thoughts on ground off serial number...

[Mr Light]

Hey Mr. Light, the GC in Sherman Oaks has a Pre-EB SR, I thinks. I played it once and found it quite nice! Check it out!

Hmmm... Just what I need, an excuse to max out my GC Card.

 

[prickly_pete]

I don't remember that auction, but the law in most states (UCC) is that if you are a good faith buyer (don't know its stolen) and buy from a person who regularly sells that type of item (dealer) than you get to keep it.

 

[Musicman Nut]

I don't remember that auction, but the law in most states (UCC) is that if you are a good faith buyer (don't know its stolen) and buy from a person who regularly sells that type of item (dealer) than you get to keep it.

I Lived In Many States and Never Have ever heard of that Law, Must be a Musician Only Law, Written In a Night Club.

 

[strummer]

I don't remember that auction, but the law in most states (UCC) is that if you are a good faith buyer (don't know its stolen) and buy from a person who regularly sells that type of item (dealer) than you get to keep it.

That is what it is like here in Sweden. Hard as hell to get stolen stuff back, even when you find it.

 

[JB1]

The seller did say...."Please ask all questions before you bid".

But, I'd suggest getting back to him. Thing is, asking for a legitimate reason for the s/n grind-off and getting one are two different things. I'd just try to get some history on it before I insisted on a refund....

If you get neither then you have to decide what to do next:-

1. Hang on to a possibly stolen bass and live with it or consider that you are hanging on to a possibly legit bass....

2. Contact the police (particularly in the area the seller is from) and see what gives.

Depends on your conscience I guess. Good luck.

 

[Jazzbassman23]

This is a tough one but let's assume it was purchased with no idea that it might be stolen. People do stupid things all the time. Sand off the headstock decal, trim body parts, add thumbrests (just kidding). Maybe the original owner was in the middle of a messy divorce and wanted to avoid having to turn over his bass in the settlement. Who knows. I don't think it's the buyer's responsibility to "leave no stone unturned" in his pursuit of the background.

Having said that, would EBMM sell a replacement bridge if the ground up one is sent in?

 

[prickly_pete]

I Lived In Many States and Never Have ever heard of that Law, Must be a Musician Only Law, Written In a Night Club.

Actually it only applies when the rightful owner entrusts an item to a business that regularly deals in that item. For example, if you take your bass to a music store to have it repaired. restrung, etc, and the store sells it to a good faith purchaser. In that example, the buyer gets to keep the bass.

 

[Mr Light]

Actually it only applies when the rightful owner entrusts an item to a business that regularly deals in that item. For example, if you take your bass to a music store to have it repaired. restrung, etc, and the store sells it to a good faith purchaser. In that example, the buyer gets to keep the bass.

Has anyone ever pawned anything? That is probably why they ask for ID and take down all of your info.

It's what happened to Victor Bailey. Someone stole his prototype bass at the airport. A good faith buyer bought it at a pawn shop and discovered that Victor was missing his and contacted Victor to return it. They traced the thief through the pawn shop records and got the guy. He was an airport employee in Houston, I believe.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Request a full refund, and be firm. If necessary, mention the Police.

 

[Musicman Nut]

The seller did say...."Please ask all questions before you bid".

But, I'd suggest getting back to him. Thing is, asking for a legitimate reason for the s/n grind-off and getting one are two different things. I'd just try to get some history on it before I insisted on a refund....

If you get neither then you have to decide what to do next:-

1. Hang on to a possibly stolen bass and live with it or consider that you are hanging on to a possibly legit bass....

2. Contact the police (particularly in the area the seller is from) and see what gives.

Depends on your conscience I guess. Good luck.

I Have been buying basses for over 35 years, and I do ask many Questions, But if we have too start asking if serial numbers are scatched off then we need to just get out of this music business. Lets Just be honest and Keep this fun.

