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.
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
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.
Meh, I like bolt-on’s better.
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.
2nd order harmonics are cancelled in a neckthrough right after the initial attack. That’s basically the difference in tone. Some people like it, some people don’t :b
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.
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.
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.