Help find this bass

[lukeluthier]

I'm looking for a bass I owned in the late 80s, early 1990s. Its a red Stingray (1985-1987) Not sure the exact year, and no, no known serial number) I know I had it in senior year of high school in 87. Is solid red, has mutes, 4 knobs on the preamp and a stunning maple neck.  I traded it in to Sam Ash Music in New York for an  SWR rig and regretted it ever since. The picture here is from roughly 1990. Any leads are greatly appreciated. 

 

[Grahambythesea]

Presumably you’re posting this on a US site as well, as it seems a bit of a long shot that it’s made its way across the pond.

[lukeluthier]

Indeed. But it only takes 6 hours to get there. 😀

 

[fretmeister]

1 hour ago, lukeluthier said:

Indeed. But it only takes 6 hours to get there. 😀

 

 

If it came here by Parcel Force it's probably still in transit. Only been 30 odd years!

[Terry M.]

19 hours ago, lukeluthier said:

I'm looking for a bass I owned in the late 80s, early 1990s. Its a red Stingray (1985-1987) Not sure the exact year, and no, no known serial number) I know I had it in senior year of high school in 87. Is solid red, has mutes, 4 knobs on the preamp and a stunning maple neck.  I traded it in to Sam Ash Music in New York for an  SWR rig and regretted it ever since. The picture here is from roughly 1990. Any leads are greatly appreciated. 

 

I'm asking this not to be a smart arse but wouldn't another Stingray from the same era suffice? It's a real long shot but with today's social media presence you never know ☺️

[fretmeister]

On 23/02/2026 at 18:11, Terry M. said:

I'm asking this not to be a smart arse but wouldn't another Stingray from the same era suffice? It's a real long shot but with today's social media presence you never know ☺️

 

I dunno for the OP, but for me it would be as much as an emotional connection to a particular instrument as any physical thing.

The "I did that gig with this guitar" type bond.

 

Can be a double edged sword though - I once hunted down a Status fretless I had had sold years previously and managed to buy it back. And then realised I had moved on from wanting it so sold it again. Ironically I actually fancy having a fretless again but I think I'd be happy with a much cheaper Jazz this time.

 

But I did once own a lovely Gibson Explorer. IIRC it was a 1983 re-issue of a 76. In white with gold hardware. I did so many gigs with that and I traded it in at Chandlers Guitars - part-x against one of the original 2 channel Mesa Dual Rectifiers. I tried to get that guitar back but the shop had sold it on for cash and didn't have the buyers details.

 

Unless it had been refinished in the meantime I would definitely recognise it!

[Terry M.]

3 hours ago, fretmeister said:

 

I dunno for the OP, but for me it would be as much as an emotional connection to a particular instrument as any physical thing.

The "I did that gig with this guitar" type bond.

Yeah that makes sense actually 👍

[Inga]

if it came by parcelforce it's probably in the sea mate sorry