Help me date this bass. value?

[Rod Trussbroken]

That looks like the older version of Trans Red to me. Trans Red is a lot brighter today.

 

[Zippydog]

Translucent cherry - yes, this looks similar in the right light. My bass still looks darker than the photos in your post, though.


bigvissch,

Sorry, but yes - I got it from ebay- just last week. You would never have recognized it as I've pictured it, though, because the seller's photos were taken outside and the bass looked like it was a washed out dark pink... The fretboard also looked very light and faded out. The photos scared the crap out of me and I took a leap of faith but.... The seller's bad photos became my win after some elbow grease!!

I'd still call the color a translucent burgundy or very deep red and with some proper oil treatment (first a good cleaning, then gun stock oil) the neck warmed up incredibly.

 

[bigvissch]

Thanks Zippy, you just made my day, NOT. Never mind, that'll teach me to take my eye off the ball for a couple of days! This one was obviously meant for you. Congratulations.

What was the text in the eBay ad?? Maybe I need to hone my search techniques!!

 

[Zippydog]

Here's the listing before it was re-listed and I won it for less than what you'll see here:

Ernie Ball Musicman Fretless 5 String Bass NO RESERVE - eBay (item 190192456349 end time Jan-27-08 19:49:12 PST)

You can see these pics don't look anything like mine.
Same bass, awful light in his pics.

 

[bigvissch]

Thanks. That neck is gorgeous. If you were ever in doubt about going fretless and wanted to change necks please let me know.

BTW, it appears they wouldn't ship internationally anyway........ the story of my recent life!!!

 

[thunder]

value? to estimate the value is hard. condition, neck, and all oringnal parts play a big role. ebay is a good judge to determine price. unfortunately frettless basses don't fare to well. i rarely see any five string frettless on there.

 

[the unrepentant]

value? to estimate the value is hard. condition, neck, and all oringnal parts play a big role. ebay is a good judge to determine price. unfortunately frettless basses don't fare to well. i rarely see any five string frettless on there.

haha, it just so happens there's a fretless SR5 on ebay UK as we speak, in what appears to be the same colour too, that's pretty rare in itself!

Musicman stingray 5 fretless bass on eBay, also, Bass, Guitars, Musical Instruments (end time 12-Feb-08 12:48:25 GMT)

 

[bigvissch]

Hmmmmm. Yes I saw that, and have asked the seller a few questions...... like shipping to Oz. The price also seems a little high given the condition. We'll see what comes back.

 

[Zippydog]

haha, it just so happens there's a fretless SR5 on ebay UK as we speak, in what appears to be the same colour too, that's pretty rare in itself!

WOW! Just over $1500 US$ for the UK model (value of the US$ doesn't help! ) . That's way more than I spent here in the U.S. for mine - feeling better all the time. Also, I still think my red is a good bit deeper than the UK auction bass above. One final point of difference (beyond pick guard) is that my neck is a birdseye maple and that one's not. I'll have to get some good pics up once I'm done cleaning it up and have the new pick guard on.

 

[5Stringer]

Hey everyone, especially Zippy, for being so patient. I have posted some pertinent information on this thread: http://www.ernieball.com/forums/mus...an-serial-number-database-142.html#post477949

But in response to all the comments and observations here, I just thought I'd share a little more about this bass:

I got a little buried yesterday and didn't get to this till today! As stated on the other thread, this finish is a Trans Red, but we did use a different hue back then, more of a dark cherry than we do now, almost a candy I guess these days. It also may have been affected by the fact that back then, the StingRay 4 & 5, Sterling (though not available in all the colors), and the Silhouette guitar were color and wood specific. It went something like this:

All opaque finishes, Vintage Sunburst, and BlueBurst = Poplar body
Sunburst (now Honetyburst), Trans Teal, Natural = Ash body
Trans Red (only) = Alder body

So - to summarize - your StingRay 5 has an alder body, birdseye maple neck, and a pau ferro lined fretless neck and that was the way it left the factory on its way to the original Manny's Music on 48th Street, NYC.

Hope that makes it clear as mud! HA!

Dan

 

[Zippydog]

...and there we have it!!

THANK YOU Dan!!

Just awesome!

For the curious, Dan informed me in the other thread (above) the bass was completed 10/25/93.

Wow - what a find!

 

[the unrepentant]

WOW! Just over $1500 US$ for the UK model (value of the US$ doesn't help! ) . That's way more than I spent here in the U.S. for mine - feeling better all the time. Also, I still think my red is a good bit deeper than the UK auction bass above. One final point of difference (beyond pick guard) is that my neck is a birdseye maple and that one's not. I'll have to get some good pics up once I'm done cleaning it up and have the new pick guard on.

Aye, we have to pay out our backsides for our gear over here, as they do in OZ too... you yanks are pretty fortunate in that respect. Though as said, that one is a bit overpriced. Not far off what i'd expect though.

 

[5Stringer]

...and there we have it!!

THANK YOU Dan!!

Just awesome!

For the curious, Dan informed me in the other thread (above) the bass was completed 10/25/93.

Wow - what a find!

What he said!

It's funny .. my first dog, when I was 10 or so (just a few years ago hahah), I got my first dog - and I named her Zippy. brings back memories ... she was a mutt, but she was my mutt!

Dan

 

[Zippydog]

Dan,

Thanks again!

Here's the story behind "Zippydog"....

I had a Lab/Collie mix dog (an awesome buddy!) at the same time AOL and other online servers came about (remember the sound "shhhhhhhhhhhhttt... zing zong, ...zing zong....)...

My dog was hanging out with me one night and I needed an email ID. Zippydog it became...and forever it will be! Thanks again for your help with I.D.-ing this bass - - -means a lot! My old mutt dog (his actual name was Fletch) would sure like this bass!

Cheers,
-Paul

 

[5Stringer]

Thanks for sharing!

Dan