Vintage Ernie Ball Music Man £1100

[Lucychap]

1996 Ernie Ball Music Man with case. Selling off my dads collection. This was one of his favourites to play. It’s imported from America and the serial number can be supplied upon request. I don’t know a huge amount it but welcome to view and test. 

Edited December 17, 2017 by Lucychap
Added manufacturing date more pictures

[bubinga5]

Ive never seen a SR4 with that switch. I presume its a coil switch. There will be some Musicman experts along soon to educate me. 

[AndyTravis]

It’s a sterling. Will be late 90’s as far as I can see.

 

[AlexiaSpring]

I had a 94 Sterling with the same switch. Although it’s strange to me that if this is a 90’s Sterling why no bridge mutes? 🤔

[AndyTravis]

After 94 they lost the mutes 

[AlexiaSpring]

Just now, AndyTravis said:

After 94 they lost the mutes 

So 93 was the first year of production for the Sterling if I’m not mistaken, there was only a year of them with mutes

[AndyTravis]

I’ve seen very few sterling’s with mutes. Might’ve been 95 on the mutes, they’re often called the flea bridge as he played a stingray with the big plate bridge but no mutes.

[Lucychap]

Hi, I’m not a Bass player. As I advised I’m selling off my Dads Bass collection. I have had it valued by several people who have given me the description I’ve written. It has Music Man engraved on it. Please don’t make negative comments I just want to sell this as it’s very difficult having it my house with my dad no longer around. 

[AndyTravis]

I’ve not made any negative comments- just trying to help identify the bass for you.

in my opinion it’s a late 90’s Sterling model by Musicman.

and it looks lovely.

[Lucychap]

Sorry I ment to say I’ve had a few negative messages. I’ve just joined this today in the hope I can sell it. I had 14 Basses to sell. I’ve had it valued by several people and told it’s definately a vintage. I appreciate any feedback but I also need to try and sell it. It has a code on of B0311 it also has another number. If anyone can shed any more light on it that would be great.

[AlexiaSpring]

6 minutes ago, AndyTravis said:

I’ve not made any negative comments- just trying to help identify the bass for you.

in my opinion it’s a late 90’s Sterling model by Musicman.

and it looks lovely.

Late 90’s seems like a solid guesstimate I’d say 

[AlexiaSpring]

2 minutes ago, Lucychap said:

Sorry I ment to say I’ve had a few negative messages. I’ve just joined this today in the hope I can sell it. I had 14 Basses to sell. I’ve had it valued by several people and told it’s definately a vintage. I appreciate any feedback but I also need to try and sell it. It has a code on of B0311 it also has another number. If anyone can shed any more light on it that would be great.

You could find out the exact year of production by removing the neck and checking the stamp in the pocket

[Lucychap]

[Lucychap]

I wouldn’t know how to remove the neck?? Sorry

[AlexiaSpring]

Stings off and the 4/5 screws on the back.

 

takes a screwdriver and someone to use it 

[Lucychap]

Ok I’ve managed to unscrew it and it says 1996 is this the year of manufacture? If so I will change the description now. 

[AndyTravis]

12 minutes ago, Lucychap said:

Sorry I ment to say I’ve had a few negative messages. I’ve just joined this today in the hope I can sell it. I had 14 Basses to sell. I’ve had it valued by several people and told it’s definately a vintage. I appreciate any feedback but I also need to try and sell it. It has a code on of B0311 it also has another number. If anyone can shed any more light on it that would be great.

If you give me a shout I’ll help you with the other items if you want?

[Lucychap]

Thanks very much. This is actually the last one. The others went very quickly. 

[drTStingray]

5 hours ago, Lucychap said:

1996 Ernie Ball Music Man with case. Selling off my dads collection. This was one of his favourites to play. It’s imported from America and the serial number can be supplied upon request. I don’t know a huge amount it but welcome to view and test. 

That's a very nice bass, a USA built Musicman Sterling. Has a ceramic pick up and series/parallel/single coil switch. The neck is narrower than a Stingray and the body slightly smaller.

If you join the EBMM bass forum and post the serial number detail here, they will give you the exact date of birth, specifications and where it was shipped to from the factory. 

http://forums.ernieball.com/ernie-ball-music-man-basses/1254-music-serial-database-872.html

Conversely you could email their Customer Services for the same information. 

Be careful to align the neck correctly when you put it back on. 

To correct the bridge info above, the Sterling bass started to be offered from 1993 with the same bridge as the Stingray (called the Flea bridge at the time as it incorporated modifications from the previous version) with  mute assembly allowing damping of each individual string. From around 1995 the bridges provided on both models were the same but without the mute assembly, the mountings for it covered. The first bass with the shortened bridge, like the Stingray 5 bridge was the 1996 20th Anniversary Stingray and this bridge started production on Sterlings and Stingrays from sometime in 1996 after that. It generally coincided with EBMM's production from a new (current) factory.

This Sterling must be an early example with that bridge from the new factory.

Good luck with the sale - it may be worth you showing a picture of the rear of the neck as many basses from that period have highly figured necks so are quite sought after.