Sorry...yes..another date query!!

[BradBassMan]

i know evryone asks this question but im finding it hard to get the date for my MM stingray4. the serial no.is 33797 . with vintage sunburst and black pickguard.I bought it second hand 2 days ago and was wondering whether somebody could tell me when it was made.I was told it was around 92.is this true?


Cheers for the help!

Brad

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

It's a 1992 Bass...perhaps Jan/Feb.

 

[BradBassMan]

thanks for that....what are the best years for a music man?is my 92 a good one? i bought it for £600 second hand in v.good condition..been told its a bargain but i thought id ask the experts!

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Any Pics???

I like them all. If I had the funds I'd prob get one of each year...from 76 right up to now.

I particularly like the ones that mark some form of change in the instrument....the end of something or the beginning of something else....perhaps the Logo, bridge design, placement of truss nut etc. Circa 92 was a major change in bridge design...from old style to new. Whether it had the old or new bridge, to me that would be a very desirable Bass.

In relation to quality, EB win hands down.

In relation to sound...that has generated a lot of discussion. Some say the Pre-EBs sound better than the EBs and vice versa. Both are different, but I like each...just different flavoured icecream....

 

[BradBassMan]

OK heres a description of it..(havent got a pic yet, its that new!)
Its vintage sunburst with a black pickguard, maple neck, the bridge has the foam mutes on it still (more info bout this please!), 2EQ, very few scratches or dings. And sounds the daddy! It has very punchy sound that i like and well, its a ray so it gotta sound good!

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

RE the bridge design as far as I can make out from viewing pics, reading literature and putting together info from EB...it may not be 100% accurate but this is the general picture.

1980, Music Man changed their bridge design from string-through-body to top load. They retained the mutes. 1984 EB purchased MM and their Basses went on the market in 1985. Initially they used old MM stock for their bridges. Consequentially their early Basses had the old MM "B" numbering system. Circa 1987-88 EB retained the the MM design but commenced thier own numbering system....this is the typical design:

http://a3.cpimg.com/image/71/FB/22704753-5117-01510111-.jpg

What is particularly obvious is the acute angle of the strings from their anchor point to the saddles.

Circa 1992, EB rectified this by moving the string grove, on the saddle, to the left (instead of centre). In order to have the strings centred over the pickup magnets, the bridge had to be off centred to the right. The mutes were retained. The eventual removal of the mutes is another story.

So with your bass, it will have either the last of the old bridge (as in the pic) or will be sporting the new bridge. I think your Bass will prob have the new bridge design....LET ME KNOW!!!

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

P.S. Although there's no mute pads in the above pic, it is a muted bridge...they were probably removed by the owner....they go off over the years.

 

[BradBassMan]

ok thanks Rod. My particular bass has the bridge design in the picture and has the foam mutes and rest of bridge in mint condition as well as the strings DO come in at an acute angle to the saddle. Does this mean that i have one of the last pre-ernie ball bridge designs before they were changed for the new version without mutes and offset bridge, with changed grooves etc? Look forward to hearing what you think..Thanks again, Brad

 

[BradBassMan]

Oh forgot to mention. Wonder whether Derek can help me here..i was wondering whether my bass was originally made with a white pickguard or something except for black. My bass has a black pickguard that i bought it with which does not seem to fit properly and has a little bump between the pick-up and neck? Is this a replacement?

 

[Derek]

01/92

The Sunburst finish came with a white pickguard
standard. Every other finish except white came with a black pickguard.

Thanks

Derek

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>>Does this mean that i have one of the last pre-ernie ball bridge designs before they were changed....

Yeah....IMO, 1992 seems to be the the change over period...Basses with both style bridges. But there could be an overlap....it's possible there may be examples of 1993 Basses with your style bridge but I haven't seen a pic of one as yet.

 

[BradBassMan]

ok cheers for your help! appreciated alot. Man, you lot really know your rays!


Laters.Brad

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>>1992 seems to be the the change over period...Basses with both style bridges.

Correction......Appears both bridges may have co-existed circa 1991...still checking to make sure.