Anyone know the story behind Selmer #5xx on Ebay?

Klezmorim · July 2008

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=330252672408&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=014

Based on what I can see in the listed photos, it appears the top (at the least) was refinished. The neck had cracked at the heel and pulled forward, cracking the top through the rosette, which suffered a bit of damage from the repairs.

What else am I missing apart from these observations and the listed modifications? History?

djangology · July 2008

why would the seller want to hide the number?

Klezmorim · July 2008

djangology wrote:

why would the seller want to hide the number?

To prevent counterfeiting.

artillerie_lourde · July 2008

The price seems extremely low considering the current market for Selmers

CalebFSU · July 2008

I thought the same thing, but that is just the current bid not the price.

Klezmorim · July 2008

CalebFSU wrote:

I thought the same thing, but that is just the current bid not the price.

Yeah, it's still very early in the auction and this guitar *is* being watched.
Still... the thought of scooping up a 1942 Selmer for under $5K is enough to make me giddy.

Of course, now that it's being discussed on this forum, that'll never happen....

Fopa · July 2008

Experienced E-Bay bidders wait till the last few minutes to place their bids,...this still has 4 days to go. The guy has a 100% rating and he seems to have been with E-Bay for quite awhile. It all looks legit, but....expect the final bids to be alot higher then the current $6100.

djangology · July 2008

Klezmorim wrote:

djangology wrote:

why would the seller want to hide the number?

To prevent counterfeiting.

I thought the exact opposite. It makes it possible for him to sell a counterfeit guitar by not showing the number.

fillegitane · July 2008

Yeah, the absence of a serial #makes me nervous. I wrote to the seller to ask why it wasn't provided. If I get a repsonse, I'll post it.

Also, this guitar doesn't have a reserve price. And although people do bid in the last few minutes, it is still possible that it could go well below what it's actually worth. I've seen it happen. That's a risky game if you're the seller.

fillegitane · July 2008

The seller wrote back and told me that he's selling the guitar for a friend and the owner doesn't want to reveal the serial number. No reason, just doesn't want to give it.

Caveat emptor.