Strange Loar Mandolin Serial Number...

[mltowler]

Hey guys, I got this Loar LM 500 VS Mandolin a couple years ago off Ebay (Early 2015) and didn't really take much interest in the serial number until I noticed other 500 models having stamped numbers instead of the sticker. I peeled it back and notice this weird marked out number, does this mean anything? Strange factory model? Stolen? Never seen something like on a instrument badge before....

[vic-victor]

Could be anything, really, but I'd say your guess that it has been stolen at some stage is probably right. Seems to have been done to conceal the actual number in case the original owner reports it.

[Eric Platt]

Most likely it's either a second, or was refurbished by the factory (or distributor). I've seen this before. There is also a possibility it was a "gray market" import. And the importer put their own serial number on the instrument. But I seriously doubt it was stolen at any point.

[MikeEdgerton]

If I was a curious owner I might contact the folks at The Music Link and ask them about it.

http://www.themusiclink.net/

[mltowler]

This is all really great and interesting information, thanks guys! It interesting to think that it could be a refurbished model, would explain the unsual blemishes and strange markings on the fret board when I got it from "Cogswheel Music" off Ebay. Will investigate through Music Link and other possibilities. Thanks again!

[Folkmusician.com]

That dot in front of the "A" on the original serial identifies this as a blem or second. They do not normally sharpie out the serial though. The sticker over it was likely added down the line by a refurbisher or a random shop.

For future readers of this post... A lot of these labels have small ink blots around the A that could be mistaken as a seconds mark. These are in the original ink and if you look close, you will see that it is bleed and was not added later. If this is the case, these are not seconds.

A sharpie or sometimes a pen is used when it is a blem or second.

Having new serials or model numbers added via sticker, does happen here and there. I see this now and then from the various brands when there was a labeling/printing error at the factory.