[Geople]

I want to buy this Ibanez 2550e with its hardcase and stuff used for 500something euros but the serial number is scratched and the guy told me he got it like that from the previous owner (he tells me the guitar shop did it for some reason). It looks like a 2007 model because of the sexy inlays/binding and appears to be in a pretty good condition . I doubt its fake it looks really good but i wanted a second opinion xP.

imgur.com/a/7NF6QLm

 

[taracatac]

More pictures are need to be certain, but that does appear to be authentic. My concern would be that it was stolen, due to the missing serial number.

 

[Geople]

I added a couple more images in the imgur link, perhaps they can help confirming if its real or not...I thought about that too, you are right,if you look closely you can faintly see the F from the serial that was scratched off...

 

[Leviathus]

To echo taracatac, it certainly looks to be an authentic Ibanez but the removed serial number is a huge red flag.

 

[sepulchrave]

It's not fake but it is obviously stolen, unless you can make out the complete serial number there's no way of checking so it's ethically dubious at best.

 

[j.arledge]

looks real to me. looking at the neck and neck pocket would be one way to validate. The serial number being scratched off does point to a possible stolen guitar. The only other option is if it was stamped a second hand model. Some manufacturers with sell factory defects as seconds , and usually you'll fine a second stamp toward the 21-24 frets on the fret board itself. Most of those stamped second don't have a serial number as there is no factory warranty. I am not sure Ibanez has ever sold seconds, at least not to my knowledge.

if it was stolen at some point, you can't fix that. If it is a good deal, go for it.

 

[jono]

I also think that this guitar has a shady past. However, that doesn't mean that it is still regarded as stolen. After a few years (I think seven in the UK) the courts/police basically regard the thing as being blameless. If it was stolen last year it's still "hot", if it was stolen in 2009 it's most likely that the insurance company paid out, the owner will have bought a new guitar and there's no way to tie this guitar to the original owner because the insurance company probably won't even have records of the claim if it goes back far enough.

I'm not even sure how one would check a serial number was from a stolen guitar anyway! The police "may" help, but it's not like it's a car where they're all registered with national databases.

 

[carloscepinha]

In my experience it appears to be authentic, the only sketchy thing is the serial.

 

[CaptNasty]

If it were stolen and you bought it, you could lose any money you spent on the guitar. If the guitar were ever identified as stolen, you could forfeit the guitar to the rightful owner with no right to reimbursement. In the the US, some states and municipalities also could prosecute the buyer if they can prove that you either knew or suspected the item was stolen. In the US there are stories aired on local news from time to time about people recovering their stolen property. Sometimes after significant time has passed. I would pass on this guitar personally, regardless of how good of a deal it may be.

 

[webjunk]

The only other option is if it was stamped a second hand model. Some manufacturers with sell factory defects as seconds , and usually you'll fine a second stamp toward the 21-24 frets on the fret board itself. Most of those stamped second don't have a serial number as there is no factory warranty. I am not sure Ibanez has ever sold seconds, at least not to my knowledge.

if it was stolen at some point, you can't fix that. If it is a good deal, go for it.

I have owned three Ibanez & several other B-Stocks (proper term for seconds) and All of the Ibanez's had a serial number. Two were Prestiges.
One had the original serial number but a "B" on the back of the headstock.
The other two had serial numbers but not factory numbers & no other marks.

My other brand B-stocks all but one had either "B" or "2" stamped on the back of the headstock. The other one had a serial number on a sticker on the back of the headstock with the original number sanded off.
I have seen a Schecter with the "2" marked on the fretboard as mentioned. Have also seen marked "Used" on the headstock and in one case on the front.

**I am completely against purchasing a probable stolen instrument (or any other gear) as you are basically supporting a system that may at one point steal your guitars & gear. Besides the legal & ethical issues.**