Music Man Stingray 1 1978 With Hard Case

No sales tax for customers outside California.

This 1978 Music Man Stingray I is a super cool example of Leo Fender’s innovative post-Fender-era craftsmanship—built during his partnership with Tom Walker and Forrest White at Music Man.

The Stingray I was the solidbody sibling to the Stingray Bass, offering players a powerful humbucker-driven tone, active electronics, and exceptional build quality years ahead of its time.

Featuring a contoured ash body, maple neck, and the distinctive 3+3 headstock, the Stingray I combines vintage feel with forward-thinking design. Its preamp-equipped dual humbuckers deliver massive tone—bright, articulate, and loaded with punch—while the active EQ system provides impressive tonal flexibility for both clean and driven sounds. The high-mass bridge and Schaller tuners contribute to rock-solid sustain and tuning stability.

This example has a cool, aged look to it.  It has seen some play, which gives it rad vintage character.  A pro refret was performed at some point and a new nut installed.  The work was nicely done and the guitar plays great as a result.  The action is low, and there is room in the truss rod for future neck relief adjustments.

The pickup leads have been cut, then spliced.  This was likely done when the tone selector potentiometer was changed.  In plate of the original, rotary switch is a pot that sweeps through tone changes rather than clicking on stops.  The rest of the electronics are original.  

The case might be original to the guitar, it might not.  It is definitely period correct.

At Mahar’s Vintage Guitars, every guitar is inspected, photographed accurately, and professionally set up. We buy, sell, and accept trades on rare and vintage instruments. Explore our Vintage Fender Guitars, Gibson Guitars Collection, or Sell or Trade Your Gear page.

• Color: Natural
• Weight: 8lbs 9oz
  
• Body: Ash
  
• Neck: Maple
  
• Fretboard: Maple
• Inlays: Black Dot
• Frets: Replaced
• Fret Count: 22
• Nut: Replaced
• Nut width: 1-5/8"
  
• Radius: 12"
• Scale: 25.5"
• Neck thickness at 1st fret: .83"
• Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: .93"
• Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Overall Length: 41"
• Lower Bout: 14"
• Waist: 9"
• Upper Bout: 11"
• Body depth/thickness outside edge: 1-5/8"
• String gauge: 10-46
• Hardware Color: Chrome, Nickel
  
• Bridge Pickup/Brand: Music Man Humbucker, Active preamp
  
• Original?: Yes
• Neck Pickup/Brand: Music Man Humbucker, Active preamp
  
• Original?: Yes
• Pickguard: Original
• Bridge: Music Man
• Tuners: Original Music Man
• Knobs: Original
  
• Pots/Codes: Original
• Case: Non Orig hsc, period correct
• Notes: 

Shipping policy:

There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site.  Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver.  For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for these Eastern states and shipment will be made by UPS three-day-air.  Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions.  If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com.  Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.