Ernie Ball Music Man: Stingray Special Bass - Tony Levin Demo & Discussion

The Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Special Bass.

First introduced in 1976, the StingRay has become one of the most iconic bass guitars in history. For the first time in over 30 years, the Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay has been reimagined with new features and appointments that provide a new level of playing comfort while retaining that revered iconic StingRay sound. Watch as bass legend Tony Levin discusses his history with the StingRay and what's new for the StingRay Special.

Learn more about the StingRay 4 and find a dealer here:

Learn more about the StingRay 5 and find a dealer here:

Featured revisions for the StingRay Special include an enhanced contour that is rounded for more comfort in any playing position, a sculpted neck joint for uninhibited upper fret access to all 22 stainless steel frets, and lightweight aluminum hardware providing a lighter, more balanced instrument. The new and improved StingRay electronics feature powerful neodymium magnets for higher output and a new 18-volt 3-Band preamp for extra clean headroom without clipping. Solid roadworthy construction, elegant oval pickguard, 3+1 tuning key configuration (SR4)/ 4+1 tuning key configuration (SR5), and the ever popular Music Man humbucker, all together produce a look, feel and sound that is remarkably unmistakable.Introducing the all-new Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Special Bass. Available now in North America and September 3rd globally.

[TheEowli]

he is the one artist that really deserves a signature stingray,

[diafenix]

StingRay Special Bass: *Tony Levin has all the things that I need from bass player and it just keeps improving throughout the years*

[GoodSneakers]

The quality of Tony’s playing through the years….he deserves all the praise!

[stevedixon]

if it’s good enough for Tony Levin, it’s good enough for anyone

[ultramet]

Playing bass for 40 years...I have never owned a 5 string bass...that is until now. Tony is a legend and really demonstrated how versatile this 5 string bass is.

[charleswidmore]

Mr Levin is a really cool guy.
Met him on a bicycle after a Peter Gabriel Concert in Philly once.
I was too awestruck to make a good impression but I caught his vibes like a solar collector sitting on the Sun.
Recently decided to learn to play bass and was unsure what to get, till now.
Thanks for all of the great music Tony!
YOU ROCK!!!

[ianmackenzie]

The older I get, the more appealing lightness is in a bass guitar.

[SteveWeltman]

Tony Levin is such a unique player. His style is so fluid and flowing. On a fantastic bass? Magical! Thank you for posting.

[TheSonsofHorusx]

tony levin on drums, tony levin on bass

[haneyhanes]

What’s great about him in regards to gear, especially the stingray is, he doesn’t need a signature. He trusts that all of them are outstanding pieces of art/gear! It really speaks to Ernie Ball Music Man’s quality. In my experience they’ve always been the most consistent with sound and quality.

[derekdauchan]

Man I love this thing !!! Clear, clean tone that works in a lot of different situations. Neck feels right. Plenty of low end and more than enough highs. Sound engineers love the noiseless electronics. Thick sounds that can fill an auditorium. Still looks good after all these years. Great longtime workhorse and friend . Saving up to add the new one.

[levisalvini]

Hands down, one the greatest bass player in history...
He has a divine touch, and he is so versatile that scares me.
In my humble opinion Tony Levine is in the Heaven of players, at John Patitucci level...
With "liquid tension experiment" was out of this world...
Thank you for your touch Tony!!!

[Oleksii.Melnykov-ua]

This is exactly the bass I always wanted from Music Man: gloss finish, ebony fingerboard, 18V preamp... Can't wait to get my hands on one of these.

[hetschhog]

There's nothing like a Stingray 5. Either with Alnico, Ceramic or Neodymium magnets ... Just the greatest bass I can think of (next to a decent Xotic Jazz Bass ...)

[The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

I REALLY hope the US Sterling gets the 'Special' treatment one day. The Sterling, to me, is just the finest electric bass ever built, and I LOVE my Sterlings. I'd really like to have one with the 18V pre and neodymium pickup, though. Sterlings are already pretty light, so I wouldn't care whether they got lighter like the Stingray Specials. Just the electronics (of course retaining the awesome series/silent single/parallel switching).

[MawcDrums]

Damn, that bass drum is making love to my subwoofer right now.

[sakehump]

I played the classic stingray 5 for decades. It eventually became to heavy for me, It made me very sad when I had to find a alternative. I’m pleased to hear the stingray has modified the weight, and kept the sound. Excited to get my hands on a new stingray 5

[samlelowitch]

I really want one of these despite the fact (or perhaps because of the fact) that I bought a 2001 ten-and-a-half-pound ash-bodied Stingray 5H recently.

[RossCampoli]

Wow, gorgeous bass. I’ve always been a Fender faithful (I own one P and one J) and hearing tony speak about Music Man just makes it sound super appealing

[pokejoao]

Holy fuck man, the tone he getss from this bass, eargasm isnt even the word