Hand-Written Taylor Serial Number? On a 2008?

[Steely Glen]

A buddy of mine is looking into getting his first Taylor and is thinking about this Taylor in particular, a 310ce posted on CL:

http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/msg/3039471912.html

He sent me the link and the first thing I noticed was the hand-written serial number and model number on the sticker (on a 2008 model, no less).  Also, the sticker appears to be peeling off the guitar.  To my untrained eye, everything else looks right (pickguard, bridge, etc.), but I'm no expert.  I'm advising him to stay away from this one. 

Does anyone have any advice otherwise?  Did Taylor do hand-written stickers in 2008? 

[Fire]

I've seen some handwritten labels on Customs and BTO's some fairly recently. This is the first time I saw one on a regular production model.

The guitar looks legit.... wonder how it sounds.

I would call Taylor on Monday and confirm the serial number and if/why the serial/model was handwritten.

[michaelw]

it's a 2000 model with a handwritten label -
a '0' got left out on it (it should read 200008, rather than 20008)

zooming in, one can see a knob at the edge of the side, just
below the fretboard extension (should  be a prefix onboard)

the color has very little to do with the age, but rather UV exposure -
that darkening can happen over a relavtively short period of time
(less than 2 years) without the guitar ever going outdoors (seen it)

[darylcrisp]

my only advice might be to post an ad here and on the agf for your friend, see if you can find a taylor to his liking from a member of either-a possible more secure bet it would be a fine instrument-also have him check guitarrodeo for used.

d

[Iplay2]

That is interesting.  I would just give Taylor CS a call and ask them. 

[HondaMC1]

I took a friends "older" Taylor down to the Service Center along with my 2004 814ce to have one of the service packages last year.

The guys were all over the vintage Taylor --- in addition to the service they replaced the missing model sticker and hand wrote the serial number and year.  Bob Taylor even signed it.  (I was impressed)

By phone or in person --- CS or the Service Center the whole outfit operates a cut above most others.

[Steely Glen]

All,

Thanks for the assistance.  Yes, this appears to be a 2000 model....my eyes fooled me and I didn't count enough zeroes.  I also now see one of the knobs for an old Fishman system.  If my buddy decides to go have a look at it, I will contact Taylor to follow up on the serial #, but the fact that it's a 2000 (not a 2008) makes me feel a lotbetter about its authenticity.  Everything else on it looks good to me. 

[ctkarslake]

Looks good to me too, and that price is very nice as well.  A "plain old" DN3 would go for such a price, not including the cutaway or electronics.  Only one "little scratch" is icing on the cake.