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Mr Light

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Dec 4, 2005
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Hey gang,

In the December 2006 issue of Bass Player (pg. 28), Lonnie Turner is given a profile. What struck me was the natural SR4 he was holding in the picture with a white pickup...

In speaking about the "Fly Like an Eagle/Book of Dreams" studio sessions:

Q: Is it true you changed basses right before these sessions?

A: Yes! I had been playing a 1957 Fender Precision Bass---and I loved it to death---but I started to feel like it didn't really sparkle, like it didn't have the punch I wanted. So, I took it into the shop and found out the pickup windings had gotten pretty thin. The guy offered to replace the pickups, but then he told me, "Wait, a guy here was just at the NAMM show, and he saw a whole new line of basses Leo Fender is getting ready to release through his new company, MusicMan." So I got my hands on one right away, and it was a thing of amazing beauty---except, what's with the battery? I had no idea. But then I hit a G, then an F#, and then an F---and you could actually hear the difference!
Unfortunately, this new miracle bass was $600---without a case---and I had never paid that much even for a car. But I decided it was worth it, and I've never regretted it. I still own that bass; it's serial number B002123, so it's the second-ever MusicMan bass. I used it to cut all of the Eagle and Book of Dreams, as well as the first couple of Eddie Money albums.
 

todd4ta

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Jul 8, 2004
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Indiana
great except it isnt close to the 2nd one made
Sounds like he was a pretty good salesman. Her pickup windings were getting 'thin' - I didn't know they did that.

Did the Stingrays go for $600 new back in '76-'77? In '77 a P = $260 and a J = $300.
 

Caca de Kick

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Sep 29, 2006
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South Seattle
600 then was like 1900 today wasn't it? Natural with a white pickup, nice!
But yeah, sorry to burst his bubble but there probably at least 800 before his.

-Mike
 

maddog

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electrons do leak out you know... :D

good story with the exception of the logical inconsistencies.
 

Mr Light

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electrons do leak out you know... :D

good story with the exception of the logical inconsistencies.

Oh yeah,

I forgot to mention that on the sidebar of the page where it lists the gear he uses or used, it says:

1957 Fender Precision Bass, prototype Music Man Stingray 4-string
 

bovinehost

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Jan 16, 2003
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Dall-Ass, TX
I think he is right on the 600 ish price

Yep, I bought one in late 78 (used) and paid 400 and thought it was outrageously expensive!

My Kramer DMZ-6000b cost me almost a grand in 1979.

I haven't always been this smart, eh?
 

Rano Bass

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Sep 14, 2006
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Tijuana Mexico
So in 1977 Stingrays went for $600, and jazzes went for $300... that's double the price! Today they both cost about the same but Musicmans are way more reliable!
Somebody has been charging way too much for a bass lately ;)
 

mrpackerguy

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Jul 17, 2006
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Badger and Packer Country
Price is probably right. My Sabre with the discount I got in '79 'cause I was a store employee was $490 or something like that. Consigned a '74 Ricky to be able to afford it.

I was inspired to get the Sabre after becoming a huge fan of Charles Meeks of the Chuck Mangione band. Meeks has to be one of the first bassists to be in the spotlight playing a Stingray. I saw them in Eau Claire Wisconsin in '77 or so and I fell in love with the sound that Meeks got live and in Mangione's recordings. I'd never heard a bass sound like that. I could have gotten a Stingray, but the store owner of the music store I worked at talked me into the Sabre for its extra pickup and more tonal variety. I'm glad I got the Sabre. But I love my EB Stingray, too.
 
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