Help me dating my Stingray (1979 ?)

[SicutSicutSicut]

Hello to all,

I am the proud owner of this bass for over 10 years. Unfortunately, I know very little about its previous life. Please how to determine its production date, beyond the obvious elements?
Behind the neck, I note the date of March 197(9 ?).
The serial number on the bridge seems to be B014551 (no answer on the Ernie Ball website).

How to get more information please? I have the impression that the tuning machines have been changed (they are Schaller tuning machines, very good quality - probably from the 1980s given the writing). Is the microphone original? How to know more about the body?
In short, any information would be appreciated. This is a very nice bass, and also quite heavy.

Thanks a lot for your help!

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

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Going by the serial number the neck will be 1979 (14 March 1979). The serial moved to the bridge c. Sept 1978 but the serial number takes it well into 1979.

Is there a date in the neck pocket on the body (where you took the neck off) ?

Yeah, the tuners aren't original. The stems are too long also. You can purchase tuners here through Customer Service.

Not sure about the pickup originality. If it's a problem, a good replacement would be a Nordstrand "MM 4.2"

P.S. Just noticed the bolts on the bridge (each side of the string saddles) aren't original either. Same with the two height adjustment screws on the lefthand side of the pickup. You could ask Customer Service about those also.

 

[SicutSicutSicut]

Hey, thank you very much for this very accurate answer
It will help me a lot in understanding the history of this base.
My feeling is that overall all the major parts are original, except for a few "secondary" elements.
I will see if I need to have it "restored" with some original screws and mechanics, but it is probably not necessary.
Anyway, thanks again for your precious help.

 

[kevins]

You should check the length on the pole pieces, sometimes people luck out and get the extra long pile pieces on something as late as a 79. They stopped doing the long pole pieces in 78. If you’re worried about replacement parts I’d look at the wires on the back of the pickups and be careful while unscrewing the height screws, you don’t really need to fully take them out to see the wires. I’d also look at the preamp etc.

 

[basshista]

I would add that the neck has been fitted to a 4 bolt bass at some point, infact it has extra holes on the heel. It could be originally from another bass so it is important to know body date

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

I would add that the neck has been fitted to a 4 bolt bass at some point, infact it has extra holes on the heel. It could be originally from another bass so it is important to know body date

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Yes. The neck is a three bolt neck (round Micro-Tilt bearing on the heel). It's been re-drilled to attach to a body using four bolts. In the process the drill has gone through the date stamp. It's been re-attached to a body with three bolts.