Ernie Ball Announces Music Man Neck Through Basses

Ernie Ball’s booth at NAMM this year was buzzing with a new neck-through version of their flagship StingRay Bass. Available in four and five-string versions, the StingRay Neck Through is built with a 3-piece maple neck the runs the entire length of its ash body. The StingRay has only featured bolt-on construction since its introduction in 1976.

Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Neck Through Bass 4-string

The new bass will also include a rosewood fretboard and will come in an array of finishes. Each has several pickup options. The four-string can come with a single humbucker matched to a 2-band EQ, a double humbucker set, or a humbucker/single coil configuration. The five-string has the same options, minus the EQ.

Ernie Ball says the StingRay Neck Through basses will be available soon. They will carry retail prices comparable to their current U.S.made StingRays, which is approximately $2,200 to $2,300.

Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Neck Through Bass Photos:

Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Neck Through Bass Specs:

Body Wood:Ash body wings
Neck:3-piece Select Maple
Body Finish:High gloss polyester
Bridge:Standard Music Man® chrome plated, hardened steel bridge plate with stainless steel saddles
Pickguard:Standard – Black or White; Optional – Shell, White Pearloid, Black Pearloid, and Vintage White Pearloid
Scale Length:34” (86.4 cm)
Neck Radius:11”
Frets:21 on 4-string; 22 on 5-string
Fingerboard:Rosewood
Neck Finish:High gloss polyester
Neck Colors:Color matches body
Tuning Machines:Schaller BM, with tapered string posts
Truss Rod:Adjustable – no component or string removal
Neck Attachment:Through neck design
Electronic Shielding:Chrome plated brass control cover
Controls:Single Pickup, 2-band active preamp; vol, treble, bass; Dual Pickup, 3-band active preamp; vol, treble, mid, bass
Switching:Single Pickup – N/A; Dual Pickup – 5-way lever pickup selector
Pickups:Standard – Music Man® humbucking with Alnico magnets; Optional – Dual Humbucking with Alnico magnets; Optional – Humbucking/Single coil with Alnico magnets
Left Handed:No
Strings:45w-65w-80w-100w (Super Slinky Bass #2834)

For more information:
Ernie Ball Music Man

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Share your thoughts

  1. Petey

    Not bad if you like neck thru’s. I’m a bolt-on guy. I wonder if a 5 string is in the works and are they gonna make the fretless Classic model? Now that’s what I’m waiting for.

  2. Meh, I like bolt-on’s better.

    • Petey

      Yup. Easier maintenance. I hear a lot of arguments saying neck-thru’s give better tone and sustain than bolt-on’s. I beg to differ. I played a FBass BN5 bolt on and compared it to a Ken Smith Neck thru and I like the tone and sustain better on the FBass than the KS. It all depends on woods, electronics, set ups and the whole nine. I just love bolt-ons.

  3. Maybe bolt ons are a better choice for guitarists who like to Frankenstein different stuff together. Whereas a NeckThru bass just keeps on giving and giving and giving… maybe just maybe change a pot or pickup, but we Bassists are not quite the crazy modifying bunch that our six string brothers in the higher register are. In My Humble Neck-Thru Schecter Opinion.

  4. Painted neck? DEAL BREAKER. Say bye bye to slick playability. High gloss polyester looks great and lasts, but damn it’s just too grippy for necks! You can get away with some sanding on a clear gloss, but on paint, it’s gonna look nasty. Shame, as this is a pretty interesting proposition.

  5. I’d put money down on one right now if they offered a maple fingerboard option. The only neck-through I’ve owned so far was a BC Rich Eagle and I loved it, but stupidly sold it when I was younger and dumber.