A Stunning BFR StingRay Special — Only at Sweetwater!
Born in the ’70s, the Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay electric bass has become the go-to instrument for serious bassists cross-genre. While today’s StingRay Special models have been updated with performance enhancements like stainless steel frets for long-term durability, instruments designated for the Ball Family Reserve program — such as this impeccable BFR StingRay Special — further benefit from the finest craftsmanship, tonewoods, and electronics available across the Ernie Ball Music Man bass lineup. The powerful humbucking pickup has been engineered for greater punch and extended frequency response, and the updated 18-volt preamp system supplies impressive headroom for a wide dynamic range. To help you get through long sessions and marathon live sets more comfortably, the body has been redesigned for maximum ergonomics, and lighter-weight tuning machines and hardware contribute about a pound of weight relief. It all adds up to a formidable electric bass guitar that honors its heritage while forging new sonic frontiers. Smartly dressed in an eye-popping finish, this gorgeous, boutique-grade BFR StingRay Special is only available at Sweetwater — and in very limited numbers. So be sure to grab this classic groove machine while you can!
Ultra-stable neck plays like a dream
There's simply no substitute for a great neck. Ernie Ball Music Man put a ton of R&D into developing a neck that would provide players with the perfect balance of comfort, speed, and stability. For this instrument, the company spec'd premium maple for the neck. Finished with a special blend of wax and gunstock oil, the back of the neck feels amazing, letting your hand glide along effortlessly. With its 5-bolt attachment and sculpted neck joint, this neck delivers stability that easily surpasses most set necks while providing unencumbered access to the highest frets. Meanwhile, the fingerboard is buffed and dressed to perfection with rolled edges for a silky-smooth feel, and on fretted models is fitted with 22 stainless steel frets that will stand up to the onslaught of roundwound strings, gig after gig.
Cutting-edge electronics for fat, punchy, versatile tone
From the very first time you plug in your Ernie Ball Music Man BFR StingRay Special, you’ll relish the phenomenal low-end punch, aggressive midrange growl, and huge tonal versatility its advanced humbucking pickup serves up. Granted, this pickup’s massive neodymium magnet structure, stout pole pieces, and beefy windings supply a solid foundation for your tone. Still, it’s the StingRay Special’s 18-volt active preamp and 3-band EQ that really let you sculpt your sound while driving long cable runs and complex processing chains without a hint of noise. As a result, bassists in a broad spectrum of genres — progressive metal, jazz fusion, funk, classic rock, and more — have embraced and deployed the exceptional tone this amazing instrument delivers.
Loaded with StingRay style, sound, and innovation
The StingRay Special, like the rest of Ernie Ball Music Man’s StingRay bass lineup, claims roots that run back to the 1970s, when Ernie Ball Music Man was founded. Armed with fat and punchy humbuckers, active electronics, and a delightfully chunky neck, it’s no wonder the StingRay has been heard in the capable hands of bass luminaries such as Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, Liquid Tension Experiment), Bernard Edwards (Chic), John Deacon (Queen), Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith), Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and countless others. Mr. Levin is quick to point out the evergreen appeal of the StingRay: “The StingRay sounds like a rock bass to me ... I still have that first StingRay 5, which has a peach-colored finish, so I call it my Barbie bass. I use it on about 70 percent of the things I do, and my other StingRays on another 10 to 15 percent. The rest is either Stick or upright.” At Sweetwater, we can’t think of a more compelling endorsement!
Ernie Ball Music Man BFR StingRay Special Features:
- High-performance, boutique-grade electric bass guitar
- Deeply contoured ash body with highly figured flame maple top
- Figured roasted or white maple bolt-on neck with C profile
- Figured roasted or white maple fretted or fretless fingerboard with 10-in. radius
- 22 stainless steel frets (on fretted models)
- 1 or 2 neodymium humbucking pickups
- 18V preamp with 3-band EQ
- Vintage Music Man bridge/tailpiece
- Music Man lightweight tuning machines
- Included Mono case, Certificate of Authenticity
- Quality crafted in the US
