Update on Pre-EB Serials

[Rod Trussbroken]

PRE EB BASSES

STINGRAY (1976-84)

Neck Date/Body Date.

The pre EB STINGRAY list contains numerous Serial#s that are not chronological.

X00205..1976. "X" denotes a prototype. See pics at page 9 of 1976 MM Catalogue. Black with maple. White pg. Plastic "radio" Knobs'.
B001000..First production model MM serial number. Reference "Fender The Inside Story" by Forrest White.
B001013..Neck 16 June 1976. Natural with Maple. White PUP. Black Plastic "radio" Knobs. Was originally used by an Australian supplier as a "demonstrator". One of the very first!
B001057..Aug/Sep 1976. Red with Maple neck. White pg. Plastic "radio" Knobs.
B001133..Dec/Oct 1976. Natural with Maple neck. Plastic "radio" Knobs.
B001429..Sep/Sep 1976. Sunburst with Maple neck. White pg. Plastic "radio" Knobs.
B001846..Neck 2 Oct 1976. Body 16 Oct 1976. Sunburst.
B002000..Sept/Oct 1976. Plastic "radio" Knobs.
B002076..Neck 3 Nov 1976 (signed 'Joey'). Body 8 Dec 1976 (signed 'JPQ'). Sunburst with Maple. White pg. Plastic "radio" Knobs. Black PUP. One-piece body. Owner found in storage room at back of shop circa 96. Sold to him as N.O.S. Still in original shipping box.
B002085..Both neck and body dated 3 Nov 1976. Sunburst with Maple. White pg.
B002186..Feb 28th/Feb 24th 1977. Natural with Maple. Black pg. White pickup cover.
B002342..Neck Date...4 March 1977. Natural.
B002348..Late Feb/Early March 1977.
B002420..Year 1976 or 77. Sunburst with Flamed Maple. White pg.
B002551..1 Oct/19 Oct 1976. Sunburst with Maple. White pg.
B002636..Neck 15 June 1977. Body 13 Sept 1977. Natural with Maple. White pg.
B002685..Sep/Oct 1976. Sunburst with Maple. White pg. Plastic knobs.
B002723..Owner believes 1976. Sunburst with Plastic knobs.
B002799..1977. Sunburst with Maple. White pg. Black PUP.
B002852..Neck 22 Dec 1976. Body 6 Jan 1977.
B002913..2 Feb 1977.
B002916..Feb/Jan 1977. Sunburst with Maple. Black pg.
B002941..Neck 23 Feb 1977. Body 20 Dec 1976. Sunburst with Maple. White pg. Black PUP.
B002994..1977. Natural refin with Maple. Black pg.
B003xxx..Owner believes a 1976 or 1977. White with Maple. Black pg.
B003019..Neck 24 Mar 1977. Body 7 Mar 1977. Natural with Maple.
B003103..1979. Natural with Maple. Black pg.
B003899..Mar/Apl 1977. Sunburst with Maple.
B004011..Both neck and body dated 29 Nov 1977. Owner got hold of this Bass in very bad condition. Painted with silver metalic. Thinks the original finish is sunburst. Now in Fire Engine Red.
B004041..Purchased new in July 1977. Comparison with other Serial#s tends to confirm 1977 manufacture. Owner reluctant to remove neck for confirmation.
B004137..Neck 8 Aug 77...Body 8 Aug 77. Natural Body, Maple neck.
(Note that neck & body have SAME date!).
B004238..Neck 30 Dec 1977. Body 3 June 1977. Inca Silver with Birdseye Maple. White pg.
B004313..1977. Red. Black pg. Maple. (All hardware gold plated!!!???).Owner says body refinished in non-original colour and can't confirm gold plating originality.
B004463..Neck 16 June 1977. Body 18 Apl 1977. Refin in Gold over Silver (perhaps Inca). Maple neck with brass nut. Black pg.
B004504..Jun/May 1977. Inca Silver with Maple.
B004585..Neck 21 Aug 1978!!! Body 15 Aug 1977. Natural with Maple.
B004676..Neck 2 Dec 1977. Body 15 Dec 1977. Natural with maple.
B004887..Neck Date...15 Dec 1977. Tabacco burst.
B005130..Neck Date...21 Jan 1977. White.
B005316..1977. Natural with Maple. Black pg. Black PUP.
B005628..Body and Neck July 1977. Natural with Black pg.
B005808..1977. Brown with Maple. Black pg.
B005942..12 Sep 1978/22 Feb 1978. Brown with Maple. Black pg. Affectionately known as "Brownie".
B006392..Jul/Jul 1977. Sunburst with Maple.
B0063xx..1977. Owner describes Burst as a brown to gold. Maple neck. Black pg.
