Recorded using a PreSonus FireStudio and PreSonus Studio One 3.
Clip 1 - Treble boost, mid boost.
Clip 2 - Treble boost, bass boost.
Clip 3 - Treble, bass, and mid dials dimed.
RatingsPros:Well engineered. Exciting new ground for an iconic bass. Cons: EQ could use a little frequency adjusting for the top end. Street: $1,999 Music Man StingRay Special music-man.com | Tones:  Playability: Build/Design: Value: |
When the Music Man StingRay burst onto the scene in 1976, it brought with it a midrange attack that shifted the bass-universe curve rather abruptly. It was the disco era, so it may have been a perfect storm of players, style of music, and engineers that helped the StingRay soar, but I’d like to think the bass spoke for itself. We started hearing it cut through the mix from the likes of Louis Johnson, Tony Levin, and Flea, among countless others who used the sweet sonic punch of this model to craft signature tones.
Forty years is a long time, however, and with the many advances in technology, electronics, and instrument building, perhaps the engineers at Ernie Ball decided this would be the year to change the formula. The changes will be welcome for some, not for others, and the purists might possibly be left crying on their Michael Jackson albums. Or will they? That’s why we’re here: to give a proper once or twice over to Ernie Ball's re-imagined Music Man StingRay.
A Ray of Light
Before we go forward, we should always look back. The original StingRay, in all its glory, did have some issues. It was a heavy beast. It was sonically limited, and although the onboard active pre was a welcome breath for players, not having control over the mids did turn some away because of too much point in the tone.
So, what is a modern design team to do? When I opened the hardshell case, an audible “whoa” escaped my lips. My eyes didn’t know where to go first: the spectacular ’burst finish or the new roasted-maple neck. When I picked up the bass, my arms were greeted with a lighter instrument than I’m used to with my vintage models. It turns out the engineers managed to shave a full pound off the new incarnation of this bass, which weighs in at just a hair under 8 1/2 pounds.
The little design changes really make a difference on the StingRay Special. A die-hard follower will notice a difference, but to the first-time user, the bass will likely feel right at home. First, there is a belly scoop on the back and a rounded arm contour for added playing comfort, and it does its job well. Tuning up—and this may sound silly—felt slightly different as well. There are new lightweight, ergonomic Music Man tuners onboard, which means your fingers actually have something to grasp other than a thin slice of metal—again, subtle, but noticed. Some other changes include a 5-bolt neck design, a lighter bridge with a smaller footprint, and a compensated nut.
thunder and lightning.
Highs, Lows, and That Thing In-Between
So, we have all these new things to talk about, but at the heart of every instrument is its tone: the thing we should really be most concerned with. The company has made some changes to the StingRay’s electronics as well. First, the preamp system is now 18V, which is intended to provide longer battery life and more headroom. A 3-band EQ handles boost/cut for treble, mids, and bass. The redesigned humbucker on the StingRay Special features new neodymium magnets and the pole pieces have a new spacing layout to align perfectly under the strings. Again, small touches that amount to big things.
I plugged the StingRay into my trusty Eden CXC210 combo, which gives a very accurate sonic reflection without coloring tone. With the StingRay’s EQ set flat, the bass was, well, flat. It had mid point, but not much else. In other words, the bass needs the pre. I added a bit of top end and bass to give it some help, and that really did the trick. The StingRay started to give me more of what I wanted: thunder and lightning. The inevitable slap runs were exhilarating—with tight precision and a low-end attack like an anvil—and felt fantastic thanks to the silky-smooth, gunstock-oil-and-wax-finished neck.
The fingerstyle attack point was there as well, and it kept the bass where a StingRay should be—sitting in the mix just right. One thing I noticed that’s different from earlier models is that the treble control’s range won’t allow the tone to get super crispy, which can be good or bad, depending on the application. The top end is there, but I felt like the tone frequency needed to open up a hair more.
One great thing about the StingRay’s preamp is the ability to dime the controls and still have the bass sing. If you are a one-tone kind of player, this would be that tone—set for stun. All the great tone is there with punch, clarity, and low-end rumble, and all without being overbearing. The StingRay’s new incarnation was fine with a plectrum or my fingers, and had the same authoritative tone either way.
The Verdict
Being iconic is not easy—especially when it comes time for redesign. The Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Special is both a mouthful and a handful. One side of me loves this bass for the redesign, the great new features, and the balanced, strong tone. My selfish side misses a little of the mass and the “nastier” EQ settings I could achieve with the older models. The new StingRay will likely soon be found in the hands of famous players and will inspire new generations of MM fans as well—of that I don’t doubt. I just hope they also get to play the original models and be reminded why they purchased the lighter and more versatile new incarnation.
