Formerly MUSICMANBASS.ORG

HEADSTOCK LOGOS

Pre-EB & EB (Part 2)

Sterling 4, Sterling 5, Sting Ray 5, American SUB 4 & 5,
American SUB Sterling.

EB Basses.

STERLING 4. Jan 1993 - Current.

Jan 1993 - Circa June (July) 1993.

Serial 37125. DOB 2 March 1993. The word "Sterling"
does not appear on the headstock logo.

1). Initially "Sterling" was not included on the headstock logo.

2). The encircled "R"  following "MUSICMAN" is in the lower position

Circa June (July) 1993 - Circa 2000.

June 1993 Bass. "Sterling" included on the logo.

F03028 Sept 2000.

1) "Sterling" now appears on logo.

2) Encircled "R" (registered) following words "Ernie Ball" remains in lower position.
 

3) Encircled "R" folloes "MUSICMAN" in mid position.
 

4) "TM" (Trade Mark) follows the word "Sterling" in the lower position.

Circa 2000 - Current.

Year 2000.

Same as for 1993 to circa 2000 but:

The "TM" after"Sterling" moves to upper position.

STERLING 5. 2008 - Current.

2008 - Current.

2008 Headstock.

STING RAY 5. 1987 - Current.

1987 - Circa Late 1990 to early 1991.

1989 SR5.

The encircled "R" following "MUSICMAN" is located in the upper position.
 

Note that SR5 Basses during this early period have:

A) Plain unstamped neck plates.

B) Alnico pole piece magnets without a dummy coil.
 

Ceramic pole pieces and dummy coil were introduced circa 1992 along with a newly designed pre-amp.

Circa Late 1990 to early 1991 - Current.

1991 logo.

Clearer logo view. 2004 SR5.

2018 Special SR5 light weight.

Same as the previous logo but:

1) The encircled "R" following "MUSICMAN" moves to the lower position.

2) The encircled "R" following "Sting Ray" moves completely inside the lower part of the "5".

SR5 Rear Decals.

Original position of the SR5 rear decal up to 2002.
Pictured is a Feb 2002 Bass.

Reposition of the decal from 2002 to 2017.
Pictured is a May7 2002 Bass.

Up to 2002 the rear decal sloped down on the left hand side (1st pic). As from early 2002 the rear decal (2nd pic) is now on the same axis as the neck.

Rear headstock of the new 2018 Special 
SR5 with the newer rear decal
introduced in early 2016.

New rear decal. "CALIFORNIA HERITAGE SINCE 1974" replaces the older "MADE IN SAN LUIS OBISPO CALIFORNIA, USA" as from early 2016.

SUB BASSES (USA) - 2003 To 2006.

SUB SR4. 2003 - 2006. Three Years.

2003 to Jan 2004

2003 SUB 4 front and rear.

The serial is recorded on a sticker label located on the rear of the headstock in front of the D tuner. 

Tuners are not stamped with "Music Man".

Jan 2004 - 2006

2004 SUB 4 front.

As with the 2003 to Jan 2004 SUB above, the serial is recorded on a sticker label located on the rear of the headstock in front of the D tuner. 

Tuners are not stamped with "Music Man".

Same as for 2003 to Jan 2004 but:

1) The full stops after "S" "U" and "B" are deleted. ("S.U.B." now becomes a complete word "SUB").

2) The word "BASS" is now included beneath the word "SUB".

SUB SR5. 2003 - 2006. Three Years.

2003 to Jan 2004

2003 SUB 5 front.

Similar in design to the 2003 SUB 4 but note the inclusion of a "5" to denote a 5 string Bass. The SUB 4 doesn't include a "4" to denote a 4 string Bass.

The serial is also recorded on the rear of the headstock but next to the G string (see pic below).

Tuners are not stamped with "Music Man".

Jan 2004 - 2006

2004 SUB 5 front and rear.

The serial is recorded on a sticker label located on the rear of the headstock to the right of the G tuner (as is the case with the 2003 SUB 5 model.  

 Tuners are not stamped with "Music Man".

 Same as for 2003 to Jan 2004 but:
 

1) The full stops after "S" "U" and "B" are deleted ("S.U.B." now becomes a complete word "SUB").

2) The word "BASS" is now included beneath the word "SUB 5".       

SUB STERLING. 2004 - 2006. Two Years.

2004 SUB Sterling front and rear.

The serial is recorded on a sticker label and in same location as the SUB 4 but turned sideways to the left.

Tuners are not stamped with Music Man.
 

Note the inclusion of "Bass" on the logo which is in keeping with the 2004 SUB 4 and 2004 SUB 5 designs rather than the 2003 SUB designs.

Back to Part 1: HERE

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Headstock Logos (Part 1)   Headstock Logos (Part 2)   Bass Collecftions No.1
Bass Collections No.2