A Classic Groove Machine
Born in the ’70s, the Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay electric bass has become the go-to instrument for serious bassists cross-genre. Today’s StingRay Special 5 H has been updated with performance enhancements like stainless steel frets for long-term durability, even under the fingers of the most aggressive player. The powerful humbucking pickup has been redesigned for greater punch and extended frequency response, and the updated 18-volt preamp system delivers impressive headroom for a wide dynamic range. And to help you get through long sessions more comfortably, the body has been redesigned, 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. Want to know more? Call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer for all the details.
Killer electronics for fat, punchy, versatile tone
From the very first time you plug in your Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Special 5 H, you’ll appreciate the phenomenal low-end punch, aggressive midrange growl, and massive tonal versatility its advanced humbucking pickup delivers. Granted, this neodymium pickup’s stout pole pieces and beefy windings supply a solid foundation for your tone, but it’s the StingRay Special 5 H’s 18-volt active preamp and 3-band EQ that really let you sculpt your sound. As a result, bassists in a broad spectrum of genres — progressive metal, jazz fusion, classic rock, funk, disco, and more — have embraced and deployed the extreme punch this amazing instrument delivers.
Premium maple neck plays like a dream
There’s simply no substitute for a great neck. Ernie Ball Music Man put a ton of work into developing a neck that would provide you with the perfect balance of comfort, speed, and stability, and for this StingRay Special 5 H, they spec’d premium roasted maple for the neck. Finished with a blend of special wax and gunstock oil, the back of the StingRay’s neck feels amazing and lets your hand glide along effortlessly. And with its 5-bolt attachment, this bolt-on neck delivers stability and sustain that easily surpasses most set necks. The neck is topped by an ebony fingerboard with 22 wide, high-profile stainless steel frets that will stand up to the onslaught of round-wound strings, gig after gig. The fretboard is buffed and dressed to perfection for a silky-smooth feel, with no fret ends to impede your dexterity.
Loaded with StingRay style, sound, and innovation
The StingRay Special 5 H, 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.” Coming from one of the most respected bassists in the business, we can’t think of a more compelling endorsement.
Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Special 5 H Bass Features:
- A performance-built bass any serious player will appreciate
- Stainless steel frets provide exceptionally long fret life and excellent tone
- Redesigned humbucker with 18-volt preamp and 3-band EQ serves up fat, punchy, versatile tone
- Sleekly sculpted body and premium maple neck deliver amazing comfort and sustain
- Silky-smooth ebony fingerboard and dressed frets for fast, effortless action
- Redesigned hardware for a lighter, more comfortable playing experience
- Easy-access truss rod adjustment wheel
