The Ernie Ball Music Man DarkRay – Starry Night is a bold, modern bass designed for players who want unmistakable style paired with massive tonal authority. Built on the proven foundation of the Music Man platform and powered by a custom Darkglass® electronics suite, the DarkRay takes the familiar feel of a StingRay-style instrument and launches it into an entirely new sonic universe. Its compact, comfortable profile measures 13-1/2" wide, 1-5/8" thick, and 44-7/8" long (34.3 cm × 4.1 cm × 114.0 cm), giving it an agile yet substantial feel that suits both studio precision and stage performance. The select hardwood body is finished in a shimmering Starry Night appearance—an interplay of deep metallic tones available in either high-gloss polyester Obsidian Black or satin Granite Stone, depending on configuration. A fully blacked-out aesthetic—black pickguard, black hardware, and a black plated vintage Music Man® bridge—sets the perfect backdrop for the bass’s aggressive sonic personality.

At the heart of the DarkRay is a collaboration with Darkglass®, bringing a dedicated 2-band active preamp with two distinct distortion circuits—Alpha and Omega. These voices are selected via a smooth 3-way lever switch that moves between clean preamp, Alpha distortion, and Omega distortion modes. Volume, gain, blend, treble, and bass controls allow for precise shaping whether you're adding subtle grit or full-blown modern metal saturation. The electronics are noise-controlled through graphite acrylic resin shielding and a black plated aluminum control cover, ensuring quiet operation even with high-gain settings. The tone is driven by a powerful single neodymium humbucker, delivering clarity, punch, and a modern edge across the full frequency spectrum.

The roasted maple neck provides exceptional stability and resonance, paired with a smooth gunstock oil and hand-rubbed wax finish that feels fast and natural. Its 11" radius ebony fingerboard offers a sleek playing surface accented with clean dot inlays, while 22 high-profile, wide frets give the DarkRay excellent playability and durability. With a 1-11/16" nut width (42.86 mm) and 2-1/2" width (63.5 mm) at the last fret, the neck feels comfortable and familiar, making transitions across the fingerboard effortless. The neck is secured with a 5-bolt sculpted joint, offering superb access all the way up. A compact 8-3/4" headstock fitted with lightweight Music Man tuning machines—featuring tapered posts and ergonomic clover keys—ensures excellent balance, keeping the instrument perfectly poised.

Finished with Music Man’s reliable hardware and strung with Super Slinky Bass 45w-65w-80w-100w (#2834), the DarkRay is built for players who demand modern versatility without sacrificing the feel and craftsmanship Music Man is known for. The Starry Night edition not only looks extraordinary on stage but also delivers a sonic range that moves effortlessly from pristine clarity to ferocious distortion—making the DarkRay a truly dynamic instrument for today’s bassists.