Help! Stingray without serial #. Is it possible ?

[Average slapper]

Here`s the story.

I`ve seen a Stingray 5 in great condition. The bass plays and sounds terrific, however it has no serial #. After removing the neck, it has a 1999 date on it and the body has an early 2000 date.

I`ve checked Musicmanbass.org and says that the serial should be on the bridge or the neckplate.

I`ve owned Stingrays in the past and this one looks 100% original to me, but got me puzzled.

Maybe the bridge was replaced ?

 

[robguitar]

My guess is that the neck plate is a replacement. I've never seen one without a serial number stamped into the neck plate.

 

[oli@bass]

How are the grooves in the string saddles: V-shaped or U-shaped?

 

[bovinehost]

Do you have photos of the rest of the bass?

 

[Eggman]

The two knobs on the bridge appear to be off. Aren't they supposed to be even, parallel?

 

[Musicman Nut]

Here`s the story.

I`ve seen a Stingray 5 in great condition. The bass plays and sounds terrific, however it has no serial #. After removing the neck, it has a 1999 date on it and the body has an early 2000 date.

I`ve checked Musicmanbass.org and says that the serial should be on the bridge or the neckplate.

I`ve owned Stingrays in the past and this one looks 100% original to me, but got me puzzled.

Maybe the bridge was replaced ?

I'd say someone wanted to keep the plate with the serial number and swapped it out for a non serial numbered Plate, Nothing leaves or left the factory without a serial number.

Not much you can do now but enjoy that awesome bass.
PS: you can keep a keen eye open on ebay, plates do appear every now and then.

 

[Musicman Nut]

The two knobs on the bridge appear to be off. Aren't they supposed to be even, parallel?

No that's normal for a Stingray 5, I'm assuming it was done that way so the bridge bolts would be against the saddles to keep them from drifting side to side.

 

[Average slapper]

Here are some additional pics

 

[strummer]

What a beauty!

I'm with MMNut, someone switched the plate.

 

[gafman]

Are they still putting date stickers on the back of pots etc in the control cavity? I found one on my Ray yesterday though it is a '95. Would give you another year/date to try and narrow down the build date perhaps.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I love honeyburst!

Based on the dates you gave for the body, it should probably be on the neck plate. So it has likely been switched. You can always ask the current owner/store about it and use it as a bargaining chip to get a better deal. Then again, if you decide to sell it, you may encounter the same problem with any prospective buyers and if it ever gets stolen, it will be that much harder to identify in a police report or insurance claim.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

The serial number was relocated to the neck plate in early 1998. At the same time the plated got a newer Ernie Ball logo stamped on it.

The neck plate shown above is pre-1998. So, for some reason, it's been switched.

 

[Colin]

maybe the original plate got broken for whatever reason and that is the replacement from EB? and aren't the replacement plates minus the serial number?

 

[ronnyG]

maybe the original plate got broken for whatever reason and that is the replacement from EB? and aren't the replacement plates minus the serial number?

How would the steal plate break? I would think the wood should break before a steal plate if such an impact were to occur. I guess anything is possible.
But yes, we can speculate dozens of different possibliltes and the only thing we will know for sure..is the original neck plate with the SN has been replaced.

Perhaps aliens abducted it?

 

[Average slapper]

I`m starting to believe the neck was replaced.

There`s a small gap (width of an ATM card) in the neck pocket and I`ve always seen Stingray had a perfect fit between neck and body.

I`ll try to take a pic tonight. Besides since the body is from 2000 and the neck from 1999 (don`t remember the exact dates) maybe it was replaced.

 

[thebuckets]

How are the grooves in the string saddles: V-shaped or U-shaped?

my latest purchase a 1999 fretless has u shaped grooves which look like they may be chromed steel as opposed to stainless-but could just be dirty (my 2006 fretted ray has v grooves and the saddles look shiny and are clearly stainless)

funny enough the middle bolt hole has a crack from the i of ernie ball through to the other side of the bolt hole. the rest of the bass looks untouched so it doesnt look like its had any major damage. the kind people i bought it from have contacted CS who have offered a replacement plate that will not have the serial # on
maybe something similar has happened to this bass
Bri

 

[thebuckets]

by the way what is the significance of the groove shape? i am interested to know why mine are different on the two basses
Cheers
Bri

 

[oli@bass]

They were changed at some point in time. According to BRIDGES - Musicmanbass.org, Music Man, Musicman, Music Man Bass, Musicman Bass, Music Man Guitar the V shape was introduced in 2003.

IMO the V cut is better to accomondate different string gauges, the string can never "roll around" in the cut.

 

[Movielife]

I had two EBs (Stingray 4 3 band EQ) and had to have new neck plates for both. EB sent 'new' serial numbers for the basses and amended their records. The plates only had chrome splits, but the basses were immaculate so I wanted it sorting. When I changed them the basses literally looked brand new again...but I think it occurred due to the fact I had to leave them at home in hardcases whilst I studied at university. They barely got played I presume the air in the cases reacted with the chrome. I had to make sure I wiped the chrome from then on...at least once a month.

Now I have two new EBs incoming, I will make sure they get played much more, even if it's just in the home.

Very odd that it happened to both...no idea how it happened. But EB cust service were happy to sort it out