B006607..Owner advises probably not a 76. Natural Refin with Maple. White pg.
B006717..1977. Sunburst with Maple. Black pg.
B007380..1978. Natural with Maple. Black pg.
B007470..Neck and Body both dated 11 Jan 1978. Body refinished with Brown stain. Maple Neck. black pg.
B007779..Neck Jan 1978. Body Feb 1978. Sunburst.
B007799..Jan/Feb 1978. Sunburst with Maple.
B007889..1978. Walnut with Maple. Black pg.
B008003..Neck date...11 Aug 1978. Natural.
B008186..Neck 24 Oct 1978. Body 27 Sep 1978. Natural with Maple.
B008407..neck date...3 dec 1979. Natural/Maple. Black pg.
B008868..Nov/Nov 1978. Sunburst with maple.
B010612..Jan 79. Natural with Maple. Black pg.
B010851..Neck date 9th Jan 1979...body has no date, only the initials "SJ" (?) written in pencil. Natural with Maple. Originally Black pg. Now Tort pg. Pots coded 1976. Possibly a parts-Bass with respect to the body.
B012025..Feb/Jan 1979. White with Maple.
B012026..Neck Feb 79...Body Jan79. White with Maple. Black pg.
B012669..Neck 10 Jan 1979. Body late 1978. Black Body. Black pg.
B012734..Neck 1 Feb 1979. Body 27 Feb 1979. Inca Silver with Maple. Black pg.
B012757..1979. Black with Maple. White pg. Black PUP.
B012760..Neck 21 Feb 1979. Body 1 Feb 1979. Inca Silver with Maple. Black pg.
B012836..Owner says probably a 1978. More likely a 1979 as MM logo is located on the bridge. Bridge logo introduced in 1979. Natural with Maple. Black pg.
B0131xx..Neck Feb 1979. Black with Maple. Black pg.
B013133..1979. Walnut (Rootbeer) fitted with a fretted Rosewood Sabre Neck. Black pg.
B014007..Neck 28 June 1978. No body date. Pots are coded 1976. Natural with Maple. Possibly a refin (traces of white in the grain). Perhaps a parts-Bass with an original white finish. NB however, large stocks of pots were purchased in 1976. B010851 (above) also has 1976 pot codes.
B014050..Apl/Mar 1979. White with Maple.
B014512..Mar/Mar 1979. Black with Maple.
B015097..1979. White with Rosewood. Fretless. Black pg.
B0157xx..Body Date 1979. Natural with Black pg. Fitted with Pre-EB Sabre Rosewood Neck.
B020604..Neck date...6 Sept 1980. Natural.
B021384..No neck nor body dates...Black body with Maple. Black pg. 2 Band EQ. Screw-on metal battery cover. Brass Nut...owner believes original. At purchase, owner advised it was a 1981 model. 3 bolt neck.
String-through. Cutlass B022461 owned by same person.
B021457..1980. Black with Maple. Black pg. 3 bolt neck. Mutes. Strings through Body.
B021500..Jan 1980.
B021512..Owner believes 1981. Natural with Maple. String through body bridge. More consistent with it being early 1980 just prior to top load bridges.
B021613..Neck and Body Sep 1980. White with Maple.
B021890..Feb/Mar 1980. Sunburst with Maple.
B022884..1982. White with Rosewood. Basswood Body.
B022910..Body date Sept 1979 handwritten in pencil. Neck undated. Natural with Birdseye Maple. FRETTED ROSEWOOD BOARD. Bullet truss nut at headstock. Black pg and PUP. Body is 2 piece but grain is book matched. Top load bridge with mutes. 4 Bolt Neck. One pot code dated 21st week of 1981. Others pots not easy to access for dating...pre-amp attached to top of pots? Non-epoxied pre-amp. Rear of control plate is "R1" hand written with black felt pen. Condition 9 out of 10.
B023234..Owner says early 80's. Natural with Maple. White pg. Mutes and top loaded strings.
B025462..Dec/Dec 1982. Natural with Maple. 4 bolt neck plate. No string-through.
B025511..Owner says early 1980's. Sunburst with Maple. black pg. Strings top loaded with mutes. 4 Bolt Neck Plate.
B025548..1982. Natural With Maple. Black pg.
B025718..Jan/Jan 1983. Sunburst with Maple. 4 bolt. No string-through.
Bxxxxxx..Some "B" serials can be found on early EB Basses. See note below.

