Finishes on pre-EBMM basses?

[Tim Parks]

Hello!

I’m new to the forum, and have a question regarding the finish on my recently acquired bass. It’s a Music Man Stingray with a neck dated 3/1979 with a 10/1980 body.

I’m guessing that polyester (or polyurethane) was used heavily on the body, a little thinner on the back of the neck, and much thinner on the headstock and fretboard. I doubt nitrocellulose was used on the bass for any part of it, like the fretboard, but I really don’t know. The finish is original. Anyone know?

 

[Tim Parks]

 

[Tim Parks]

Anyone?

 

[nivagues]

Anyone?

The finish is polyurethane.

 

[Tim Parks]

That makes sense for the body. I’m not so sure regarding the neck. The neck definitely came from Leo Fender’s CLF Research in Fullerton, who had the contract to build Music Man basses until mid 1980. I’m wondering if the neck is finished similarly to Fender (FMIC) basses from the ‘70’s that used a lacquer finish first. Then poly over the back of the neck, but left the headstock alone. The finish is quite thin on the headstock on my bass, but really don’t know.