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Average Price: $1,650

High-end/Boutique

$400

$1001+

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High-end

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Description

The Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass HSS expertly marries vintage charm with contemporary innovation, offering guitarists an exceptional playing experience. With its active wide-spectrum silent circuit, this electric guitar ensures your sound remains pristine and free from unwanted noise, allowing you to focus solely on your performance. Crafted with a lightweight alder body and a smooth maple neck, the Cutlass HSS feels both familiar and inspiring, perfect for a range of styles from blues to rock.

The guitar is equipped with a custom-designed Ernie Ball Music Man bridge humbucker, which delivers rich, warm tones with a vintage flair, complemented by two mid-'60s-style single-coil pickups that provide that classic chime and bell-like clarity. The tremolo system features vintage-style bent-steel saddles, enhancing tonal authenticity while ensuring robust performance.

Modern construction features such as Schaller locking tuners, a compensated nut, and 22 stainless steel frets guarantee tuning stability, precise intonation, and durability. The oversized headstock with a straight string pull design further contributes to the guitar's exceptional tuning reliability. Whether you're performing live or recording in the studio, the Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass HSS stands out as a versatile tool for any guitarist.

Key Features:

  • Lightweight alder body with smooth maple neck
  • Custom Ernie Ball Music Man bridge humbucker for warm, vintage tones
  • Two mid-'60s-style single-coil pickups for classic chime
  • Active wide-spectrum silent circuit for hum-free performance
  • Vintage-style tremolo system with bent-steel saddles
  • Schaller locking tuners for superior tuning stability
  • Compensated nut for precise intonation
  • 22 stainless steel frets for long-lasting use

Product specs

Brand Ernie Ball Music Man
Model Cutlass HSS
Finish Charcoal Frost
Year 2010s
Made In United States
Categories Solid Body Electric Guitars
Body Material Alder
Body Shape Double Cutaway
Body Type Solid Body
Bridge/Tailpiece Type Tremolo Bridge
Color Family Grey
Fretboard Material Rosewood
Fretboard Radius 10"
Neck Construction Bolt-On
Neck Material Maple
Number of Frets 22
Number of Strings 6-String
Nut Width 1.625"
Offset Body Offset Body
Pickup Configuration HSS
Right / Left Handed Right Handed
Scale Length 25.5"

FAQs

What is the neck profile like on the Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass HSS?

The Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass HSS features a neck profile that transitions from a soft V to a C shape, providing a comfortable grip for players who prefer a more vintage feel.

What kind of tones can I expect from the HSS pickup configuration on this guitar?

The HSS configuration offers a versatile tonal range, with mid-'60s style single-coils in the neck and middle for bright, clear tones, and a custom-designed humbucker in the bridge for powerful, thicker sounds suitable for rock and blues.

Is the Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass HSS suitable for advanced players?

Yes, the Cutlass HSS is well-suited for advanced players, featuring high-quality components like Schaller locking tuners, a Music Man Modern tremolo, and a wide spectrum silent circuit for noise-free performance.

Does the Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass HSS have a tremolo system?

Yes, it features a Music Man Modern tremolo bridge with vintage bent steel saddles, allowing for smooth vibrato effects and stable tuning.

What type of body wood is used in the Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass HSS?

The body is made from lightweight alder, known for its balanced tone and resonance, making it a popular choice for electric guitars.

N Stuff Music

N Stuff Music

Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass HSS - Charcoal Frost

Video thumbnail for Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass HSS - Charcoal Frost by N Stuff Music

Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass HSS - Charcoal Frost

N Stuff Music

N Stuff Music

Reviews

PROS

  • Extremely comfortable neck with distinct soft V to C profile

  • Flamed maple neck adds aesthetic appeal and comfort

  • Excellent pickups suitable for diverse musical styles

  • Silent circuit enhances sound without intrusive noise

  • Super smooth frets facilitate effortless bending

  • Superior build quality comparable to custom shop models

  • Roasted Oiled neck option enhances feel and playability

  • Lightweight design makes long sessions more comfortable

  • Vintage voicing provides a unique sound profile

  • Highly versatile, covering a wide range of genres

CONS

  • Lacks natural resonance compared to some competitors

  • Modern classic tremolo only bends down, limiting flexibility

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 HSS.

Build quality

  • The compensated nut and roasted neck contribute to near-perfect intonation, enhancing the overall playability and precision of the instrument.

    Source

User experience

  • One owner considers the Cutlass HSS "un-sellable" due to its unmatched playability and tonal versatility, despite owning many high-quality guitars.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The Cutlass HSS faces stiff competition from S-style guitars, with some players preferring modded Fenders with Kinman pickups for their personal tonal preferences.

    Source
  • The bridge pickup, a ceramic model, is likened to the Super Distortion or Dominion, noted for its underrated versatility.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The guitar is noted for its ability to handle both chimey cleans and hard heavy riffs, making it versatile across various musical styles.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The bridge humbucker is described as having an upper medium output, capable of handling metal while blending well with the single coils.

    Source

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Tyler Larson uses Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass HSS

Tyler Larson

Guitarist, Podcasters & Streamers

...
Verified via YouTube

At "0:30" Tyler shows hus his Ernie ball man cutlass in Charcoal frost. It includes a music man custom humbucker, and two music man custom single coils called: "silence circuit" to retain the true single coil sound. He tells us this is his favorite strat style guitar because it's like a strat but it can do a little bit more. The guitar has a natural Eric Gales/Eric Johnson type sound.

Genre Usage

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

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