Ernie Ball Announces Game Changer Pickup Switching System

Ernie Ball/Music Man has unveiled a new patent-pending pickup switching system called the Game Changer that will be available on their Reflex HH bass.

Ernie Ball Game Changer Reflex Bass

By choosing the coils in any order, whether they are in series or parallel, and whether they are in or out of phase, the system allows for 250,000 pickup combinations without rewiring, digitizing, or remodeling. A digital system controls the whole thing, which allows you to store your presets in banks A, B, and Z. Banks A and B are where the typical pickup switch would be and each have 5 memory locations. Bank Z is a switch near the neck that holds 15 presets, including a Mute. Your settings can be saved via pressing down on the volume knob for 2 seconds, then selecting the bank location, and pressing the volume knob again.

The Game Changer has two output jacks and a USB connection to connect to software for loading additional presets. The USB input can also be used to power the bass when in use. Otherwise the electronics run on three AAA batteries. A web application for building and sharing settings is coming soon. The Game Changer will cost about an extra $350 from the regular Reflex HH bass. For more info, check out the Game Changer website.

Game Changer Specs:

  • Size: 12-7/8″ wide, 1-3/4″ thick, 43-7/8″ long (32.7 cm wide, 4.5 cm thick, 111.4 cm long)
  • Weight: 8 lbs, 14 oz (4.01 kg) – varies slightly
  • Body Wood: Ash with maple top and mahogany Tone Block
  • Body Finish: High gloss polyester
  • Body Colors: To Be Determined…
  • Body Bindings: To Be Determined…
  • Bridge: Standard – Music Man® chrome plated, hardened steel bridge plate with stainless steel saddles
  • Scale Length: 34″ (86.4 cm)
  • Neck Radius: 11″ (27.9 cm)
  • Headstock Size: Only 7″ (17.8 cm) long
  • Frets: 22 – High profile, wide
  • Neck Width: 1-5/8″ (41.3 mm) at nut 2-9/16″ (65.1 mm) at last fret
  • Neck Wood: Select maple neck
  • Fingerboard: Fretted – maple or rosewood; Fretless – Pau Ferro with or without inlaid fretlines
  • Neck Finish: Gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend
  • Neck Colors: To Be Determined…
  • Tuning Machines: Custom Music Man, with tapered string posts
  • Truss Rod: Adjustable – no component or string removal
  • Neck Attachment: 5 bolts – perfect alignment with no shifting; Sculpted neck joint allows smooth access to higher frets
  • Pickups: Dual Humbucking with ceramic magnets
  • Controls: Active preamp: 4-band EQ – 25kohm volume, treble, high-mid, low-mid, bass; Passive preamp: 500kohm volume and 500kohm tone – .047uF tone capacitor
  • Switching: 5-way lever preset selector;
  • 2-way push/pull ‘Bank A (Active)/B (Passive)’ selector
  • Momentary On-OFF-Momentary On toggle ‘Bank Z’ selector
  • Momentary On ‘Save’ knob (Volume)
  • Power: 3 AA Batteries (~100 hours of live play)
  • USB (USB does not recharge batteries)
  • Electronic Shielding: Graphite acrylic resin coated body cavity and aluminum lined control cover
  • Left Handed: No
  • Strings: 45w-65w-80w-100w (Super Slinky Bass #2834)

Get Bass Gear News in your inbox.

Stay up to date on the latest bass gear news (every Thursday).

Share your thoughts

  1. Dan Roberts

    Carvin offered optional coil splitting and phase switches on their LB series basses starting around 1980. My youngest son now plays my 1982 LB 50 stereo 4 string with the above options.
    Great sounding bass.