Music Man Stingray 1978 | Natural

Stunning Music Man Stingray 1978

A 1978 StingRay in natural finish is one of those basses that quietly reminds everyone else in the room why the late ’70s were such a big deal. Ash body showing its grain like it’s got nothing to hide, paired with a one-piece maple neck that feels fast, solid, and unapologetically old-school. It’s a proper four-string from the era when Leo Fender was still very much steering the ship, and it shows in every detail.

Tonally, this era StingRay is all about authority. The original humbucker and active preamp deliver that unmistakable punch—tight lows, a snappy mid presence, and a bright top end that cuts through a mix without asking permission. Whether you’re digging in with fingers or leaning into a pick, it’s got that elastic, percussive response that defined countless funk, rock, and disco records of the time.

This is a bass that doesn’t chase trends—it is the reference point. Solid, expressive, and endlessly usable, a ’78 StingRay with a maple neck is the kind of instrument that makes modern reissues feel like polite suggestions. Plug it in, hit one note, and suddenly everything else sounds like it’s trying a bit too hard.

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