Reverb.com will mask the last name of the seller and add a random element to make it sound like a business, such as "Marks Gear Depot" or "Sue's Music Shop." It allows regular folks to sell things and blend in with everyone else. I think its kinda neat.

Fascinating and, as you say, kinda neat. Thanks for the education.

Had the aluminum. Did not like.

Some of that angle might be the effect of a camera lens being close to the subject. My Railboard's strings are at a little bit of an angle, but not as pronounced as the picture would suggest. And yes, the Railboard was designed with wider string spacing, including a wider space between melody and bass sides, so your eyes aren't deceiving you there.

Another off-topic thing: either it was missed in manufacturing, or someone went to pains to Photoshop the serial number off the headstock.

I thought the (lack of) serial number thing was very odd too. Photoshopping seems the more likely answer, but why?

Railboards do not have a serial # on the headstock. It is located below the dual nut flaps. If you zoom in, this one is # _391

Thanks Brian. I did look there & it appeared blank - but that was on a tablet!

Looking at the same image on my desktop computer I could get 'closer' & yes, _391 it is.

_ => 7??

That must be something relatively new, as my Railboard and all the first 2 or 3 generations had serial numbers on the headstock.

My former Railboard also had its serial number on the headstock.

Mine was made mid 2019 and it's stamped on the body like the one shown here, so it must have changed earlier than that.