SABRE (1978-84)
C0013xx1979. Sunburst with Maple. Black pg.
C001359..Neck 12 Aug 1980. Body 25 Sept (?) 1980. Natural with Maple.
Black pg. Not Chronological.
C001971..1979. Walnut (Rootbeer) with Maple. Black pg.
C002266..1979. Sunburst with Maple. Black pg.
C003301..Neck and body BOTH dated 22 Aug 1979
C003454..Aug/Aug 1979. Natural with Maple. Black pg.
C003795..Aug/Aug 1979. Natural with Maple. Black pg.
C004480..8 Jun/22 Oct 1979. Black with Maple.
C004526..1979. Natural. Black pg.
C004555..Neck Apl 1980. No Body date. Black with Ebony. Not Chronological.
C004714..Neck..17 Jul 1979. Body..2 Jul 1979.
C004xxx..Owner believes 1981. LEFT HANDED. Sunburst with Maple. Black pg.
C005092..Owner says purchased in 1978. Black with Maple. Not Chronological.

CUTLASS 1 (Sting Ray with Graphite Neck) (1983 only)

B021850..3 Mar 1983. White.
B022461..Neck Date...14 Sept 1983 (written in marker pen). Body date stamp...15 Sept
1983. Black body and black pg. Brass nut..owner believes original. 4 bolt neck. Metal screw-on battery cover. 2 Band EQ. StingRay B021384 owned by same person.
B023033..July/Aug 1983. Black body.

CUTLASS 11 (Sabre with Graphite Neck) (1983 only)

C005666..Neck Date...18 Aug 1983. Black with Maple. Black pg.

 

[thumper]

WOW ..... I mean really WOW this is amazing...Thanks Rod....When i send the photo of my pre ernie ball stings,Ill include the serial #'s and the years that were in the neck pocket, and the heel of the neck...This is very cool....I used to own one of them there early stingrays with the radio knobs...Man i wish i still had that.....



Thumper

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>When i send the photo of my pre ernie ball stings,Ill include the serial #'s and the years that were in the neck pocket, and the heel of the neck...

That would be great!!!

 

[thumper]

well i tried to send the photos to you thru ernieball's wedsite but no luck.Can you email me,and when i recieve it i will reply and attach the photos?

In the Mean Time here are the serial #'s

Natural w/white pickgaurd and white PU dec 76 body jan 77 neck
serial # B002190
Natural w/blk pg and white PU oct 76 body oct 76 neck
serial # B002242
Natural w/blk pg and blk PU oct 77 body sep 77 neck
serial # B005316
Brown w/white PG and Blk PU aug 77 body and dec 77 neck
serial # B004419
Sunburst w/Blk PG and Blk PU Nov 76 Body and Dec 76 neck
Serial # B002003
Sunburst w/Blk PG and White PU june 77 body sept 77 neck
serial # B002698
Black w/white PG and Blk PU Feb 77 body may 77 neck
Serial # B002223
Black w/Blk PG and Blk PU Jan 79 Body and jan 79 neck
B010010
White w/tortouise PG and blk PU May 78 Body and july 78 neck
B010230
Natural w/blk PG and a Blk PU July 79 Body cant read the neck date.
Serial #B015255.

Thats the Lot of them..

Thumper

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

thumper.....my email address is;


[email protected]


(just click it)


I take it you like Pre-EB Basses.....


P.S. Got your email.

 

[octane]

Another serial for the collection

SN# C003558
Music Man Sabre
Black, w/ Maple neck.


I bought this bass used in Los Angeles when I was young. (Guy at the store told me it was 1978 but from looking at th other SNs it as 1979). The ole' Sabre has been through some wear and tear: warped neck, cracked truss rod, cracked body - basically it was with me through my punk rock years .

Anyway, I finally retired it and bought a new StingRay last week - wow, what a differnece the SR is to play! Joy!


--tom

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Hi Tom,

Your C003558, although probably a 1979, could still be a 78 model!

As mentioned elsewhere, the serials give a general picture but are not entirely chronological.

You'll see from the list above that C005092 is a 78 model!!!!!

Cheers.

 

[thumper]

Hi Rod,

I havent forgot about sending the rest of the pics...I just been busy with recording and stuff...I will get them out this week.

Thanks

Rod

 

[scottbass71]

Hey Rod,
I have never seen a stingray with the radio knobs can someone post a picture, I only know the ones with the 'Tele' type knobs. Also I have 2 pre-eb stingrays do you want me to send you the serial number and date to your e-mail address that you published on this thread?What other information do you want me to send you about these basses???

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Hey thumper....no probs.....whenever.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Hi scottbass...

>>>I have never seen a stingray with the radio knobs

I'll post a pic on the forum when I get home tonight....I warn you though, you'll have to be seated when you see it....as an introduction it is number B002076 on the serial list above.

Those serials and dates would be great....yeah, just send to my email above.

Can you include colours of the bodies, pickguards and pickups. Also, let me know the location of the serial numbers...and perhaps anything you may think is unusual about the Basses.

Cheers

 

[scottbass71]

Hey Rod,
That would be great to see a picture I will check my stingrays tonight and e-mail you the details tomorrow to add to the list.
Another Question does any one know how may Pre- EB Stingrays were made?
or for that matter how many EB Stingrays have been produced as well?
An interesting thought

See ya

Scott

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Here's a pic of the "Radio" knobs....on a beautiful mint 76 "Ray.

I believe they were originally intended for the Guitars and not the Basses but, in the beginning, they had a prob with supply of the chrome knurled knobs for a short time.

http://a3.cpimg.com/image/33/E0/20045363-f8d2-02000139-.jpg

http://a5.cpimg.com/image/3F/E1/20045375-694a-02000132-.jpg

I was hoping to post larger pics (which come out fantastic) but having probs with my picture host at the moment.

 

[scottbass71]

Rod,
Thanks for the picture its a beauty I personally still prefer the Tele knobs but very interesting all the same. You are a wealth of knowledge

Thanks

Scottbass