Leo Fender co-founded Tri-Sonics in 1972, together with two former Fender staffers. The new company was renamed Music Man in February 1973. Music Man started out as a manufacturer of amplifiers, but introduced it’s first instrument, the StingRay bass, in 1976.

The guitar had a particularly distinguished headstock design. Further basses and guitars followed. Like the StingRay, these were built at Leo Fender’s own CLF factory (the initials stand for Clarence Leo Fender) in Fullerton, CA. On the back of the StingRay’s body is a neck plate that carries the individual guitar’s serial number and maker’s trademarks.