Do you remember your first?

[bogwart]

Hey guys, long time reader, first time poster here. I am the proud new owner of a musicman stingray and I couldn't be more excited. I've wanted a stingray since I was in high school and it "only" took 18 years for my dream to finally come true. My friend has owned this 1994 honeyburst stingray for over 10 years. The story goes that it was the first musicman ever purchased by Mike Herrera of MxPx. If you watch the "Punk Rock Show" or "Teenage Politics" videos on youtube, this one does bare a strong resemblance to the one Mike is playing. I haven't accurately determined the date it was built, but it certainly does appear to be well used. The scratches and flaws add to the character in my opinion. I'm fine with it being a little rough around the edges because that way when I ding it on my amp or something I won't feel the need to cry mid-song.

The only issue I'm having are the bottom two pots are completely stuck. They seem to have been either intentionally or un-intentionally frozen in the same position. The repairs are being completed at my local guitar center so electronically (other than the pickup), everything will be brand new. The pickups do appear to be oxidized but the guitar tech at GC said that it seems to be working just fine. All the other hardware and the neck seem to be just fine.

Anyways, I'm super excited about the "new" bass and I can't wait to take her to a show!

 

[nurnay]

Welcome! Be sure to post some "after" pictures.

 

[bogwart]

Thanks, I certainly will! This is exactly how it looked when I got it. The first step was to take some goo-be-gone to all of the sticker residue. Just that alone cleaned it up nicely. I'm sure that after a good polish she'll look much more presentable!

The honeyburst combo with the birdseye maple neck is absolutely stunning IMO. The exact bass that I've been eyeing for years now is the PDN honeyburst stingray. This isn't quite the same, but it's a close second.

 

[nurnay]

As a PDN honeyburst owner, I agree how stunning they look!

 

[Movielife]

MXPX! Awesome!

 

[bogwart]

Nurnay: oh man. That is absolutely stunning! What a beautiful bass! I've never played a bongo but after reading everything on here, bongo lovers LOVE them. What do you love most about it (other than how sexy it is)?

Movielife: it's a pretty cool back story for sure. I feel like I got a great deal on it even with all the cosmetic issues but hey, that adds to the character, right? Even after I put money in for some of these small repairs I still got a helluva deal.

I can't wait to get her home and take her to a show! I'm dying to play her up on stage!

 

[bogwart]

And, I don't know how easy it is to tell from the pictures, but the neck...is mine a flamed maple neck? I feel ignorant, but it looks like birdseye to me but I see others calling theirs flamed maple.

 

[toomanyslurpees]

Very nice looking bass! I love basses with character (but agree sticker goo should go). I`m guessing with an oil finished neck and a mute bridge that it`s a 93 or 94 but you can give them your serial number at that stickied topic at the top of the forum page and customer service will tell you themselves. I have a 93 and it`s the best stingray I`ve owned...

I`d agree that would birdseye maple. By the way, if you wanted to you can get the mutes and the screws through your dealer.

 

[bogwart]

toomanyslurpees: Oh cool, thanks man, I'll do that when I get her back. I saw a number on the bridge...I assume that's the serial number, correct? I've read that there's a date behind the neck but I'd rather not have to go through the trouble. The sticker residue was the first thing to go. Just removing that made the bass look ten years younger! ;-)

I was told it's a 94, but I'd love to know that for sure. I'm in a punk band and every punk bass player in the mid to late 90's played on a musicman so I've wanted one ever since. At the time, I was completely broke and bought a 97 Mexican Jazz. Now, I love my jazz and she's been with me on every single stage, but I'm happy to have added a stingray to the family.

 

[toomanyslurpees]

yep, that`s it on the bridge. I hadn`t listened to MXPX since the 90s so I looked up the videos for a kick... Wow, most of the time the 90s don't seem like a long time ago but watching those videos it does... all the cool 90s looks... In the teenage politics video there`s a sticker where you have sticker goo... Not anything overly definitive but i`d say that gives some credence to the history. It doesn`t sound like you`ll need much convincing but I`d say that one there is a keeper!

 

[five7]

Love it! How about a closeup pic of the back of the neck and the front of the peghead.

 

[sanderhermans]

Congrats! It does look like the mxpx bass! I'd be pretty sure that story is true.
It looks awesome and propably will look even better cleaned up a bit.
I would also add the mutes again. I dont use mine but looks a bit better and brings it back to new spec.
Since u say it was a steal, can i ask how much you paid for this one?
The frozen tone pots are propably done on purpose. I too like my bass and treble in the same position all the time so i can imagine someonne would fix them in their position. But i wouldnt know how to do this. Can this be done on the back of the pots?

