Pricing and availability
We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 7 stores. Prices updated .
Store
Reviews
Price
Average Price: $2,281
High-end/Boutique
$400
$1001+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 3 merchants for "Music Man Stingray 5". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
The Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray 5 is the quintessential electric bass for those seeking a blend of classic design and modern innovation. Originally making waves in the 1970s, the Stingray has been a staple in the arsenal of professional bassists across genres. The Stingray 5 is a testament to this legacy, delivering a powerful humbucking pickup and a sculpted body for enhanced playability and comfort.
Crafted with a select hardwood body, the Stingray 5 boasts a sleek double-cutaway design, optimized for both ergonomic comfort and visual appeal. The roasted maple neck and 22 stainless steel frets offer a smooth, fast-playing experience, ideal for both seasoned pros and aspiring musicians. Enhanced hardware, including lightweight aluminum components and a 5-bolt neck joint, ensures a balanced feel, reducing fatigue during extended play.
Central to the Stingray 5's versatility is its 18-volt active preamp system, which pairs with a 3-band EQ to allow players to sculpt their sound with precision. Whether you're after the warm tones of vintage basslines or the crisp clarity of modern rock, this bass delivers. The powerful neodymium magnet in its single humbucker ensures a robust output, capable of cutting through any mix.
Join the ranks of iconic musicians who trust the Stingray for its reliable performance and unparalleled sound. Whether in the studio or on stage, the Stingray 5 is engineered to support your musical journey with style and substance.
Key Features:
- Select hardwood body with sculpted contours for comfort
- Roasted maple neck with 22 stainless steel frets
- Single humbucker with neodymium magnets for increased output
- 18-volt 3-band active preamp for versatile tone shaping
- Lightweight aluminum hardware for improved balance and reduced fatigue
- 5-bolt neck joint for enhanced stability
Product specs
| Number of Strings | 5 |
| Left-/Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Body Shape | StingRay Special 5 H |
| Body Material | Select Hardwood |
| Body Finish | High Gloss Polyester |
| Neck Material | Roasted Maple |
| Neck Shape | C |
| Neck Joint | 5-way Bolt-on |
| Radius | 11" |
| Fingerboard Inlay | Dots |
| Number of Frets | 22, Stainless Steel |
| Scale Length | 34" |
| Nut Material | Compensated Melamine |
| Bridge/Tailpiece | Vintage Music Man top loaded chrome plated, steel bridge plate with vintage nickel plated steel saddles |
| Tuners | Custom Music Man |
| Bridge Pickup | Music Man Neodymium Humbucker |
| Controls | 1 x volume, 3-band EQ |
| Switching | 3-way blade switch (Series, Filter, Parallel) |
| Case/Gig Bag | Softshell Case |
FAQs
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What type of pickup does the Music Man Stingray 5 feature?
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The Music Man Stingray 5 is equipped with a Music Man Neodymium Humbucker, which provides a powerful and versatile tone suitable for various music styles.
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How does the neck profile of the Music Man Stingray 5 affect playability?
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The Stingray 5 features a C-shaped roasted maple neck, offering a comfortable grip for players, making it suitable for fast and intricate bass lines.
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Is the Music Man Stingray 5 suitable for live performances?
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Yes, with its robust construction, reliable hardware, and dynamic range of tones, the Stingray 5 is well-suited for live performances across different genres.
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What is the switching system on the Music Man Stingray 5?
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The Stingray 5 includes a 3-way blade switch allowing you to select between Series, Filter, and Parallel settings, providing versatile tonal options.
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Does the Music Man Stingray 5 come with a case?
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Yes, the Music Man Stingray 5 comes with a softshell case, providing protection for transport and storage.
Videos
AngelDust Guitars
Music Man Stingray 5 Bass | fb.com/angeldust.guitars | Review Test
Music Man Stingray 5 Bass | fb.com/angeldust.guitars | Review Test
AngelDust Guitars
Music Man Stingray 5 USA SOUNDTEST
Marcin Pendowski
Music Man StingRay5 Special - Demo by Nathan Navarro
Nate Navarro
Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 5 Bass: Joe Dart Demos
Ernie Ball
The MusicMan Stingray 5-string Bass 1995
🇺🇦 IGOR ODARYUK
Reviews
PROS
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Exceptional sound quality for a budget-friendly bass
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Classic, distinctive Stingray tone with aggressive and bright sound
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Versatile 3-band EQ offers wide tonal range
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Great sustain and rich, full sound in studio settings
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Comfortable low action, especially beneficial for fingerstyle
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Rock solid construction with quality components
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Unique gunstock oil finish on neck for fast, comfortable play
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Excellent for live performances, cuts through mix effectively
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Versatile for various music genres from punk to metal to funk
CONS
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Neck may require adjustments for optimal performance
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Heavy bass, potentially uncomfortable for long gigs
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Some cost-saving in materials like the plastic nut
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Unfinished neck might feel unusual to some players
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Music Man Stingray 5.
