Need help Identifying a slab.

[tombboy]

Ive had this baby about a year now, bought second hand in the UK.
Basically it's been put together from car crash victims. Genuine bridge, tuners neckplate and plastic battery compartment, Norstrand pup and pre-amp with stacked knobs. Plays like a dream though and is my main gigging bass (Still scared to take the 30th out!!!).
Just a little confused about the body though. I know it's a refin and was once a solid colour (glued two piece body) but it has a six bolt neck plate and strings thru ferroules which are not utilised because of the transition 'flea' bridge.
I read on this forum somewhere that EBMM had a certain number of Stingrays made in the far east with strings thru as standard, could this be where my body has come from or was there some LE made in SLO which featured this?
Any advice would be welcomed.
Jamie.

 

[mynan]

Is there a serial on the bridge or neckplate?

 

[tombboy]

There is one the bridge but it won't correspond to the body. I know this because of the fact that the body has the ferroules in situ for a strings thru bridge.
Here's more pics of the front and back...

I also know it was originally a 3eq due to the (now obsolete) input jack on the wood instead of the plate.
I think it is pointing to a far eastern slab of wood.
Makes no odds as it sounds awsome anyway!

 

[mynan]

The only other thing I can think of would be to check the neck pocket for any markings...not sure if it would give you anything besides a date, but who knows?

Also, I think they did some "strings-through" bodies for the German distributor a while back too.

 

[bovinehost]

I think you might be right about it being an "EX" body. (Was that what they were called?)

 

[tombboy]

I've looked on Rod's site and found that in 2001, 200 basses were made in Gunsmoke Silver for the Japanese market with strings thru design. However, the one pictured is a 2 band eq whereas mine is a 3 band. Were there any 3 band basses made in this run?

 

[mynan]

Check this post, by Dan at EBMM, and the following couple posts (post #1882-#1884). They did some for Music Meyer in Germany.

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/mus...an-serial-number-database-126.html#post449583

 

[tombboy]

Judging by Rod's site again (WHAT a site BTW!!) the bridge is late '80's (1987-1988) as it has the smaller thumb screws and hollow string saddles.

 

[tombboy]

Check this post, by Dan at EBMM, and the following couple posts (post #1882-#1884). They did some for Music Meyer in Germany.

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/mus...an-serial-number-database-126.html#post449583

Cheers for that Bryan. The original owner had this bass since 2003 so it counts them out. Looks like a Japanese baby!

 

[Ken Baker]

The string-thru capability can be added, so I discount that as a key indicator.

The body shape has a very familiar (to me) look to it and I'm curious about what appears to be a jack plate (or blank) on the bottom edge.

So my questions are:

1. Have you ever pulled the neck plate, and if so, do you see any indication of a prior 3 bolt attachment?

2. Have you ever pulled the bridge, and if so, is there anything under there beyond round holes and a wire?

3. Is the body routed for two pickups, or has a neck rout been filled?

Ken...

 

[mynan]

Here's another reference to a German STB that goes back to 2000...

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/mus...man-serial-number-database-82.html#post328682

 

[tombboy]

It is curious isn't it?
I did a full set up when I bought it and had it apart then. Can't remember if there were any markings in the pocket... sorry. However, no indication of three or even four bolt attachment. No routing for neck pup. Didn't lift the bridge.
The jack input plate is still intact though no jack is connected.

As far as strings thru as an added capability... I didn't think you could order it as an option? Or have I misconstrued your post Ken?

 

[tombboy]

Thanks Bryan,
+10 for effort and a gold star!!

 

[bovinehost]

I think Ken was saying that string-through body option could be done by a customer after the sale; it certainly wasn't an option (except in the already-mentioned cases).

 

[tombboy]

Oops... my bad.
Thanks though for your efforts.
Could be German or Japanese (Germapanese!!) then. Either way, I think it's a SLO baby!!

 

[Ken Baker]

It is curious isn't it?
I did a full set up when I bought it and had it apart then. Can't remember if there were any markings in the pocket... sorry. However, no indication of three or even four bolt attachment. No routing for neck pup. Didn't lift the bridge.
The jack input plate is still intact though no jack is connected.

As far as strings thru as an added capability... I didn't think you could order it as an option? Or have I misconstrued your post Ken?

I meant string-thru added after manufacturing by a luthier.

I was thinking it might be a child of the marriage of MusicMan parts and an early G&L body, but it doesn't appear that would be the case due to no evidence of 3 bolt attachment. It would also mean that there would have to have been a neck pickup because the only single-large-humbucker G&L of the time would have had the pickup in the "P" position (L-1000).

Ken...

 

[tombboy]

I'm 99% certain that the body is EBMM. Done a comparison with my other two Rays and it's a mirror shape. If it was a copy then I'm sure there would have been some discrepancies in the front and rear contours or the horns etc.

I think all the evidence is certainly pointing towards the German STB run done in 2000 (2 piece body = solid colour, plastic battery cover, six bolt attachment, STB.)

I seem to remember one of these coming up on ebay about six years ago by a Belgian seller which was absolutely trashed. Eventually sold for about $350 to somewhere in London. Cant be the same one though as the upper horn was ripped clean off. I think it had literally been run over!!

 

[oli@bass]

If you can do a close up pic of the string thru bushings, that could indicate whether they are original EBMMs or not. The battery compartment looks definitely original EBMM.

 

[rhythmCity944]

i would think the bridge would be offset if it were newer or at least a need for offset saddles than the centered saddles on there right now. the only stingray i can think off since the early 90's that had centered groved saddles would be the NAMM 100th edition bass

 

[rhythmCity944]

a battery box would not work in a body with the old style plate on the back either. the battery box wouldn't propperly cover the hole unless it was filled and painted a solid color otherwise it would be obvious, so the body is definately mid 90's or newer

you might want to remove the bridge to see how the holes line up...might give you more clues...pretty bass though