Back at the Winter NAMM show in Anaheim, Ernie Ball Music Man unveiled its brand-new line for 2018. Included in the line is an update to the brand’s time-tested StingRay bass model—both to the four- and five-string variants.
Now that it’s been a few months since the show, the new StingRays are finally released. Today, we’ve invited Jake Hawrylak to the Reverb studio to check out these 2018 updates and see what’s new.
Updates to both the StingRay 4 and StingRay 5 include an enhanced contour that’s rounded for more comfort across all playing positions, aluminium hardware for a more lightweight and balanced instrument, and a sculpted neck joint for easier access to all 22 of the model’s stainless steel frets. The StingRays are also seeing updated electronics utilizing neodymium magnets for higher output, as well as an 18-volt, three-band preamp.
Be sure to check out the video demo above, and let us know what you think in the comments. If you’re interested in picking up one of Ernie Ball’s new StingRays for yourself, click here to browse on Reverb right now.