Pre Ernie Ball music man stingray

[spectroscopia]

Hello fellow experts.

I have an old Pre Erie Ball Music man Stingray bass. It has a 2 piece ash body, string through bridge. Serial number B021396. I am very curious when this bass was produced as most of the information suggests that it was made 79/83. Although from what I found out is that the string through body stopped in 81? Would be great to know if anyone else here has a 4 bolt pre Erie Ball music man bass with a string through body. Also I feel that the neck radius is flatter than 7 and a quarter. Can anyone shed some light please? I have attached photo's of the bass.

 

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Here is more photo updates.

 

[fermata]

I have nothing substantive to add, other than that's my absolute favorite Stingray look--natural/maple/black pickguard. Lovely instrument!

 

[mikeswals]

Seems like it would be a 1980 to me. The pots are all dated 79, but the jack is what you see on very late 80/81-and later.
4-bolt necks came in during late 80, string thru went away also in 80 as they changed to Grover Jackson assembled instruments.

 

[spectroscopia]

Seems like it would be a 1980 to me. The pots are all dated 79, but the jack is what you see on very late 80/81-and later.
4-bolt necks came in during late 80, string thru went away also in 80 as they changed to Grover Jackson assembled instruments.

Thank you for the info. Can you show me how the jack looked like in the pre 80 models? If possible, would be very helpful.

Grocer Jackson as the Jackson heavy metal guitars we know of today? How are these late necks are like comparing to the pre 1980 models?

I also noticed that the radius seems to be flatter than 7 and a quarter. Might be just the feel.

 

[mikeswals]

I had a very early 1980. It was also a switching jack, but didnt have the black plastic shroud on it.
My 1981 had the same jack you had.

The earlier 76-76 didnt have switching jacks, the preamps were on all the time.

Grocer Jackson as the Jackson heavy metal guitars we know of today? How are these late necks are like comparing to the pre 1980 models?

Yes, the same guy.
These necks are slimmer on the back compared to the earlier ones.

 

[spectroscopia]

I had a very early 1980. It was also a switching jack, but didnt have the black plastic shroud on it.
My 1981 had the same jack you had.

The earlier 76-76 didnt have switching jacks, the preamps were on all the time.


Yes, the same guy.
These necks are slimmer on the back compared to the earlier ones.

And your 1980 had the slimmer Jackson neck? Which did you prefer?

 

[Iridescentone]

I had one exactly like yours. Neck and body were stamped May '83. It retained the original slab body and string-thru body features. It had a 4-bolt neck sans gasket, and of course it had the Musicman decal. It was unusually light weight for a Stingray and was nicely built. I always suspected that it was a Grover Jackson-built unit. I don't recall the pot code numbers or details about the output jack, either.

By contrast, I also had an '83 Cutlass at one time. That one did not have the string-thru body feature, and its 4-bolt neck plate had a black plastic gasket.

Evidently, certain features may or may not appear on MM basses from the transition years.

 

[malthumb]

Thank you for the info. Can you show me how the jack looked like in the pre 80 models? If possible, would be very helpful.

Grocer Jackson as the Jackson heavy metal guitars we know of today? How are these late necks are like comparing to the pre 1980 models?

I also noticed that the radius seems to be flatter than 7 and a quarter. Might be just the feel.

Here's the input jack of my '78 Sting Ray

 

[spectroscopia]

Is the feel of the 78 stingray is quite different comparing to the 81/83 stingrays?

Here's the input jack of my '78 Sting Ray

 

[Justshootit]

Mine must be an 81-83 as it's a 4-bolt neck with no string-thru. From what I understand, 1984 is when EB started making the Stingray and this is definitely pre-EB, so 81-83 has to be it from what I'm reading here. No I'm not willing to disassemble the neck joint to pull the serial number.

 

[Sparky Mark]

This is a great MM Stingray resource. It'll give you just about all the info you'll need to date yours :-
Music Man Bass Global - Neck Plates Pre-EB & EB

 

[Justshootit]

OK so it's an 82 or 83. @Sparky Mark -- thanks for the link!!