No Volume Knob, No Problem: Joe Dart’s New Sterling by Music Man Bass Leads 2026 Crop
Sterling by Music Man and Vulfpeck bassist Joe Dart have teamed up once again for a collection of limited-edition basses. The “2026 Crop” bass release sees the return of the Joe Dart I as well as an all-new design called the Joe Dart Vision.
While Dart’s bass philosophy has always been minimalistic, the Vision pares it down to the tonal essentials. Finished in white with a gold pickguard, it has a humbucker with no onboard controls.
“Jack Stratton and I had a vision — a bass pared down to its essential elements. Nothing extra, not even a volume knob. The first bass I know of without one. And thus, we call this bass The Vision,” Dart explains. “It strikes the perfect balance of punch and warmth that I’m always chasing, and it sits in the pocket like it was built for it.”
The Joe Dart I is returning in its original form, with a single humbucker and a volume knob. Both models are built with a soft maple body in the Sterling shape, a hard maple neck, open-gear tuners, and Ernie Ball flatwound strings. They will also feature a “2026 Crop” stamp on the back of the headstock to mark the release year.
The 2026 Crop Sterling by Music Man Joe Dart Vision and Joe Dart I are being released in a “Timed Edition.” They are open to pre-order only from May 1st to May 31st. Each instrument is built to order, and shipping is scheduled to begin in September 2026. They carry direct prices of $549 for the Joe Dart I and $599 for the Joe Dart Vision.
Sterling by Music Man Joe Dart Vision Bass Photos:
Sterling by Music Man Joe Dart Vision Bass Specs:
| Scale: | 34″ |
| Body: | Soft Maple |
| Neck: | Hard Maple |
| Fretboard: | Hard Maple |
| Frets: | 22 Medium |
| Inlays: | Black Dot |
| Pickup: | H-1 Ceramic Humbucker |
| Electronics: | Passive |
| Control: | None |
| Tuners: | Open Gear |
| Bridge: | Fixed Bridge |
| Strings: | Ernie Ball 2805 Flatwound Strings |
| Finish: | White |
| Other: | “2026 Crop” Stamp on Back of Headstock, Gold Pickguard |
| Orientation: | Right Hand Only |
Sterling by Music Man Joe Dart I Bass Photos:
Sterling by Music Man Joe Dart I Bass Specs:
| Scale: | 34″ |
| Body: | Soft Maple |
| Neck: | Hard Maple |
| Fretboard: | Hard Maple |
| Frets: | 22 Medium |
| Inlays: | Black Dot |
| Pickup: | H-1 Ceramic Humbucker |
| Electronics: | Passive |
| Control: | 1 Volume |
| Tuners: | Open Gear |
| Bridge: | Fixed Bridge |
| Strings: | Ernie Ball 2805 Flatwound Strings |
| Finish: | Natural |
| Other: | “2026 Crop” Stamp on Back of Headstock |
| Orientation: | Right Hand Only |
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.
