Gaze solid for the serial number.
Serial numbers are tricky to find on band instruments. Countless physical details and an assemblage of parts make it tedious to search for the number. No matter what instrument you play -- from a clarinet to a saxophone -- all of them possess a serial number along the body of the device. Older instruments may have a faded serial number, making the identification code harder to find. Nevertheless, a thorough search of any instrument is sure to turn up those pesky, concealed digits.
Instructions
1. Take apart your instrument easily and carefully. Observe the instrument with a magnifying glass if necessary. Look hard around the area of the mouthpiece of a woodwind or brass instrument for the serial number. If you play an instrument with a dissimilar physical body, like a snare drum, examine the shell casing and rim of the percussion instrument for the serial number.3. Glance at the back of the body tube on a saxophone, for example, and search for the number near the manufacturer emblem.
2. Polish each piece with a soft, clean cloth to make the body brighter and easier to examine. Hold each piece up to the light and look on the underside of the body for serial number identification. Examine each piece slowly. After dismantling a flute, for example, look over the head joint, body joint and foot joint. Look for additional markers -- such as a brand emblem -- where other identifying information may also be located. Running your eyes over the instrument slowly helps keep eyes focused and allows for a more thorough search.
Log online. Visit the instrument manufacturer website. Click on the "Product Serial Number Info" link on the Selmer homepage, for example, if you happen to play a Selmer saxophone. Scan the serial number lists if you are certain of the year your instrument was made. Match the year the saxophone was made with its serial number. Most serial numbers coincide with the year they were manufactured.
