Birdseye maple on '95 SR5 - standard, option or lim.ed.?

[BassTractor]

Hi folks,


Title says it, I think: Is a birdseye maple neck on a '95 SR5 a standard feature, lim.ed. or an optional extra?

More generally, I'd like to know whether there's a web resource or book where one can read the whole Music Man story - also as to models available and their properties.


best,
bert

 

[iamcatwarrior]

I think birdseye maple necks on ordinary Stingray and Sterling basses was done up until the mid to late 90's, then they stopped doing it. However, the 'Classic Collections' line offer birdseye and flamed maple necks as standard, and some of the limited editions (roasted maple necks) have this feature.

There's a giant serial number/dating registry site called musicmanbass.org that you can check out. It pretty much covers all the bases.

 

[Gravesend Black]

When I bought my SR5 (1995) the seller was saying that is has birdseye. But it seemed just as great looking maple for me. Am I wrong?

 

[BassTractor]

@iamcatwarrior: thanks, mate!

@gravesend black: can you show the whole neck's back? Below is an upload of mine.


best,
bert

 

[Gravesend Black]

The neck is maple for sure. But Fb looks a bit different for me.

 

[BassTractor]

Yeah, I'd noobly agree that I'd be hard pressed to call yours 'birdseye'. However, since iamcatwarrior's answer indicates these were standard necks, my immediate thought would be that maybe a few eyes was already enough in those days, Idunno.

best,
bert

 

[Gravesend Black]

Yeah I agree. But your axe is pretty awesome.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

My '93 has some bird's eye figuring in it. I think it was standard at the time.

 

[BassTractor]

Yeah I agree. But your axe is pretty awesome.

Thanks. Yes, I think so too, and was all over it when I saw the sales page. Will have to pay for it for many years to come though, as the shopowner sadly had seen the same.


best,
bert

 

[Golem]

My '93 has some bird's eye figuring in it. I think it was standard at the time.

Likewise my own '93, nothing "special" in its day ...

 

[drTStingray]

Likewise my 93 fretless - figured wood and birdseye. Quite a lot of basses in the era 1987 to the mid 90s seem to have it.

Gravesend - yours looks like a near relation of mine - the colour of mine is sunburst (vintage sunburst was a custom colour at that time - sunburst became honeyburst later in the 90s)

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I remember a new 4-string fretless Stingray for sale in store around the mid '90's having the most outstanding bird's eye figuring. I mean jaw dropping nice.

 

[Gravesend Black]

Likewise my 93 fretless - figured wood and birdseye. Quite a lot of basses in the era 1987 to the mid 90s seem to have it.

Gravesend - yours looks like a near relation of mine - the colour of mine is sunburst (vintage sunburst was a custom colour at that time - sunburst became honeyburst later in the 90s)

Yeah, my baby listed as sunburst at serial number database. In spite of fact that my neck is just an attempt of some maple to become birdseye maple but was able to get only a couple of that "eyes", I'm pretty satisfied with it cuz it looks much better than most of regular maple for me)

 

[drTStingray]

Yeah, my baby listed as sunburst at serial number database. In spite of fact that my neck is just an attempt of some maple to become birdseye maple but was able to get only a couple of that "eyes", I'm pretty satisfied with it cuz it looks much better than most of regular maple for me)

Yours looks great - as you say they maybe aren't as birds eyed as the latest classics but still very nice. BTW I think part of the inspiration for offering the figured wood on the necks of the classic was the EBMM basses of the late 80s/early 90s era - there's a very long running BP 'torture' thread on the classic basses which is an interesting read (was 2009-2010).

 

[uOpt]

Well the problem is that now you can only get the pretty wood with the gloss finish. Not everybody's taste.

 

[gafman]

My fretless Stingray is a '95 and has birdseye all over the place. I dont believe this was an option back then but I will post a picture anyway.