For a natural Wood Stingray body ?

[Proby01]

Hi everyone,
I own a great 1983 Stingray, all original, sunburst body, sounds and feels absolutely fantastic.
If I ever wanted to make it "natural wood", would it be better (retaining its originality) to have the paint stripped or to find an original Music Man body, of that epoch (if ever possible) ?.

Thanks
Roby
Milan

 

[Boscoe]

Beautiful bass! It's your bass, but IMHO it'd be a huge mistake to strip that classic bass. If you're looking for a different look I'd probably recommend instead either buying a natural wood StingRay from that era or just building one from parts. There are replica preamps, pickups, and hardware available and you could either modify a Sterling or even find a luthier to make a body and neck for you to those specs. Good luck!

 

[Proby01]

Beautiful bass! It's your bass, but IMHO it'd be a huge mistake to strip that classic bass. If you're looking for a different look I'd probably recommend instead either buying a natural wood StingRay from that era or just building one from parts. There are replica preamps, pickups, and hardware available and you could either modify a Sterling or even find a luthier to make a body and neck for you to those specs. Good luck!

thanks for the reply, very appreciated.
Well, I love this bass, and the look of it, classic, of course. I also love the natural wood (I had in the past a couple of Fenders, in natural wood), it was just a "hitch" to have the natural look back, but it is not vital of course. I am at the full capacity with basses, all Fenders and this one Stingray, and to purchase a pre-Ernie Ball like this, would be an other (after this one), financial hit, here in Europe, Stingrays are very expensive, especially these vintage ones.
Thanks again, ciao !
Roby

 

[Boscoe]

thanks for the reply, very appreciated.
Well, I love this bass, and the look of it, classic, of course. I also love the natural wood (I had in the past a couple of Fenders, in natural wood), it was just a "hitch" to have the natural look back, but it is not vital of course. I am at the full capacity with basses, all Fenders and this one Stingray, and to purchase a pre-Ernie Ball like this, would be an other (after this one), financial hit, here in Europe, Stingrays are very expensive, especially these vintage ones.
Thanks again, ciao !
Roby

That's why I was suggesting maybe modify an import bass. Would be much less expensive and a vintage spec 2-band preamp and pickup can be had for about $200 Euro. Either way good luck!