"Strange" Stingray question...

[s6275]

Hello there,

So far, I have restricted my activities here to the guitar-side of the forums, but yesterday, I saw something at a music educators conference that begged the posting of this question here.

I am aware (as seen in several YouTube videos) that former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony had a Stingray that was green, with no pickguard. Yesterday, I saw a college student playing a Stingray that appeared to be the twin to Mike's green Stingray, except this one was red. I incorrectly assumed that the player had simply removed the pickguard from a standard Radiance Red or Lava Pearl Stingray. However, while the band was "mingling' after the performance, I got a close look at the bass, and it was missing the screw holes that would have been left by a pickguard.

Does any one have an idea about what I saw, or how rare it was? To clarify one point: it had NO pickguard. Not even a clear one.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

It is possible the bass was refinished and that would explain why the pickguard screw holes were missing.

 

[s6275]

I agree that it's possible, but I don't think it's very likely. I went up to look at the instrument, and IF it was refinished, it was a more expensive job than *I* could have afforded in college...

 

[the unrepentant]

i'd have said it was refinished myself, unless ernie ball did a run none of us know about? lol, but seriously though, if he has a ray, chances are he can afford it, i can't afford a ray!

 

[oli@bass]

AFAIK, Michael Anthony had a green Sterling (not StingRay) which can be seen in some YouTube videos.

Regardint red one: Maybe he got a cheap chipped 'Ray from eBay and spend some money on the refinishing...

 

[s6275]

Hmm. But can the Sterling be ordered without a pickguard?

 

[oli@bass]

No. But he had it retrofitted with a 2TEK bridge, which needs major drilling into the body. You can bet that a bass needs a refinish after that.