Ernie Ball Music Man Pino Palladino - 79 Burst

The Ernie Ball Music Man Pino Palladino '79 Burst is a masterfully crafted signature instrument that pays homage to one of the most iconic bassists of our time. Built to meet the exacting standards of Pino Palladino himself, this bass captures the rich tone, feel, and vintage spirit of his legendary late-‘70s StingRay, while delivering modern refinements for today’s discerning players. From the striking aesthetics to the finely tuned electronics, every detail has been meticulously designed to honor Pino’s unique voice and style.

At the heart of this instrument is a solid poplar body, finished in a visually arresting ‘79 Burst polyester gloss—a nod to the distinctive look of Pino's original Music Man bass. The 3-ply black/white/black pickguard adds a classic touch, while chrome-plated hardware, including brass-knurled flat-top knobs, exudes a road-ready elegance. The bridge is a faithful recreation of Pre-Ernie Ball geometry, built with a chrome-plated steel bridge plate, brass saddles, and stainless steel spring mutes, allowing players to dial in the vintage tonal response and feel that defined the golden era of StingRay basses.

The neck is where the Pino Palladino signature model truly sets itself apart. Made from maple with a dark orange tint polyester finish, the neck features a unique asymmetric carve—a soft V profile on the bass side transitioning into a C shape on the treble side, providing a supremely comfortable playing experience that mirrors the subtle handwear of a well-loved vintage instrument. It’s joined to the body with a 3-bolt neck plate engraved with Pino’s signature, adding both stability and a personal touch. A walnut skunk stripe, bullet truss rod adjustment at the headstock, and a dark-tinted headstock face all reflect the traditional craftsmanship underlying the design.

Topped with a rosewood fretboard radiused at 7.5", this bass delivers a smooth, vintage feel under the fingers. The 21 nickel frets are precisely dressed and measure 0.078" x 0.050", offering clean articulation across the 34" scale. The side dot markers, positioned under the rosewood fretboard in alignment with the fret positions, are a distinctive and subtle design detail that nods to Pino’s vintage preferences. The Graphtec NuBone nut, hand-shaped to a 1.686" width, ensures precise string spacing and tuning stability.

Under the hood, this bass is both passive and active in spirit, featuring a late-‘70s StingRay-style pickup with shorter pole pieces flush to the cover and a 9-volt active preamp voiced to authentically replicate the tone of Pino’s aged electronics. The 2-band EQ system, with CTS pots including a 500K treble pot (just like the original, deviating from the standard 1 Meg for smoother highs), is dialed in to perfection. The knobs are oriented uniquely, with set screws positioned to face the player at: Volume - 100%, Treble - 50%, and Bass - 50%, allowing Pino’s preferred tone settings to be recalled instantly.

Rounding out the package are Schaller tuning machines, custom gauge Ernie Ball Slinky Nickel Wound strings (36w-55w-65w-90w), and factory tuning to standard E-A-D-G. The instrument ships with a high-quality Mono soft case, ensuring safe transport while reflecting the premium status of the bass.

The Ernie Ball Music Man Pino Palladino '79 Burst isn’t just a tribute to a legendary player—it’s a finely crafted, musically expressive instrument that stands on its own as a professional-grade bass with character, tone, and feel that are second to none. Whether you're chasing vintage vibes or channeling Pino's iconic grooves, this bass is built to inspire.

Other specifications include:

• Body Construction: Solid Body
• Material: Poplar
• Body Color: 79 Burst
• Body Finish: Polyester
• Neck Material: Maple
• Neck Color: Dark Orange Tint
• Neck Joint: 3-Bolt, Pino Palladino Signature Neck Plate
• Neck Profile: Unique Asymmetric Neck Carve (V bass side to C on treble side)
• Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: 0.820"
• Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: 0.970"
• Truss Rod: Traditional
• Bullet Nut at Headstock, Walnut Skunk Stripe on back of neck
• Neck Finish: Polyester
• Headstock Color/Finish: Dark Maple Tint
• Fretboard Material: Rosewood
• Fretboard Radius: 7.5"
• Inlays: 5/16" White Dots
• Side Markers: Black dots under rosewood fretboard (located where the frets would be)
• Frets: 21 frets, 0.078" x 0.050" Nickel
• Scale Length: 34"
• Nut Material, Width: Graphtec Nubone, 1.686", meticulously hand-shaped
• Hardware Color: Chrome
• Bridge/Tailpiece: Pre-EB Geometry Music Man Chrome Plated, Steel Bridge Plate with Brass Saddles and Stainless Steel Spring Mutes
• Knob Type: Chrome Plated, Brass Knurled Flat Top
• Pickguard Material: 3 ply Black/White/Black
• Tuning Machines: Schaller Bass
• Electronics Type: Active Preamp, Passive Pickup
• Preamp: 9 Volt, 2 EQ preamp with CTS Pots (500K treble pot rather than 1 meg, just like Pino's) voiced to replicate the tone of Pino's aged preamp
• Bridge Pickup: Late 70s StingRay Recipe (Shorter Pole Pieces, flush with cover)
• Controls: Volume knob, Treble knob, Bass knob: Set Screws of Control Knobs Face Toward Player at following rotations: -Volume Knob - 100% -Treble Knob - 50% -Bass Knob - 50%
• Output Type: Mono
• Factory Strings: 36w-55w-65w-90w Custom Gauge Ernie Ball Slinky Nickel Wound
• Factory Tuning: E-A-D-G
• Included Case: Mono Soft Case
• 294-71P-20-01-MB-CR
• 9 lbs 9 oz
• CB00732

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

Product Images

Product Videos

Play

Fender Custom Shop '64 Jazz P/J Bass with Hand Wound Pickups | Demo