The 1976 Music Man Stingray I is a rare and charismatic representative of the very first Music Man generation – a true piece of guitar history from Leo Fender’s post-Fender era. This early model is real vintage and embodies everything to love about ‘70s instruments: honest playwear, untouched originality, and a tone that feels equally at home in modern productions or live on stage.

Design & Construction

• Body: Solid ash – clear, punchy, and resonant, with pronounced midrange presence
• Finish: Natural with beautiful, naturally aged nitro finish checking – authentic crack patterns that only decades of real playing can create
• Neck: Maple, chunky ‘70s-style profile – solid and comfortable in the hand
• Fingerboard: Maple with original frets – already low but still playing clean and true
• Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm) – full Fender scale for tight tone and clear articulation
• Nut: Original plastic – perfectly intact

Electronics

• Pickups: Two original Music Man humbuckers – warm, powerful, and extremely dynamic
• Switching: 4-way toggle for maximum tonal variety:
• 1. Bridge
  2. Neck
  3. Bridge + Neck
  4. Bridge + Neck (Out of Phase)
• Electronics: Original active circuit – delivers exceptional clarity, strong output, and flexible EQ shaping
• Controls:
• • Master Volume
  • Master Treble
  • Master Bass

Hardware

• Bridge: Heavy-duty Music Man bridge – stable, excellent sustain and string resonance
• Tuners: Original Music Man – precise tuning stability
• Pickguard & Knobs: All original – naturally aged but fully functional
• Case: Original Music Man hardcase – sturdy, form-fitting, with true vintage vibe

Playability & Condition

• Feel: Immediate and responsive – the fretboard shows decades of honest playwear, with a comfortable setup and fast attack
• Condition: True Player’s Vintage – frets are low but every note still rings clearly. A refret is intentionally avoided to preserve the original nitro finish on the fretboard
• Character: A guitar that doesn’t just look like it’s lived – it plays and responds like a seasoned veteran

Summary

The 1976 Music Man Stingray I is not a polished collector’s piece but an unmolested, original workhorse from Music Man’s founding years. It delivers the full, warm yet articulate tone that made these guitars legendary – and comes with gorgeous, naturally aged nitro checking you simply can’t fake.

Perfect for the studio, the stage, or any guitarist who wants to hold a true piece of Leo Fender history – honest, original, and uncompromising – complete with its original hardcase.