• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan

stingray96191

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So I have had this for sale on talkbass for months. Lots of offers, but no deals. I know it's expensive, but its a collectors edition ofy favorite guitar, and it's really never been played. But this is not a forsake thread.
I'm really considering having this bass refinished professionally in a Fuschia burst paint job. It will be loud, but I'm likely to never get that endorsement where they will do a custom color for me. Any thoughts, I can get you a picture of the finish I'm after, but it's a Waterstone. If this doesn't sell by the end of the week I'm considering it. I would like your opinions though.
Thanks in advance
Erin Payne

Realist of my super rare Big Al. Black Sugar, Roasted Maple. Only a couple of these were made. This bass has played one gig, and went back in its case. Perfect 9.999/10 condition. And impossible to find. $1650 shipped lower 48 or best offer. Would trade for a non limited edition Big Al 4 SSS plus $900
Look at the pictures, fall in love. Pm me with questions. If this doesn't sell soon it will be getting a refinish. My life is too short to play black guitars.
Erin

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tunaman4u2

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Just my 2c: Refin may hurt your value or may be expensive to do right. I'd lower your price, sell it & then buy a new guy in the color of your choice! Maybe you can even talk to a bass central or bass central, whatever & negotiate a swap? Theres no chance they give you $900 & another bass though. Maybe you'd want to lower the cash required on your trade for another Big Al in the private market as well
 

mmbassplayer

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Erin, I say go for it. I originally bought the Black Sugar Bongo with the intention of refinishing it as I am not much of a black bass kind of guy. I say you post a link to the color you are thinking so we all have an idea what your thinking.
 
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bassmonkeee

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Just my 2c: Refin may hurt your value or may be expensive to do right. I'd lower your price, sell it & then buy a new guy in the color of your choice! Maybe you can even talk to a bass central or bass central, whatever & negotiate a swap? Theres no chance they give you $900 & another bass though. Maybe you'd want to lower the cash required on your trade for another Big Al in the private market as well


His color of choice appears to be fuchsia burst. Where exactly is he going to find one of those?




If you want to keep the option of selling down the road, don't refin. If that isn't an issue, go for it. Lots of people can do a high quality refin for a good price. Musicman does not have magic paint.
 

mmbassplayer

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Erin, my Internet searches have not found said color. I say post a pic or at least a link to it. You have me curious now.
 

stingray96191

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Bad lighting but this is the color I'm after. Borrowed from the Waterstone guitars Facebook page.
Ernie Ball makes nothing that looks like this.
Erin
 

stingray96191

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The herd is also getting much much smaller. The only stingray I own now is the slo. The sterlings gone too. I only have the ALs left. I love the big al. I don't want to sell it. I just don't love the black sugar.
Erin
 

Smallmouth_Bass

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If I were you, I'd get it refinished the way you want it.

What were you planning on for the pickguard? Maybe just a fancy pick guard may be enough. I'm not generally a fan of black instruments either (with exceptions), but I do have a thing for black and tortoise shell, which is what my Big Al 5 is.
 

Movielife

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I'm with you on the black bass thing, I used to have a few, but now I avoid black. That black sugar is still lovely though.
 

mmbassplayer

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Erin... Get a clear pickguard made for it and have him spray it fuschia with a black edge around the guard. That would look killer. Just mt .02$.
 

tunaman4u2

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Erin... Get a clear pickguard made for it and have him spray it fuschia with a black edge around the guard. That would look killer. Just mt .02$.

Hell spray paint the current black pickguard fuschia, that wouldn't cost ya at all ! Design some cool emblems to put all over the bass in fuschia too. Why not?
 

stingray96191

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I'm willing to screw around with a $50 pickguard. I'm not willing to take a spray can to the body of a dead mint ltd bass. There is a store here in town that makes custom wooden pick guards and can stain them anyway I want. I may take a color swatch out there and see if they can do a Fuschia guard on a piece of flamed maple.. It may be expensive though.. I'll keep you all posted anyway it goes.
Thanks everybody
Erin
 

bassmonkeee

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I'm willing to screw around with a $50 pickguard. I'm not willing to take a spray can to the body of a dead mint ltd bass. There is a store here in town that makes custom wooden pick guards and can stain them anyway I want. I may take a color swatch out there and see if they can do a Fuschia guard on a piece of flamed maple.. It may be expensive though.. I'll keep you all posted anyway it goes.
Thanks everybody
Erin

The beauty of a black bass is that it'll go great with pretty much any pickguard color. So, a custom pickguard is certainly a more economical/less permanent way to get your fuchsia fix.


Tell me more about this custom flamed maple pickguard shop, too....Maybe I need to invest in a new bowtie for the Dargie 5SHp....
 

stingray96191

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The beauty of a black bass is that it'll go great with pretty much any pickguard color. So, a custom pickguard is certainly a more economical/less permanent way to get your fuchsia fix.


Tell me more about this custom flamed maple pickguard shop, too....Maybe I need to invest in a new bowtie for the Dargie 5SHp....

It is the local mom and pop music shop. It is called pianos and stuff it's been there for a very long time and is my favorite place to shop in this city of Pittsburgh. They have a website pnsmusic.com but I'm not sure if their custom shop luthier work is well represented there. It's kind of like my guitar store version of cheers. "where everybody knows my name"
Erin
 

bassmonkeee

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It's good to have a mom&pop store that you like.

That said, you might want to mention to them that they currently have themselves listed as an "authorized service center" for Musicman.

NStuffmusic.com | Guitar Services

It's my understanding that there AREN'T any authorized service centers for Musicman. Qualified to service? In most cases, probably. But, authorized?

Note: I've been wrong before.
 
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