MY STOLEN STINGRAY

[Bassconbeatz]

If you reach out to the guys in Ernie Ball via their forum, they may try to mediate something with the current owner since you're one the first owners of the Stingray and even met the man himself, Mr. Leo Fender. I think it's a pretty cool story if you able to get it back after so many years.

 

[Davbassdude]

My my, $350 for the bass and $160 for the case! I don’t think hardshell cases are much more than that now. That was a long time ago! Good luck with the search!

An ANVIL is not just a hardshell case. At the time, it was the most durable, almost indestructible, form fitted flight case. I still have the Anvil Forge case for my 1980 Ric!

 

[bassdude51]

Such a heart breaking story!!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing. Maybe Sterling Ball can help you out with a special kind of replacement.

30 years later, Lord knows where or what happened to you special bass.

I hate to say it but good chance it is in a land fill somewhere. Along with many other vintage instruments.

What a very special bass to have been stolen from you! Makes us sick!

 

[TonyRo]

This is a fantastic thread. Following for sure. Hope the OP manages to get a deal on his first Ray!

 

[Bass'd on a true story]

Such a heart breaking story!!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing. Maybe Sterling Ball can help you out with a special kind of replacement.

30 years later, Lord knows where or what happened to you special bass.

I hate to say it but good chance it is in a land fill somewhere. Along with many other vintage instruments.

What a very special bass to have been stolen from you! Makes us sick!

They actually located the bass in Japan. Read the thread, it's pretty awesome.

To OP: congrats on even getting to see it again. That's really 1 in 1,000,000 level good luck right there. What's your plan? Are you trying to reach out to the seller and offer to buy it back? Language barriers are rough, but I'm sure you can find someone who can translate Japanese to English for you to help you at least start up a line of communication.

 

[bassdude51]

They actually located the bass in Japan. Read the thread, it's pretty awesome.

To OP: congrats on even getting to see it again. That's really 1 in 1,000,000 level good luck right there. What's your plan? Are you trying to reach out to the seller and offer to buy it back? Language barriers are rough, but I'm sure you can find someone who can translate Japanese to English for you to help you at least start up a line of communication.

(Please forgive my ADD for not going through 6 pages. Now, I must go back and read 6 pages.)

 

[MultiScaleMale]

(Please forgive my ADD for not going through 6 pages. Now, I must go back and read 6 pages.)

I'll take pity, heh. #34

 

[Freight Train]

They actually located the bass in Japan. Read the thread, it's pretty awesome.

To OP: congrats on even getting to see it again. That's really 1 in 1,000,000 level good luck right there. What's your plan? Are you trying to reach out to the seller and offer to buy it back? Language barriers are rough, but I'm sure you can find someone who can translate Japanese to English for you to help you at least start up a line of communication.

Well I had no plan. As I originally said, I'd just like to know if it found a good home with a good player. I certainly would never get litigious about it. If I get it back it would be an unbelievable blessing, but I don't expect anyone to just give it to me. If I had any other intention it would be to find out who stole it, and what steps it went through from there.

 

[PWRL]

This is one reason TB is awesome. I really hope the OP gets his bass back.

 

[murphy]

That’s why the best approach is to offer FMV + story rather than legal action or accusations.

ETA: Japanese people can be very sentimental.

And a big wad of money to make it worthwhile

 

[Freight Train]

I tell you, I didn’t mean it the way you’re taking it. Sorry I said anything. And you really can’t presume about any loss that I or anyone else has suffered unless you know for a fact.

I'm not saying you haven't suffered any losses. What i means to say if you haven't suffered this particular loss, or know the circumstances behind it, you shouldn't just flippantly tell me to get over it. So read what you posted just now and live by it.

 

[Freight Train]

Beautiful! Well it was not the first natural with maple board. Many were made before that during 76 and early 77. Serial #'s began at B001000 and went from there.

(Some) preEB Musicman listed here.
- Serials Pre-EB Sting Ray

Wow that's odd. I misrepresented what the tech said. He said other naturals with maple had been made but for private collections of Leo and emplyess, but this was the first intended to go on the market. Not sure what that was all about.

 

[Freight Train]

LOL! Yeah you guys are right, at that price I was the original thief! But realize that was a factory-direct courtesy sale of the bass and case since I was a pro audio salesman in Dallas.

 

[murphy]

Did you list it here? たけじいさん　コレクション | Louis Johnson Chopper & Slap BASS　ルイス・ジョンソン - 楽天ブログ

You are definately the HERO of the weekend....It is mind blowing that you managed to locate this needle in a haystack.

I assume you are in espionage? wink wink?....if @CyberSnyder is your real name?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

You are definately the hero of the weekend....It is mind blowing that you managed to locate this needle in a haystack.

I assume you are in espionage? wink wink?....if @CyberSnyder is your real name?

Cybersecurity actually. It only took ~20 seconds to find. Honestly, most times you just get lucky.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I tell you, I didn’t mean it the way you’re taking it. Sorry I said anything. And you really can’t presume about any loss that I or anyone else has suffered unless you know for a fact.

I'll just say that I read your original reply as "quite crying and get over it already". If that's not what you meant, you sure didn't make that clear.

 

[murphy]

Wow, what an emotional rollercoaster that derailed halfway through but landed on the tracks! That's some dukes of hazard level shiz right there. Congrats on finding the bass! I hope that brings you at least some closure. I hope you can contact the owner to see how she's doing.

I'm sorry @LowEndLobster whenever I see your Avatar it makes me laugh thinking about these funny Leons furniture Store commercial we have in Canada with these Hipsters

 

[Artman]

Maybe you should attempt to contact the current owner, tell him your story, and tell him that you are happy to see that your beloved instrument has apparently been well cared for. Maybe if he returns correspondence, you can get him to tell you where and from whom he obtained it. You might be surprised. It could be someone you knew or did business with at the time.
Peter Frampton got his “Phoenix” Les Paul back, along with all of the details of it’s life over the years since it was swiped from amongst the crash debris.

 

[Freight Train]

I reiterate. There was nothing in the text that was flippant and it wasn’t my intention. I wouldn’t wish anyone good luck after having been flippant with them.

Sorry man. These are testy times. Shouldn't be sniping at fellow bassists anyway, especially now! Love you my brother!

 

[rocmonster]

Don’t know if this has been posted:

- Serials Pre-EB Sting Ray

there is a listing for B002360:

B002360..Neck 4 Mar 1977. Body 28 Feb 1977. Natural with Maple. Black pg. White pickup.

good luck!