Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $2,800

High-end/Boutique

$400

$1001+

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Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

The Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass is a testament to nostalgic design and precision craftsmanship, offering musicians a seamless blend of classic aesthetics and modern playability. As EBMM's first completely passive bass, it pays homage to the roots of bass guitar innovation with its minimalist yet effective electronics. This bass features a single Alnico V passive humbucker, providing a smooth low end and crisp highs, controlled through just one tone and one volume knob. The ash body contours perfectly to the player's form, allowing for hours of comfortable play, while the bolt-on maple neck with its vintage yellowed satin finish offers a familiar, worn-in feel right out of the box.

The Cutlass Bass's distinctive oversized headstock and high-gloss polyester finish evoke a sense of '60s and '70s cool, making it as much a visual statement as a musical one. The patented Compensated Nut ensures precise intonation, offering each string a unique intonation pocket that keeps notes in tune across the neck. This bass is shielded against noise with a graphite-acrylic body cavity coating, complemented by an aluminum pickguard lining, ensuring a clear and uninterrupted performance. Whether you're diving into jazz, blues, classic rock, or indie, the Cutlass Bass is your versatile companion, delivering timeless tones with a modern edge.

Key Features:

  • First completely passive bass by Ernie Ball Music Man
  • Alnico V offset passive humbucker
  • Contoured ash body for comfort
  • "C" bolt-on maple neck with vintage satin finish
  • Patented Compensated Nut for precise intonation
  • Oversized headstock with high-gloss polyester finish
  • Shielded against noise with graphite-acrylic body cavity coating and aluminum pickguard lining
  • Equipped with Ernie Ball Super Slinkies for great tone out of the box

Product specs

Brand Ernie Ball Music Man
Model Cutlass Bass
Finish Black, Classic Natural, Coral Red, Diamond Blue, Heritage Tobacco Burst, Ivory White
Year 2016 - 2019
Made In United States
Categories 4-String Basses
Active / Passive Pickups Passive Pickups
Active Preamp No Preamp
Body Material Alder, Ash
Body Shape Double Cutaway
Color Family Black, Blue, Brown, Natural, Red, White
Finish Pattern Sunburst
Finish Style Gloss
Fretboard Material Maple, Rosewood
Neck Material Maple
Number of Frets 21
Number of Strings 4-String
Nut Width 1.625"
Offset Body Non-Offset Body
Pickup Configuration Split-Coil
Right / Left Handed Right Handed
Scale Length 34"
Wood Top Style Opaque, Plain

FAQs

What type of pickups does the Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass have?

The Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass is equipped with passive split-coil pickups, offering a classic and versatile tone suitable for various music genres.

What materials are used in the construction of the Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass?

The Cutlass Bass features an alder or ash body, a maple neck, and a fretboard made of either maple or rosewood, providing a balanced tone and comfortable playability.

Is the Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass suitable for beginners?

Yes, the Cutlass Bass is suitable for beginners due to its comfortable neck profile and versatile sound, but it's also favored by experienced players for its quality construction and tone.

How many frets does the Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass have?

The Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass has 21 frets, allowing for a wide range of notes and playing styles.

What is the scale length of the Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass?

The scale length of the Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass is 34 inches, which is standard for most electric bass guitars, providing a familiar feel for players.

Ernie Ball

Ernie Ball

Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass

Video thumbnail for Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass by Ernie Ball

Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass

Ernie Ball

Ernie Ball

Video thumbnail for The Ultimate Sleeper Bass? Ernie Ball Cutlass! by Riffs, Beards & Gear

The Ultimate Sleeper Bass? Ernie Ball Cutlass!

Riffs, Beards & Gear

Riffs, Beards & Gear

Video thumbnail for G&L L-1000 CLF vs Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass - The Ultimate P Basses! - LowEndLobster Fresh Look by LowEndLobster

G&L L-1000 CLF vs Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass - The Ultimate P Basses! - LowEndLobster Fresh Look

LowEndLobster

LowEndLobster

Video thumbnail for Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass - Unboxing and First Impressions! GRAVY- LowEndLobster Fresh Look by LowEndLobster

Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass - Unboxing and First Impressions! GRAVY- LowEndLobster Fresh Look

LowEndLobster

LowEndLobster

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass.

