SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – On November 1st 2022, Ernie Ball Music Man will be launching the 35th Anniversary StingRay 5 bass guitar. Unveiled in 1987, the Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 5 set the standard for the modern 5-string bass with its robust low-end, tight, punchy sound and ideal 34” scale length. This 35th Anniversary edition honors the timeless Ernie Ball Music Man design used by some of the world’s most iconic bassists, including Flea, Tony Levin, John Myung, and Phoenix of Linkin Park.
Over its 35-year history, the Music Man SR5 has undergone several significant design changes. Under the leadership of Sterling Ball, the Ernie Ball Music Man R&D team have implemented industry-leading innovations that are now commonplace on most modern 4 and 5-string basses. In the latest Ernie Ball Music Man film, Sterling Ball looks back on these accomplishments and discusses how they were incorporated into this Anniversary bass.
“An Anniversary bass celebrates things you do at the beginning, things you do in the middle and things you do at the end. Hopefully you can create an anniversary bass that incorporates all of these eras together… I think we got it right. I’m so proud of how this came together”.
The 35th Anniversary StingRay 5 ash body features a spalted maple top with thin maple veneer and comes standard with a Spalted Sunburst finish. The roasted figured maple neck features an ebony fretboard, copper pearlescent block inlays, and is finished in a high gloss for superb comfort and playability. High-output neodymium StingRay 5 pickups provide powerful low-end with a distinctive mid-range punch while the lightweight hardware delivers solid stability. Every Anniversary StingRay 5 includes a certificate of authenticity.
The 35th Anniversary StingRay 5 is limited to 225 instruments in a single humbucker configuration, and 25 instruments in a double humbucker configuration. The double humbucker is available exclusively at www.music-man.com in the Ernie Ball Music Man Vault.
ABOUT ERNIE BALL In 1962, veteran player and guitar teacher Ernie Ball created Slinkys®, the innovative light gauge electric guitar strings widely revered by thousands of iconic players including Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, Paul McCartney, Metallica, Brad Paisley, Slash, John Petrucci, Angus Young, and John Mayer. The strings are all crafted in Coachella, CA. Ernie Ball also offers state-of-the-art instrument accessories that are carried in more than 6,000 stores in the U.S. and 120 countries worldwide. Officially purchasing the Music Man® company in 1984, Sterling, joined later by his sons Scott and Brian, has built a team of dedicated professionals based in San Luis Obispo, CA who collectively share a common goal: crafting the highest level of hand-crafted instruments available. Originally founded by Tom Walker, Forrest White and Leo Fender in 1974, Music Man built its name leading an industry revolution, introducing active electronics on its production instruments. As part of the team during the ’70s, Sterling Ball played an important role in the design and development of the iconic StingRay basses. The family-run company maintains its founder’s dedication to preserving the musician’s playing experience and delivering superior sound quality through the development of new products, such as Cobalt Slinkys, M-Steel, Earthwood, and the revolutionary Element Shield Packaging, keeping each set as fresh as the day they were made. The company also fosters artist development through musician-focused programs such as the world’s largest and longest-running unsigned artist programs, where bands compete each year for the chance to play live on national tours, festivals, and events. Visit them online at www.ernieball.com and www.music-man.com.