If this guy was Honest and straight, the first thing he should have mentioned was, Not sure why but the serial number has been removed. That's the right and honest thing to do.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

With you Dave

 

[JB1]

I Have been buying basses for over 35 years, and I do ask many Questions, But if we have too start asking if serial numbers are scatched off then we need to just get out of this music business. Lets Just be honest and Keep this fun.

If this guy was Honest and straight, the first thing he should have mentioned was, Not sure why but the serial number has been removed. That's the right and honest thing to do.

I agree my friend, but I mentioned it to demonstrate that it's likely the seller will use this as a get-out.

 

[word]

I agree my friend, but I mentioned it to demonstrate that it's likely the seller will use this as a get-out.

yeah, that's exactly what the seller is saying. i am having some luck getting in contact with someone who has owned the bass in the past so i may be able to get some answers on the history of this bass. i'll keep you guys posted!

 

[Rayan]

"The Long & Winding Road"

... what other reason would there be to grind off a serial number than if it was stolen?

~
I've never bought from eBay, but I'm sure all the sellers are honest;
and of course, honest sellers sometimes make honest mistakes ...

ie. In a dayjob I worked recently, I supplied buyers for some of the entertainment industries; brand new, brand name stuff that would end up on theatre stages and movie sets, you know
- clothing and such stuff always had labels cut out, and serial numbered stuff had #s removed and names covered up; just a routine you know: the idea was that buyers were usually getting lots of stuff, and really good prices, and vendors didn't want this 'one-of wholesale' stuff eventually winding up back on the open market; and nobody wanted hassles over unpaid 'endorsements' and 'advertising'
- I don't know all of what happens to stuff that gets sold 'wholesale' into the entertainment industries, but I doubt it all gets chopped up and burned
- and I've heard that *Almost* everybody seems to like the idea of 'getting something for nothing', and will 'take a chance' to get it that way ???
~

Personally, I always buy my Music Man basses from my authorized Music Man retailer, but that's mainly because I'm filthy rich and like hanging around music stores in my spare time
- that said, if BP tells me one day that he will no longer sell to authorized Music Man retailers, and I have to buy my SRs & BONGOs from eBay, than I'll probably learn how to play a $@d0w$*y
~
/R

 

[Colin]

~
I've never bought from eBay, but I'm sure all the sellers are honest;
and of course, honest sellers sometimes make honest mistakes ...

/R

An honest seller would have been upfront (or honest) about the missing serial I suppose. While I'm not a huge eBayer it still would be advisable to be cautious in all transactions, because unfortunately not all sellers are honest.

Colin

 

[Rayan]

"SayItIsn'tSo"

... it still would be advisable to be cautious in all transactions, because unfortunately not all sellers are honest.
Colin

~
I've never wanted to believe what you've said;
but since you have said it, I have to say that
"you have made a very good point", and "I believe you".

I guess it's true as the saying goes, "Buyer Beware".
~
/R

 

[todd4ta]

An honest seller would have been upfront (or honest) about the missing serial I suppose. While I'm not a huge eBayer it still would be advisable to be cautious in all transactions, because unfortunately not all sellers are honest.

Colin

I can't see how obvious the 'grinding' is, but with the s/n being located on the bridge under the strings and intonation screws I can see how a person could overlook that if they didn't know where the serial number should be. I know on my basses with the s/n on the bridge, it can be tricky to read them correctly just because they are sort of hidden. Not making excuses, but just saying if it's cleanly ground off an uninformed person may not realize that used to be the s/n.

That being said, an honest seller would make the situation right after it is discovered.

 

[Mr Light]

Hey Mr. Light, the GC in Sherman Oaks has a Pre-EB SR, I thinks. I played it once and found it quite nice! Check it out!

Midopa,

I think they might have sold it. I went there as an alternative to the one closest to me (in Hollywood) to buy strings, and no Pre-EB in sight. They did have a healthy selection of MusicMan/Bongo stuff, though.