Setup and maintenance

  • Some owners experience issues with Sterling Ray35 truss rods and recommend checking them with an Allen key before purchase.

    Source

Build quality

  • Reports of faulty tuners with Sterling Ray35, especially in Purple Sparkle models, highlight the need for careful inspection upon purchase.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Sterling Ray34's hardware differs from classic Stingray, notably featuring a hot pickup wired in series.

    Source

User experience

  • Some players find the string spacing on Music Man basses not suited for chordal work, as the G string may sit too close to the fretboard edge.

    Source
  • The unfinished neck feel of the Stingray is favored by many for its playability, prompting some to modify other basses to mimic this feature.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The Stingray is noted for its clear, wide full-range tone, making it optimal for modern genres but less woody than traditional basses.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass review | MusicRadar

musicradar.com

The Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass bass stands out as a well-crafted instrument, boasting strong, passive split-coil tones and excellent playability that align with the brand’s renowned reputation. Its design offers classic vintage aesthetics and a comfortable playing experience, making it a reliable choice for both stage and studio. However, the bass’s high price and limited tonal options might deter some potential buyers. Despite these drawbacks, this bass is a solid choice for those seeking simplicity and a quality build in a ‘plug and play’ package.

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Flea uses Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass

Flea

Bassist

Red Hot Chili Peppers

...
Verified via YouTube

In the 1985 Rockpalast Festival performance, Flea can be seen playing an Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass during the first half of the set, as captured in the video by La OzPedia Peppers on YouTube.

See how Ryan "Fluff" Bruce uses Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass

Ryan "Fluff" Bruce

Guitarist, Music Producer

Dragged Under

...
Verified via Photo

In this post Fluff shows off the two ernie ball bass guitars he was sent to use. one such bass is the ernie ball cutlass bass

See how Roger Lima uses Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass

Roger Lima

Singer, Guitarist

Less Than Jake

...
Verified via Photo

This @ernieball Cutlass is a beautiful bass I’ve been borrowing for a while. I did some studio tracking and jamming with it, played it at a handful of LTJ shows, and really like it, the feel is great, it would rule any P-bass type applications, and I would highly recommend it! (but not quite the right tone to replace my Sterlings.)

See how Zach Cooper uses Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass

Zach Cooper

Bassist

Coheed and Cambria

...
Verified via YouTube

In a YouTube interview with Patrick Hunter titled "Let's Talk Gear - Zach Cooper Of Coheed & Cambria," Zach Cooper discusses his use of the Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass.

See how Ian Grushka uses Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass

Ian Grushka

Bassist

New Found Glory

...
Verified via Photo

Ian Grushka plays an Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass during live performances, as shown in a photo on his Instagram.

See how Justin Hills uses Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass

Justin Hills

Bassist

Sleeping with Sirens

...
Verified via YouTube

His Cutlass bass has a black body, a white pickguard, and a maple fretboard

See how Max Green uses Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass

Max Green

Singer, Bassist

Escape The Fate

...
Verified via Photo

Max Green used the Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass as his main instrument during Escape The Fate's 2013 tours, as evidenced by the image found at Equipboard.

See how Paddy Cornwall uses Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass

Paddy Cornwall

Bassist

Sticky Fingers

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo Paddy is seen playing a Music Man Cutlass Bass.

See how Morgan Sinclair uses Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass

Morgan Sinclair

Guitarist, Bassist

The Architects

...
Verified via YouTube

In the music video for Grip Shoes By Good Tiger, Morgan can be seen using a Music Man Cutlass bass

See how Nicole Rich uses Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass

Nicole Rich

Bassist

Doll Skin

...
Verified via Photo

IN this post Nicole can be seen playing her Music man cutlass bass

See how Kyle Fasel uses Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass

Kyle Fasel

Bassist

Real Friends

...
Verified via Photo

Kyle Fasel is seen playing an Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass in a photo shared on his Instagram account, @kylefaselisdead.

See how Hans Joseph uses Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass

Hans Joseph

Bassist

Dragged Under

...
Verified via Photo

In this post Hans can be seen using a Music Man Cutlas bass

Album Usage

The Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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