NBD- ‘86 Stingray

[nivagues]

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!

.
KQQL Bass!

The 3EQ was introduced in 1987 and the stock pickups were ALNICO.

IMO cataract's Bass most likely left the factory in 1987 (although the neck and body are dated 1986). I've seen a few like this. However, as said above, it may have been retrofitted with the 3EQ for the owner..

The serial number records for the SR4 commenced in1987 but maybe not early enough to include cataract's Bass.

 

[Wood and Wire]

Looks like 6 to me, but from what I’ve read it’s not uncommon to see mismatched month or even year stamps on Stingrays from this era. I’m gonna check the date codes on the pots tomorrow. But if this was indeed sent in for a 2EQ->3EQ preamp swap, the mystery might grow even further lol. I’ll post my findings!

It's weird; there's a point where you zoom in, and it flips from a 5 to a 6, then sort of both.

Zoomed out, it really looks like the 5 of 25, but zoomed in it's so blurred an mushy it could be either way - but halfway zoomed, it definitely looks like a 6...

I think the thing that is now making me come down on the side of it being 1986, is that when you compare the rest of the blurry misprinted date on the body, with the pin sharp date on the neck, the nature of that smudging on 198 suggests that the final digit, in all likelihood is a 6.


I'm not sure that the pots will tell you too much, as the date for the preamp is written on the underside of the control plate - so if the original owner sent an '86 2 bander in for an upgrade to the 3 band, it's simply going to be dated some time after Q3 1987.

 

[cataract]

Gut shots- looks like a factory 3eq preamp alright. Only one of the pots had a discernible date code, which as far I can tell is from 1987. Cool stuff!

 

[H K]

I think the finish is polyester, not polyurethane, which would explain the jaunty craquelure. I wish my polyurethane finished basses would check like this lol. I think the original pickguard was clear acrylic. It was falling apart when the guy I bought this from got it, so he replaced it with this black one. I’m really digging the Halloween vibes lol

Theres still hope, I've seen PU bases that have cracked and faded like crazy. Just takes abit more time

 

[Wood and Wire]

Gut shots- looks like a factory 3eq preamp alright. Only one of the pots had a discernible date code, which as far I can tell is from 1987. Cool stuff!
View attachment 7341154
View attachment 7341155
View attachment 7341156
View attachment 7341157

There's sharpie on the underside of the control plate, but I can't make out the technicians initials, or a date.

The bridge is pre-EB stock they were using up during the transition, so it won't appear on the EBMM serial number portal, but there's a thread on the EB forum where the person who now owns all the old pre-EB paperwork (build sheets, with serial numbers) will give you the details if it's on the list.

I would imagine yours would fall through the gaps, as the pre-EB paperwork wouldn't include a build after the company had been sold, and the EB database doesn't include pre-EB instruments, or instruments using old stock bridges, with pre-EB serial numbers.

I have a feeling the person who set up www.MusicManbass.Global is the person who owns the pre-EB paperwork, so you might get some useful info from them, without having to track down the relevant thread on the EB forum.



Edit :

According to this page Music Man Bass Global - Serials EB Sting Ray 4 you can use the EB serial number portal, by simply omitting the letter B from the serial number :

Serial Number Database

www.music-man.com

Though your bridge has the patent number, so it is a pre-EB bridge, and probably won't be included.

 

[mikeswals]

I have a feeling the person who set up www.MusicManbass.Global is the person who owns the pre-EB paperwork

Its different guys. The one who bought the box of records; IIRC they were the paint shop records from CLF and Leo's own box, and it was only about 3 years worth. The records did show what serial, finish color, and which neck those basses left the factory with. And IIRC it also showed if a bass came back for warranty repair.
I'm pretty sure he said it didn't include any Grover Jackson production years.
I did chat and verify with him on a couple I had. But in more recent years that guy kinda disappeared, I haven't seen him around the usual places he was.

