MusicMan Stingray II, built in 1977?

[heka313]

When were the first Stingray guitars built? I found this guitar on sale:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/35052/musari.jpg

According to the current owner the guitar is built in 1977, but I've understood that the first Stingrays were introduced in 1984?

 

[heka313]

Any comments, is that a real EBMM?

 

[guitfiddle]

The Stingray I guitar is in the 1976 catalog. Not sure when the II came out, but no reason to believe it wasn't in 1977. I'd say it is real.

 

[odur]

I´ve got one Stingray II made in 1978 so...

 

[Colin]

Any comments, is that a real EBMM?

it's a pre Ernie Ball Music Man and that date sounds correct. Ernie Ball acquired the MM name in 1984

 

[Spudmurphy]

The factory making these guitars was set up in 1975 with prototypes being produced later in the year viz:-
Bass Prototype #1 Dec 1975
Bass prototype#3 Feb 1976
Guitar prototype #2 Jan 1976.

The first guitars were shipped ready for NAMM on Wednesday June 23 1976 as follows
Seven Stingray 1 guitars s/n G001000 -G001006
Seven Stingray Basses s/n B001000 B001006.

This info was obtained from the book "Guitars from George & Leo" by George Fullerton.

Now the only problem with the information contained in the book is that it doesn't tie up with the E bay guitar being sold here ????
http://cgi.ebay.com/Ultra-Rare-Fend...&ps=63&clkid=6826435208808755466#ht_589wt_913

 

[John C]

A bit late for this, but as an FYI - the only difference in a Leo-era Sting Ray I and a Sting Ray II is the radius of the neck. I might have this reversed, but I'm 90% sure the "I" was the 12" radius and the "II" was the 7.5" radius. Besides the MM Sting Ray and Sabre guitars Leo used that same designation on the early G&L guitars like the F-100.

It seems like the original MM company had actually dropped the guitar models circa 1982 and was only making basses for the last two years before they went bankrupt and were purchased by EB.