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Ernie Ball Music Man: 2024 StingRay Special Bass Collectionplay button

Ernie Ball Music Man: 2024 StingRay Special Bass Collection

collapse expand iconDescription

At the intersection of craftsmanship and innovation, the Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay bass stands as one of the most iconic bass guitars in the history of modern music. The first production four-string bass to feature onboard active equalization, this instrument is a testament to the amount of progressive technology you can fit into a timeless package—and the StingRay Special HH is no exception. Heard on countless records throughout history, you can find a StingRay in studios and on stages around the world. Now featuring a new 18-volt 3-band preamp, refined body contours and reengineered hardware, this versatile and revolutionary bass gives musicians access to everything from modern to vintage tones, with the warmth, punch and flexibility they need.

Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Special HH Bass Guitar

History Doesn’t Write Itself

First introduced in 1976, the StingRay electric quickly set the new standard for what a bass could be. Designed by Leo Fender, it sports a classic double-cutaway body style, along with a long, wide neck. But the StingRay introduced differences in design that made it a truly game-changing instrument. Notably, Fender devised a unique 3+1 tuning key configuration as a way to reduce "dead spots" in tuning, as well as onboard active equalization so players could dial in a variety of tones with ease. The StingRay Special HH upholds this tradition of innovation with modern enhancements, while staying true to its classic design.

Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Special HH Bass Guitar Pickup

A Work of Art

The StingRay Special HH is crafted with meticulous attention to detail for the demands of modern musicians. The body is sculpted from select high-quality tonewoods that produce the resonant and iconic tone the StingRay is known for. Boasting a player-friendly double-cutaway design famous for both its form and function, the Special HH sports enhanced body contours that are rounded for more comfort. Its roasted maple neck provides the stability and playability that novice and experienced musicians alike have come to expect from Ernie Ball Music Man. The Special HH also comes equipped with reengineered, lightweight tuning machines that create a more balanced neck while still providing ultrareliable tuning. These features, combined with a 5-bolt sculpted neck joint that gives unfettered access to all 22 stainless steel frets, make the Special HH the true "bassists’ bass."

Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Special HH Bass Guitar Controls

Playing With Power

The Special HH’s new-and-improved electronics feature powerful neodymium magnets for a higher output, and a wide range of tones. The pickups are a completely original design that encompass the full spectrum of Ernie Ball Music Man’s dedication to innovation. Typically, double-coil pickups are wired in series, but the StingRay’s are wired in parallel. This, coupled with larger magnets for increased responsiveness, gives these pickups a tactile, punchy sound.

Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Special HH Bass Guitar Body

High-Voltage Rock ’n’ Roll

The newly designed 18-volt, 3-band preamp delivers ultrahigh headroom so you can dial in everything from thumping, modern low end, to vintage-inspired warmth with ease. The Special HH’s active electronics give you more power over your tone and output than with passive instruments, due to its onboard preamp and EQ controls. This, along with passive pickups deliver results that will astound your audience and bandmates, truly bringing the best of both worlds to fruition in a single instrument. Plus, you don’t have to worry about the degradation of your sound due to long cable runs.

The Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay has stood the test of time and will continue to for years to come thanks to its innovative design, world-famous tone and updated electronics. If you’re looking for a bass that can do it all, from hard slapping to soft and gentle, the Special HH will provide the tonal flexibility you need. When you’re ready to get serious about your low end, the Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Special HH is up to the task.

collapse expand iconFeatures

  • Select hardwood body with a high-gloss polyester finish
  • Bolt-on select roasted maple neck
  • Maple, rosewood or ebony fingerboard with 22 stainless steel frets
  • Dual Music Man humbuckers with neodymium magnets

collapse expand iconSpecs

Neck
  • Wood: Select roasted maple
  • Neck joint: Bolt-on
  • Scale length: 34"
  • Truss rod: Adjustable
  • Finish: Gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend
Pickups
  • Pickup configuration: HH
  • Neck: Proprietary humbucker
  • Bridge: Proprietary humbucker
  • Control layout: Volume, Treble, Bass, Mid
  • Pickup switch: 5-way
  • Special electronics: 3-band active preamp with 18V of headroom
Fretboard
  • Material: Maple (Black, Frost Green Pearl, Snowy Night); Rosewood (Amethyst Sparkle, Speed Blue, Burnt Ends); Ebony (Raspberry Burst, Smoke Chrome)
  • Radius: 11"
  • Fret size: High-profile, wide
  • Number of frets: 22
  • Nut material/width: 1.687" (42.8 mm)
Body
  • Body Type: Double-cutaway
  • Body wood: Select hardwoods
  • Body finish: High-gloss polyester
Hardware
  • Bridge/Tailpiece: Vintage Music Man top-loaded chrome-plated steel bridge plate with vintage nickel-plated steel saddles
  • Tuning machines: Custom Music Man, lightweight with tapered string posts and ergonomic clover design
  • Color: Matte Black; Gold (Amethyst Sparkle, Jackpot, Ocean Sparkle); Chrome (Frost Green Pearl, Burnt Ends, Snowy Night)
Other
  • Number of strings: 4 string
  • Orientation: Right-handed

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