At Sweetwater, we’re delighted to welcome Music Man to our lineup of esteemed manufacturers. Cofounded by Leo Fender in the 1970s, Music Man is known for making serious “player’s instruments” with fabulous tone and playability — your first clue as to why their artist roster is packed with such heavies as Steve Morse, John Petrucci, Tony Levin, Steve Lukather, Joe Bonamassa, Albert Lee, Dave LaRue, John Myung, and so many more.
These no-compromise electric guitars and basses are handcrafted in San Luis Obispo, California, and sport innovations such as 5- and 6-bolt necks, sculpted neck joints with the tightest pockets in the industry, and graphite-acrylic resin-coated body cavities for superior shielding. Only the finest tonewoods are selected and are only used after being properly acclimated to the factory environment. Necks and bodies are cut using state-of-the-art CNC equipment with tolerances of 1/10,000th of an inch. This meticulous approach results in consistent top-quality fit and finish. The sonic foundation of tone-connoisseur bands such as Dream Theater and the Dregs, Music Man guitars and basses boast factory-wired electronics, as well as custom DiMarzio pickups on selected models. For all these reasons, Music Man instruments make solid investments, holding their value even years later on the used market.
Playability is one of the major considerations when you’re choosing a guitar or bass, and given their obsessive attention to details such as fret leveling, crowning and polishing, and end dressing, this is an area where Music Man is second to none. Leo Fender hit pay dirt the first time around, and he did it without an existing blueprint. Genius? Luck? Perhaps a bit of both, however for his second act, he incorporated everything he’d learned about guitar design, including over two decades worth of invaluable player feedback. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that his initial Music Man designs were instant hits with professional musicians. The first StingRay bass, with its 2-band active EQ and distinctive 3+1 tuner arrangement, took the world by storm. Although Leo, sadly, is no longer with us, Music Man has forged on under the unwavering stewardship of the Ball family, with new cutting-edge guitars and basses taking their place alongside the classic originals, which have continued their successful run unabated.
If you’re ready for a superbly crafted instrument with amazing tone, buttery playability, and exquisite aesthetics, a Music Man guitar or bass from Sweetwater is a very smart move!
