Stingray Classic Body Question

A

allboutbass

Oct 2, 2019
248
268
4,551
#1
Hi Guys,

I own a 4 string Stingray Classic in Inca Silver. I have been contemplating the idea of stripping the paint off and leave it in natural finish but have no idea how many wood pieces a Stingray classic has.

I talked to my luthier and he come up with the question since it would affect its looks. So is kind of risky.

Does any one know ?

Thanks for any info on this.
 
#2
While I don't have a answer for your question, my feeling is that if the wood looked good it would be a natural or trans finish already.

Like you, I wanted a Classic in Natural so I bought one when they were first introduced as a dealer exclusive. Stupid heavy but it looks good and sounds good. Luckily Natural was made widely available after that, might be worth hunting one down and parting with the Inca one if you like it better.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TN WOODMAN, waynobass and SirMjac28
#4
Samatza said:
If I recall the details of an article bodies were graded by the look of the raw wood.

If they had interesting grain they would get clear or transparent colour. If they were not so good looking then solid colour.

I would just keep it as is personally, or trade it for a natural finished bass.
Click to expand...
And they also kept the one piece bodies FOR the translucent and clear finishes. The painted bodies have a better chance of being 2 piece's laminated to make one, and unfortunately you won't know until it is stripped. However if it is older, there may be a good chance it is one piece.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Samatza
#6
Ok guys thanks a bunch.

I was kind of expecting these answers more or less.
Any how I love the bass as it is and it sounds great and really good for recording as it has all a bass needs, huge bottom, burp and highs.

I guess I have this image on my mind when I was just a kid listening to Bernard Edwards and looking at pictures of that bass.
I dropped an email to Musicman just in case some one has any info.

Also, rest assured I won’t do any thing to put the bass at risk of damage without knowing first I won’t.

But it will come a day when the Inca Silver will have a green cast. Then that day I will do some about it. Hope is many years ahead.
 
#7
Over time most finishes shrink a little and develop a visible seam where the pieces of the body meet. You should be able to see it if you look at an angle against light. That will tell you how many pieces, but its likely that even nice pieces under a solid finish wont be grain matched like a multi piece natural or trans finish.

I definitely wouldn’t do it mainly because of inca silver. Such a great finish. I mean it’s your bass but… please don’t!
 
  • Like
Reactions: TN WOODMAN, packhowitzer and Jim C
#8
metron said:
Over time most finishes shrink a little and develop a visible seam where the pieces of the body meet. You should be able to see it if you look at an angle against light. That will tell you how many pieces, but its likely that even nice pieces under a solid finish wont be grain matched like a multi piece natural or trans finish.

I definitely wouldn’t do it mainly because of inca silver. Such a great finish. I mean it’s your bass but… please don’t!
Click to expand...
I won’t do it, after thinking it, all the things that could go wrong and high risk of happening I just won’t do that to a good looking instrument.
 
#11
I don’t know if this is true for the Classic series but EBMM used poplar for solid color bodies on many of their models for many years. Even the prettiest piece of poplar is really not so pretty. As the others have said, Inca Silver is awfully nice. I’m glad you decided to leave it alone.
 
#14
allboutbass said:
Hi Guys,

I own a 4 string Stingray Classic in Inca Silver. I have been contemplating the idea of stripping the paint off and leave it in natural finish but have no idea how many wood pieces a Stingray classic has.

I talked to my luthier and he come up with the question since it would affect its looks. So is kind of risky.

Does any one know ?

Thanks for any info on this.
Click to expand...

Don't do it. Inca Silver is a rare color.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SirMjac28
#15
If you decide to do this, standard rules apply: Film yourself doing it, and before any big step, always say "Watch this!"

But seriously, most instrument makers use the good looking wood for natural finishes (which they can charge more for). If you have to place a bet on what the wood looks like on a painted bass, assuming it's a bit ugly or plain is a good assumption.
 
#17
Yes yes guys … I definitely won’t do it as said before
Any how I love it as it is right now and don’t wanna sell it or trade. May be I’ll buy a natural finish some day.

Anyway here is my Inca Silver, despite the fact of my curiosity I really like it as it is.
961187FA-7716-4958-9F9B-92B3349EA4B6.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: mindwell, LowEndLobster, kmd88 and 1 other person
#19
DON’T DO IT!!!! The paint on the Classic’s are bulletproof. You might get the color off, but you won’t be able to break through the yellow tinted body sealer. Stripper, heat gun does not work efficiently on these basses. Pictured is 1.5 hrs worth of frustration. I’ve had complete Ric 4003’s stripped completely ready for sanding within an hour.
5304B796-D2C7-46F1-B014-172F363DAA95.jpeg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Jim C, TN WOODMAN and Ricky Rioli
#20
59jazz said:
DON’T DO IT!!!! The paint on the Classic’s are bulletproof. You might get the color off, but you won’t be able to break through the yellow tinted body sealer. Stripper, heat gun does not work efficiently on these basses. Pictured is 1.5 hrs worth of frustration. I’ve had complete Ric 4003’s stripped completely ready for sanding within an hour.
View attachment 4581488
Click to expand...
OMG !
Is that a classic … I am curious about the wood and how many pieces is it?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back