 

[bogwart]

toomanyslurpees: The sticker residue and the hand-made thumb rest are both good indicators that it's the same bass. I can't believe anyone would put wood screws through a beautiful bass guitar like that, but to each their own. It's a keeper for sure!
five7: it's in the repair shop and *hopefully* I'll get her back soon and when I do, I'll post more pictures and better close-ups.
sanderhermans: thanks! Her story seems to be legit and she's a good friend with no reason to lie. The mutes...they should be easily found on the internet, right? Some of the parts have to come factory direct from Ernie Ball (like the parts I'm currently waiting for). Do you know if these do as well? I paid $750 for the bass, $80 for shipping, and so far $75 in parts (labor hasn't been included yet). I budgeted for $250 in repairs and shipping so i'm still within that range. All together, it should still ring in a little under $1,000. Not too shabby IMO. The pots were frozen from behind the plate he said. There was a lot of corrosion on the pots so it could've been un-intentional, but from the sound of things this isn't all that uncommon.

 

[sanderhermans]

I wouldn't say that's super cheap. I bought both mi basses for 900 euros or 700 dollars aprox. And they are both 99% mint.
But i dont know what the added valeu of your bass is with the history....
However it does seem like a nice bass.

 

[bogwart]

That is a good deal. It seems that the ones I've seen are $1,000 USD and up. There aren't many that I've seen around that price range so it sounds like you got awesome deals on yours!

 

[sanderhermans]

Sorry made a mistake in euro to dollar calculation. Mine where 900 euro so thats 1100/1200 dollars but my basses where never played alot and mint so still happy about them.

 

[nurnay]

Nurnay: oh man. That is absolutely stunning! What a beautiful bass! I've never played a bongo but after reading everything on here, bongo lovers LOVE them. What do you love most about it (other than how sexy it is)

I tell ya, it took me a long time before I gave in and bought one. The music stores around here don't carry Bongos, so I was going on the word of the fellow Bongoloids on this forum. The look of the bass took a while to grow on me, I'm glad it did. There are a few things I really love about the bongo:

- Massive preamp & sound. And that B string... woah.
- 4 band EQ. Being able to dial in low mids & high mids is really nice.
- Pickup blend. Being able to run one or both is cool on normal HH basses, but being able to go 75-25 or whatever you like is even better. I like going about 60-40 with the PU's (mostly bridge). But being able to adjust the overall tone so easily depending on the song is cool.
- The tone. Man, clean and growly. You can make it do just about anything.
- The overall look of this one (I know you said besides this, but I have to mention it. ). The honeyburst, the roasted neck, the pau ferro board, it's just perfect.
- The weight & balance. The new tuners lighten the Bongos a bit, and from what I hear from older Bongo owners, help a lot with the balance. Mine is really light for a 5 string, right around 9 pounds I think. My old 5 string Rays were a bit too heavy for me, as was my 5 string Big Al. (I do need to get in shape and do some back exercises )
- The looks and comments I get from other musicians. A friend has a son that plays a silver 6 string Bongo and he's made me promise if I ever sell mine (not likely), I go to him first. His son is dying to have my Bongo.

 

[bogwart]

Nurnay: that's awesome. It sounds like you've got it dialed in to suit your needs and playing styles. I've never seen a bongo at a local retailer and (please don't shoot me), they are a little awkward looking. BUT, from you and every other "bongoloid" on the forums; everyone speaks so highly of them. They must be great to get the high praise and resale/trade value.

And, if you decide to sell (which you won't), and the friend's son decides to pass (which he wouldn't), put me on that very short list because at the very least, that bass is absolutely drop dead gorgeous! It would have a prominent spot on my wall because it's a work of art! ;-)

 

[bogwart]

Re-hashing an old thread...I am so in love with my Stingray! I found out that she was built in January of 1995 which fits right into the MxPx timeframe. Either way, I am just ecstatic to have her.

So, what I have learned so far: TURN DOWN THE HORN ON THE CABINET. Seriously...it's so mid-high centric that a horn on the cabinet is almost useless. The tones though that the bass alone can pull are outstanding though. I've had so many comments from other bands and people in the crowd about my sound. I'm so impressed with how she plays, the smoothness of the neck, and the action fits my needs perfectly.

All in all, she's a keeper for sure. It's love at first sight for sure.

 

[MrMusashi]

congrats great bass, great story!

musicman basses tends to demand a place in the music. cuts right through and steals the thunder from the bass drum.. heheh

MrM