“A vintage-inspired instrument that drips with 1970s tone and a superb feel”: Ernie Ball Music Man brings old-school style to a premium modern platform with the Retro ‘70s StingRay
The original ‘70s StingRay bass was championed by countless low-end legends. Now it’s been revived as a new vintage classic that boasts era-correct specs and impeccable playability
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(Image credit: Ernie Ball Music Man)
The Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay has been one of the most popular bass guitars since its original release way back in the ‘70s, and has been championed by the likes of Carol Kaye, Flea, Pino Palladino, Tony Levin, and countless other low-end legends.
It truly was a trailblazing bass, and because of its illustrious history, vintage examples can command rather hefty price tags.
So, in a bid to recapture that old-school vintage flair for modern players – and make it more accessible to bass aficionados – the firm has masterminded a worthy spiritual successor: the Retro ‘70s StingRay.
Available in a quartet of classic colorways – White, Black, Vintage Sunburst, and the original Natural – the bass has been crafted with exact vintage specifications, right down to the 21-fret bolt-on maple neck with micro-tilt, a bullet truss rod, and a strings-through-body bridge design with adjustable mute pads.
There’s also the classic ash body, finished with a gloss polyester top coat, as well as a sole vintage-style pickup, boasting longer alnico 5 magnets wound with original single poly-nylon wire.
As showcased in the demo video above, this setup leads to a huge array of those classic old-school tones – from mellow funky and snappy slap – all the way to some more contemporary rock and pop tones.
(Image credit: Ernie Ball Music Man)
So, as well as looking and feeling like the part, the Retro ‘70s StingRay sounds like a vintage machine, too. That’s with the added bonus of arriving brand new – ready to receive some authentic battle scars of your own doing – and at a more attainable price point.
“Ernie Ball Music Man’s Retro ‘70s StingRay is a total vintage-inspired instrument that drips with 1970s tone and a superb feel,” Guitar World notes. “It even sports the 1970s Music Man logo, with a period-correct gold Music Man decal.
“It’s a bass that exudes coolness and ensures the ‘‘Me Decade’ is still all about you laying the groove down.”
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