Sterling’s DarkRay 5 Bass is Here: A 5-String Beast with Darkglass Power
Ernie Ball by Music Man collaborated with Darkglass Electronics to introduce the DarkRay bass in 2021. After introducing the bass to the Sterling by Music Man lineup in 2023, the company has announced a five-string version to the Sterling brand.
Similar to the rest of the DarkRays, the Sterling Darkray 5 takes the iconic StingRay model and fits it with a custom Darkglass 2-band active preamp that offers three built-in modes: Clean (Preamp-only), Alpha (Distortion), and Omega (Fuzz). A three-way selector with a color-coded LED ring lets you toggle between the sounds.
“You’ll unlock total tonal control via volume, treble, and bass adjustments, along with onboard gain and blend knobs for customized distortion,” the company writes. “A roasted maple neck and ebony fingerboard round out the modern design.”
The Sterling by Music Man DarkRay 5 comes in black. It will carry a street price of $1,479.
Sterling by Music Man DarkRay 5 Bass Specs:
| Scale: | 34″ |
| Body: | Nyatoh |
| Neck: | Roasted Maple |
| Neck Radius: | 12″ |
| Fingerboard: | Ebony |
| Frets: | 22 |
| Inlays: | White Dot |
| Pickups: | H - 1 Alnico Humbucker |
| Electronics: | Custom Darkglass 2-band Preamp |
| Controls: | 3-way lever distortion selector; Preamp Only, Preamp+Alpha Distortion, Preamp+Omega Distortion |
| Bridge: | Sterling by Music Man-Designed Bridge |
| Tuners: | Open Gear |
| Finish: | Black |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
