What's the solution??

[docktng]

I have a 78 MM Stingray with a graphite neck. I would like to put a maple neck back on this bass. Since I don't have the original neck, Ernie Ball will not sell me a neck. I have talked to them, had a dealer call them and also talked with a MM collector. No luck. This is a great recording bass and has been on numerous sessions over the years and is also autographed by a well known artist/bassist. I realize now I made a mistake going graphite and because the neck can not be adjusted, the bass does not play as well as it used to. I don't understand Ernie Ball not taking care of a dedicated and long time professional customer. None of the custom neck builders will even make one except one, and that would be a fender style neck and headstock adapted to my particular bass. I am not sure what is going on but Ernie Ball has certainly made, what in most cases is an easy fix, an impossible situation. Anyone with any good answers or suggestions (I check ebay) to this problem feel free to let me know. Right now it looks like a storage box or parting it out is about the only solution and that is sad for me and Music Man, and the Ernie Ball customer relations dept.....

 

[Aussie Mark]

A number of the UK-based members here have a standing hardon for graphite necks. Perhaps one of them would be interested in swapping necks with you? Worth a shot - post something in the For Sale sticky and/or the Wanted to Buy sticky at the top of the page.

Otherwise, necks do pop up on eBay now and then (presumably from UK owners who have bought graphite necks for their Stingrays).

 

[shakinbacon]

I have a 78 MM Stingray with a graphite neck. I would like to put a maple neck back on this bass. Since I don't have the original neck, Ernie Ball will not sell me a neck. I have talked to them, had a dealer call them and also talked with a MM collector. No luck. This is a great recording bass and has been on numerous sessions over the years and is also autographed by a well known artist/bassist. I realize now I made a mistake going graphite and because the neck can not be adjusted, the bass does not play as well as it used to. I don't understand Ernie Ball not taking care of a dedicated and long time professional customer. None of the custom neck builders will even make one except one, and that would be a fender style neck and headstock adapted to my particular bass. I am not sure what is going on but Ernie Ball has certainly made, what in most cases is an easy fix, an impossible situation. Anyone with any good answers or suggestions (I check ebay) to this problem feel free to let me know. Right now it looks like a storage box or parting it out is about the only solution and that is sad for me and Music Man, and the Ernie Ball customer relations dept.....

I appreciate you admitting you made a mistake and I'm sorry things aren't working out for you. Hopefully you will find a satisfactory solution.

I just want to say that EBMM customer service has been nothing but stellar for me - and I've bought used instruments with no warranty to boot! I've been so impressed with them that I will likely only buy EBMM instruments from now on.

Aussie Mark had a good suggestion which may work for you.

 

[maddog]

What Aussie Mark said.

 

[bovinehost]

What Aussie Mark said.

Agreed. The company has a long-standing policy of not selling parts unless it is a one-for-one swap. It's pretty much been talked to death, revived once every few months, then talked to death again. Most people understand the logic behind the policy; a few, mostly those with non-original parts gone south, either don't understand it - or actually DO and just want the company to make an exception.

But it is a policy and that, as they say, is pretty much that.

Post your graphite neck for trade and see what turns up. I certainly wish you luck, but we're not going to talk this issue to death yet again, and I hope you understand that.

Jack

 

[Big Poppa]

Jack your pregnancy hasn't affected your diplomacy. bravo