Musicman Pre EB Stingray Information

[cj1973]

Hi folks

I am new to this forum and would love to get some information on this bass, based on the pictures. I own a fullerton JB and PB (both 62 RIs) and am in the process of receiving this Musicman Stingray. I am a synth player/producer, so Bass history territory is way out of my area and would love some information on this. It's serial is B021247. This generally appears to be '78-'80 area, but I am unsure how else to date these bases. Any and all opinions, thoughts, validations, maintenance, issues, and estimates would be appreciated.
Pics on these links (sorry im struggling to upload pics on this advanced section...)
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Thanks so much!!

 

[handofseven]

Fantastic basses. Here's a good resource:

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[cj1973]

Fantastic basses. Here's a good resource:

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Thank you, Sir. Appreciate it. Yes I saw that and am using that as well, especially to date this bass.
Would anyone know if there is a date stamp on the inside of the neck like the Fenders? The sellers says there isn't. I am thinking he didn't check the bass out properly..... would love some thoughts!

 

[handofseven]

Based on the neck plate, it looks post '79. My only experience is with Stingrays and Sabres from '79 and every one I've ever seen in person or in picture, has had a neck stamp. The bass in those pictures looks original to me. IF you were going to fake a neck, it's not hard to fake a stamp. If there's anything "weird" about it, it would be the fact that is in such pristine condition... Plastic still on the pickguard...

 

[mikeswals]

A 4 bolt neckplate with a string thru-body bridge is a rare transition piece that would seem to put it at right about mid-late 1980.

When you receive the bass, you can remove the neck and see if there are date stamps in the body pocket and neck butt.

 

[cj1973]

IF you were going to fake a neck, it's not hard to fake a stamp. If there's anything "weird" about it, it would be the fact that is in such pristine condition... Plastic still on the pickguard...

Thank you sir. Yes, I also checked the Bridge out on that site and it appears to fit the 79-83 category.
1) Serial number now deleted from the neck plate and relocated to the bridge between the saddles and bridge tail. Serials retain the “B” prefix.
2) "MUSIC MAN" is now stamped on the tail of the bridge.
3) String through holes offset to the left.

yes, the weird aspect for sure is the 'pristine' so I spoke to the owner, who said his mom bought it in 79/80 and played a little and he did a little. However, it has been in storage ever since. I assumed perhaps there is a chance the pick-guard was replaced with a new one, but I cannot see someone faking it that much.
Could you tell by the 'lack of use' of the fretboard that it's original? meaning it just looks 'So Maple' with not even a sheen of anything on top.
Any idea what these could go for as well?

Thanks again!

 

[cj1973]

A 4 bolt neckplate with a string thru-body bridge is a rare transition piece that would seem to put it at right about mid-late 1980.

When you receive the bass, you can remove the neck and see if there are date stamps in the body pocket and neck butt.

Thank you! Would all these basses have the date stamp on them?
With the 'rare transition' aspect, is that a good or bad thing in terms of a Bass player or is it subject to opinion? Any information would be appreciated!

 

[Zentner]

I feel ya.

Not trying to promote my thread in any way... but I have a Pre-EB for sale, and it has some of the same characteristics. There seems to be a fair number of these transition basses with varying old and new features.

Here's some pictures of mine, and what I've determined. Maybe you'll find some answers there.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/...ingray-black-now-more-pictures-videos-991712/

 

[cj1973]

Thanks Zen!. Any information would be great.
On a side note, any idea what something like the one I am getting in that pristine condition would be worth (I understand an instrument is priceless to the person who wants to use it!) in today's market?
Still curious about the 'transition' aspects of these basses as well. I would think the 'updated' designs (especially if they continued on for a while) would be 'better' but curious to know more.
ps. anyone know how I could upload some pictures directly on this?

 

[cj1973]

Would appreciate any more information from folks out there. Thanks!!

 

[mikeswals]

With the 'rare transition' aspect, is that a good or bad thing in terms of a Bass player or is it subject to opinion? Any information would be appreciated!
----------------------------------
ps. anyone know how I could upload some pictures directly on this?

No, nothing bad about a transition at all. With Leo Fender and Musicman (then Grover Jackson doing the finishing and assembly in the later period), there were always tweaks going on along the way. The biggest change visually was going away from 3-bolt necks and string thru body bridges, to 4-bolt necks and top load bridges.
The best place you're going to read up on info is going to be from that www.musicman.org website.

