Musicman Stingray Bass Pre Ernie 1980 ..SOLD PENDING £1300

[geoff90guitar]

Superb quality in craftsmanship, materials and sound. Weight a nice 9lbs. Early 1980's. I could have had it refinished but you know it can de-value an instrument. Some small routing in the control well where someone must have had a 3 pot control system. It is now as it normally was with the 2 way boosts. The well has been screened with metallic paint which was really unnecessary. Includes hard case.
Can be shipped if necessary. You're welcome here to test before you buy.

Please see link:
http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/Geoff_Turner/library/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980?sort=9&page=1

tele 01902 833173 Geoff. West Midlands, England UK

[Highfox]

Nice bass.
One of the photo's of the back of the headstock could be a bit misleading looks like an EB to me?

[JazzBassfreak]

Any trades matey?

[Matte_black]

I guess the preamp is newer, no black epoxy dipped.

[Shedua511]

They stopped dipping in epoxy in 1979 (see www.musicmanbass.org for reference), so that's legit.
Only really confusin thing is the shot of the back of the headstock, which belongs to a modern era Ernie Ball Stingray: it also has the oil finished neck. Probably a case of wrong file.

Edited November 15, 2014 by Shedua511

[geoff90guitar]

Maybe it was intended for a Cutlass?
Makes it unique by the notes of the experts.

[geoff90guitar]

Didn't want to spend time researching to try and clear the genuinity up but here's snippets of info:

String Tree
EB aquired Music Man in 1984 and continued production in the same year. Note the absence of any reference to "Ernie Ball" on the logo. Also note the string tree located on the A an D strings which is an EB feature (Pre-EB Basses have it located on the D and G strings). This instrument also has a contoured body (Pre-EB 'Rays were slab).

Fretboard
Fretted Rosewood was introduced at the end of 1979. The only Rosewood before that was fretless. - and what a beautiful feel it is.

The bass serial No. stamped on the bridge plate is B019387
Below is an extract taken from The Original Comprehensive Musicman Bass site.

B019362..Neck 5 Feb 1980. Body 28 Jan 1980. Strings through body and 3 bolt neck. Non-epoxy pre-amp (Tantalum capacitors). B019393..1980. White with Maple. Black pg. Serial on bridge. Music Man stamp on bridge tail. Strings through body. 3 bolt neck. Encircled "R" on headstock logo. B019398..1980. Sunburst with Rosewood. Left handed.

Everything is correct - especially including the warm sound and feel. However, it is a mystery with that transfer but I will try and find the time to enquire how it could have happened.

[Highfox]

I'm a little confused by all the above!
As has been mentioned a couple of times the bass looks fine apart from the photo of the rear of the headstock?
I'm not buying as I already have an 82, but it might help you sell it if you put the right photo's and information up.

[geoff90guitar]

I've tried to be as descriptive as possible. Since additional research ( and I thought it would never come to it) I appreciate now that this decal on the back doesn't tie in with 1980 and would have come along 4 years or so later when the new EB factory was set up. However, as far as I'm concerned it looks right and feels right and everything seems spot on.
Perhaps a worker took it along to the new site and added the logo there. There must have been friction in the company when Leo Fender walked out in 1980 and who knows what.
If there is fraudulence, and I can't see that, surely the person would have removed this logo.

I don't quite understand what pictures I can add.
Please advise.

[Shedua511]

Really not whising to put you on a spot here, only trying to help you sort out the info.
To me (not a potential buyer, I have 3 pre EB stingrays) the picture of the back of the headstock appears without a doubt to belong to a different bass than all the other pictures.
The picture of the back of the neck shows a finished neck with some wear on the lower side and the skunk stripe, while the headstock shows the jump between the poly finish and the oil finish and no skunk stripe, which would appear at about the same height as that figure in the wood to the right.
This is what the back of my 1979 looks like: the skunk stripe would be visible in your picture if it was there.

Edited November 16, 2014 by Shedua511

[ikay]

It's this pic in your gallery which looks wrong ...

[Apothem]

I believe Shedua and ikay are correct. In the wrong pic, you can see the vertical line where the poly finish of the back of the headstock ends and the oil/wax finish of the back of the neck starts: that has been introduced in the '90s, well after the skunk stripe on the back of the neck has been discontinued, so that pic cannot belong to a pre EB.

