How to Spot a Fake Stingray?

[Down_Low]

So, how did you go with the 'ray? Get any pictures?

 

[GigJones]

So, how did you go with the 'ray? Get any pictures?

The deal didn't go down. The seller dead-stopped communicating with me.

Maybe he saw my post here on TalkBass and got scared.

Thanks again for all your input.

 

[basslinejam]

Go to a store that has some and play them. Once you have had the real thing in your hands, spotting a fake will be laughably easy.

 

[mbrucher]

No Musicman case (A 2011 would have the case)

A 2011 has a case? I didn't see this in online store?

 

[portalseverus]

Hey guys,

I've had my stingray for over a year now. Just recently, I was getting a lot of fret buzzing. I gave it to my buddy to tune up (he's way better at this stuff than me) and noticed something on the neck. It looks like a discoloration, like maybe it was two separate pieces of wood. I'm looking for some answers, any ideas?!

See pics!!!

 

[BigBigGuy44]

EBMM basses have a gloss headstock. Rest of the neck is bare. You are seeing the dividing line between the gloss finish and wax finish.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Hey guys,

I've had my stingray for over a year now. Just recently, I was getting a lot of fret buzzing. I gave it to my buddy to tune up (he's way better at this stuff than me) and noticed something on the neck. It looks like a discoloration, like maybe it was two separate pieces of wood. I'm looking for some answers, any ideas?!

See pics!!!

Totally normal, see above post.

Since this thread was bumped anybody know whatever happened to @smcd ? I usually had very different ideas than that guy but I enjoyed his posts.

 

[CGremlin]

EBMM basses have a gloss headstock. Rest of the neck is bare.

This is true for most, but a few do have gloss necks. My 2010 BFR SR4HH is gloss over roasted maple:

 

[Iliyan]

Hey guys!

I am vewing a Stingray 4 online and I wonder if it's a fake. The seller told me it was bought an year ago. The Serial number is E22554. I think it could be a fake because of the round bridge and the strings through body technology. Can you please take a look at it and give me an advice.
I am not able to upload pics directly, but here is the link with tye offer.Invalid Link Removed

 

[CGremlin]

Hey guys!

I am vewing a Stingray 4 online and I wonder if it's a fake. The seller told me it was bought an year ago. The Serial number is E22554. I think it could be a fake because of the round bridge and the strings through body technology. Can you please take a look at it and give me an advice.
I am not able to upload pics directly, but here is the link with tye offer.Invalid Link Removed

Most definitely, 100% fake. The headstock looks like it got left in a hot car and melted into some weird shape, not to mention the decal is far too small among other problems.

 

[delta7fred]

Hi and welcome to Talkbass.

@CGremlin I can only see a shot of half the body, can you post the photos.

I have a vintage clone and that has a 'sort of MM' headstock shape but rounded off so as not to annoy Mr Ball.

The bridge looks wrong to me but I'm not sure which MMs are string through. I have a MM SUB 4 and a 'Vintage' clone. It looks more like the Vintage bridge that a genuine MM.

The MM bridge saddles are stainless steel and I suspect most of the knock offs are chromed mild steel but that is no help unless you have the bass in front of you and a magnet to check them with.

 

[Immigrant]

That stingray that got Steve Irwin was real as all get out.



What? Too soon?

 

[CGremlin]

@CGremlin I can only see a shot of half the body, can you post the photos.

Here are some of them:

 

[SirMjac28]

Check feedback of seller if on Reverb or eBay and avoid Craigslist. The best sellers have a return policy.

 

[delta7fred]

I'm not an authority on MMs but do own 2 plus a clone, to me the following look wrong.

Tuning posts look to be chromed, should be aluminium alloy.
Tuners are not equally spaced.
Bridge looks too big.
Strings spread out between the nut and tuners, mine are straight.

From the photos my guess is that it is a clone (but of course I could be wrong, wouldn't be the first time).

 

[Dave W]

100% totally fake

-Wrong headstock logo
-Wrong tuner placement (see how the G string is pulled out of whack)
-Wrong body shape
-Wrong headstock shape
-Wrong bridge
-Wrong battery box
-Wrong neck plate

 

[CGremlin]

The MM bridge saddles are stainless steel and I suspect most of the knock offs are chromed mild steel but that is no help unless you have the bass in front of you and a magnet to check them with.

Most genuine Music Mans also have the logo stamped into the bridge. I haven't seen a counterfeit yet that has that.

 

[delta7fred]

The string through ferules on the back don't look to be equally spaced.

 

[Iliyan]

Thank you for the answers, guys. I thought it could be a counterfeit. It was suspiciously cheap.

 

[popcat]

The string through ferules on the back don't look to be equally spaced.

On the other hand, maybe it was built on a Monday morning.