Neck Heel Symbol in Pencil

[Funky Chicken]

I disassembled my Sterling last night to give it a good bath and clean/oil the neck. It was the first time I remember having the neck off. On the "bottom" of the heel (the flat part the screws go into) there is a pencil mark that looks kinda like a telephone pole with 2 crossbars at the top that curl downward at the ends followed by the number 7893.
I figure the 7893 could be July 8, 1993, no? This is an old Sterling- mutes, screw on battery cover. I bought it used in '94 for $600 with an EBMM gig bag. I was curious about the symbol-I figure it's somebody's signature of some sort.
I forgot how much I love this bass. I play both bass and guitar and sometimes stuff goes in a closet longer than it should.

 

[dlloyd]

I disassembled my Sterling last night to give it a good bath and clean/oil the neck. It was the first time I remember having the neck off. On the "bottom" of the heel (the flat part the screws go into) there is a pencil mark that looks kinda like a telephone pole with 2 crossbars at the top that curl downward at the ends followed by the number 7893.
I figure the 7893 could be July 8, 1993, no? This is an old Sterling- mutes, screw on battery cover. I bought it used in '94 for $600 with an EBMM gig bag. I was curious about the symbol-I figure it's somebody's signature of some sort.
I forgot how much I love this bass. I play both bass and guitar and sometimes stuff goes in a closet longer than it should.

You mean this bit?

That is the date the neck was finished.

July 93 is a very early Sterling. The earliest on Gav's database is June 93

http://myweb.ecomplanet.com/TOWN8019/mycustompage0012.htm

What's the serial number? It should be on the bridge and be around 38000.

edit: Gav, I think I may have spotted a spelling mistake at the top of that page... not sure though

 

[Funky Chicken]

That's the mark. I'll get a pic up and check the serial number.

 

[Funky Chicken]

The s/n is 40948. What seems weird is the fact that the body has an inkstamped date of May 2, 1994 in the heel. Could a neck and body be 10 months apart??

 

[dlloyd]

The s/n is 40948. What seems weird is the fact that the body has an inkstamped date of May 2, 1994 in the heel. Could a neck and body be 10 months apart??

At a guess, it may have been returned on warranty with a defective finish or something like that and they would have put the neck on a new body.

Jon would probably be able to tell you.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>>edit: Gav, I think I may have spotted a spelling mistake at the top of that page... not sure though

DARN!

Thanks

.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

The serial number and body date appear consistent so I don't think the body has been replaced.

If the neck is 1993, then perhaps EB used one that had been put aside for some reason.

.