• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan

simonpru

Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2009
Messages
11
Location
Wiltshire UK
Dose anybody remember the original trans green colour that came out in about 1999?

I went absolutely crazy for it when saw the Stingray on the MM website I knew that was the colour for me and started saving. This was gonna be my first real bass. When I eventually had enough money to buy it out right I went back to the website to eye it up some more and noticed that there were now two pictures. One the original rich lush trans green I fell in love with and now some other wishy washy pea soup ish green.
So I got onto MM and explained the situation, was it the dark green or the light etc, and the replay was, “the dark green”. So I decided to go for it and took a visit to my local main dealer to place an order. At the time UK distributor Strings and Thing said they had none in stock and it would have to be a special order straight from MM and could take up to a mouth. So I sat waiting for a mouth wondering what colour I’d get and then called the store, no bass had arrived yet. Sat and waited another month called the store, no bass yet, and again for another month, you guessed it. After about 3 months 2 weeks I had a call from the store, “We got your bass” I said “What colour is it”? They said “We don’t know as it’s still in is box straight from the factory” I said “Don’t open it I want to do it”. So I hot footed it down there fingers crossed to open the box hoping it was gonna be the dark green. I began removing the cardboard to reveal the MM case and led it down on the floor and popped the catches, slowly opened the case and guess what. A nasty pea green colour emitted from the side of the lid.:eek: Before I’d even seen the bass I knew what colour it was, I was gutted.
I've lived with it for 8 years and it plays great and is a lovely one piece body bang from the centre of the tree going by the annual rings.

The finishes has started to severely lift like a big 3” blister around the neck pocket over the last few years, you can get your finger nail under it and lift it clean off no key at all. Anyone reckon EBMM would let me send it back to them to fix it and at the same time spray it the colour I’ve always wanted it to be?

I've added the pics of both colours, these are from the MM site back in early 2001.
 

TheBassGuy

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 21, 2007
Messages
498
Location
The Netherlands
The first pic of the "puke green", i've seen that. Actually, a shop her in the Netherlands has one exactly like that. The second one however, never seen it. I'm a sucker for green guitars and I must say, I love the color on that second pic! :)

Thanks for posting this, never knew that color existed. On the respray, I don't think that will happen (but I might be wrong eh ;) ).
 

mynan

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
2,688
Location
Spring Lake, MI
I think the second one is the same finish as the first one...in some really, really, really good light.
 

simonpru

Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2009
Messages
11
Location
Wiltshire UK
I think the second one is the same finish as the first one...in some really, really, really good light.

I really dont think so, I think MM changed the spec. When i bought the bass i was talking to the guy in the store lots about the colour thing. He said they'd had one of the dark trans green ones in the store and he did know the differance between teal green and trans green. He said it looked fantastic and didn't stay in the shop for long.
 

phatduckk

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 25, 2004
Messages
8,145
Location
San Mateo, California, United States
The first one is trans green.
The second one looks like a finish ive never seen. I'd also guess its the same as the first just in differeny light

Trans teal did exist till about a year ago but trans-teal looks nothing like either of those
 

simonpru

Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2009
Messages
11
Location
Wiltshire UK
Both colours were stated as being trans green on the site. Back in 1999 the darker green was the only one shown and no lighter green pic was put up for sometime. The site had both pics shown for a short time but ended up with just the light green.
 

simonpru

Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2009
Messages
11
Location
Wiltshire UK
Just found this pic it's of a Axis in the dark trans green. If you scan about half way down the page you'll see it. There's some text saying it's extremely rare colour. So it looks like MM did change the spec and i'm not mad. Ha! If i'd saved up quicker back in the day reckon I'd have one that colour. Bummer should of gone down the credit road and got one a year sooner.

ProMusicTools | Overview
 
Last edited:

nicjimbass

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 28, 2007
Messages
223
To answer your other question- EBMM will only finish/ refinish your bass the same color it was when it came from the factory. I had to send my SR5 for a waranty repair several years ago and asked if they could refinish it any color besides black, but was told of their policy. I've just learned to love the color I got!
 
Top Bottom