body woods used in modern music man stingrays

[zvenx]

hi,
two part question:

1) what woods are used in modern day music man bodies? the web site just says selected hardwoods.


2) I just got my 1992 stingray's body replaced with a modern day equivalent, because the old body was cracked....
I know the 1992 was ash body with a lacquer finish.... I think the modern day one is poplar with polyester finish.......
what difference can I expect in tone and will it be glaringly obvious the difference. yes I know two identical looking with same wood and same everytying instruments don't necessary play the same.

thanks,

richard sven

 

[SWR_n_EB]

WEll to answer the first question, most of the time they use ash, and basically everytime it's a transparent finish it's ash. actually i remeber reading this somewhere, but about 90% of the time they do use ash.

And have no clue if it'll change the sound, i've never used the old school EB basses.

 

[Derek]

ASH is the main Hardwood for the StingRays. A few years ago we had used some poplar bodies for some of the opaque finishes (Black)(White)

Thanks

Derek

 

[zvenx]

ok, mine is black.....but you said awhile back....but I could have sworn Kevn said he would be using poplar or some other wood on my bass. I was hoping to have gotten teh original ash.
thanks,
rsp

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Here are some of my stats....as well as ash and poplar, there are some in alder and basswood....even some of the latter Pre-EBs were using basswood.


B022884..1982. White with Rosewood. Basswood Body.

35592...Year 1992. Cherry Burst with Maple. Basswood Body.

E24648...Year 1999. Metalic Sunburst with Maple. Matching Headstock. Basswood Body. White pearloid pg. 3 Band EQ.

E31341...Year 2002. Blue Sparkle with Maple. Matching Headstock. Alder Body. Black pg. 3 Band EQ.

E13970...Year 2001. Trans gold with Maple. Basswood Body.

F01237...Year 2000. Black with Rosewood. Basswood Body.

38509...(no date info). Cream with Maple. Poplar Body. Brushed Metal Hardware.

Cheers.

EDIT. See below for correction by Derek.

 

[zvenx]

many thanks that is very helpful/informative.
rsp

 

[Derek]

Trying not to be a thorn but according to our
design team we have never used basswood for any Ernie Ball Stingrays. Ash, a few poplar and 3 or 4 Alder bodies have left the factory
since we began producing the Stingray in 1985. I have heard in the early 80's there were
some 4 bolt Music Man Stingrays made out of basswood.

Thanks

Derek

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>>Trying not to be a thorn

Hey, you're definitely not a thorn Derek....that's good info!!!! Thanks for taking the time.

>>>>since we began producing the Stingray in 1985

Given that EB purchased MM in 1984, are there any EB 'transitional' (if I can use that term) Basses in existance that, for a short period, continued with the pre-EB serial numbering (eg. Bxxxxxx) but also had the EB inovations?

I've been told (rightly or wrongly) that EB developed the 3 band pre-amps and also discontinued the Bxxxxxx numbering system.

I have a note of a Bass with a Bxxxxxx serial but yet it has the 3 band pre-amp....can you shed any light on this?

 

[Derek]

Rod,

It is possible for a early 3 band to have a B00 ser number. It would not be very common. In the early years EBMM did use up some existing stock of bridges and its possible one made it to the first 3 bands made in 87 or 88.
Another possiblity is someone could of switched it out. Whatever the case
the BOO # basses are not logged into our database.

Derek

 

[Kennyhoe]

what type of wood is considered best to use?

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Hey Derek....thanks very much!

 

[Eric Moesle]

what type of wood is considered best to use?

No single "best", just slightly different tonal characteristics.

I have two Stingray 5's, one's a solid black poplar, the other's a transparent teal swamp ash. The ash bass is brighter, smoother, and the poplar one is punchier, growlier, and mellower on the highs. I use them both for different applications, but the difference is slight, not overbearing. If you didn't regularly play a SR5 and know what to expect, I doubt you'd even notice the difference.

 

[zvenx]

definitely a lot lighter

hi, months later only now getting a chance to really play the bass with the new body.....
first thing I notice is that it is definitely MUCH lighter than the 1992 ash body.....maybe I am sentimental old fool, doesn't sound as nice as the old body.....tone use to be smoother to me not as harsh with more lows.

 

[RoboChrist]

Could an alder body be custom ordered?

 

[Duarte]

hi, months later only now getting a chance to really play the bass with the new body.....
first thing I notice is that it is definitely MUCH lighter than the 1992 ash body.....maybe I am sentimental old fool, doesn't sound as nice as the old body.....tone use to be smoother to me not as harsh with more lows.

Well, wood is extremely variable. Even the same 'species' will never be the same, tree to tree. Every single body is going to sound different. To be honest, I've played basses that are he same spec apart from body woods (okay, they were fenders) and the difference was minimal.

Could an alder body be custom ordered?

Only the Big Al will have an Alder body.

 

[Big Poppa]

99.99 stingrays have been made with ash and 100% for at least the last 8 or nine years
This is a way old thread and should be dead....

 

[bovinehost]

And is.