Discover the new Ernie Ball Music Man guitars and bass guitars for 2021!
NAMM 2021 has arrived, but it looks a little different this year. This year our friends at the National Association of Music Merchants is hosting a virtual “Believe in Music” edition which you can check out here.
To kick things off, Ernie Ball Music Man announced the newly available finishes for some of their most popular Ernie Ball Music Man instruments, launching throughout the year.
SABRE GUITAR - NEW COLOR
The Sabre guitar features an Okoume body, thick maple top, and custom Music Man humbucking pickups, delivering lively, dynamic sound with striking clarity and sustain. Aesthetically, the Sabre is equally compelling. Its bookmatched premium top is adorned with natural binding, which elegantly highlights the raw beauty of the figured maple wood grain. Crafted with a slender, contoured body and slightly wider neck (1 11/16” at the nut), the Sabre guitar provides unmatched comfort and playability. Equipped with a roasted figured maple neck, Schaller locking tuners, a 5-way switch, and Music Man’s super smooth modern tremolo system, the Sabre is truly a player’s guitar.
New for 2021, the Sabre is now offered in the Gator Burst finish.
STINGRAY SPECIAL BASS - NEW COLORS
First introduced in 1976, the StingRay has been revered as one of the most iconic bass guitars in history. The StingRay bass was the first production 4-string bass to have onboard active equalization and remains the flagship of the Ernie Ball Music Man line today. Today, the StingRay bass (now known as the StingRay Special) features lightweight aluminum hardware, elegant and comfortable contours, and a sculpted neck joint for uninhibited access to all stainless steel frets. Through the decades, the StingRay has maintained the same solid roadworthy construction, with a distinct oval pickguard, a 3+1 tuning key configuration, and the ever-popular Ernie Ball Music Man humbucker — all of which combine to produce a look, feel, and sound that’s remarkably unmistakable.
New for 2021, the StingRay Special will be offered in 8 new finishes including Amethyst Sparkle, Black, Snowy Night, Raspberry Burst, Smoked Chrome, Speed Blue, Burnt Ends, and Forest Green.
STINGRAY-5 SPECIAL BASS - NEW COLORS
With its first introduction in 1987, the StingRay5 has become one of the most iconic bass guitars in the industry. With its powerful punchy sound, the added flexibility of additional pickups, and a comfortably contoured body, the StingRay5 satisfies even the most demanding of players. Additional features include a sculpted neck joint for uninhibited access to all 22 stainless steel frets, lightweight aluminum hardware, 4+1 tuning key configuration, and the unmistakable Ernie Ball Music Man humbucker.
New for 2021, the StingRay5 Special will feature 8 new finishes including Frost Green, Black, Snowy Night, Raspberry Burst, Smoked Chrome, Speed Blue, Burnt Ends, and Amethyst Sparkle.
CUTLASS RS GUITAR - NEW COLORS
Based on the original 1970s Ernie Ball Music Man designs, the Cutlass RS has been engineered to deliver unparalleled playability and performance. Featuring a roasted figured maple neck with rosewood or maple fingerboard, an alder body, a super smooth modern tremolo, and an oversized 4-over-2 headstock. The Cutlass RS is offered with either three Ernie Ball Music Man mid-60s style single coils (the SSS model) or a custom would Ernie Ball Music Man ceramic humbucker with two single coils (the HSS model). From biting lead to crunchy rhythms to classic single-coil tones, the Cutlass has you covered.
New for 2021, the Cutlass will feature 2 new finishes including Powder Blue and Vintage Tobacco for both the SSS and HSS models.
STINGRAY RS GUITAR - NEW COLORS
The StingRay RS features a roasted figured maple neck with rosewood or maple fingerboard. The StingRay retains all original specifications since it was designed in the 1970s, including vintage spec humbucking pickups, a super smooth modern tremolo system, and an off-set lightweight Okoume body. The sound is big and bold when needed but smooth as glass if desired thanks to the perfectly voiced custom pickups. Offering a 3-way switch to access its versatile coil combinations while the StingRay’s oversized 4 over 2 headstock with straight string pull provides superior tuning stability. Fashioned with the flawless craftsmanship you’ve come to expect from Ernie Ball Music Man, the StingRay guitar is the perfect confluence of classic aesthetics and modern design and playability.
New for 2021, the StingRay RS will feature 2 new finishes including Powder Blue and Burnt Amber.
BONGO BASS - NEW COLOR
The Bongo represents everything a modern bass should be: well balanced, comfortable, resonant, and expressive with effortless playability. The double-cutaway basswood body design is of superior construction and along with a 24 fret finished neck offers unimpeded access for high register two-octave fretwork. Available in single humbucking, double humbucking, and humbucking single configurations the Bongo along with its 4 band eq, Neodymium pickups, and 18V active preamp deliver a powerful combination of unparalleled tonal diversity. New for 2021, we’re offering the Bongo 4 in the all-new Harvest Orange finish.
