Ernie Ball Music Man Unveils 40th Anniversary “Old Smoothie” StingRay Bass

Ernie Ball Music Man kicked off the NAMM Show this year with a press conference to reveal new products, including the 40th Anniversary “Old Smoothie” StingRay Bass. The bass is modeled after a 1976 prototype featuring a 10 pole piece pickup design that gives it a smooth tone.

Ernie Ball Music Man 40th Anniversary “Old Smoothie” StingRay Bass

“Since its introduction in 1976, the Music Man StingRay bass has been embraced as one of the world’s classic electric bass designs, and Old Smoothie was an interesting – and great-sounding – variation given to me by Leo Fender during the time I spent testing and developing the original prototypes back in the 70’s,” Ernie Ball CEO Sterling Ball explained. “We recently revisited the bass and were knocked out by its rich, deep, beautifully sweet tone. We knew we had to make it available to today’s bass players and celebrate one of the most iconic instruments of our time.”

The new bass carries on the original’s other design features with a 34-inch scale maple neck, a classic mute bridge with original stainless steel saddles, and a rear-mounted truss rod with walnut skunk stripe.

The Ernie Ball Music Man 40th Anniversary “Old Smoothie” StingRay Bass will be available starting in April with a street price of $1,999.

Ernie Ball Music Man 40th Anniversary Old Smoothie StingRay Bass promo photo

Ernie Ball Music Man 40th Anniversary “Old Smoothie” StingRay Bass Specs:

Weight:9 lbs, 8 oz. (4.31 kg) – varies slightly
Body Wood:Alder
Body Finish:High gloss polyester
Body Colors:Chocolate Burst
Bridge:Music Man chrome plated, hardened steel bridge plate with vintage stainless steel saddles and adjustable mute pads
Pickguard:White
Scale Length:34″ (86.4 cm)
Neck Radius:7.5″ (19.1 cm)
Headstock Size:Only 8-3/4″ (22.2 cm) long
Frets:21 – Low profile, narrow width
Neck Width:1-5/8″ (41.3 mm) at nut 2-1/2″ (63.5 mm) at last fret
Neck Wood:Select maple neck
Fingerboard:Select maple
Fret Markers:5/16″ Black dots (no 21st marker)
Neck Finish:High gloss polyester
Neck Colors:Natural aged light yellow finish
Tuning Machines:Schaller BM, with tapered string posts
Truss Rod:Rear mounted adjustable – no component or string removal
Neck Attachment:6 bolts – perfect alignment with no shifting
Electronic Shielding:Chrome plated brass control cover
Controls:Custom “Old Smoothie” 2-band active preamp; vol, treble, bass
Pickups:Custom “Old Smoothie” humbucking with 10 elongated Alnico magnets and split cover
Left Handed:No

For more information:
Ernie Ball Music Man

Get Bass Gear News in your inbox.

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

Leave a Reply to Archangel Cancel reply

  1. Archangel

    Nice!! I have the same same kind of Music Man that looks just like the one the Late, Great Louis Johnson played.