Single Piece bodies

[todd4ta]

I recently picked up a natural finished '01 Stingray and it has a beautiful one-piece body. I have pics I'll post tomorrow, I'm assuming it's ash. I really like the grain on the back (it looks equally good on the front, but is broken up by the p/g and hardware).

I was just curious to how common or rare is a one-piece body. I would think they would only happen on the natural or trans finishes. I'm not looking for anything exact, just a general ballpark.

Anyone else have a one-piece body to show off??!!?

 

[Hutton]

Hey todd - My 95 SR4 is a one piece body in ash. It has a Natural Velvet finish.

 

[dlloyd]

Sometimes it's really difficult to tell. This is a two piece body...

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

I remember BP saying they are rare.

Some are so well crafted, it's very hard to tell. I always believed my Trans White was one piece but it's two.

The way to tell is by looking at the body, side on, where the strap button is. If more the one piece, you'll see the wood grains running into each other.

 

[Hutton]

And here was me thinking that I had a one-piece body. Oh well, not to worry, it still looks pretty good. Thanks for the info Gav - you should write a book on all this stuff!

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Here's another one of mine. Guess the number of joins (if any)?

 

[dlloyd]

Here's another one of mine. Guess the number of joins (if any)?

I'm thinking that's a one piece?

 

[bassmonkeee]

I'm thinking that's a one piece?

Looks more like three piece to me.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>I'm thinking that's a one piece?

Nope

>>>Looks more like three piece to me.

Yup

 

[dlloyd]

Looks more like three piece to me.

I can just about see them now. One just above the rib contour and one at the top of the battery cover. I think.

 

[bassmonkeee]

>>>I'm thinking that's a one piece?

Nope

>>>Looks more like three piece to me.

Yup

I am invincible!

Seriously, it's pretty tough to tell. They did a good job matching everything up. And, the birdseye makes up for it....

I had a 76 Fender fretless PBass with a five piece body. And, even Ray Charles could have told me it had a five piece body....

 

[oldbluebassman]

I think this is a one piece. I can't find a join in it.

 

[Psycho Ward]

This is a one piece body, but sir Scott says that most Sterlings are one piece, so I guess this is not rare, but she sure is pretty.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

They're certainly turning out works of art

 

[Bill]

I thought my natural SR4 was one piece until I saw where the pieces joined near the strap button.

 

[Musicman Nut]

I recently picked up a natural finished '01 Stingray and it has a beautiful one-piece body. I have pics I'll post tomorrow, I'm assuming it's ash. I really like the grain on the back (it looks equally good on the front, but is broken up by the p/g and hardware).

I was just curious to how common or rare is a one-piece body. I would think they would only happen on the natural or trans finishes. I'm not looking for anything exact, just a general ballpark.

Anyone else have a one-piece body to show off??!!?

I also have 2 or 3 one piece Music Man bodies, Not sure if it's as rare now as it was in the 60's, I have a Blonde 59 P Bass one piece body that is extremely Light, From what I Have read over the years they are not as stable as a 2 or 3 piece body, but either way I have never had an Issue.

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

The SR5 HH I just shipped out could be a 1 piecer but I didn't look at the end by the strap button.

 

[Paul_C]

that certainly looks like a one piece body

 

[bass&cookies]

i just took a good look at mine, and im pretty sure its a one piece.

 

[Brim]

Here is a 2000 Stingray5 one-piecer that I sold a few weeks ago. This confirmed one-piece by Big Poppa via Armybass when he sold it to me...and yes it's gone to a great home.

My '96 sterling is two-peice...the joint is between the strap horn & neck and runs prefectly straight down the body. It's more evident on the back grain, but on the front it's almost invisible.

Squint and you can almost see it in these pics below.