Newbie Here! Can anyone direct me to where I can post questions regarding 76-79 Stingrays? I don't have any experience with posting threads so I apologize if I'm in the wrong area! My question is regarding a friends '77 Stingray. He has what appears to be a vintage Hipshot style d tuner, but the base has the MusicMan logo. Did MM make these originally or were they licensed through Hipshot or any other mfg. in the seventies? I also have some questions regarding (the same era) original fretless necks. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Question Pre-EB Stingray d tuner
- Thread starter Ray Sting
- Start date
Rod Trussbroken
Moderator
I'm sure the hipshot would be an after-market item. I'm not aware of MM having made them.
What are your Qs about the fretless necks?
What are your Qs about the fretless necks?
Caca de Kick
Well-known member
Someone could have modified a Hipshot by drilling out the rivets and installing the original Musicman tuner on the plate.
I had to do that with a couple of basses back in the day because I didn't like how different the Hipshot tuners looked back then.
I had to do that with a couple of basses back in the day because I didn't like how different the Hipshot tuners looked back then.
Here's a picture of the d-tuner, it looks original or at the very least a darn fine rivet job! Has anyone seen one like this? Regarding the fretless necks; did musicman make any in the 70's with binding? Thanks again for your help gentlemen!
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Caca de Kick
Well-known member
I'm sure Hipshot made that tuner for the bass owner back in the day. It is very easy to do, and like back in the day when a company is small it's easy to do special build like that...take an existing tuner and rivet it to their plate.
Thanks Mike, looks like it might be missing a washer, huh? I was impressed that the height of the key wasn't affected like the other hipshots I've seen...Wish there was better documentation from MM on these types of mods...Here's another one for you: I've only ever seen one other like this, but have you heard of a 76-78 MM bridge that accepted the strings thru the body AND terminated at the bridge (conventional setup)??? Now this is on a patent pending bridge so no mistaking it for a serial numbered bridge...Hey Gav, any luck on the ferro pau fretless necks with bindings??? Thanks again for the help gents!
TM Neck with brass nut and binding
Hey Mike, here's a picture of the Stingray (TM on headstock logo so '76-'77) neck. If you look closely you can make out the binding as it passes the brass nut! Is it possible that MM made a few of these as a custom shop??? The rest of the bass is completely orig so I have no reason to think otherwise...but you know how that goes...Thanks again for any input!
Hey Mike, here's a picture of the Stingray (TM on headstock logo so '76-'77) neck. If you look closely you can make out the binding as it passes the brass nut! Is it possible that MM made a few of these as a custom shop??? The rest of the bass is completely orig so I have no reason to think otherwise...but you know how that goes...Thanks again for any input!
Caca de Kick
Well-known member
Gav would be the enthusiast on any documented preEB Rays with binding, let alone any fretless ones. But my jaw dropped to the floor. 
All I can says is WOW, that looks sooooo cool!
As many folks learned to say about Leo...never say never. But I would be holding that bass up under a black light to see of the finish on the neck is original and untouched.
All I can says is WOW, that looks sooooo cool!As many folks learned to say about Leo...never say never. But I would be holding that bass up under a black light to see of the finish on the neck is original and untouched.
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rhythmCity944
Well-known member
It could be a re-rivet job. Also it may have come that way. On my sunburst '89 stingray I have a hipshot d-tuner that has Fender stamped on the tuner. Otherwise looks just like your d-tuner.
Rod Trussbroken
Moderator
Ray...It's the first time I've heard of both neck binding on a fretless Pre-EB and a combination bridge. They may be one-offs??? Do you have a pic of the bridge and a clearer pic of the binding.
