Ernie Ball Music Man Unveils 13 New Colors for StingRay Special
Ernie Ball Music Man is revamping the StingRay Special for 2024 with a whopping 13 new colorways. The lineup will include the same signature features from forty years ago, the company says, including an oval pickguard, 3+1 tuning key configurations, and the signature Music Man humbucker.
The StingRay Special is available in 4- and 5-string models with either single or double humbucker pickup configurations. One of the colors, Moonbeam, will only be part of the exclusive Ball Family Reserve on a five-string HH bass.
The other color options include Genius Gold, Candyman, Kiwi Green, Pacific Blue Burst, Purple Sunset, Jackpot, Brulee, Black Rock, Hot Honey, Ocean Sparkle, Grape Crush, and Black.
Each color will be available later this winter. The Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Special has a base price of $2,799.
Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Special Bass Specs:
| Body Wood: | Ash |
| Body Finish: | High gloss polyester |
| Bridge: | Vintage Music Man top loaded chrome plated, steel bridge plate with vintage nickel plated steel saddles |
| Scale Length: | 34? (86.4 cm) |
| Neck Radius: | 11? (27.9 cm) |
| Headstock Size: | Only 8-3/4? (22.2 cm) long |
| Frets: | 22 - High profile, wide, Stainless Steel |
| Neck Width: | 1-5/8? (41.3 mm) at nut 2-1/2? (63.5 mm) at last fret |
| Neck Wood: | Select roasted maple neck |
| Fingerboard: | Rosewood |
| Neck Finish: | Gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend |
| Neck Colors: | Standard – Natural with finished headstock |
| Tuning Machines: | Custom Music Man, lightweight with tapered string posts and ergonomic clover design |
| Truss Rod: | Adjustable - no component or string removal |
| Neck Attachment: | 5 bolts |
| Electronic Shielding: | Chrome |
| Controls: | 3-band active preamp with 18 volts of headroom; vol, treble, mid, bass |
| Switching: | Single Pickup - N/A; Dual Pickup - 5-way lever pickup selector |
| Pickups: | Standard - Single Humbucking with Neodymium magnets; Optional - Dual Humbucking with Neodymium magnets |
The only word more pretentious than ‘bespoke’ is ‘colorways.’ That’s some made up nonsense. But those are real pretty.
Same bass, different colors. Wow, color me not impressed.
I’d rather see a Sterling Bongo.