'79 Musicman neck, special order or ???

[Darrell]

Hello MM fans - my name's Darrell, first post.

I haven't done the forum thing for quite a while, just enjoying life mostly. Some may remember my old handle from long ago and elsewhere - Colonel Mustard. I see some familiar names here... (just to be clear, I was never banned anywhere, I'm not a troll and I'm not a flamer, I just took a loooong forum break )

My question - I bought a neck on Ebay about 8 years ago (wow how time flies!). It's been just sitting in the back of my closet, kinda waiting for a someday project. I want to know more about it, maybe someone here knows?

About the neck, it's a NOS, 1979 three bolt, bullet truss, tiger flamey/birdseye mix, vintage tint, Musicman bass neck. I'm thinking no way could it be anything else, the details are all there. By New old Stock I mean unused. Never had a decal, never drilled for a string tree. It has it's original nut, never slotted, although it's now removed so I could test fit/play the neck on a 1979 Sabre I used to own. I swapped nuts rather than messing with the virgin one.

Side note: I traded that Sabre to Brad in Seattle, is he here? I miss that bass...

Anyhow, the most interesting part about the neck is the markings. It's stamped SEP 21 1979, not remarkable but - it has the name "Billy Boyd's" and the initials JPG (I think) written in pencil as well as SunB (sunburst I assume) written in larger grease type pencil. My guess is a special order neck made for Billy Boyd's Sunburst Stingray or Sabre, but never used. I don't know who Billy Boyd is.

I did as much research into Billy Boyd as I could, nothing but the actor who played Pippin in the Lord of the Rings trilogy - he does play bass, but he would've been 8 years old in '79. I doubt he ordered a Musicman.

The initials JPG don't mean anything to me either.

I took pictures, I'm waiting for them to post on my snapfish site so I can link them here.

So anybody know who Billy Boyd or JPG are?

Shot in the dark, I'm just curious.

Thanks Guys,
Darrell

 

[Darrell]

PS - I know this is the Ernie Ball Musicman forum and the neck is pre-EB, but you guys seemed like my best bet for info.

I do own a '91 Ernie Trans Teal Stingray, so I'm family right?

 

[bovinehost]

You are indeed family. I'm sure I remember a Col Mustard from SOMEWHERE.

Side note: I traded that Sabre to Brad in Seattle, is he here? I miss that bass...

I know zip about your neck, but I do know a little about this Brad person. Check for the rather familiar nick, bdgotoh....he's about.

Jack

PS: You may remember this bovinehost fellow - that's me.

 

[Colin]

Billy Boyd? wasn't he the guy that.....

 

[Darrell]

Hi Jack - Yep, I never made any deals with ya, but I remember Heinz the wonder bass! Still got her?

Hello Brad if you've read this!

Still waiting for pics to register... Gonna build me a bass

 

[bovinehost]

Hi Jack - Yep, I never made any deals with ya, but I remember Heinz the wonder bass! Still got her?

That would be "HIM".

And no, Heinz went to a forum member, Dr Stankface, when I had to get a 20th SR5. Stanky is a good guy and while I miss Heinz, I know that he's well taken care of.

Brad's here and still goes by bdgotoh, so he's not hard to find. Where have YOU been? Welcome to the forum, amigo. This is a good place to hang out.

Jack

 

[bdgotoh]

Hi Darrell, good to see you here - it's been awhile!

I liked that bass too, one of the best Sabres I've had. Unfortunately I've become addicted to Sterlings lately.

Let me know if you're looking for Sabre parts.

 

[Darrell]

My apologies to Heinz, "Him" of course! For some reason all my basses are girls Calling Dr. Freud...

I've been, well, doing nothing Still playing oldies for the oldies at the old folks homes. Haven't improved my skills a darn bit, but hey - it's fun.

Thanks for the welcome, I do believe I will hang

 

[Darrell]

Awhhh... You didn't need to post a pic Brad! I miss every darn bass I've ever parted with. That was a sweet one... "Had?" She's gone huh?

Glad to see you too. You still got the 1 1/2" neck? That was a keeper, especially if you're doing the Sterling thing. I still love the fat necks.

Hmmm.... Sabre parts, maybe! Watch for PM's

 

[Colin]

that Sabre is so clean wow

 

[Caca de Kick]

By New old Stock I mean unused. Never had a decal, never drilled for a string tree. It has it's original nut, never slotted, although it's now removed so I could test fit/play the neck on a 1979 Sabre I used to own.

This sounds pretty neat. I do find it interesting about it having no decal. My preEB's all have the decal under the finish.
I don't know the sequence in the way the old lettering was placed, but maybe it was laid ontop of a basecoat, then had topcoats sprayed over it to seal the lettering?

And that Brad guy...really cool guy. Got to meet up with him a few months ago, swap parts and b.s. about all sorts of gear.