Music Man Serial Number Database

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>Gav - should I see mine there? I searched and couldn't find it...

Yeah, sorry guys. I have several hundred serials to add (3-400 mostly with dates).

Over Xmas and the New Year, the weather was horrid...around 38 degrees with 90% humidity. It was impossible to sit at the computer and do them all. I should have them up very soon now

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[midopa]

Hey Rod,

A rather silly and ambitious idea: Why not put all the serials with additional info (DoBs, finishes, etc.) into a database that can be searched? Someone can come in, type a serial number and either get a match or serial numbers close by. I know at least a handful of users here are software coders and can probably help you out, if need be...

Well, here endeth my silly idea. Questions? Comments? Rebuttals?

[Joshua]

>>>Gav - should I see mine there? I searched and couldn't find it...

Yeah, sorry guys. I have several hundred serials to add (3-400 mostly with dates).

Over Xmas and the New Year, the weather was horrid...around 38 degrees with 90% humidity. It was impossible to sit at the computer and do them all. I should have them up very soon now

.

Sounds horrible!



Don't hurry on my account. It's a great site you've got there, and I'd be tickled to be a part of it...

[radiotrib]

Well I'm back after an enforced absence and just wanted to thank everyone for the helpful comments. I just got a set of *brand name deleted* strings for the old S/R so I think I'll bite the bullet and try to ease the neck off this weekend .... see y'all soon

Oh .. almost forgot ... the problem with the finish going "rubbery" at the wrist contact point ... This might be because (so I hear) old, natural/transparent MM S/Rs used nitro cellulose as the shiny finish, and nitro cellulose is affected by repeaded soaking in water or aqueous solutions ... Does anyone from the technical dept. at E-B have any comment on it ??

[japhy4529]

Hi - could please tell me what month & year my stingray was made? the serial number is:

E15435.

thanks!

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>E15435.

It's the second half of year 2000. I don't have enough serials for comparison to pin it down further.

If you start a new thread in the Bass Forum, Jon will be able to help.

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[radiotrib]

At Last ... I finally dropped the neck off my favourite blonde ... the left-handed, ebony-neck, fretless SR which I posted 2 pages ago ...

Thanks for the advice on how to do it. As it happens I needn't have worried ..

After never being disturbed since 1980, I undid the 3 screws (not bolts) and it slid out like .... well ... like ... (ok ... YOU insert a suitable "slippery thing sliding out of something slippery" metaphor here) ....

Spot on with your guesstimate Rod ... 1980 she is ...

So here she is in all her naked glory.

Neck date 28 Feb 1980 (aww gawd do I wish they'd waited a day ...)
Body date - as far as I can work out Feb 14 1980 ... Valentines Day!! .. no wonder she's a little darling ...

I tried photo-enhancing the body date, coz there's a thickness of crackly varnish across it making the actual day difficult to read. You try to work it out ...

Photos ?? ... Sure ...

(edit) Photos removed to reduce my home bandwidth consumption ... Apologies

Kevin (Trib)

[Rod Trussbroken]

Thanks for the pics Kevin. I think the body is Feb 14th also.

Nice Bass

P.S.

>>>Oh .. almost forgot ... the problem with the finish going "rubbery" at the wrist contact point ... This might be because (so I hear) old, natural/transparent MM S/Rs used nitro cellulose

Nitro finishes were only used on the 76 and perhaps 77 Basses.

I might try the same D'Addario strings. Did you have to get extra long scale for the string-through-body bridge?

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[radiotrib]

Hi Gav,

Thanks for the compliment. I'll pass it on at her birthday party tonite ... and the upside is that she sounds as good as she looks!! BTW - every part is original except the strings, and this is the first time any part has been touched, dismantled, or even adjusted, since 1982 when the shop set up the neck before delivery.

I also resolved the question of new or not. The gutar was ordered by the shop for a customer, who then didn't buy it. It hung on the display racks for a year until they decided to dispose of it and they steadily brought down the price over the following 12 months until, one day, I walked in and fell for it immediately .. and thats why a 600 quid Stingray was sold for 250 .. it was new, and it's been mine ever since. It came in a coffin-shaped cardboard box - no carry case. How I found out that information is a very long and convoluted story which I'm saving until I have to explain to my wife about my telephone activity over the past 3 weeks

>> I might try the same xxxx strings. Did you have to get extra long scale for
>> the string-through-body bridge?

(edit) This section deleted - not appropriate for the Ernie Ball Forum

[Rod Trussbroken]

midopa:

It's a good idea but i simply don't have enough spare time.

Kev:

Thanks the additional info.

I've just updated all the Pre-EB serials and will be updating the EB serials this weekend (I hope)

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[midopa]

Rod, I'm a Computer Engineer major (well, undeclared as of the moment - I am but a sophomore). If I ever learn the stuff that makes those databases run and such, I'll be glad to lend a hand, if not do the whole thing for ya. Because I have no life and am just happy that way.

... Of course, I doubt this will be anytime soon! (I have to get those stupid G.E. classes out of the way...)

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>.....if not do the whole thing for ya.

That would be good

At one point I was going to set things up so that a serial could be clicked and then be hypo-linked to pics of the Bass in question. But, as I have thousands of pics, I soon realised it would be impossible task.

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[radiotrib]

Running the whole thing as a web-based database shouldn't prove to be too difficult an exercise with PHP/MySQL. If I had the time right now I could probably run it off in a few hours, so I'll keep it in the back of my mind and if I ever find the time between bands, rockets, work and the interminable "honeydo" list ... I'll fo it (unless someone beats me to it).

The REAL hard work would be loading the data into damn thing !!! Boy am I glad I only code the applications and not manage them .. heheheh

[JimB52]

Where would I find the build date on a Bongo?
Thanks,
Jim B

[Rod Trussbroken]

As far as I know, the build date (or date of birth) is recorded at EB and not on the instrument...unless there's a little code somewhere. I believe it's the date when the instrument is finally set up.

Dates are recorded on the neck heel and body pocket. The neck date would probably be the closest to the date of birth.

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