I would think it's to prevent people from reporting a guitar as stolen and provide a valid serial number? Although I'm clearly not skilled in the art of scamming; so it's just speculation.

 

This is why I would do it. If it's not a guitar I purchased new that I can show a full trail for, I don't need some shit head trying to pull that. I understand said shit head would still require a trail themselves to prove it was theirs, but not worth the potential headache.

 

Someone told me it was to prevent scammers from using them. I'm not sure if that makes total sense.

Interesting thread!

 

Didnt want anyone duplicating the guitar with the same serial number??
Doesnt make sense but i recall reading that years ago.

 

Yeah, the scam thing. I've never heard of any scams re serial numbers though.
The only thing that comes to mind is the other way around - seller hiding a stolen guitar.

 

Agree with @zztomato doesn't make sense. I kind of feel the same about asking about Certificates of Authenticity for new guitars (i.e. not vintage), but won't hijack this thread

 

Although it may not be a great idea to advertise this, I'm sort of out of it when it comes to scams.

I try to take advice from others more attuned to that sort of thing but I don't always realize when I'm sharing more information than I should.

I'm not paranoid enough for my own good I guess.

 

Someone could cause a lot of trouble for you if they really wanted. They could fabricate paperwork and claim the guitar was stolen from them and call the police. Likely an edge case but this world is full of people like that.

 

That's the only scenario that comes to mind. However, if the scammer followed through, they would be trying to scam the police as well. How do you think that would go?

 

I've never really seen any issue, and faking paper work is a double edge sword. All electronic transaction in store or online shop are registered, so even though someone is showing up with fake paper from L&M I'm guessing you could always check with the store. In this case, if you're the one doing the fake paperwork and involving the police you're in deep doodoo

The only case where I thought it could be an issue is counterfeit, they could theoretically use valid SN they find on internet, but I don't know how likely this is.

 

We know of at least one guy out $1200 because he posted his serial number online.

 

Any link or more information? Thanks.

 

My guess would be to prevent someone from copying your photos and then putting a scam listing up to dupe someone into buying a guitar that doesn't exist. It's fine if someone covers it in their photos but if we're discussing a deal via PM and they ask for the serial to verify it (like with Fender's website) then I'll provide it. Theoretically someone who just ripped off the photo with the covered serial # wouldn't be able to provide a valid S/N.

That's the scenario I can come up with.

 

I can sort of understand not wanting to post a serial number, but if you want to sell it you'll have to disclose it eventually. May as well put a photo up in the ad.

 

I always thought it was to prevent providing a legitimate serial number to be used on a "copy"

 

This is the reason most people do it afaik.

also the guy in 2many’s thread isnt the only one out a guitar and money.

if you immediately think a guitar is stolen because the serial isnt visible, check with the police i guess?

 

i saw a listing for a MIA strat in facebook, he had all the photos and serial number and even told me to check on the website to verify, long story short the person stole the photos of someone who was selling the guitar way back when. When i ask to show a recent photo of the strat with a written date on that day, he didnt response and block me and delete the post. If i agree to meet up with the guy just by going off from stolen photos he would have just stolen the money off from me.

 

It's possibly a stolen guitar.

 

1. Someone could copy a legit serial # to pass off a fake
2. Someone could say 'Hey, my guitar was stolen, here's the serial #' and then how do you prove you didn't steal it, and it's actually yours?

 

Why hide serial numbers in for sale posts?

To protect the general public from The League Of Shifty Luthiers. A dastardly international group of rouge luthiers wreaking havock on the system of serializing guitars.

 

I‘d heard rumours of that secret society. The initiation rites have something to do with being naked and guitar strings.