http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-Music-Man-...7377196992QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
i'll let you guys know how it is when i get it!
i'll let you guys know how it is when i get it!
- Thread starter word
- Start date
Did you notice that the preamp seems to be missing? I asked the seller if the preamp is included, but didn't get an answer.
Good luck with that!
Michael Dolan can fill in the routes and refinish the body for a very reasonable price.
Good luck with that!
Michael Dolan can fill in the routes and refinish the body for a very reasonable price.
yup, i saw that it doesn't have a preamp. i've been jonesin for a bound neck like that for awhile! not sure if i'm going to leave it as is or have it filled in. i think i want to get a regular pickguard and cut it to fit the P bass picks but i'll will have to wait and see when i get it.
shamus63
Well-known member
Good catch! You'll definitely need to do a review of the sound, being a one-off model (far as I know, anyway).
Dr Stankface
Well-known member
Looking forward to a review! 
Andrew
Andrew
well, i got it today and it's in pretty decent shape. the original MM case is in great shape, the best i've seen, which was a nice surprise. most of them are pretty worn out. sounded great "right out of the box" but the P bass pickup wasn't a very good match to the MM pickup. it seems to be really hot and sounds good by itself. i think it may be custom wound and has large pole pieces. i haven't seen another one like it. i pulled it out and tried to put an old bartolini preamp in but there wasn't enough room in the control cavity for it so i guess i'm looking for a 2 band preamp that'll fit. i think an aguilar OBP2 might work as they look pretty small. easy enough to cover up the other routes with a regular stingray pickup but if i have some extra cash someday, i might have 'em filled and painted.
Dr Stankface
Well-known member
So was it worth the money???
Andrew
Andrew
word said:
The OBP-2 or OBP-1 should work, especially if you can tuck the preamp module in the P-pickup route. I've put a couple of OBP-1 preamps in Stingrays that I was restoring until I was able to find a spare preamp. I thought it sounded pretty darn good, the OBP-2 should be similar with boost/cut. The other option would be the Seymour Duncan Basslines 2-band replacement preamp. I would never in a million years replace a stock Stingray pickup with any of those others, but in your situation it should hold you over until you're able to find a spare on the market.
Here is a pic of a '79 I got pre-restoration. The neck pickup route (aka 'swimming pool') had plenty of room for the OBP-1 pre. I had to extend the wires to the control cavity.
And here is a pic after being restored, filled-in, refinished and before putting the pickguard on. I was able to find a correct preamp to install.
Mr Light
Well-known member
Wow!
Todd4ta,
So what did you use to fill in the cavities? That looks like a totally different bass with the new finish n' all.
Todd4ta,
So what did you use to fill in the cavities? That looks like a totally different bass with the new finish n' all.
Mr Light said:Todd4ta,
So what did you use to fill in the cavities? That looks like a totally different bass with the new finish n' all.
I sent the bass to Michael Dolan to do all the refin work. I'm not sure what he used to fill the cavities. I can find out and report back. Michael's done the exact same thing for another '79 that I restored. They both came out very nice.
On this white one, the neck must have been fretless originally, and then refretted. The side dots were right on the frets, and there were no markers on the fingerboard. I had Michael move the sidedots (it really bugged me more than I thought it would), and add the inlay dots on the fingerboard. The pickup is a Nordstrand.
The second one he did, I had refinished in black (for a little contrast).
From this:
To this (before the black pickguard was put on):
I couldn't use a standard Stingray bridge on this one since a previous owner had shaved the neck down to be more narrow (from the heel to the nut). The spacing on the stock bridge would have been slightly too wide. I may try getting some bridge saddles made with the narrow spacing so I can put a Stingray bridge on.
can't you get bridge saddles without the grooves? doesn't badass make a bridge where you have to do your own grooves?
i actually have a bass at dolan's shop getting refinned as we speak so i'm very much aware of his work. can't wait to see it first hand!!
i got the bass wired up properly and was able to fit an old 3 band SD preamp in the cavity (i disconnected the mid pot, took it out, and the treble and bass still work!). i also put an EB pickguard on it so now it looks like a real stingray again!!
check out what i found when i took of the old pickguard and turned it over:
do you remember they were advertising this as possibly being used by the bass player of foghat or something? well, i guess erik cartwright was the singer/guitar player for the band. it also looks like the pickups were rewired but i think it was just the pbass pickups because they look like they had some work done to them. i'll have to get a ohm tester and check 'em out.
i actually have a bass at dolan's shop getting refinned as we speak so i'm very much aware of his work. can't wait to see it first hand!!
i got the bass wired up properly and was able to fit an old 3 band SD preamp in the cavity (i disconnected the mid pot, took it out, and the treble and bass still work!). i also put an EB pickguard on it so now it looks like a real stingray again!!
check out what i found when i took of the old pickguard and turned it over:
do you remember they were advertising this as possibly being used by the bass player of foghat or something? well, i guess erik cartwright was the singer/guitar player for the band. it also looks like the pickups were rewired but i think it was just the pbass pickups because they look like they had some work done to them. i'll have to get a ohm tester and check 'em out.