Watch the Review Demo:
- Ernie Ball Music Man Unveils the DarkRay Bass - Premier Guitar ›
- Ernie Ball Music Man Unveils the DarkRay Bass - Premier Guitar ›
- Ernie Ball Music Man Debuts Short Scale StingRay Bass Lineup - Premier Guitar ›
- Ernie Ball Announces Kaizen Guitar Available for Pre-Order - Premier Guitar ›
- Ernie Ball Music Man Introduces the Retro '70s Stingray Bass - Premier Guitar ›
- Ernie Ball Music Man Introduces Joe Dart III Signature Bass ›
Announced at the 2025 NAMM show, Cory Wong’s new collaboration with Ernie Ball Music Man scratched an itch—namely, the itch for a humbucker-loaded guitar that could appease Wong’s rock-and-R&B alter ego and serve as complement to his signature Fender Strat. Inspiration came from no further than a bandmate’s namesake instrument. Vulfpeck bassist Joe Dart has a line of signature model EBMM basses, one of which uses the classic StingRay bass body profile. So, when Wong went looking for something distinctive, he wondered if EBMM could create a 6-string guitar using the classic StingRay bass body and headstock profile.
Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay II ReviewErnie Ball Music Man StingRay II ReviewDouble the Fun
Wong is, by his own admission, a single-coil devotee. That’s where the core of his sound lives and it feels like home to him. However, Wong is as inspired by classic Earth, Wind & Fire tones and the pop-punk of the early ’90s as he is by Prince and the Minneapolis funk that he grew up with. The StingRay II is a guitar that can cover all those bases.
Ernie Ball has a history of designing fast-feeling, comfortable necks. And I can’t remember ever struggling to move around an EBMM fretboard. The roasted maple C-shaped neck here is slightly thicker in profile than I expected, but still very comfortable. (I must also mention that the back of the neck has a dazzling, almost holographic look to the grain that morphs in the light). By any measure, the StingRay II’s curves seemed designed for comfort and speed. Now, let’s talk about those pickups.Hot or Not?
A few years ago EBMM introduced a line of HT (heat-treated) pickups. The pickups are built with technology the company used to develop their Cobalt and M-Series strings. A fair amount of the process is shrouded in secrecy and must be taken on faith, but EBMM says treating elements of the pickup with heat increases clarity and dynamic response.
To find out for myself, I plugged the StingRay II into a Fender Vibroverb, Mesa/Boogie Mark VII, and a Neural DSP Quad Cortex (Wong’s preferred live rig). Right away, it was easy to hear the tight low end and warm highs. Often, I feel like the low end from neck humbuckers can feel too loose or lack definition. Neither was the case here. The HT pickup is beautifully balanced with a bounce that’s rich with ES-335 vibes. Clean tones are punchy and bright—especially with the Vibroverb—and dirty tones have more room for air. Individual notes were clear and articulate, too.
Any guitar associated with Wong needs a strong middle-position or combined pickup tone, and the StingRay II delivers. I never felt any significant signal loss in the blended signal from the two humbuckers, even if I could use a bit more midrange presence in the voicing. The midrange gap is nothing an EQ or Tube Screamer couldn’t fix, though. And not surprisingly, very Strat-like sounds were easy to achieve for having less midrange bump.
Knowing Wong’s love for ’90s alt-rock, I expected the bridge pickup to have real bite, and it does, demonstrating exceptional dynamic range and exceptional high-end response that never approached shrill. Nearly every type of distortion and overdrive I threw at it sounded great, but especially anything with a scooped-mid flavor and plenty of low end.
The Verdict
By any measure, the StingRay II is a top-notch, professional instrument. The fit and finish are immaculate and the feel of the neck makes me wonder if EBMM stashes some kind of secret sandpaper, because I don’t think I’ve ever felt a smoother, more playable neck. Kudos are also due to EBMM and Wong for finding an instrument that can move between ’70s George Benson tones and the hammering power chords of ’90s Blink-182. Admittedly, the nearly $3K price could give some players pause, but considering the overall quality of the instrument, it’s not out of line. Wong’s involvement and search for distinct sounds makes the StingRay II more than a tired redux of a classic model—an admirable accomplishment considering EBMM’s long and storied history.
Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay II Cory Wong Signature Electric Guitar - Charcoal Blue with Rosewood Fingerboard