If you want to post full images, I use a photobucket.com account. Then you can just copy and paste here the pic IMG codes and get....

 

[cj1973]

If you want to post full images, I use a photobucket.com account. Then you can just copy and paste here the pic IMG codes and get....

Thank you. Here they are for yours and others' view. Would appreciate any thoughts on this. Thanks so much!
Here are the individual Photobucket links to the pics. Would appreciate some discussion or opinions here. Thanks so much!!

 

[cj1973]

Just working through the information....
- Appears to be circa79-80 based on neck plate shape/date as well as serial. Not 77. Possibly 78 pots (tbc).
- The headstock logo is tricky though as musicbassman.org refers to this look with the (R) after MUSIC MAN and the text being slightly under the G string tuner. This part has me confused, unless the issued the (R) only in 79/80 as well.
- apparently seller's mom bought it in 79/80

Any other feedback based on pics would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[cj1973]

bump for some more thoughts

 

[smcd]

I have an '80 Stingray that has a serial number that is very close to, but slightly before your serial number. Both the neck (May 1980)and body (April 1980) have date stamps.

 

[smcd]

A 4 bolt neckplate with a string thru-body bridge is a rare transition piece that would seem to put it at right about mid-late 1980.

When you receive the bass, you can remove the neck and see if there are date stamps in the body pocket and neck butt.

I think you've hit the bulls eye.


My '80 is a transition piece as well. It has a 3-bolt neck, but the serial number is located on the bridge.

 

[cj1973]

Thanks smcd. Appreciate it.
Would you have any more pics of your bass?
Also, is a 'transition' piece not cool or something with an issue or was it when they were going permanently into the 4 bolt neck plate that they were using all sorts of pieces to put the guitars together? The newer EB's have the 4 bolt as well, which would say it's not a bad thing?

 

[smcd]

Thanks smcd. Appreciate it.
Would you have any more pics of your bass?
Also, is a 'transition' piece not cool or something with an issue or was it when they were going permanently into the 4 bolt neck plate that they were using all sorts of pieces to put the guitars together? The newer EB's have the 4 bolt as well, which would say it's not a bad thing?

"Transition" means it's a bass that was made in the time that MM was making some design changes. I find it very interesting that they made basses that incorporate features from both design periods. Kinda cool in my book. You don't see that kind of thing too often. Doesn't make it more collectable than an early "B00" serial number bass, but it does make it more interesting.

MM had the 3-bolt neck design properly executed. Unlike Fender. As a general rule, I'd prefer a 4-bolt, but with MM's it's not a big deal. Collectability-wise, the 3-bolt neck is more desirable. But it also has to have the epoxy coated preamp. Something neither yours or mine has. But it's a rare day you see an original bass in the condition yours is in, so there's that going for it in a big way.


More photos of my bass -

 

[cj1973]

"But it also has to have the epoxy coated preamp. Something neither yours or mine has. But it's a rare day you see an original bass in the condition yours is in, so there's that going for it in a big way.

Thanks SMCD. Really appreciate your feedback and updates.
This definitely puts things into clarity. Yours and mine are not the super collectable, but probably fairly up there in terms of sound and quality? Do you think it's safe to assume that?
Finally, what do you think your bass and mine would be worth today? (trying to see if I did ok, unbiasly) THanks again!!

 

[smcd]

Thanks SMCD. Really appreciate your feedback and updates.
This definitely puts things into clarity. Yours and mine are not the super collectable, but probably fairly up there in terms of sound and quality? Do you think it's safe to assume that?
Finally, what do you think your bass and mine would be worth today? (trying to see if I did ok, unbiasly) THanks again!!

All string-through-body pre-EB Stingray basses are collectable. Yours and mine are not as collectable as the early, epoxy preamp models, but not far behind. Even among the "B00" models, the first version with the "radio knobs" are more valuable than the models that came afterward. I'd say, price wise, the "B00" models have a 20% premium over ours.

As far as sound and quality goes, our basses are identical to the "B00" models. I've owned both, and they were both of the same high quality, and both sounded the same. The problems came later, with the non-string through models. Problems as in neck problems.