Music Man Serial Number Database

**gdemkow** · 05-15-2008, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by 5Stringer

Glenn, unfortunately we have no records for that bass. Judging from the number, it looks like it is a late pre-EBMM or an early EBMM. You might check Rod Trussbroken's website: Home - Musicmanbass.org, Music Man, Musicman, Music Man Bass, Musicman Bass, Music Man Guitar (official disclaimer

this is not an official EBMM website and not monitored or maintained by Ernie Ball Music Man or its employees)

Dan

Thanks Dan! I did look at that website and, if I am figuring it out correctly, I would have guessed this would have been from the second half of 1988. Which I would have thought you had records for since that is obviously post EB...albeit not by a ton of years. Here are the 2 basses before and after mine on the site in the EB section...

B027046...Neck 31 Oct 1988. Body Date Oct 1988. Trans Blueburst with Rosewood. Black pg. 2 Band EQ.
B027064...Purchased April 1989. Trans Red with Rosewood. Black pg. New solid Black headstock logo. 2 Band EQ.
B027099...Neck 13 Jul 1988. Body 7 Jul 1988. Black with Rosewood (or Pau Ferro). Birds Eye Maple Neck. FRETLESS. Black pg. 2 Band EQ. Bridge as in B023230 bridge pic. This Bass is an example one of the first to have new EB headstock logo introduced in 1988. (as opposed to the trans logo).
B027180...Owner believes 1988. Black. Fretless. Hollow string saddles. New solid Black headstock logo.

But that just gives a general idea. I was hoping to get the DOB. But if it not in the records I guess it is not in the records. I am also unsure as to how far back you can go.

Thanks for your help Dan!

-Glenn

**5Stringer** · 05-15-2008, 02:08 PM

Glenn, yes, it appears all the early records were lost somehow ... I wish that were not the case, but it is! The early EBMM StingRays used a lot of the existing inventory purchased from the old MM company, including the bridges, which accounts for their somewhat sequential order from the pre-EB StingRays. We do have some records that date back to 1988, but your bass was not among them.

Dan

**Rod Trussbroken** · 05-16-2008, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by gdemkow

Thanks Dan! I did look at that website and, if I am figuring it out correctly, I would have guessed this would have been from the second half of 1988. Which I would have thought you had records for since that is obviously post EB...albeit not by a ton of years. Here are the 2 basses before and after mine on the site in the EB section...

B027046...Neck 31 Oct 1988. Body Date Oct 1988. Trans Blueburst with Rosewood. Black pg. 2 Band EQ.
B027064...Purchased April 1989. Trans Red with Rosewood. Black pg. New solid Black headstock logo. 2 Band EQ.
B027099...Neck 13 Jul 1988. Body 7 Jul 1988. Black with Rosewood (or Pau Ferro). Birds Eye Maple Neck. FRETLESS. Black pg. 2 Band EQ. Bridge as in B023230 bridge pic. This Bass is an example one of the first to have new EB headstock logo introduced in 1988. (as opposed to the trans logo).
B027180...Owner believes 1988. Black. Fretless. Hollow string saddles. New solid Black headstock logo.

But that just gives a general idea. I was hoping to get the DOB. But if it not in the records I guess it is not in the records. I am also unsure as to how far back you can go.

Thanks for your help Dan!

-Glenn

Welcome to the Forum Glenn.

Dates can be found on the neck heel and in neck pocket on the body but the neck has to be removed to view them. If you don't want to do this then you may find a sticker on the back of one of the pre-amp pots with a date. That is the date of the pre-amp only and not your Bass...but it will put you in the ball park. Pots are also code-dated eg "1378622". The 4th and 5th digit give the year and the last two digits give the week of the year. "1378622" will be a pot made during the 22nd week of 1986. As this is only the date of the pot it should at least give you a not-before date for the manufacture of your Bass.

This may also help: Rear decals ("Made in San Luis Obispo...") were introduced in 1987. The B0xxxxx" serial were gone by the end of 1988.

**iamcatwarrior** · 05-18-2008, 05:35 AM

I will eventually be posting pictures of my (now) 2 MusicMan basses in short order!

Sterling 4, fretless with lines, Vintage (3-tone) sunburst with matching headstock, tortoiseshell pickguard.

Serial number F03534

This thing sounds amazing!

**OldManMusic** · 05-18-2008, 11:47 PM

Looking for DOB on 2 bases. The first bass is black and maple 1978 preEB MM SR4 serial #B007195. The second if a blonde 2008 EB MM SR4 HH serial# E52561. I know from previous posts that most of the pre EB records are not entact BUT I thought I'd try anywhy.

**dobs1981** · 05-19-2008, 04:35 AM

I can't anything on my TEAL PEARL BONGO 5 HH

Ser # F13794

Any clues would be fantastic

**5Stringer** · 05-19-2008, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by iamcatwarrior

I will eventually be posting pictures of my (now) 2 MusicMan basses in short order!

Sterling 4, fretless with lines, Vintage (3-tone) sunburst with matching headstock, tortoiseshell pickguard.

Serial number F03534

This thing sounds amazing!

iam, your superb Sterling was completed on 2/13/01. nice. ...

Dan

**st9046** · 05-20-2008, 05:59 AM

Hi, I've recently bought a fantastic Stingray 4-string. Serial no. is B03758. I think it's Honeyburst ? It's a 2 EQ model with a rosewood fingerboard.

I'm guessing it was made in 1996 but would love confirmation. Also, why were some basses built that year with a B and a five digit serial no ?

Thanks,

Steve

**giggrafix** · 05-20-2008, 12:41 PM

Recently purchased a black EBMM Sterling 4 HH #F19373

Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

**5Stringer** · 05-20-2008, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by OldManMusic

Looking for DOB on 2 bases. The first bass is black and maple 1978 preEB MM SR4 serial #B007195. The second if a blonde 2008 EB MM SR4 HH serial# E52561. I know from previous posts that most of the pre EB records are not entact BUT I thought I'd try anywhy.

OldMan - yes, that is true, the pre-EB records do not exist. Check a few posts above regarding Gav's website and other information. Your other bass can be tracked, however - according to serial number it is a Natural HH StringRay 5 (not 4) are you sure of the bass and/or serial number?

Dan

**5Stringer** · 05-20-2008, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by dobs1981

I can't anything on my TEAL PEARL BONGO 5 HH

Ser # F13794

Any clues would be fantastic

dobs,

Your Teal Pearl Bongo 5 HH was completed on 8/29/05. Hope that's what you were looking for!

Dan

**5Stringer** · 05-20-2008, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by st9046

Hi, I've recently bought a fantastic Stingray 4-string. Serial no. is B03758. I think it's Honeyburst ? It's a 2 EQ model with a rosewood fingerboard.

I'm guessing it was made in 1996 but would love confirmation. Also, why were some basses built that year with a B and a five digit serial no ?

Thanks,

Steve

Steve, you are correct, your bass was completed on October 3 1996. We called the finish Sunburst back then, but later we changed the name to Honeyburst to avoid some of the confusion between the different 'burst finishes.

That year we broke out of the 5-digit with no letter prefix mold and began to use letter prefixes on everything. I don't know why we used "B" for a while, then "D" for a litlle while before sort of settling on "E" (SR/SR5) and "F" (Sterlings/Bongos) - I am sure there was a reason, just don't know what it is.

Dan