The Ball Family Reserve’s Take on a Late ’50s Classic
Here at Sweetwater, musicians regard Ernie Ball Music Man as one of the most forward-thinking makers today, but the BFR Nitro Cutlass Classic ’58 proves the company is equally capable of leveraging classic designs from the vintage era. This master-crafted instrument by the Ball Family Reserve sports a timeless tonewood combination of an alder body and a maple-on-maple neck. Both timbers undergo EBMM’s roasting process to provide you with maximum resonance, sturdier stability, and lighter weight. However, the trio of ’50s-style single-coil pickups is the true star of the show — to ensure true vintage-correct tonal authenticity, these pickups are precisely replicated from real examples of late ’50s single-coils. Finally, a compensated nut, Music Man Modern Tremolo, and Schaller tuners round out the BFR Nitro Cutlass Classic’s vintage-style flair with decidedly modern high-performance playability.
Precision-replicated ’50s-style single-coil pickups
Ernie Ball Music Man spared no expense when crafting this Ball Family Reserve model’s trio of ‘50s-style single-coil pickups — a true-blue set of late ‘50s single-coil pickups was extensively tested and examined to provide you with the utmost tonal authenticity. From the .42 gauge formvar wire to the alnico V magnets, every aspect of this guitar’s trio of ‘50s-style single-coils live up to the lofty tonal standards of the vintage era. A 5-way switch unlocks everything from sparkling chime to thick, round neck-position warmth, and, of course, the in-between quack tones are here too.
Cutting-edge modern construction
The BFR Nitro Cutlass Classic ’58 boasts multiple modern features to give you the performance and stability you demand. Schaller tuners offer solid tuning stability, even with heavy vibrato use, and the nickel-silver steel frets will give you long-term use without wearing out. A compensated string nut lets you enjoy perfect intonation across the whole length of the fingerboard. And the truss rod adjustment wheel, located at the heel of the neck, makes on-the-fly neck relief changes fast and easy.
Inside the Ball Family Reserve
There are many Ernie Ball Music Man guitars out there, but only a select few get to call themselves part of the Ball Family Reserve. What is BFR? This is a limited collection of super high-quality produced guitars and basses that celebrate the journey of the Ball family and their dedication to the craft. Featuring incredible tonewood pairings, deluxe finishes, and character packed into every ounce, BFR instruments are publicly released instruments of a build quality usually only reserved for signature artists and members of the Ball family themselves. Now is your chance to acquire your own piece of Ernie Ball Music Man history!
Ernie Ball Music Man BFR Nitro Cutlass Classic ’58 Solidbody Electric Guitar Features:
- Roasted alder body for a lightweight feel and mid-forward chime
- Sturdy roasted maple neck, with a compound profile that begins with soft “V” and smooths out to a high-speed “C” shape further up
- Roasted maple fingerboard equipped with 22 highly durable nickel silver frets
- A trio of ’50s-style pickups, precisely modeled after true late-‘50s single-coils for maximum tonal authenticity
- 5-way pickup selector provides quacky, hum-canceling “in-between” tones
- Music Man Modern Tremolo unit provides all the classic trem tones of the past, with dramatically enhanced reliability
- Rock-solid, non-locking Schaller tuning machines
- Old-school nitrocellulose finish allows the guitar to gracefully age and wear in the more you play it
- Compensated nut for superior intonation
