Anyone fancy a Musicman Stingray?

[Silky999]

New one on the bench which is a slow time build and this might divide opinion… 😅

 

This ziricote top has just been glued up and is to be attached to a sapele body, after which it’ll become a MM StingRay-style build.

Except… it’s getting a Jazz bass neck. Because why not.

 

I’ve always liked the StingRay pickup position and punch, but I’m also a Jazz neck tragic, so this feels like a perfectly reasonable life choice rather than a cry for help.

 

Before I commit to routing, I’d love some pickup wisdom from the hive mind:

 

• Classic StingRay vibe vs something a bit more modern?

• Alnico vs ceramic?

• Any particular MM pickups that play especially nicely with warmer woods like sapele/ziricote?

 

Nordstrand, Aguilar, Delano, Seymour Duncan, Wizard, home-wound madness — all suggestions welcome.

Bonus points if you’ve tried an MM + Jazz neck combo and lived to tell the tale.
 

Cheers all👍🏼

 

Edited February 7 by Silky999

[HeadlessBassist]

I'd be looking for an Aguilar AG4M. I had one in my 95 Stingray and it was the best sounding Stingray I've ever played. 

[Hellzero]

This top is just looking amazingly ... amazing. 😍

[WinterMute]

I have a single MM Bartolini in my Frankenstien SR5 fretless, which is an MM neck with a basswood OLP body. 

 

It's got the Bart pre as well, it's a very good sounding bass, aggressive and punchy.

[Silky999]

More progress on this one…

 

Blank is fully cut and shaped now. Horns are flowing nicely and I’ve softened the edges without turning it into a bar of soap. Always that “measure twice, sand forever” moment, but we’re still in one-piece territory.

 

Belly cut is carved and blended. Went for comfort over bravado – this one will sit properly against a ribcage rather than just looking good in photos.

 

First coat of Liberon is on the ziricote and… wow. The grain has absolutely come alive. The dark lines have gone deep and dramatic and the lighter figuring is glowing. It’s one of those woods that looks fairly reserved dry, then turns full cinematic once oil hits it.

 

Before anyone asks – this isn’t staying oil finished. The oil is just to pop the grain and show me what we’re working with. It’ll be sealed and finished in nitro clear. I want that depth and chatoyance under a proper gloss coat.

 

A few tiny natural pin knots showing through – staying. This is wood, not laminate flooring.

 

Letting it cure now before the next stage. So far… I’m very happy.

 

Made to play. Built to last.

[Hellzero]

Already lovely! 😍 

[Silky999]

Ziricote & Sapele Stingray – Currently Behaving Itself

 

The ziricote drop top on the sapele Musicman build is now fully routed, drilled and shaped.

 

Yes, I did point a router at expensive, dramatic ziricote.

Yes, my blood pressure went up.

No, nothing exploded.

 

Pickup cavity, control cavity, neck pocket, ferrules – all in. It behaved far better than I deserved.

 

It’s been hand-sanded and treated to Liberon finishing oil and the grain has absolutely gone full “look at me”. The ziricote is dark and moody, all swirls and drama. The sapele back is sitting there like the sensible mate in the group chat, warm and classy.

 

It’s now hanging up to cure properly before the next stage. Once the oil’s hardened off it’ll get shellac, then gloss nitro. Because if you’re going to do dramatic, you may as well go full theatre lighting.

 

Neck-wise, this one’s getting a gloss yellow maple Jazz neck. Proper vintage tint. Against the dark ziricote it’s going to look like it drinks espresso and judges lesser basses.

 

This one’s shaping up to be classy with just enough menace.

 

No rushing it. Let it cure, build the finish properly, and avoid any “character building” mistakes.

 

More soon once the shellac goes on and I inevitably start overthinking something.

[Silky999]

Decision made on the ziricote / sapele build.

 

After a lot of back and forth about whether to clear it in nitro, I’m keeping this one natural. It’s currently in the process of being oil sanded through to 3000 grit, and once fully cured it’ll be finished in a satin to mid-gloss wax.

 

The ziricote has so much natural contrast and character that burying it under heavy gloss just didn’t feel right. And the sapele back is starting to show some lovely chatoyance as the oil builds — that subtle shimmer when the light moves across it.

 

The neck will be glossier, so there’ll be a deliberate contrast — tactile body, slick playing surface.

 

Still in progress, but I’m liking where this is heading.

 

MGCS – Made to Play. Built to Last.