Is this an original fingerboard on this '87 Stingray?

[Pineweasel]

It does look good in those new pics. The original board with added partial markers seems most likely then. They've done a nice job on those lines.

[tbonesullivan]

Looks legit. Look at this example: the markers are at the joint of the fretboard, just like the one you have posted. It ALSO has a very nice birdseye neck.

Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray 4 Fretless Bass 1997 | | Reverb

Honestly I would say go for it if you like it. I am satisfied with what has been posted here that it isn't a replaced fretboard. Seriously that's a very expensive job to do right.

[liverbird]

Looks legit. Look at this example: the markers are at the joint of the fretboard, just like the one you have posted. It ALSO has a very nice birdseye neck.

Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray 4 Fretless Bass 1997 | | Reverb

What makes you say that? I can't see the exact position of the side dots on the photos in your link.

Anyway, on a 1997 they should be entirely within the rosewood and not at the joint. It changed in 1990 with the introduction of the 6-bolt necks.

drTStingray, can you confirm for your 1993?

[drTStingray]

What makes you say that? I can't see the exact position of the side dots on the photos in your link.

Anyway, on a 1997 they should be entirely within the rosewood and not at the joint. It changed in 1990 with the introduction of the 6-bolt necks.

drTStingray, can you confirm for your 1993?

Hi guys, offset towards the edge of the maple part of the neck on mine - i.e. small gap from the neck.

[liverbird]

Hi guys, offset towards the edge of the maple part of the neck on mine - i.e. small gap from the neck.

Thanks, drT!

So the side dots are entirely inside the rosewood (or pao ferro) on yours, albeit closer to the maple than to the top of the fingerboard, is that correct? (Sorry, I haven't seen that many fretless basses!)

Do you have a pic?

[Golem]

HiddeR, you say the price is too high if it’s not the original FB. No offense intended but that sounds somewhat like a collector value mindset. If the quality is equal to original, though not historically original, the only reason to walk away from a great find such as that bass would be if the price seriously outrageous, reeeeally unreasonable.

If it’s priced on the high end of UK market value, that is well within reason if this ax verrrry much wants to follow you home.

I was very lucky last year to pay a bit below market for an ‘89 3-band maple board FL that has the typical irregular looking black filler where the frets used to be. The cosmetics saved me a few hundred $$ ... the body finish is rather worn as well. There’s no way to really hide fret removal, but this conversion is verrrry professionally done despite that cosmetic fact of life. So if it had been priced a bit high instead of a bit low, I’d now be just as much in love with it.

A bass that you MUST have is worth any semi-reasonable price. Have you heard that ax yet, or just seen pictures ... I know if you heard my ‘89 you’d be asking “What will it cost me ?!?”. My only possible answer is “You’ll have to ask my widow !!”

[drTStingray]

Thanks, drT!

So the side dots are entirely inside the rosewood (or pao ferro) on yours, albeit closer to the maple than to the top of the fingerboard, is that correct? (Sorry, I haven't seen that many fretless basses!)

Do you have a pic?

HI guys, pics showing neck dots on my 93 SR4 fretless

[liverbird]

HI guys, pics showing neck dots on my 93 SR4 fretless

As expected. Great, thanks for the pics, drT!