NBD - 77 Stingray, and a vintage Ray question

[Dr. Cheese]

Thanks everyone for the great comments.

I dont think theres a strap wide enough to make we want to gig a 10 lb bass but I'm impressed a bunch of you guys do. I may have to take it out for a short set somewhere sometime...
But I'm sure enjoying playing it. It's a very cool bass, I see what he liked so much about it.



Horrifying. 10 lbs is great for a miniature dachshund. Not a bass

I have gigged maybe three basses in the 12-13lbs range. That said, I play sitting in church most of the time.

 

[cripula]

I have gigged maybe three basses in the 12-13lbs range. That said, I play sitting in church most of the time.

I have too... through all of the 80s and most of the 90s what I played weighed a ton. Seemed fine then. Now... definitely not fine!

 

[nivagues]

.
My Natural '79 is around 12-13 lbs. It came with a nice wide strap when I bought it new.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I have too... through all of the 80s and most of the 90s what I played weighed a ton. Seemed fine then. Now... definitely not fine!

Being 30-35 years older makes a world of difference!

 

[GwenOnBass]

The word for your acquisition, I imagine, is bittersweet.

I expect the "proper" 77 pickguard is black, for that's what came on my (nearly) identical 79. Prompted by this thread I weighed mine and she rings in at a shade under 10 pounds. Yep, slab body, no cutaway.

Mine never received the refinish yours did, which some may read as "authentically roadworn". The finish under the pickguard is the original hue, while the remainder of the bass took on a deep amber hue over time.

Just shows to go ya, I suppose. I don't care for the feel of a pickguard. I'm forever intersecting a screw or edge with my thumb when I'm not thumb muting. Were I to remove it, the screw holes would drive me batty (battier <ahem>) than the pickguard.

My original black pickguard is on standby. My replacement is a clear one I bought in 81, with the addition of a graphic I cut to fit under it: