buying a MusicMan neck...?

[M-rek]

Hey guys!
I love MusicMan Stingray basses. Unfortunately, I don't own a genuine one. Instead I have a Fame MM400, a (IMO) pretty decent copy made in Poland. I plan to refinish its body (from black to blue or something) and I'd like to assemble a new neck.
I do have a Status Graphite neck from a parts-bass I built last year, I thought I could fit it to the Fame 'cause I somehow still like it more than that parts-bass. Although, I never really familiarized with the feel of the graphite actually...
And now this. I stumbled over a classified: A genuine MusicMan Sterling neck, maple and maple fretboard. Thing is: I love all-maple necks. Another thing is: I don't know about any other aftermarket necks except for those graphite ones and I never came across a genuine MusicMan neck up for sale before. Therefore I don't know what's an adequate price for the neck.

Seller charges 350€ (about 375$) for it. What do you think about this?

He says the frets are "at 80 to 90%", condition-wise.
Anything I should know or ask him about it? I already asked him for a serial number of the bass it once came with and the year of construction.
I compared the Stingray and Sterling necks (online) - Sterling has one fret more and it's a little less wide at the nut. Will I run into any problems (with the additional fret for example)? I've read about people fitting their Sterling necks to Stingrays and there even is this "SLO special edition" so I guess not, but I like to play it safe.

Do you think it's worth it or should I stick with the graphite neck? Or maybe I should reinstall the original Fame neck, which has a rosewood fretboard and of course a different headstock shape (I'd rather not do that)?

Here are some pics from the classified.

 

[M-rek]

Update: seller just answered. Seems like an okay guy, he can't tell me the serial number right now but the neck was built in 1996! It's up for sale because he got his hands on a birds-eye maple neck for his bass.

 

[ubernator]

I believe necks are about $400 new from musicman , at least that was the case around 2010 when I had an EBMM sub5 that had a bum rod. Maybe prices have gone up and sub necks were cheaper, but if I remember , $400 being the rate for pretty much all standard necks from music man at the time.

Being a 1996, and a sterling neck, it would be pretty nice even at near new price, since the mid 90s was a good time for those. Note that it has a jazz bass neck profile, not the same as a stingray.

 

[5544]

Why not just save the 350- plus all the money going to materials to paint the Fame and use it towards a real MusicMan Stingray?

 

[M-rek]

I believe necks are about $400 new from musicman , at least that was the case around 2010 when I had an EBMM sub5 that had a bum rod. Maybe prices have gone up and sub necks were cheaper, but if I remember , $400 being the rate for pretty much all standard necks from music man at the time.

Being a 1996, and a sterling neck, it would be pretty nice even at near new price, since the mid 90s was a good time for those. Note that it has a jazz bass neck profile, not the same as a stingray.

OK, thanks for the input! So maybe I should at least try to haggle the price down a little, if I decide to go for it.

Why not just save the 350- plus all the money going to materials to paint the Fame and use it towards a real MusicMan Stingray?

That's another option, of course... But I've had the Fame for several years now and I'm still quite pleased with it. I never A/B'd it with a real Stingray, but to me it sounds pretty good. I'm not sure if I can justify buying a real Stingray while owning a decent copy. Just felt like it could use a little face lift with the new neck and finish...

 

[Jeff Scott]

...I'm not sure if I can justify buying a real Stingray while owning a decent copy...

Sell the Fame and then you have even more money towards a real Stingray.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Ummm... get the Sterling neck and send the Status to me?

 

[lavoz]

I believe necks are about $400 new from musicman , at least that was the case around 2010 when I had an EBMM sub5 that had a bum rod. Maybe prices have gone up and sub necks were cheaper, but if I remember , $400 being the rate for pretty much all standard necks from music man at the time.

Being a 1996, and a sterling neck, it would be pretty nice even at near new price, since the mid 90s was a good time for those. Note that it has a jazz bass neck profile, not the same as a stingray.

How did you go about replacing a neck from Music Man? Did yo just call and ordered one?

 

[ubernator]

How did you go about replacing a neck from Music Man? Did yo just call and ordered one?

I contacted them via email, and they told me the price.

 

[lavoz]

Hey, Thanks for the prompt response.
Where did you get their e-mail?
Would they replace any type of neck?

 

[ubernator]

This was about 7-8 years ago, I probably just went to their website and found a customer service contact. I didn't end up ordering a neck either. It was too much at the time.

 

[ubernator]

Consider this, you don't know if a music man neck will even fit your bass without needing woodwork, unless your knockoff is known to be compatible with musicman parts. I was inquiring about a sub with a broken truss rod, they might not sell it as just a neck to put on a non musicman instrument. Or maybe they will. The used one may be the way to go, if it will fit.

 

[Dave W]

MM will not just sell parts.

 

[ubernator]

MM will not just sell parts.

Like I thought, it is probably different when inquiring about a musicman with a broken truss rod, where they quoted me a price, had I gone through with the order, they probably would have wanted the serial number or some other proof.

OP, if you want a real neck, the used one is your only bet. GL about it working without major woodwork on your neck pocket.

 

[Dave W]

Like I thought, it is probably different when inquiring about a musicman with a broken truss rod, where they quoted me a price, had I gone through with the order, they probably would have wanted the serial number or some other proof.

OP, if you want a real neck, the used one is your only bet. GL about it working without major woodwork on your neck pocket.

Let me rephrase. They'll sell parts but they only sell you exactly what you already have and you need to surrender the old part to them.

You can't just buy parts and you can't change colors of hardware, fretboard wood, etc.

 

[jaydu26]

Hello guys,

I found a pre EB Stingray bass.
The body is is fine but the neck IS not genuine.
Does anyone sell one ( 1976/77 and even 1978) by any chance?
Let me know if you have one or if you know somenone who could have one.

Many thanks.

Jay