Is this a Sterling with a Stingray neck?

[rtbass]

I have my eye on a fretless Sterling on Craigslist -- at least the listing says it's a Sterling. But it's weird because first of all, I wasn't aware that fretless Sterlings were ever made. Here is a picture, and as you can see, it's an unlined (looks like maybe rosewood?) fingerboard, so it's not a Sterling that somebody defretted:


The body definitely looks like a Sterling and the neck plate (not shown, but it's in the CL listing) has "Sterling" on it. But the second thing that's weird is that the headstock does *not* have "Sterling" on it:


Every Sterling I've ever seen has had "Sterling" printed on the headstock. This looks more like the headstock from a non-Sterling Stingray. So this plus the nice fingerboard have me wondering if this is a Sterling body, with an actual Stingray neck bolted on to it. In which case I think this bass might be worth considerably more than the seller is asking.

What do you all think?

 

[racerx]

Could you ask for more pictures of the neck and possibly the inside/pocket of the neck if the seller is comfortable? The body and components look right for a Sterling/SbMM StingRay. The neck and headstock do raise some flags though -- specifically the wood choice, finish texture, and logo placement. My guess is it is an externally sourced neck with an EBMM decal applied. Some of the other guys may be able to speak with more authority though.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

The word "Sterling" can confuse matters. "Ernie Ball Music Man" (EBMM) makes a "Sting Ray" Bass and also a "Sterling" model Bass. On the other hand, you have "Sterling By Music Man" (SBMM) who makes Sterling Sting Ray Basses. EBMM and SBMM are different entities/companies and not the same.

Looking at the pics you've posted it would appear that the neck is made by EBMM and is for an EBMM Sting Ray Bass (as per headstock logo) and not a Sterling Bass. On the other hand, going by the style of bridge, the body appears to be made by SBMM for one of their own Sting Ray Basses. The word "Sterling" on the neckplate would signify SBMM also. EBMM did make fretless Sterling Basses but the Bass you're looking at is put together with both EBMM and SBMM parts.

 

[Fuzzy Dustmite]

That decal placement looks off as well. should look more like this for a Stingray neck



the bass body appears to be one of these:

Sterling By Music Man StingRay RAY4 Bass Guitar - Walnut Satin

4-string Electric Bass with Basswood Body, Hard Maple Neck, Jatoba Fingerboard, 2-band Active Preamp and 1 Humbucking Pickup - Walnut Satin

www.sweetwater.com

 

[DrKev]

1) As said before that logo is in the wrong place.

2) The Rosewood fretboard is too short and doesn’t extend far enough toward the tuners behind the nut. It can vary a little, but it usually goes almost halfway to the edge of the E string tuner post.

I don’t know where this neck came from, but I’m betting it’s not a real EBMM Stingray neck.

If you can get photos of the back of the head stock, again, look for the position of me, logos, and the back of tuners should have music man logos on the plates.

 

[mynan]

The placement of the word Stingray in the OP's pic is where you would see it on a SBMM Stingray, so maybe they removed the word Sterling and added the EBMM logo.

 

[rtbass]

Thanks everyone for these replies -- I'm learning a lot and the detective work is fun. I'm going to pass on this bass, since I'm in agreement with the idea that it's a Ray4 body with some aftermarket neck of unknown origin, but probably not EBMM, bolted onto it. It's a little too janky to justify the price (and it's a 4-hour drive from me).

But just to keep the conversation going, here's the listing: Musicman Stingray 4 string fretless - musical instruments - by owner... It's got a few additional photos that might shed some light on the subject.

Too bad, because I'm jonesing for a fretless Stingray and this one has the look.

 

[Fuzzy Dustmite]

Here's the ad with more pictures.

Musicman Stingray 4 string fretless - musical instruments - by owner...

Musicman Stingray Sterling 4 string fretless Clean Like new Red No case $500

milwaukee.craigslist.org

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

No rear EBMM headstock decal and tuners are not EBMM.

 

[gluvhand]

The ad does say it's a Sterling so I don't think they're really trying to fool anybody but I'd ask for an explanation regarding the decal swap.

 

[Golem]

EBMM certainly did make fretless Sterlings. Ive owned a few. The FBs were always pau ferro, not rosewood, on all of mine.

FWIW, one should NOT swap necks between a Sterling Bass and a StingRay. Everything about that is wrong.

BTW the bass in question in this thread cannot be a Sterling Bass cuz its some version of a StingRay ... maybe an offshore copy from waaaaay offshore ?!? Anywho, only a StingRay has that Chrome Banana. Also the PG is symmetrical like is normal for a Ray. A Sterling Bass PG is asymmetrical near the neck.

The entire value of the bass in question is for its FL neck. In perfect condition thaz around $400 to $600 *IF* its a real EBMM neck.

That body with hardware and electronics is really worth verrrrrrry little.

 

[danny-79]

Everything about that is off (I don’t even think it’s possible to put a Sterling neck on a Stingray body anyways, not without a lot of work anyways)
avoid it and move on

 

[bovinehost]

The bridge is wrong, too.

Nothing about that one seems right.