Description
Introduced in 1976, the Music Man StingRay Bass was the first production bass with factory stock onboard active EQ, taking cues from Alembic's custom builds.
Presented here is an original and mostly complete 1979 Music Man StingRay, built five years before the sale to Ernie Ball and with almost all of the original specs - the change being that the electronics were no longer potted and can be serviced. The original blonde finish has aged to a rich butterscotch hue, showing the original white in major wear areas. The individual string mutes have been removed from the bridge, a common adaptation for many players.
This bass has a very solid sound and feel, and the active electronics deliver a wide range of tones.
Sold with the original rectangular hard shell case, which contains the owner's manual.
Materials and Construction
From its introduction to 1985 under Ernie Ball ownership, the Music Man StingRay Bass paired a slab of Southern Ash with the one-piece Maple neck pioneered by Leo Fender. There were no 'comfort contours', and this machine is all business.
For hardware, Music Man used a 3 + 1 set of 'elephant ear' tuners, which allowed the headstock to be shorter with an easier reach and better balance. The bridge is made as a string-through body design with individually adjustable saddles. In front of the saddles are screw holes for mounting the adjustable mutes though those are long gone. Strap buttons were upgraded to Jim Dunlop locking models.
The on-board active electronics on the Music Man StingRay Bass were a real breakthrough. To this point, no production basses had this feature in any usable, reliable form. Alembic had been been building a range of custom electronics, but these were all built to spec and in some cases were very elaborate. A few European builders such as Burns made attempts but these never caught on.
Beginning with a large, high output Alnico-magnet humbucking pickup in the bridge position and a passive volume control, Music Man added active treble boost/cut and bass boost controls. These are powered by a single standard 9v battery accessed via a cover on the back. To early 1979, the circuitry was epoxy potted, a common approach at the time intended to protect both the components and the design. Unfortunately, that also made the unit un-repairable leaving replacement as the only option. As that practice had ended before this bass was built, it is fully serviceable.
The preamp is based on a National Semiconductor LM4250CN, configured to be under-powered for extended battery life and a distinctive tendency to saturate and compress with aggressive playing.
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |
DETAILS:
- Instrument Model: StingRay
- Instrument Manufacturer: Music Man
- Instrument year: 1979
- Instrument Finish: Blonde / Natural
- Instrument Class: 4-String Electric Bass Guitars
- Instrument serial number: B013629, built during 1979 in Fullerton, CA
- Country of Origin: USA
- Instrument Condition: Good
- Right-handed
- Instrument Weight Imperial: 10.384 lbs
- Instrument Weight Metric: 4.72 kgs
- Scale Length Imperial: 34 in
- Scale Length Metric: 863.6 mm
- Nut Width Imperial: 1.677 in
- Nut Width Metric: 42.59 mm
- CITIES Documentation Required: No
- Case included: Yes
- Case original: Yes
- Items in Case: Owner's Manial
- Case Type: Hard Shell Rectangular
- Consignment: Yes
- Product ID: 1290898
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |