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phenry20
Bronze Member
USA
105 Posts |
 Posted - 08/22/2005 : 20:02:10
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| I have noticed recently quite a few "early" model Boss pedals on ebay and so forth where they have an ink stamped 4 digital "serial number" on top of the switch area where the battery lead comes out. But it is ALWAYS 0100 or 0200. I'm assuming this isn't the same pedal being traded around and I'm wondering if these are some series indication where that had that same number stamped on multiple pedals in a particular run or if there is come type of scam happening. Maybe others have seen this and wondered as well. I've probably seen 5-6 cases in the last month. Any answers? |
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boss freak
Gold Member
USA
663 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 09:25:44
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The ink-stamped serial numbers "begin" at 8900 (I believe) and when they got up to 9900, they start over at 0000. Some believe that these are actually "batch numbers" rather than serial numbers, as there are several examples of each pedal having any given stamped number. I'm assuming that when the numbers got close to 8800, they switched over to the paper sticker serial numbers inside the battery compartment, but I'm not exatcly sure how high the stamped numbers went after starting over again at 0000.
Basically a higher stamped number such as 8900 is older than one stamped 0000, 0100, etc. |
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bossarea
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
3652 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 16:53:26
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In the OD-1 thread we found that the first batch was stamped 6400. I don't think we can say that the numbers start at 8900 in general. For some pedals it may be right but for others they may have started at a different number.
A theory is that all pedals produced at the same time had the same number so a PH-1 and a TW-1 with serial number 0200 would be produced within a short time of eachother. If a new pedal was made it would receive the same number as the other pedals currently in production.
That's a theory based on wild guessing.  |
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boss freak
Gold Member
USA
663 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 19:17:48
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You're right about the 6400. For some reason I was thinking about 8900 because I have an OD1 with that number. Thanks for correcting that.
I like the "wild guess" theory you came up with. Mine is also based on a wild guess.  |
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bossarea
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
3652 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 23:36:24
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I have a suspicion we come up with wild guess theories a lot here.  |
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phenry20
Bronze Member
USA
105 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2005 : 03:56:00
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| Here is a listing that just started - again with this "0100" serial number. ebay #7345531278 |
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cimed8085
Bronze Member
Australia
78 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2005 : 09:18:31
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| the DS-1 that we (me and phenry20) bid on ebay (now it's mine ) is also #0100. what could this mean? |
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boss freak
Gold Member
USA
663 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2005 : 00:27:22
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That's what I was talking about with "batch numbers" above. I'm not sure how many pedals would be in a given "batch", but there are a lot of pedals out there with 0100 and 0200 stamps. It seems strange that if they are "serial numbers" that they are always ending in "__00" and never "__01", "__73", etc.
What I do know as a fact is that the numbers "recycle" back to 0000 after 9900. This is documented in many Boss Service Manuals.
As those of us who have read The BOSS Book all know, there is a system or code which Boss used, or still uses, to keep track of the dates on their pedals. Unfortunately they've never disclosed what that system is. |
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phenry20
Bronze Member
USA
105 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2005 : 00:41:06
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| See, that's the mystery. Why would you see multiple DS-1's ALL with the same "0100" and apparently no other number indicated. I could see an extreme case where you had multiple DIFFERENT pedals from the same era showing up with the same number, but these are the same model with the same number. Seems strange. |
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phenry20
Bronze Member
USA
105 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2005 : 05:04:09
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| And yet another... CE-2 ebay listing 7346423452 ( current as of 8/26/05 ) stamped serial #0100 - I really don't think that these are the serial numbers. It has to be some type of a "batch" number - but then where would the actual serial # be? Are we just on a moon cycle where people with even hundred-numbered Boss pedals, especially 0100, are suddenly compelled to sell them? |
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bossarea
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
3652 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2005 : 12:20:26
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No doubt, they're not serial numbers. I've been combing Boss auctions for the last 5 years and I haven't come across one a stamped serial that didn't end with 00 yet. I don't think there is aanother serial number anywhere either. Looks like Boss were satisfied with being able to identify the batch from which a pedal came from.
When Boss started using 6 digit numbers I believe they still used batch numbers instead of true serial numbers. Too many of the 6 digit numbers ends with 00 to be a coincidence and I'm sure some pedals shipped in more than 10000 ex. |
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Question about Ink Stamped Serial Numbers
