Ernie Ball Music Man made waves last year when the company teamed up with Animals as Leaders virtuoso Tosin Abasi on the “visionary and compelling” Ernie Ball Music Man Kaizen seven-string electric guitar.
And while the groundbreaking model has been turning heads ever since, many players wondered whether a standard six-string version would ever be released.
Now, we need wonder no more: EBMM and Abasi have unveiled the Ernie Ball Music Man Kaizen Six, and it’s as extraordinary a beast as its big brother. The new Kaizen “has a wealth of forward-thinking design concepts and unconventional specifications, all to accommodate Abasi’s unique playing style,” Guitar World Tech Editor Paul Riario points out.
These include a multi-scale design that ranges from 24.75” to 25.5,” as well as an Infinity Radius ebony fingerboard, which also utilizes uniquely-placed dot inlays to increase comfort and enhance visibility.
You also get Steinberger Locking Gearless tuners, a Music Man tremolo system equipped with spring dampeners to help alleviate unwanted noise and, significantly, a Music Man Custom Wound pickup set consisting of an HT Bridge humbucker and Offset Mini Neck humbucker, both of which are wired to a three-way selector switch, with master volume and tone knobs. “I can say right off the bat these are super articulate high-output pickups,” Paul states.
And in true Kaizen fashion, the lightweight alder body is decidedly contoured with no flat surfaces for extreme comfort and easy access to the uppermost frets.
“For a signature model, the Kaizen six-string is about as cutting-edge as you can get,” Paul says. “I find its electrifying design, extraordinary ergonomics and balanced tone to be a showstopper.”
He continues, “I’ve said it before: there’s frankly nothing quite like the Kaizen. It really is a guitar that inspires you to push the boundaries of your own technique and sound.”
To try out the new Kaizen Six for yourself, head to Ernie Ball Music Man.
