Custom MMB-5 on its way

[OldManNick]

Greetings

My name's Nick and I decided about 18 months ago that I wanted to buy a Sterling SUB Ray5. I doubt I'll ever be able to afford a "real" Stingray, and the Ray5 sounds nice. Anyway, Sterling / Musicman struck troubled waters with the CITES restriction on Rosewood and there were no SUB basses anywhere in Oz, and likely none in the near future.

Then I found Pitbull Guitars advertised by Guns and Guitars on Youtube. After a bit of research, I decided to build a Ray5 with a few added extra features from some of the best basses I've ever played.

At this stage, it's a MMB-5 kit with the following planned upgrades:

• Neck / headstock off the BG-46 kit
• Wiring and hardware from the IB-5 kit
• Added Jazz bass picked up in the neck position
• Series/Parallel/South coil switch on the MM pickup
• Mahogany Body
• Maple neck
• 24 Fret ebony fretboard
• Pacific blue sunburst body

If I can figure it out, I'm going to wire it for stereo output too like the "Rick-o-sound" on the Rickenbacker 4003.

The ship is still on its way, but I'll start my build diary as soon as it arrives.

I'm seeking some inspiration though. With a blue/black stained body and ebony fretboard, I'm not sure if I'll stain the neck or leave it natural. What do you guys think?

Regards
Nick

[Andyxlh]

Wow that sounds great!
Isn't the BG 46 neck a 4 string?

[wazkelly]

Natural neck would be in keeping with MM style.

Would you do both mono & stereo or just stereo as the latter is easiest.