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Average Price: $1,527
High-end/Boutique
$400
$1001+
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High-end
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Description
The Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Electric Guitar is a staple in the world of solid body electric guitars, celebrated for its robust construction and versatile sound. This iconic guitar marries classic design with modern innovation, making it an ideal choice for both seasoned professionals and aspiring musicians. At its heart is the active 3-band EQ, allowing for precise tonal shaping, from deep, resonant lows to crisp, cutting highs. The StingRay's smooth maple neck and fingerboard ensure a comfortable playing experience, while the high-output humbucking pickups deliver a powerful and articulate sound. Whether you're on stage or in the studio, this guitar's reliability and dynamic range make it a standout option.
The StingRay is crafted with an attention to detail that reflects its heritage, boasting a resonance and sustain that have defined its reputation for decades. The distinct body shape not only provides excellent balance but also contributes to its unmistakable appearance, ensuring you make a statement both sonically and visually. Ergonomically designed for optimal playability, the guitar also includes a truss rod adjustment wheel for easy neck adjustments, ensuring your instrument stays in peak condition.
Key Features:
- Active 3-band EQ for comprehensive tonal control
- High-output humbucking pickups for powerful sound
- Smooth maple neck and fingerboard for comfortable playability
- Distinct body shape for excellent balance and style
- Truss rod adjustment wheel for easy neck maintenance
- Reliable construction ideal for stage and studio use
Product specs
| Brand | Ernie Ball Music Man |
| Model | StingRay Guitar HH |
| Finish | Black, Charcoal Frost, Chili Red, Ivory White, Vintage Tobacco |
| Year | 2016 - 2017 |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Solid Body Electric Guitars |
| Body Material | Mahogany |
| Body Shape | Double Cutaway |
| Body Type | Solid Body |
| Bridge/Tailpiece Type | Tremolo Bridge |
| Color Family | Black, Brown, Grey, Red, White |
| Finish Pattern | Sunburst |
| Finish Style | Gloss, Metallic |
| Fretboard Material | Maple, 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 | HH |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Scale Length | 25.5" |
| Wood Top Style | Opaque, Plain |
FAQs
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What is the neck profile like on the Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Electric Guitar?
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The Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Electric Guitar features a comfortable and fast-playing neck profile, designed for smooth playability. It is crafted from maple with a bolt-on construction, offering stability and ease of access across all 22 frets.
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What kind of tones can I expect from the StingRay's pickups?
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The StingRay Guitar HH model is equipped with dual humbucking pickups, delivering a powerful and versatile tone. These pickups excel in providing rich, full-bodied sounds suitable for a variety of genres, from rock to blues.
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Is the StingRay Electric Guitar suitable for beginners?
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While the StingRay Electric Guitar is a high-quality instrument favored by many experienced players, its ergonomic design and versatile sound make it accessible for beginners who are serious about learning and investing in a long-term instrument.
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Does the Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay take pedals well?
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Yes, the Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay is known for its compatibility with a wide range of effects pedals, making it an excellent choice for players who enjoy experimenting with different sounds and textures.
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What is the body material of the StingRay Guitar and how does it affect the sound?
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The StingRay Guitar is made from mahogany, which contributes to its warm, resonant tone and excellent sustain. This choice of wood enhances the guitar's ability to produce rich, full-bodied sounds.
Videos
Ernie Ball
Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Guitar
Reviews
PROS
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Smooth satin neck finish enhances playability and comfort
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Stainless steel frets offer exceptional durability and smooth bending
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Versatile pickups deliver rich, articulate tones across clean and high-gain settings
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Stays in tune well despite temperature and humidity changes
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Lightweight body improves comfort without sacrificing sound quality
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High-quality Sperzel tuners simplify string changes and maintain tuning stability
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Combines Fender playability with a Les Paul-like tonal fullness
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Well-crafted with a remarkable vintage tobacco finish
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Excellent for diverse playing styles, from chords to shredding
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Locking tuners and tremolo system enhance tuning stability during use
CONS
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Tone may lack the thickness of a Gibson Les Paul
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Resale value may not hold up against initial purchase cost
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Not as twangy as a traditional Fender, which may not suit all preferences
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Pickup height and intonation may require adjustments out of the box
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Electric Guitar.
Build quality
Setup and maintenance
Features and functionality
Comparisons
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The neck is thinner than expected, contrasting with Dunables and Les Pauls, and the 10" fingerboard radius may require adjustment for players used to other guitars.
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The StingRay is described as significantly heavier than a Strat, likened to Music Man's version of a Les Paul in terms of weight.
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For those seeking a Music Man guitar similar to a Strat, models like the Silhouette or Cutlass are recommended over the StingRay.
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Sterling Ray 34/35 models are noted to achieve around 90% of the tonal quality of Ernie Ball Music Man counterparts.
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User experience
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Owners find the heat-treated pickups to be dynamic, capable of both high gain and clean tones, and they maintain clarity even with complex chords.
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The neck of the StingRay is notably thicker than a Sterling, with owners highlighting a preference for the latter's neck feel.
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Some report the Sterling Ray tuners as unreliable, advising potential buyers to anticipate a need for upgrades.
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Mods and upgrades
Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 3 Ratings
366
Secret Weapon!
I waited for several months for this guitar to come into my local guitar shop. It was well worth the wait—I have an American Standard Stratocaster and really wanted a dual humbucking alternative. I would say that I play this one about 50-60% of the time now. The craftsmanship is remarkable and the tone is rich and sounds dangerous when the amp is driven. I purchased this in tobacco sunburst!
Artist usage
Add artist
In an Instagram post, Jared Dines showcases his Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Electric Guitar, mentioning it was sent to him by the company.
In his Shredeption of fred drust video, Stevie can be seen using a music man stingray guitar
"That's quite an excellent Ernie Ball @music_man guitar that @dustinkensrue of @thrice is playing " - Ernie Ball on Instagram
An apparently custom model Music Man Stingray, with a single coil pickup in the neck, humbucker in the bridge, and a maple fretboard, that Dustin has been seen playing recently.
In this video fluff demos his custom music man stingray. This guitar differs slightly from the normal stingray model. The guitar is a Sparckle blue finish, with a roasted maple neck. Fluff had the pickup selecter moved near the knobs. He has replaced the stock pickups with Fishman fluence pickups. He has a fishman single width in the neck, and has had several fluence humbuckers in the bridge. He states that the specs of this guitar are similar to the dustin kensru model, however he designed this guitar before the dustin model was announced.
Lynn was given a prototype Ernie Ball guitar for the band's most recent tour with Bring Me the Horizon and has been using it as her primary guitar since.
In this post Kevin can be seen playing one of his custom music man stingray models
In this video, Stevie uses his Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay guitar in silver to play Ramones.
In this SPIN Sessions video from Firefly 2016, Alex Babinski of PVRIS is seen playing an Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Electric Guitar during their performance of "You and I."
"Recently I got a new Music Man guitar called the StingRay. It’s sort of a recreation of the guitar that Leo Fender launched Music Man with before Ernie Ball bought the company. I’ve had this guitar for two months now, and it’s maybe my favorite guitar I’ve ever had. There’s a little something special about it sonically. I wish I’d had it when we recorded the album, although maybe it would have only made a subtle difference."
Album Usage
The Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Electric Guitar 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 StingRay Electric Guitar, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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