If you show the first 2 or 3 letters/numbers it is enough to date it but doesn't give a way the full number.
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Why do some sellers blackout serial number?
- Thread starter DJWhitJr
- Start date
Here is a theory: Maybe a seller is concerned about the provenance of an item they are trying to sell and it would be easier for someone to recognize their rightful property.
Neck stamps and pot dates are more reliable than a Fender serial number, which can be flakey. I'd never buy a high dollar vintage instrument, but if I did I would not rely on the serial number.
I'd bet that any fraud is from someone pulling a number off of reverb or ebay. The safer way is to blur the digits and send any potential buyer the number in a private message. It's not airtight, but then again I haven't heard of a real-life instance actually happening.
I didn't realize Fender serial numbers were that unreliable. Are any other manufacturers known for that?
This is what Fender has to say about it...
"Serial numbers are also helpful in determining an instrument’s production year. For years, serial numbers have been used in various locations on Fender instruments, such as the top of the neck plate, the front or back of the headstock and the back of the neck near the junction with the body. Serial numbers were stamped on the back vibrato cover plate on early ’50s Stratocaster® guitars, and on the bridge plate between the pickup and the saddles on some Telecaster® guitars.
But once again, due to Fender’s modular production methods and often non-sequential serial numbering (usually overlapping two to four years from the early days of Fender to the mid-1980s), dating by serial number is not always precisely definitive."
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
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Hypothetically, someone could just get serial numbers off instruments hanging in a music store. Yet they don't block theirs.
Ultimately, it's probably unnecessary.
Ultimately, it's probably unnecessary.
That's always been my assumption. Seems pretty unlikely but possible I guess. Plus in general, sending the serial number to a potential buyer seems less risky than just tossing it out on the open internet. In any case, probably unlikely the scenario would unfold all the way to you having to give your bass to someone pulling a fast one.
With instruments that have passed through several hands, some might do it to keep themselves for being flagged as in possession of a stolen instrument. That's more of a possibility than someone faking a stolen report to the police. If you fake a police report, you can be in trouble yourself. I really can't think of any situations where showing the full serial number helps you but can think of scenarios where it might hurt you. Personally, I don't worry about it.
That's probably more of a theoretical scam than an actual one. It could work, but seems like a huge pain in the ass, and includes the challenge that the scammer must deal directly with the police to pull it off. Cajones.
Related question. When people post pictures of their car (on a car forum, for instance), most of them blur the license plate. Now, could be for the exact same reason. But this is a number that is purposefully placed in plain view, and it's there for the world to see any time they drive their car. I don't fully get the secret there.
When buying/selling used, I create a paper receipt (even if it's hand-written on a Post-It) and include the serial number. I and the other party sign it.
Better than having nothing at all!
Better than having nothing at all!
I ask sellers for serial numbers daily in registering Kay basses and cellos and building the Registry data set, which expands our knowledge of the instruments and offers services to owners, restorers and retailers. Reliably 10-15% of sellers don't respond to these requests for whatever reason, the lion's share of them in the Boston-DC corridor, so it looks like one factor may be a cultural bias.
For what it's worth, on the rare occasions where a registered instrument was stolen and rediscovered with our help, the legitimate owners got almost no help from law enforcement in recovering the instrument, and huge hassle trying to get the person holding it to give it up. (It's never the thief of course, it's someone who bought it from the thief or a third party and is trying to sell it legitimately.)
Given this experience it's my feeling that it's highly unlikely that an illegitimate owner would disclose a serial number, due to the risk of being caught at it, highly likely that anyone disclosing a serial number has nothing to hide, and that the likeliest result of using a serial number to try to gain the instrument illegitimately would be quick charges of fraud and whatever local legislation frowns on using cops this way.
I really don't get why people worry about serial numbers, it's nonsense.
For what it's worth, on the rare occasions where a registered instrument was stolen and rediscovered with our help, the legitimate owners got almost no help from law enforcement in recovering the instrument, and huge hassle trying to get the person holding it to give it up. (It's never the thief of course, it's someone who bought it from the thief or a third party and is trying to sell it legitimately.)
Given this experience it's my feeling that it's highly unlikely that an illegitimate owner would disclose a serial number, due to the risk of being caught at it, highly likely that anyone disclosing a serial number has nothing to hide, and that the likeliest result of using a serial number to try to gain the instrument illegitimately would be quick charges of fraud and whatever local legislation frowns on using cops this way.
I really don't get why people worry about serial numbers, it's nonsense.
There have been several theories floating around here on why not to show serials. I’ve never had an issue and I’ve taken clear photos of the serials on nearly 400 instruments sold between TB, Reverb and eBay. As a buyer, I do want to see the whole number before buying. Having the serial has more than a few times helped me either confirm the instrument was legit or assembled from similar but non-matching parts.
I’ve never been concerned because the would-be thief doesn’t know the backstory of the instrument and could quickly get themselves a serious criminal charge in a quick minute for falsifying a report. But, there are meth heads so you never know. The most valid argument I could see would be to avoid the hassle of having to deal with some doped up diva.
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