Edited November 16, 2014 by Apothem

[geoff90guitar]

Lads,
I must apologise for taking up your time. This site is very informative and you're so quick.
I have just took the bass out of the case and there is NO decal on the back of the headstock. I have shown the wrong pic.as suggested initially but I kept on persisting, don't ask why. I must stop drinking on a weekend. I've been a prat and did a lot of unnecessary research yesterday.
Anyway, the correct pic to follow later today.
Sorry again and thanks for pointing this out.

[pierreganseman]

There's quite a few geeks on this site llol.... good the thing is cleared up

[Shedua511]

No worries mate, glad I could help to sort it out!
Those are great instruments btw, they punch like the modern EBs, but they have a smoothness to them that is just worth the extra £££!
Good idea not to refinish also: I have a '78 that looks exactly like yours, it's worn in just the right places, feels as comfy as a well worn pair of shoes

Edited November 17, 2014 by Shedua511

[Apothem]

[quote name='pierreganseman' timestamp='1416212628' post='2607876']
There's quite a few geeks on this site llol.... good the thing is cleared up
[/quote]

LOL Well, it depends... I have had 'Rays from every single decade plus the Classic, so I have learnt a lot about them, but if you ask me about Fenders... errr... uhm.... I know virtually zilch.

[geoff90guitar]

Lads,
Thanks greatly for your help.
Best wishes all.
I've attached pics for confirmation of rear headstock

http://s1355.photobucket.com/user/geoff90guitar/library/Stingray%201980%20headstock%20rear?sort=3&page=1

Geoff

[gareth]

[URL=http://s1355.photobucket.com/user/geoff90guitar/media/Stingray%201980%20headstock%20rear/imagejpg2_zps5709594b.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/q702/geoff90guitar/Stingray%201980%20headstock%20rear/imagejpg2_zps5709594b.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[gareth]

[URL=http://s1355.photobucket.com/user/geoff90guitar/media/Stingray%201980%20headstock%20rear/imagejpg1_zpsd2582914.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/q702/geoff90guitar/Stingray%201980%20headstock%20rear/imagejpg1_zpsd2582914.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[gareth]

[URL=http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/Geoff_Turner/media/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/1_zps416cd94d.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b603/Geoff_Turner/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/1_zps416cd94d.jpg[/IMG][/URL][URL=http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/Geoff_Turner/media/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/3_zps315e9ff9.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b603/Geoff_Turner/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/3_zps315e9ff9.jpg[/IMG][/URL][URL=http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/Geoff_Turner/media/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/5_zps747beea6.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b603/Geoff_Turner/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/5_zps747beea6.jpg[/IMG][/URL][URL=http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/Geoff_Turner/media/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/9_zps0620e96b.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b603/Geoff_Turner/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/9_zps0620e96b.jpg[/IMG][/URL][URL=http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/Geoff_Turner/media/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/10_zpsfe6e30ca.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b603/Geoff_Turner/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/10_zpsfe6e30ca.jpg[/IMG][/URL][URL=http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/Geoff_Turner/media/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/11_zps6e392a0b.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b603/Geoff_Turner/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/11_zps6e392a0b.jpg[/IMG][/URL][URL=http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/Geoff_Turner/media/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/1_zps416cd94d.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b603/Geoff_Turner/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/1_zps416cd94d.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[gareth]

[URL=http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/Geoff_Turner/media/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/2_zps30d7b724.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b603/Geoff_Turner/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/2_zps30d7b724.jpg[/IMG][/URL][URL=http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/Geoff_Turner/media/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/8_zps6d6df6f1.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b603/Geoff_Turner/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/8_zps6d6df6f1.jpg[/IMG][/URL][URL=http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/Geoff_Turner/media/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/7_zpsd7b4334c.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b603/Geoff_Turner/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/7_zpsd7b4334c.jpg[/IMG][/URL][URL=http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/Geoff_Turner/media/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/6_zps41fcdcc2.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b603/Geoff_Turner/Musicman%20Stingray%20Bass%201980/6_zps41fcdcc2.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

nice bass

glws

[geoff90guitar]

Wow ! ,
Cheers Gareth,

Geoff

[gareth]

cheers Geoff - just makes it easier to see the photos

[geoff90guitar]

SOLD - pending

[CH161]

This is great to see...non-buyers stopping by with good info for the seller.

It's easy to muddle up photos these days.

Good result everyone - these are great basses. Mine's a 79.

Someone's going to get a great bass here - good luck!