mirrorimij Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 Have a look at this auction.http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...sid=p2761.l1259I asked the seller if the serial number had been Photoshopped out (which I can understand doing for an ad). They replied that it was just a reflection. For some reason that explanation doesn't work for me as you can still see the grain lines in the maple where the serial number should be. Is it just my monitor playing tricks on me? Can anyone else see a serial number? Does it look like its just a reflection or does it look like the serial number was sanded off? On my screen the image looks a bit lighter in the area where the serial number should be.I'd be interested but if the serial number isn't intact that would be a dealbreaker.
Special J Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 Weird, I can't view the pics here at work. Maybe they're linked to flickr or something. Sorry, I'm no help. I'll try and look when I get home.
cornjulio Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 I don't think Photoshop!The wood looks brighter in the area where the serial no would be so it could be sanded down or something. If I was using photoshop I would put a black square on the serial no. or just stamp it out. There would be no need to make it look like there's never been a serial number. If the seller did use photoshop he did a nice job except for some reason the area of the serial no. looks brighter than the rest which makes no sense at all. Why bother with the wood grain and then not get the tone of wood right when skillful at photoshop?
GaryT Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 Sounds like a well priced USA Hamer Bass to me. And though not mint it certainly looks like its been taken good care of.Classic color finish/pick-guard combo.I
velorush Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 I agree with cornjulio, Photoshop doesn't seem to be a plausible explanation. The lighter coloring in the serial number area (rather than just a block) seems suspect. The biggest problem to me, thought, is that the lighter coloring is also in the shot two photos before the back-of-headstock close-up. That makes the lighter coloring seem to be a feature of the bass, not of the close-up photo (Why would you photoshop the more distant photo? You wouldn't be able to discern a serial number from that one).One thing would certainly clear it up: have him email a photo of the serial number. If he's uneasy about that, have him hold his thumb over one or more of the digits. My bet is that it doesn't happen. Otherwise, nice bass - 2-Tek and great color.
mirrorimij Posted July 27, 2009 Author Posted July 27, 2009 I agree with cornjulio, Photoshop doesn't seem to be a plausible explanation. The lighter coloring in the serial number area (rather than just a block) seems suspect. The biggest problem to me, thought, is that the lighter coloring is also in the shot two photos before the back-of-headstock close-up. That makes the lighter coloring seem to be a feature of the bass, not of the close-up photo (Why would you photoshop the more distant photo? You wouldn't be able to discern a serial number from that one).One thing would certainly clear it up: have him email a photo of the serial number. If he's uneasy about that, have him hold his thumb over one or more of the digits. My bet is that it doesn't happen. Otherwise, nice bass - 2-Tek and great color.I was just looking at the more distant photo and thinking the same thing as you posted this. I have been looking for one in this color for awhile (I passed on one stupid cheap at Guitar Center in Arlington Heights, IL). The price is ok but not great given the cigarette burn, lack of hardshell case and the fact that its in "player condition" . If the serial number is f'd up I wouldn't buy it at half that price.
serial Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 It's a stolen bass looks like to me-why else would anyone want to remove a serial #? Bad karma.
tobereeno Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 could be a stolen Hamer. In that case, nothing wrong with the bass itself, other than being fenced property!
cmatthes Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 Agreed - that serial has definitely been removed from the looks of that pic.I've got one similar to that Cruise - those are such great basses.
Bloozguy Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 I sent the seller the following question yesterday: "I don't see any serial number on the back of the headstock. Has it been removed? If not, what is it?" No response yet, but I really wasn't expecting one
specialk Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 Yep, I piled on as well with the serial number question. A shame about the serial #, as it is a fine looking bass, except for the cigarette burn, but that's not a dealbreaker....
specialk Posted July 29, 2009 Posted July 29, 2009 Auction cancelled. Oh hell. And I was just getting ready to bid,
mirrorimij Posted July 29, 2009 Author Posted July 29, 2009 I think it ran its course and ended (instead of getting cancelled). I looked at it earlier this evening and it only had 21 minutes to go.
cmatthes Posted July 29, 2009 Posted July 29, 2009 Ah - I thought it had another day when I looked earlier. No bidders?
mirrorimij Posted July 29, 2009 Author Posted July 29, 2009 Chris (or any other 2 tek owners)...Is there a number stamped on the back of the bridge (on the backside of the body)? I can barely make something out it the auction photos. I'm wondering if the seller thinks that is the instrument's serial number and that is the "glare" he was referring to in his response to me. I guess I'm trying to believe that people are honest and that this seller may not know the serial number on the back of headstock has been removed. He has perfect feedback otherwise so he may have no knowledge of it being stolen (if indeed it was stolen and the serial number was removed).
cmatthes Posted July 29, 2009 Posted July 29, 2009 It's not a serial number - mine is a '96 with the second generation bridge (smaller backplate). It says "2TEK Corporation, Patent Pending" on mine". I think that one is a '95 (??).
mirrorimij Posted July 29, 2009 Author Posted July 29, 2009 Thanks Chris. Just trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. This made me think that we should have section on this site where people can post info on stolen Hamers (and other musical gear). I know people post individual threads on the topic once in awhile but it would be nice to have a database to refer to.
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