 

[cataract]

Its different guys. The one who bought the box of records; IIRC they were the paint shop records from CLF and Leo's own box, and it was only about 3 years worth. The records did show what serial, finish color, and which neck those basses left the factory with. And IIRC it also showed if a bass came back for warranty repair.
I'm pretty sure he said it didn't include any Grover Jackson production years.
I did chat and verify with him on a couple I had. But in more recent years that guy kinda disappeared, I haven't seen him around the usual places he was.

Thanks for the heads up. I was about to send him an email this evening too haha.

I’m curious to know if there are any official records out there somewhere documenting instruments that came back for a 2eq->3eq swap but if not, I’m not too worried about it. The preamp that’s in this one looks authentic for the time, and the instrument sounds and plays amazing. I’ve never played a finer feeling Music Man bass and I feel lucky to have it.

 

[Wood and Wire]

Its different guys. The one who bought the box of records; IIRC they were the paint shop records from CLF and Leo's own box, and it was only about 3 years worth. The records did show what serial, finish color, and which neck those basses left the factory with. And IIRC it also showed if a bass came back for warranty repair.
I'm pretty sure he said it didn't include any Grover Jackson production years.
I did chat and verify with him on a couple I had. But in more recent years that guy kinda disappeared, I haven't seen him around the usual places he was.

Good to know.

Thanks.

 

[Wood and Wire]

I’m curious to know if there are any official records out there somewhere documenting instruments that came back for a 2eq->3eq swap but if not, I’m not too worried about it. The preamp that’s in this one looks authentic for the time, and the instrument sounds and plays amazing. I’ve never played a finer feeling Music Man bass and I feel lucky to have it.

I think EBMM introduced their new serial number system in 1987 - the same year they introduced the 3 band preamp.

I'm not sure how soon they offered the preamp swap service, but even if was straight off the bat, it seems unlikely that the new serial number system was introduced after the 3 band model was released ; it would make sense that they wanted a clean slate for the new product launch (3 band preamp, and 5 string bass), and had figured out the serial number system in advance.

This is the long winded way of saying 2 band instruments sent in for a 3 band refit, would have been completed by EBMM after they had figured out the serial numbers, and there is almost certainly a a record of those jobs kept by EBMM - the question is, did they record the instruments serial number in that documentation?

I think it's possible they did, as they usually ask for the instruments serial number, and the return of the original pickup / preamp etc, in the event that one fails, and you need to buy a replacement ; if they hadn't noted your instruments serial number when the refit was undertaken, they might insist on selling you a replacement 2 band preamp, or even refuse if you were returning a broken 3 band preamp, and the instrument should have a 2 band.

I'd e-mail EBMM customer service, and see if they have records of legacy preamp swaps, going back to 1987.

 

[Lo-E]

I'd e-mail EBMM customer service, and see if they have records of legacy preamp swaps, going back to 1987.

When I emailed them to learn more about my ‘88, they were very helpful.

 

[cataract]

I think EBMM introduced their new serial number system in 1987 - the same year they introduced the 3 band preamp.

I'm not sure how soon they offered the preamp swap service, but even if was straight off the bat, it seems unlikely that the new serial number system was introduced after the 3 band model was released ; it would make sense that they wanted a clean slate for the new product launch (3 band preamp, and 5 string bass), and had figured out the serial number system in advance.

This is the long winded way of saying 2 band instruments sent in for a 3 band refit, would have been completed by EBMM after they had figured out the serial numbers, and there is almost certainly a a record of those jobs kept by EBMM - the question is, did they record the instruments serial number in that documentation?

I think it's possible they did, as they usually ask for the instruments serial number, and the return of the original pickup / preamp etc, in the event that one fails, and you need to buy a replacement ; if they hadn't noted your instruments serial number when the refit was undertaken, they might insist on selling you a replacement 2 band preamp, or even refuse if you were returning a broken 3 band preamp, and the instrument should have a 2 band.

I'd e-mail EBMM customer service, and see if they have records of legacy preamp swaps, going back to 1987.

Thanks for the suggestion, and good thinking- I’ll send them a message tonight. Will report back with their reply!