Hamer Yellow Inked Serial Number Under or Over Clear Coat?

[Baz Cooper]

I Picked up a early 1980's Hamer Blitz bass today for DIRT Cheap...Its in bad shape...a lot of overspray. It was originally Black and it has Black overspray on the back.... The Idiot previous Owner sprayed over the serial number. I've managed to polish the overspray off with 3m Rubbing Compound and have revealed the serial number but I'm afraid of going further and permanent;y removing the serial number. Were the Inked Yellow Serial Numbers over or Under the clear coat????

[kizanski]

1 hour ago, Baz Cooper said:

I Picked up a early 1980's Hamer Blitz bass today for DIRT Cheap...Its in bad shape...a lot of overspray. It was originally Black and it has Black overspray on the back.... The Idiot previous Owner sprayed over the serial number. I've managed to polish the overspray off with 3m Rubbing Compound and have revealed the serial number but I'm afraid of going further and permanent;y removing the serial number. Were the Inked Yellow Serial Numbers over or Under the clear coat????

Over the clear. 

The yellow ones seemed to disappear pretty easily, so if you've already struck oil, stop drilling.  

[Baz Cooper]

I GOT Lucky!!!!! I carefully used a Q tip and 3m rubbing compound and removed the overspray, saving the serial number!!!!!!!

[Andrew]

16 hours ago, kizanski said:

Over the clear. 

The yellow ones seemed to disappear pretty easily, so if you've already struck oil, stop drilling.  

My impression has always been they're floated between two clear coats, but I'll agree they're often nearer the surface than to the colour coats.

[Hamer Dave]

I can’t imagine they didn’t seal that under some clear. Only an assumption. I never noticed one rubbing off with casual cleaning. Hope all is well Baz!

[kizanski]

24 minutes ago, Hamer Dave said:

I never noticed one rubbing off with casual cleaning.

I think there are several here who have.

[Hamer Dave]

23 hours ago, kizanski said:

I think there are several here who have.

Well, there you go. We must be careful, and I will have to remember this. I suppose the clear can react with the ink. Many times you have to put on very light mist coats (lots of them) to preserve, yet not wash out the ink. 
I did talk to Paul years back about the start of the production Sunbursts. I was curious why the sunbursts were so varied. During that conversation, he made mention that they had a very difficult time inking those first guitars. As the serial #’s were getting washed out/off. 
Is this more prevalent with the yellow ink, or with black as well? Was there not also white ink used? Maybe the various pigments would react differently with the lacquer? Possibly some are protected with finish.

Play it safe and presume they’re stamped after the finish.