My latest purchase - 2001-02 Buttercream?

[freedok]

Hi all,
I know this topic has been kicked around in the past, but I just purchased a white Stingray on ebay today. The odd thing is that the bass appears to be finished in buttercream. I don't mean it looks faded to a cream color, I mean it looks like it was purposely painted in buttercream. You guys be the judge,

http://cgi.ebay.com/Musicman-Stingr...375188366QQcategoryZ16222QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The serial number places it the 2001-02 range, the decal is black and there are certainly no indications it was ever meant to be part of any limited edition production. The seller has confirmed that it is the original finish. The pickguard is obviously white. So what would you guys call the color?

 

[jongitarz]

It's probably white. Post the serial # and we can look it up, but I would have to say it's white.

 

[midopa]

Very interesting! It could be the lighting, though. Also EBMM's white finish isn't exactly white:

Couple that with the lighting, and that could be the explanation, though that finish color is really buttercreamish.

Nice bass, though!

 

[freedok]

The serial number is E27382.

 

[Aussie Mark]

$1100 seems a little steep to me. Used Stingrays pop up on ebay all the time for $600-$900.

 

[Moondog]

$1100 seems a little steep to me. Used Stingrays pop up on ebay all the time for $600-$900.

Agreed - plenty ebay SR4's for under $900
looking at the bid history, Freedok bid
unchallenged 3 times ?

 

[maddog]

Agreed - plenty ebay SR4's for under $900
looking at the bid history, Freedok bid
unchallenged 3 times ?

You mean no counter bid. How can somebody do that?

Yes, I am ebay ignorant.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

You mean no counter bid. How can somebody do that?

Yes, I am ebay ignorant.

Say you bid $400 as your max bid, and you later change your mind and want to bid $600 max. You can either retract your first bid (which often looks suspicious), or you can just bid again (which looks strange if no one else has bid). If you later decide to bid $800 max, you can bid again....

 

[freedok]

The price we pay for things is relative to how much we like them. A buttercream fretless went for $1,420.00 the other day. I have noticed the Rays with matching painted headstocks run a bit higher and seem to be more desirable. On the other hand my 79 Ray sold for 2k last week. Some folks like rosewood fingerboards while others would having nothing to do with them. Again it has to do with individual taste I suppose.

 

[Darth Tater]

I'd say it's just white. Don't Buttercreme's have a maroon logo and not black?

I'd also say that $1100 is very steep for used considering the price of new ones.

 

[Aussie Mark]

eg. one large bass retailer has used white/rosewood Stingrays for $899 delivered to your door

 

[GWDavis28]

Might that bass not be from the MIAC 30th Anniv in 2001? The color was a light yellowish white (Vintage Yellow), very similar to Buttercream.

Check the serial number with EBMM they might be able to tell you.

Glenn |B)

 

[freedok]

Thanx for the info Glen. MM should be able to answer that one. Also, Gav has suggested I yank the neck and check for paint ID, etc. I may as well remove the pickguard and check for variation in paint color as well.

 

[jongitarz]

It is White...Built on 12/19/01

 

[freedok]

Then it is definately white without question. It certainly has faded to a nice shade after such a short amount of time.

 

[Mahlon]

Happy mutual Birthday, white Ray.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Then it is definately white without question. It certainly has faded to a nice shade after such a short amount of time.

I'm thinking it's merely a trick of the light. Even the website photo of a new white on white instrument posted earlier in the thread shows that the pickguard is "whiter" than the body. To me it looks like the ebay photos of the bass you purchased were taken without flash, indoors under incandescent light bulbs which cast a yellow tinge, which would explain the "cream" hue of the finish. The Ernie Ball white finish is really a "vintage" white with some cream in it rather than a "polar" white.

 

[freedok]

Yes,

I would have to agree that the lighting has helped with the hue shown in the pictures. I should have the bass by Wednesday this week. Thanx for all the input everyone has offered on this one.