Is this an original fingerboard on this '87 Stingray?

**HiddeR** · 09-23-2020, 10:01 PM

So I'm looking for a fretless Stingray and got offered this bass. It looks amazing, serial checks out as a 1987 white 'Ray, but I'm hesitating. The unlined fretless fingerboard has markers, but only on the upper register (12th fret and up). I've never seen that before. Do you guys know if this fingerboard might be non-original?

**Rod Trussbroken** · 09-24-2020, 01:08 AM

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

Enter the serial number of your Bass in the link below. It should give a description of the instrument it relates to.

Serial Number Search Tool

**HiddeR** · 09-24-2020, 01:15 AM

Thanks!

I have done that already, but it doesn't say if it's a fretless or not.

**Rod Trussbroken** · 09-24-2020, 01:38 AM

Originally Posted by HiddeR

Thanks!

I have done that already, but it doesn't say if it's a fretless or not.

I suppose the only thing you can do now is check if the neck is an original MM neck, period correct, and that the neck date close to the body date.

Do you have larger pics?

**HiddeR** · 09-24-2020, 01:42 AM

I guess I have to rephrase my question: I do not doubt the neck, I only doubt the fingerboard. I don't know if it has been replaced or not, because of the inlays.

**Pineweasel** · 09-24-2020, 07:03 AM

Originally Posted by HiddeR

I have done that already, but it doesn't say if it's a fretless or not.

If it's not specified as a fretless by the serial checker, that means it was originally built as a fretted. Also, I've never seen a fretless Stingray with those partial markings, so my money is on a replacement board.

**HiddeR** · 09-24-2020, 07:18 AM

Originally Posted by Pineweasel

If it's not specified as a fretless by the serial checker, that means it was originally built as a fretted. Also, I've never seen a fretless Stingray with those partial markings, so my money is on a replacement board.

Alright, that's good to know. In that case it's quite a bit too expensive

**HiddeR** · 09-24-2020, 10:01 AM

So the seller is claiming the fretboard is original and the markers were added by a previous owner. Is that possible, with a serial that doesn't indicate a fretless?

**five7** · 09-24-2020, 11:04 AM

All of the fretless ones I have owned, had dots normal like a fretted neck. Something is odd.

**tbonesullivan** · 09-24-2020, 12:21 PM

I would contact customer service. A 1987 bass is from quite a long time ago, and they may not have kept records of whether the guitar was a fretless or not.

That fretboard DOES have the side markers, which you can see if you look closely.

Furthermore, it is far FAR more common and cheaper to just pull the frets and fill in the slots than it is to put on a whole new fretboard.

**drTStingray** · 09-24-2020, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by Pineweasel

If it's not specified as a fretless by the serial checker, that means it was originally built as a fretted. Also, I've never seen a fretless Stingray with those partial markings, so my money is on a replacement board.

Not necessarily - I have a 93 fretless - I bought it used and the original owner was kind enough to include a pack containing his original purchase receipt - saying its fretless - when I bought it I checked in the old serial number thread - it came back as pae ferro unlined fretless and (original) sunburst (which it is).

When I put it into the SN checker it comes up as rosewood (not fretless).......

The date for the bass is out of step with the DOB of basses with serial numbers around it, so I suspect they may have changed the neck to match an order before shipping to the uk. The seller said he had to wait a long time after ordering it.

Anyway it's a brilliant bass with a crazily figured birds eye and quilt maple neck - the only thing non standard is a bone nut plus I had to replace the G tuner after the bass got dropped on the floor (by me) at a jazz gig and the tuner rattled and was slightly bent after....... crazy cats those jazzers you know

- I think we may have been doing Under the Sea, or On the Street Where you Live or some other such crooner song (it fell off the strap with a bit of a crash)!!

**liverbird** · 09-24-2020, 05:13 PM

The side dots on this neck are where the fret markers are. It's the position they would be in on an unlined fretless. If the neck was originally fretted, that wouldn't be the case - they would be between the frets.

This is assuming that the side dots are original, of course. It's a bit hard to see on the pic but it looks like they sit on the line where the maple meets the rosewood which would be correct. It was only with the introduction of the 6-bolt necks in 1990 when they moved entirely within the rosewood.

Better pics of the entire neck would help.

I would also double-check with Customer Service. They are very helpful.

**HiddeR** · 09-24-2020, 11:20 PM

I've already contacted Customer Service, but haven't heard back from them yet. But you guys are very helpful

So it seems like it's probably original (except for the side lines of course).

**HiddeR** · 09-25-2020, 03:31 AM

Got some better pics. I must say: it looks killer.

**Pineweasel** · 09-25-2020, 05:18 AM

Originally Posted by drTStingray

Not necessarily - I have a 93 fretless - I bought it used and the original owner was kind enough to include a pack containing his original purchase receipt - saying its fretless - when I bought it I checked in the old serial number thread - it came back as pae ferro unlined fretless and (original) sunburst (which it is).

When I put it into the SN checker it comes up as rosewood (not fretless).......

Fair enough. I've only put a handful of serials into the checker and fretless ones always came back as fretless. But I can imagine the database isn't 100% consistent.