stand outside the pawn shop and identify the guitar. Luckily he had had it repaired recently and had a receipt with the SN as well

Chances are you won't have a chance to identify your gear if it's stolen, but sometimes life gives you a gift.
 
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#47
sxaxsx said:
There was a thread last week where the OP was trying to date a bass that had the serial number removed and in post #53 it is suggested that shops used to remove serial numbers for some reason. Trying to id my Fender "P" bass
I have no idea if this is true, or if this practice was ever done. Maybe @bcbassman who made the other post could comment more about this practice?
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I witnessed it first hand back in the '70s and posted again on this practice in this thread.
This was done by a local store in the Wash D.C. area which is no longer in business.
The bought Fender products via another store in NYC that was franchised. Receiving store removed the ser. numbers from below the logo (late 70s) and gave a "store warranty" with purchase. I didn't like it then and I don't like it now.

Its more likely to be a stolen bass so I agree that you buy it at your own risk.
 
#48
bcbassman said:
I can tell you that some dealers would sell Fender instruments w/o being franchised to do so by buying them via another store that was franchised. This required the selling store to eliminate the Serial number. This is the only way the situation could 'justify' removing the serial number. I think its more likely that the bass was stolen at some point. Its a good looking Jazz Bass Plus .
Click to expand...

sxaxsx said:
There was a thread last week where the OP was trying to date a bass that had the serial number removed and in post #53 it is suggested that shops used to remove serial numbers for some reason. Trying to id my Fender "P" bass
I have no idea if this is true, or if this practice was ever done. Maybe @bcbassman who made the other post could comment more about this practice?
I personally wouldn't buy it, even if it isn't stolen, buying a bass with the serial number removed is like buying a car with a rebuilt title, it may run/play fine, but you will never be able to sell it or value it accurately. Only buy a rebuilt car or a bass with the serial removed if you plan on keeping it forever or giving it away when you are done with it.
Click to expand...

I don't believe this was a widespread practice, and as from sxaxsx's post, it did come up when discussing a mid-70's Precision...and I've never heard of shops doing this as late as the 1990's. Firm believer that this is most likely a stolen instrument.
 
#49
yep.... another photo that was not included with the sale pics.... LOL
1666537994animated-burning-guitar-on-fire3.gif
 
#50
Stewie said:
Hopefully, the rightful owner sees this and gets whats left of his/her bass back. I use the bottom of my business card as a neck shim. Unless the thief takes the bass apart I can prove it was mine. I just sold a bass I'd had for 45 years. It had a piece of paper under the control plate with my name and my parents old address written on it. I think I'll write my initials on the back of my basses pickguards.

I have a friend who's guitar was stolen. He reported it to the police and got a phone call a week later. The officer had him stand outside the pawn shop and identify the guitar. Luckily he had had it repaired recently and had a receipt with the SN as well

Chances are you won't have a chance to identify your gear if it's stolen, but sometimes life gives you a gift.
Click to expand...

Have had family and friends get stuff stolen over the years....always keep my SN for all my gear. Back in the day we took polaroid pictures, wrote down the SN's again and kept them in a separate envelope for insurance. Later we got fancy and took video with our fancy video camera's and kept the VHS tape (HAHA). Now I have everything on my cell phone including clear pics of the numbers along with any other distinguishing marks and a back up on a computer. I have been very lucky and have not had any of my gear stolen, but have had enough friends and family get ripped off. Keep records and have insurance if it means a lot to you.

Oh and OP - I personally would not touch this bass. Bad karma
 
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#59
bcbassman said:
I can tell you that some dealers would sell Fender instruments w/o being franchised to do so by buying them via another store that was franchised. This required the selling store to eliminate the Serial number. This is the only way the situation could 'justify' removing the serial number. I think its more likely that the bass was stolen at some point. Its a good looking Jazz Bass Plus .
Click to expand...
From what I heard this happened a lot with Fender. Shop that used to be near me told us about it when I was a kid. But that was in the 70's when they had to do that.
I actually owned a 70's jazz like this. I was young and didnt realize the # was gone as it was finished over and looked fine. The bass was in such disrepair too. Nothing worked. Pickups were dead. Pots wouldnt move. It hadnt been touched in a really long time. Got it from a pawn shop in the late 80's. Interestingly my friend who owned a vintage shop noticed years later that there was a hairline crack that had been repaired through where the # was that he surmised was repaired. We dated the bass through all the parts to be 76 - 78. He also said at pawn it would have had to be submitted to the sheriffs office before sale to make sure it wasnt stolen. But that red one is hot!
 
#60
AdamR said:
Jeez, tough crowd. Just a possible reason guys.
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It's a very specific bass. Those that know, know. ;) Early 90's Jazz Plus has that headstock, that sticker (but with the number). So by looking at it you can tell that the neck and the decal are original and match the body of the bass and the control layout.
 

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