Build quality
Comparisons
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The Ray35 is noted to have good sound and build quality, but electronics and hardware are not as refined as American-made models.
Source
User experience
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Owners feel a noticeable quality and sound difference between Sterling models and the EBMM Stingray 5, with the latter offering more punch and flavor.
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Owners from the late '80s era praise its powerful EQ and signature Music Man Stingray sound, making it versatile for different music styles.
Source
Value and pricing
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Some users believe the EBMM doesn't feel $2k better than the Sterling series, though they acknowledge the quality improvement.
Source
Features and functionality
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Known for its stable tuning, some owners rarely need to adjust it during gigs, showcasing its reliability.
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Despite having a single humbucker, users report it produces a wide variety of tones, enhancing its versatility.
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The 5-string Stingray has a G string placement that sits right on the edge of the fretboard, which can lead to it slipping off during play.
Source
Use cases and applications
Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 11 Reviews and 45 Ratings
640
A truly amazing instrument.
Probably my favourite classic bass ever. From the humble beginnings I always dreamt of one and when I finally got one in 2014 and it subverted my expectations! It's the instrument that really cuts through the mix and just slays in the concert environment. It's always in tune and performes great in many different alternative/dropped tunings. I just can't stop playing on it, even after almost 10 years.
241
Perfect 5-string bass
I already had some 5-strings (Lag, Rickenbacker, Framus Double Neck with 12-string, Warwick Thumb 5, Fender Jazz Bass). The Sting Ray 5 is the most comfortable of all. It's not too-heavy and plays great. I have it since 1995, but I've hardly used it for years - what a shame! I use it with regular steel strings (045 - 125)
63
Excellent workhorse of an instrument
A great gigging instrument with excellent versatility because of the 3-band on board pre-amp. Also, the three way pickup selector allows you to get different sounds out of the single pickup (top - both coils in series, middle - bridge coil only, bottom - both coils in parallel). More importantly, it plays incredibly well. The neck is the best thing I've ever held and the string spacing is just perfect.
Mine also has a piezo pickup under the bridge as well as a blend know between it and the main humbucker. It probably won't be the last bass I ever buy, but it'll be the last one I truly need.
272
Great sound
The SR5 has its own special charm. It doesn't sound like anything else, but it cuts through a mix on stage like nothing else. It also has an absolutely unbeatable neck, with a distinctive gunstock oil finish that makes it superfast and comfortable. I picked up my 1998 model, which is a 3-color vintage sunburst with rosewood fretboard, as a consignment, for about $900. It hadn't been touched by the original owner since purchase, and now new models cost almost double that. One of the best value purchases I ever made.
47
Perfect Tone, beautiful design.
The best bass I ever played. Beautiful tone, Active controls, Volume, Treble, Highs, Lows. Rosewood fretboard, with roasted Maple finish on the top of the bass.
184
First expensive bass I bought new
And I've owned it since 2001. It beat to crap, but still plays and sounds great!
Perfectly versatile
Currently used for Symphonic Death metal, I've used it for punk-rock, pop, metalcore, indie and funk and always got a great sound out of it.
5339
what a price difference to your other tuff you have some midprice guitars a relly affordable one and a £2000-£3000 bass suspicious man
Artist usage
Add artist
Flea used this on "Funky Monks", and "The Righteous and the Wicked" from Blood Sugar Sex Magik. It can be seen in the "Under the Bridge" video.
In this post from his official Facebook page we can see Robert Trujillo with a Stingray 5 on a Bass Player magazine from Infectious Grooves era.
mike can be seen playing this bass in this image.
In this YouTube video you can see Peter Hook using a black 5 string Music Man Stingray
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heres a photo of him with one. in around 2004, brad did bass while pheonix did guitar as a swap on "Nobody's Listening".
In this video Mike Portnoy shows off Myungs basses, including a red Music Man Stingray 5 H.
Can be seen in this photo. He uses Stingrays 4 & 5 on Vulgar Display Of Power era.
Tony Levin can be seen playing a Music Man Sting Ray 5 in this picture. The official Music Man website also lists this as a guitar used by Tony.
In one of the photos of Lita Ford's "Time Capsule" album cover, you can see Gene Simmons with Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 5 Ivory White Special, with Roasted Maple Fingerboard. He also played bass on several songs on the album (including "Rotten to the Core", writen by himself for a Kiss album "Crazy Nights"). Perhaps the bass used only in the studio.
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Musician Dave "Phoenix" Farrell of Linkin Park performs at the Staples Center on March 4, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
Album Usage
The Music Man Stingray 5 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 Music Man Stingray 5, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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