• Ernie Ball
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  • Sterling by MusicMan

SgtThump

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Jun 17, 2005
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Figjam said:
Doubt it sincehe says 'musicman STYLE'

I've already been discussing this with the seller. He has no way of verifying it's real, but he thinks it is. He has another Stingray and he said his bridge, neck, controls, etc... all fit perfectly.

My question is can you tell if it's real or not by looking at the pictures?

Chris
 

SgtThump

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bovinehost said:
Then it isn't, trust me.


Not to sound like a jerk, but I have years and years of experience dealing with people online and I understand what you guys are saying. I KNOW that the guy might be trying to mislead everyone. I get it.

Let me be more direct. If you had nothing but the pictures, can you tell if it's a real MM body or not?

Chris

PS - Honestly, I don't mean to sound like a jerk.
 

bovinehost

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Well, I didn't figure you just fell off the truck.

But if it WERE a real Stingray body, he'd say so. There would be markings in the neck pocket. The bridge holes don't look quite right to me, although I can't put my finger on why not.

The finish doesn't have the "polish" of a factory EBMM finish.

That's my thinking, anyway.
 

SgtThump

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bovinehost said:
Well, I didn't figure you just fell off the truck.

But if it WERE a real Stingray body, he'd say so. There would be markings in the neck pocket. The bridge holes don't look quite right to me, although I can't put my finger on why not.

The finish doesn't have the "polish" of a factory EBMM finish.

That's my thinking, anyway.

Thanks. Was the neck ever attached using four bolts?
 

bovinehost

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Yeah, that much is okey-dokey.

Six bolts came along fairly recently although the year now escapes me. Gavin will be along in a bit to remind us when that happened.

I'd be asking about markings in the neck pocket. That would be the definitive way to determine (without seeing it in person, that is).
 

SgtThump

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bovinehost said:
Yeah, that much is okey-dokey.

Six bolts came along fairly recently although the year now escapes me. Gavin will be along in a bit to remind us when that happened.

I'd be asking about markings in the neck pocket. That would be the definitive way to determine (without seeing it in person, that is).

Ahhh, I didn't realize that. I don't know much about the history, which is why I think this board is great. I like learning as much as I can about stuff I own... They started out with 3 bolts, right? Then I guess 4 and finally 6?
 

SgtThump

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bovinehost said:
Yep, three to four then to six.

Gav has the timeline and I'm sure he'll make us smarter (once again).

Cool. Well thank you very much for your help! I'm not going to buy that body, but I would like to find someone that's willing to trade or sell me a different color body. This gray one is kinda boring next to my black SR. lol... But I'm not THAT hard up for something different or anything.

I might just slap a plexiglass pickguard on it and be done. I really like the way it looks without the pickguard, but those screw holes aren't too cool.

Chris
 

bovinehost

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What color grey are we talking about? Is it the graphite pearl?

I apologize if you've posted about this, but I get lost in all the basses that come and go around here.
 

Rod Trussbroken

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The control plate cavity doesn't look right to me. Too many weaves on the upper curve of the routing. The upper horn doesn't look right either but that may be the angle of the pic.

With respect to the Sting Ray, these are neck introduction dates only. There are periods where different neck bolt configurations run concurrently. Both Pre-EB and EB were either using old stock (until depletion) or continued making the earlier bolt configurations for a time.

1976: Sting Ray commences production with a 3 bolt neck and bullet truss. Examples exist up to, and including 1981.

Circa 1980: 4 bolt neck and bullet truss. Examples exist up to, and including late 1990 (or even 1991...I'll have to check).

Late 1988 (early 1989) - Current: 6 bolt neck and capstan wheel truss (the 6 bolt appeared earlier in 1988 with the introduction of the SR5).

EDIT:

Typo error.

RE: 1976: Sting Ray commences production with a 3 bolt neck and bullet truss. Examples exist up to, and including 1981.

Should read ".......up to, and including 1980".
 
Last edited:

oldbluebassman

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Mar 13, 2004
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This might be stating the obvious but I don't see a battery pocket on the back so surely it can't be genuine. I'm not aware of there ever being any passive Stingrays.
 

TheDirtyMoocher

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Sea Girt, NJ
its probably an olp body. that blue is the other color that they sold them in when they were selling them in two colors (blue and black)
 

SgtThump

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bovinehost said:
What color grey are we talking about? Is it the graphite pearl?

I apologize if you've posted about this, but I get lost in all the basses that come and go around here.

I tried to answer you last night, but my Internet connection went down... Anyway, yeah, i'ts the graphite pearl bass. It's a 2004 model and there are some scratches on the back side and a pea size knick or ding on the front.

I'm not looking hard to replace the body, but I'd think about it if anyone had a different color body in similar condition and they liked graphite pearl.

Chris
 
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