Ernie Ball Music Man DarkRay - Stealth Black

The Ernie Ball Music Man DarkRay – Stealth Black is a statement of power, precision, and sonic innovation. Born from a collaboration with the visionary minds at Darkglass Electronics, this bass delivers an unapologetically modern voice wrapped in the stealthy elegance that defines Music Man craftsmanship. Every curve, contour, and circuit in the DarkRay is designed for players who crave bold tone, effortless playability, and an unmistakable visual presence.

At first glance, the DarkRay commands attention with its Stealth Black finish, a high-gloss polyester coat that gleams with quiet menace under stage lights. The select hardwood body offers a balanced tonal foundation—resonant, punchy, and harmonically rich. Anchoring the instrument is the vintage-style Music Man top-loaded bridge, finished in sleek black plating to match the instrument’s shadowed aesthetic. The black pickguard completes the look, giving the DarkRay a cohesive and modern edge that’s as refined as it is menacing.

The roasted maple neck, with its gunstock oil and hand-rubbed wax finish, provides a buttery smooth feel that invites fast, fluid playing. Its 11-inch radius ebony fingerboard adds a touch of luxury, combining effortless playability with articulate, glassy response. High-profile frets and precise dot inlays ensure perfect intonation and clarity from the lowest growl to the highest punch. The five-bolt sculpted neck joint enhances resonance and upper-fret access, while custom lightweight tuning machines with ergonomic clover keys keep everything rock-solid without unnecessary weight.

But the soul of the DarkRay lies in its electronics—a revolutionary custom Darkglass® 2-band active preamp that redefines what a single humbucker bass can do. Driven by a Neodymium magnet pickup, the DarkRay offers immense headroom and dynamic range. A three-way lever switch unlocks the preamp’s distinct personalities: clean and pure in Preamp Only mode, aggressive and articulate with Alpha Distortion, or brutally saturated with Omega Distortion. Whether you’re sculpting tight, percussive lows or explosive, modern grind, the DarkRay’s volume, gain, blend, treble, and bass controls put limitless tonal shaping at your fingertips.

At just 8 lbs 4 oz, the DarkRay balances beautifully—light enough for marathon sessions, yet solid enough to feel anchored and confident on stage. It’s more than an instrument; it’s a declaration of intent, a meeting of tradition and technology that pushes the boundaries of what a bass can be.

The Ernie Ball Music Man DarkRay – Stealth Black is built for the bold, the innovators, and the sonic architects who thrive in the shadows but play loud enough to be heard everywhere.

Other specifications include:

• Model DarkRay Bass
• Size 13-1/2" wide, 1-5/8" thick, 44-7/8" long (34.3 cm wide, 4.1 cm thick, 114.0 cm long)
• Body Wood Select Hardwood
• Body Finish High gloss polyester
• Bridge Vintage Music Man® top loaded Black plated, steel bridge plate with vintage Black plated steel saddles
• Pickguard Black
• Scale Length 34" (86.4 cm)
• Neck Radius 11" (27.9 cm)
• Headstock Size Only 8-3/4" (22.2 cm) long
• Frets 22 - High profile, wide
• Neck Width 1-11/16" (42.86 mm) at nut 2-1/2" (63.5 mm) at last fret
• Neck Wood Roasted maple neck
• Fingerboard Ebony
• Fret Markers Dot Inlay
• Neck Finish Gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend
• Neck Colors Roasted - Obsidian Black; Color Matches Body - Granite Stone
• Tuning Machines Custom Music Man, lightweight with tapered string posts and ergonomic clover design
• Neck Attachment 5 bolt, sculpted neck joint
• Electronic Shielding Graphite acrylic resin coated body cavity and black plated aluminum control cover
• Controls Custom Darkglass® 2-band active preamp with two distinct distortion circuits (Alpha and Omega); vol, gain, blend, treble, bass
• Switching 3-way lever distortion selector; Preamp Only, Preamp+Alpha Distortion, Preamp+Omega Distortion
• Pickups Single Humbucking with Neodymium magnets
• Left Handed No
• Strings 45w-65w-80w-100w (Super Slinky Bass #2834)
• 128-66-53-P2-MB-BM
• 8 lbs 4 oz
• #S12941

For more information about the Ernie Ball Music Man DarkRay, please contact us.

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