Rarest Music Man...

[SGMan88]

Does anyone know what the rarest or hardest Music Man Bass is to find. Or, what is the rarest one that you have ever seen.

Just out of curiosity.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Other than my '76 fretless, the next oldest fretless on Gav's serial number database is a '78. Mine has an August '76 neck mated to a October '77 body, and it is thought that the rosewood fingerboard fretless necks were made in a batch and then put aside for assembly when customers ordered a fretless Stingray.

So, I guess I can claim that mine is pretty rare.

 

[vonfog]

I once had a Trans White StingRay5 with maple fingerboard and factory tort pickguard -- I think it was an early 90's -- I've never seen one since, so I guess it was rare. I've always regretted trading that one away

Speaking of which, I traded it to Dan Lakin, who let me play his mint '76 radio-knob sunburst StingRay-- he said it was from the first 2 weeks of production -- so I guess that's pretty rare.


My favorite "rare" MusicMan:

"Darth Vader" StingRays: small run of all-black StingRays with black hardware (similar to the Onyx Sterling) made around 1990 -- I saw one in a store at that time, I've never seen one since -- where did they all go??

Also,
Tony Levin has had a number of cool custom MMs, including:

3-string StingRay (burned up in his barn fire)

"Face bass": all white StingRay with white hardware, black pick-shaped fingerboard markers, caricature of Tony's head and face on it (partially damaged in the same fire)

and of course his ubiquitous Barbie-flesh pink StingRay 5 (he had a pink Sabre as well, which he played on "Don't give up" on Peter Gabriel's concert video "P.O.V.")


Production instruments: I know there were 3-bolt neck pre-EB Cutlass I's, so if there were 3-bolt Cutlass II's, they would get my vote for the rarest regular production MM (after the early fretlesses).


Adam

 

[oldbluebassman]

So how about this one -

Allegedly only one of about two made for named customers in 1979/80. Root Beer, gold plated hardware, three-bolt neck, through body stringing, brass nut and a cutom root beer lined hsc. I have the original black pick-guard. Allegedly this one went to Tom Hamilton but unfortunately I have no proof. Sounds superb.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Dave, to borrow some phrasing from the younger crowd around here .... w00t, dat iz one sweet bass.

PS. Your band website is ace

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Here's an interesting 93 Sterling (first year production):

http://a6.cpimg.com/image/FE/52/33397246-e7d2-01F20259-.jpg

Built as a pre-series model for the European market. As well as no pg, note the absense of the word "STERLING" on the headstock logo!!!

There's a pic of Marks' fretless on the serial list.

Perhaps the oldest fretted (pic also on list) is Palles' B001013....besides the first production model which is B001000.

Another pic of B001013 here:

http://a0.cpimg.com/image/2C/F0/28473900-94c8-024C0179-.jpg

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

I've taken the liberty Mark

Another view of Marks':

http://a4.cpimg.com/image/20/43/33444384-cdae-02000180-.jpg


And another gold-plated (1977) like oldbluebassmans'

http://a5.cpimg.com/image/FB/62/33397755-0a91-028001E0-.jpg

 

[oldbluebassman]

Aussie Mark said

Dave, to borrow some phrasing from the younger crowd around here .... w00t, dat iz one sweet bass.

I'm too old for all this new fangled lingo (god I sound like my parents) but thanks for the comment. It's a beauty to play.

Also

PS. Your band website is ace

The web site took me a while to create and I keep thinking of new ideas. Musically we try very hard for a bunch of geriatrics. We've got some fesivals coming up soon I'll try and get some pix and post them up. By the way if you pm me your address I'll send you a CD.

 

[lowfreq65]

Rarest MM bass

I got a 79 Sabre bass w/ a graphite neck made by modulus, pretty rare IMHO.

 

[lowfreq65]

Rare MM Sabre

More pics of my kick ass Sabre w/graphite neck.

 

[SGMan88]

Low Freq... that bass is awesome. Its got a very sharp, cool look

 

[lowfreq65]

More pics of 79 Sabre w/graphite neck

Check out!

 

[lowfreq65]

One more!..79 sabre w/ graphite neck.

Ok dudes, just one more!

 

[lowfreq65]

Thanks SG88 man

Thanks for the compliment SG 88 man!

 

[johans]

definitely cool sabre

why do they discontinued sabre anyway?

and seperate them into ray and bongo

 

[sugarfarmer]

Hello, I have a 77 Maple fretless on the serial number database. B005726...White with FRETLESS MAPLE. Said to be 34.5 inch scale length (not the normal 34 inch scale). I'm trying to find out if this is the first maple fretless Music Man made. And I can confirm the 34.5 inch scale to be true. do you have any info?

 

[tunaman4u2]

Honeyburst PDN Reflex HH5... only one made. I guess by definition that makes it the rarest BUT if you're talking about rare features I'd say your 34.5" scale would be pretty rare... if true

 

[JayDawg]

Honeyburst PDN Reflex HH5... only one made. I guess by definition that makes it the rarest BUT if you're talking about rare features I'd say your 34.5" scale would be pretty rare... if true

The Honeyburst PDN I ordered was a Bongo 4 HHp. It too was also the only one made like that. The order also got lost and was not discovered until the PDN's started going out. Fortunately EBMM has excellent customer service and made the bass after the fact making it I believe also the only 2013 model PDN Honeyburst made.

On a side note, I would like to add that I simply thought I would have missed out once it was found out my order got lost. I did not expect EBMM to go and make one more bass 4 months after the fact. But again, they really blew me away with what they did. I am very grateful for that because I freaking love that bass!

 

[bovinehost]

 

[KevinM]

That is one hot bass Lord Bongo!

My PDN Honey Roasted Bongo 5HHp was the only one made in that run but I don't know if we can compare our recent creations with the '70's classics.