What do you think about this?

[Rod Trussbroken]

Advertised as an Ernie Ball 'Ray.

More like a 1980 Pre-EB fitted with EB 3 Band EQ at a latter time:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ERNIE-BALL-MUSIC-MAN-STING-RAY-BASS-GUITAR-W-HCASE_W0QQitemZ7375695842QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Randracula]

Still looks very nice but your right it's not an EB. I wonder if the guy really doesn't know or if he's trying to pull a fast one?

 

[Mr Light]

...Very interesting...

Advertised as an Ernie Ball 'Ray.

More like a 1980 Pre-EB fitted with EB 3 Band EQ at a latter time:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ERNIE-BALL-MUSIC-MAN-STING-RAY-BASS-GUITAR-W-HCASE_W0QQitemZ7375695842QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Yes,

It looks like the best of both worlds put together to me:

3-Band EQ (EB)
Finished neck and mute kit on bridge (Pre-EB).

An ideal MusicMan, but only if I was sure it came like that from the factory with the blessings of Leo or the family Ball. Otherwise, I don't know if I would look into it any further unless I saw a date stamp on the neck and/or body.

 

[T-bone]

Wow, string through. Very cool. And since I'm from Portland, I'd be more than happy to connect with this seller and look it over for you.

Just let me know.....tbone

 

[T-bone]

And Randracula,

What makes you say it's not original? Am I missing something from those pics?

tbone

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>What makes you say it's not original? Am I missing something from those pics?

The Bass has 3 band EQ. There were no 3 bangers in the Pre-EB days...only 2 band.

It has to be a Pre-EB Bass...slab body, strings-through-body bridge, 3 bolt neck, string retainer on the D and G strings and walnut (dot or plug) under the D tuner on the rear of the headstock.

 

[T-bone]

>>>What makes you say it's not original? Am I missing something from those pics?

The Bass has 3 band EQ. There were no 3 bangers in the Pre-EB days...only 2 band.

It has to be a Pre-EB Bass...slab body, strings-through-body bridge, 3 bolt neck, string retainer on the D and G strings and walnut (dot or plug) under the D tuner on the rear of the headstock.

I have much to learn Obie Rod.

Again Gav, if I can be of any help, let me know.....tbone

 

[dlloyd]

Yes,

It looks like the best of both worlds put together to me:

3-Band EQ (EB)
Finished neck and mute kit on bridge (Pre-EB).

Mutes were found on EB basses up till the mid 90s, but yeah, this is an early string through bridge.

An ideal MusicMan,

Not for me. It'd need at least another bolt fixing the neck.

but only if I was sure it came like that from the factory with the blessings of Leo or the family Ball. Otherwise, I don't know if I would look into it any further unless I saw a date stamp on the neck and/or body.

The serial number is quoted in the auction... B021389, which is early 80s.

Yup, looks like it was retro-fitted with a three band eq or has some other electronic shenanigans going on.

The seller isn't trying to pull a fast one. Ebay convention would have us believe pre-EB was some sort of golden age of instrument building.

 

[Randracula]

And Randracula,

What makes you say it's not original? Am I missing something from those pics?

tbone

The listing says "Ernie Ball " but the bass is clearly a "Pre-Ernie Ball"

 

[Randracula]

The seller isn't trying to pull a fast one. Ebay convention would have us believe pre-EB was some sort of golden age of instrument building.

Exactly, but he is listing it as an "Ernie Ball" which it clearly is not...........

 

[Apothem]

The seller is a pawn shop. They are notorious (some more than others) for approximative description of their items, they handle just too many different thing to be "expert" on one in particular (unless one of you works for one of them ).

So in this case I think your knowledge and the pics are more important than the text in the ad.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>Not for me. It'd need at least another bolt fixing the neck.

A bit of metal insect screening in the body pocket...no neck shift