NBD- ‘86 Stingray

[cataract]

I didn’t need another bass, but I brought this 1986 Stingray home this afternoon. The finish is beat to hell, checked and falling off in some places. And it’s missing some original parts (the G key and saddles specifically.) I might try to source a vintage key but the Gotoh titanium saddles are doing the trick! Lots of transition era goodness going on. Pinch me!

What’s interesting to me is that this has a 3 band EQ, which I thought made its debut in ‘87. The bridge serial doesn’t come up in the official serial decoder.. maybe this one didn’t leave the factory til ‘87?

At any rate, it’s a great feeling instrument. The neck’s worn in and plays amazing, the perfect amount of chunk in all the right spots. This weekend I plan on replacing the battery and popping the hood to check out the preamp.

Back in the early ‘aughts I owned a 2006 or 2008 3eq 4H for a hot minute that I didn’t really bond with, it was way too sizzly for my liking. It might just be the alnico pickup but holy heck, this one sounds lovely even with the treble fully boosted lol.

Anyhow, thanks for looking y’all. I’ll update this thread with more photos when I pop the plate and start digging around lol.

Oh yeah, almost forgot- weight? 9 lb 7 oz

 

[CletusMarley]

Nicer score!! That sucker fell out of the mojo tree and hit every branch on the way down. lol Very cool!!!

 

[cataract]

Nicer score!! That sucker fell out of the mojo tree and hit every branch on the way down. lol Very cool!!!

Thanks! Lol yeah I might clean the fretboard next string change but I don’t even wanna mess with the rest of it!

 

[ghostdog93]

Great patina. Mojo dojo casa bass. I'd play the heck out of that.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Sweet!!!

 

[Iristone]

What’s interesting to me is that this has a 3 band EQ, which I thought made its debut in ‘87. The bridge serial doesn’t come up in the official serial decoder.. maybe this one didn’t leave the factory til ‘87?

Strange is its language and you've got no decoder (Sorry, but I can't help especially after seeing your avatar)

 

[Taustin Powers]

MOJO!!!

 

[_Obra_]

It's a beautiful bass!
I always thought they were introduced 3EQ preamp in 1987.
Also, i think on 4 string StingRays they were always Alnico pickups until neodymium in 2018. Ceramics were only on 5 strings. But yet again, maybe I am wrong...

Really cool bass!

 

[mikeswals]

It was probably retrofitted back in the day. There was a point in time when you could send the bass in and have it swapped when that preamp came out.

Also, EBMM still sells that tuning machine.

 

[ahbradot]

I didn’t need another bass, but I brought this 1986 Stingray home this afternoon. The finish is beat to hell, checked and falling off in some places. And it’s missing some original parts (the G key and saddles specifically.) I might try to source a vintage key but the Gotoh titanium saddles are doing the trick! Lots of transition era goodness going on. Pinch me!
View attachment 7340235
View attachment 7340236
What’s interesting to me is that this has a 3 band EQ, which I thought made its debut in ‘87. The bridge serial doesn’t come up in the official serial decoder.. maybe this one didn’t leave the factory til ‘87?
View attachment 7340242
View attachment 7340243
View attachment 7340246
View attachment 7340251
View attachment 7340257
View attachment 7340258
View attachment 7340260
At any rate, it’s a great feeling instrument. The neck’s worn in and plays amazing, the perfect amount of chunk in all the right spots. This weekend I plan on replacing the battery and popping the hood to check out the preamp.

Back in the early ‘aughts I owned a 2006 or 2008 3eq 4H for a hot minute that I didn’t really bond with, it was way too sizzly for my liking. It might just be the alnico pickup but holy heck, this one sounds lovely even with the treble fully boosted lol.

Anyhow, thanks for looking y’all. I’ll update this thread with more photos when I pop the plate and start digging around lol.
View attachment 7340271
Oh yeah, almost forgot- weight? 9 lb 7 oz

It would be great if you were to eventually post some of the ear candy with that treble all the way up.
It's great that you found an early stingray as they do not possess too much sizzle.
Awesome bass!!!!

 

[lordradish]

As an owner of a new transparent orange SR, I heartily approve!

 

[cataract]

Strange is its language and you've got no decoder (Sorry, but I can't help especially after seeing your avatar)

Ohhh yeah I’ve been ripping some Levin lines on thing for sure haha

 

[cataract]

It was probably retrofitted back in the day. There was a point in time when you could send the bass in and have it swapped when that preamp came out.

Also, EBMM still sells that tuning machine.

That makes sense! And what a cool service. I’ll look into buying a new key direct, thanks for the heads up.

 

[cataract]

It would be great if you were to eventually post some of the ear candy with that treble all the way up.
It's great that you found an early stingray as they do not possess too much sizzle.
Awesome bass!!!!

Thanks! I’ll be recording some snippets for sure. Between this and all of my other cool basses I should probably start up a YouTube channel haha

 

[Lo-E]

In my opinion (which might not be worth all that much…), the shape of the EBMM necks from around ‘86 until around ‘88 or ‘89 are the nicest they ever made. I’m personally a fan of the 2-band pre but that’s just me and my ears.

That time period, for me, was the golden age of Stingrays. Most of the features of the original ‘rays but with body contours and a more secure neck attachment. They’re absolute winners. Enjoy your new Ray!

 

[cyclealt]

The only thing I get envious of when it comes to other people's stingray is the weight. I got a boat anchor.

 

[Crusher47]

Awesome looking bass!! Bet it sounds terrific too, Congrats!

 

[Pet Sounds]

You landed a real beauty there! Play it in good health.

 

[JKoehler]

I had a ‘85 “honey burst” stingray that was converted to fretless. It had the same checking and pieces of finish chipping off. It looked like the finish never adhered to the ash very well.

 

[H K]

I didn’t need another bass, but I brought this 1986 Stingray home this afternoon. The finish is beat to hell, checked and falling off in some places. And it’s missing some original parts (the G key and saddles specifically.) I might try to source a vintage key but the Gotoh titanium saddles are doing the trick! Lots of transition era goodness going on. Pinch me!
View attachment 7340235
View attachment 7340236
What’s interesting to me is that this has a 3 band EQ, which I thought made its debut in ‘87. The bridge serial doesn’t come up in the official serial decoder.. maybe this one didn’t leave the factory til ‘87?
View attachment 7340242
View attachment 7340243
View attachment 7340246
View attachment 7340251
View attachment 7340257
View attachment 7340258
View attachment 7340260
At any rate, it’s a great feeling instrument. The neck’s worn in and plays amazing, the perfect amount of chunk in all the right spots. This weekend I plan on replacing the battery and popping the hood to check out the preamp.

Back in the early ‘aughts I owned a 2006 or 2008 3eq 4H for a hot minute that I didn’t really bond with, it was way too sizzly for my liking. It might just be the alnico pickup but holy heck, this one sounds lovely even with the treble fully boosted lol.

Anyhow, thanks for looking y’all. I’ll update this thread with more photos when I pop the plate and start digging around lol.
View attachment 7340271
Oh yeah, almost forgot- weight? 9 lb 7 oz

Gorgeous! Those finish lines, oooooh weee. Is it nitro, you think? I mean 40 years will crack poly too, probably.
I wonder if the pickguard is original, or if it was white/parchment, which would look great too.

Nice score man, congratulations.