1978 Music Man StingRay Bass — Pre-Ernie Ball, All Original, USA

A true piece of bass guitar history. This StingRay was built during Music Man's original pre-Ernie Ball era, before the 1984 buyout, when these basses were hand-assembled in California under Leo Fender's direct involvement, by the same team that built the original Fender Precision and Jazz Bass. It's genuinely rare to find one this well preserved and still fully original.

Neck is dated 1978, body dated 1977: a correct, matching-era StingRay with all original parts intact, including the original pickup, preamp electronics, tuners, bridge, and hardware. Everything functions exactly as it should. The truss rod adjusts smoothly, the active electronics are clean and noise-free, and the tuners turn with no play. This is a genuine, 100% playable vintage instrument, not a shelf piece.

Cosmetically it shows honest, expected wear for a bass approaching 50 years old: a few dents or scraches on the body and neck. (Please check the video for the details) None of this affects playability in the slightest. It's the kind of vintage character that comes from decades of being played, not neglected.

Included: the original StingRay hard case. It's increasingly hard to find surviving alongside the instrument after all these years. It shows its age too; a few of the rubber feet are missing, but it remains fully functional and protective.

Specs

• Model: Music Man StingRay Bass (Pre-Ernie Ball)
• Neck date: 1978 / Body date: 1977
• Condition: All original parts, fully functional electronics and hardware
• Cosmetic wear: Dents on body/neck, scratches on tail (does not affect play)
• Case: Original StingRay hard case included (some rubber feet missing)
• Weight: 4.9 kg / 10 lb 12 oz
• Origin: Made in USA

Detailed photos and a video are available. A YouTube video is also posted showing the guitar's condition up close. Please check everything carefully before making your decision. Feel free to reach out with any questions — we're always happy to help.

We offer expedited shipping at an additional cost, which is significantly faster than the standard free shipping option. If you're interested, please feel free to contact us before or after your purchase.

Returns are only accepted if the item's condition differs from the description. In such cases, please contact us within 3 days of receiving the item.

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