Help with Buying and Restoring a Stingray

[ronrule]

I'm planning on buying a friends Stingray and was wondering what a fair price would be...he payed about 1200 dollars for it about 7 years ago.

It's a 1984, the poly job is very cracked and there are a ton of dinks and chips and whatnot. Any recommendations on what I can do to clean this baby up would be appreciated, especially the dirt/corrosion on the pickup magnets.

Also the 4th string's tuning machine is missing the main gear and screw. Can I order a replacement from MM?

I love this bass and can't wait to get it in working condition!

 

[the unrepentant]

it's not pre-eb and i wouldn't call '84 vintage, so i'd say about $600-$700 if it's pretty beat up?

You could always get a refin, white would be nice. As for the pickup magnets, not sure there's a whole lot you can do really

 

[bovinehost]

I'm planning on buying a friends Stingray and was wondering what a fair price would be...he payed about 1200 dollars for it about 7 years ago.

I can't see enough from those photos to give you any idea. But if the finish is screwed up, it has damage to the body/etc and it's missing parts? I sure wouldn't offer him more than 500 bucks.

recommendations on what I can do to clean this baby up would be appreciated, especially the dirt/corrosion on the pickup magnets.

DON'T SAND IT WITH SANDPAPER. Those are magnets and the little chips and bits from sanding will get into the pickup and cause problems.

Try a pencil eraser or learn to live with it. Unless it's out of control, it won't hurt anything.

 

[the unrepentant]

ah yeah i wasn't thinking, i'll delete that i think...

 

[MrMusashi]

id not mess at all with the finish of the bass no matter how fugly it is.. a refinish will lessen the value at a later time. also if you replace any parts, keep the old ones. all of them!

but thats what id do, it will be your bass, so you should do what you want to do with it

MrM

 

[five7]

+1

 

[the unrepentant]

to be honest, if the finish has truly had it, i don't think a refin would affect the value in the short term. in maybe 20-30 years yeah, but right now it would likely stay the same or maybe add a little value if it's done well.

 

[MrMusashi]

uhm.. no!
leave it like the wounded dog it is and play the living bejesus out of it!!

buy a new bass if you want a pristine one!

MrM

 

[bdgotoh]

Definitely don't refin, it's never worth the $$.

 

[cellkirk74]

Keep the bass like it is. The corrosion has no effect on the sound.

The tunerparts can be ordered about anywhere. Those are manufactured by Schaller and sold simply without the MusicMan-Logo. Just search for an online store with replacement parts or simply ask the customer service for the missing part.

 

[DTG]

i do love old knackered basses,stick a new tuner on it get a pro set up done and play it hard.

i could be wrong but does a bass not become vintage after 25 years ? so if it is 1984 it would be vintage,if not now then in about 2 weeks !

 

[koentje_bassist]

A refin is only better if it is a sparkle blue refinish. Otherwise; no.

 

[Caca de Kick]

Well it's not an 84 or 85 because the 3 band eq didn't come out until 87

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Well it's not an 84 or 85 because the 3 band eq didn't come out until 87

+1

It's either a 1987 or 1988 (just before a newer headstock logo and rear decal "Made In SLO" was introduced).

"ronrule"...new tuners can be ordered from EB. So can a pickup but the old one has to be given back in exchange.

 

[ronrule]

Thanks everyone for your help! Any other estimates on price I should pay? 500-700 is what I have so far. Thanks.

Next I have to buy an amp, learn how to play bass instead of guitar, and find a bass gig.

 

[MrMusashi]

i would easily have paid 700 for that one, but that might be me

its worth what the other party accepts as a reasonable price.. haggle if you can, no matter what you will get an awesome bass

MrM