Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray 5 DarkRay - Stealth Black

The Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 5 DarkRay in Dark Rainbow takes the unmistakable personality of the StingRay platform and channels it into something far more aggressive, modern, and unapologetically expressive. This instrument feels purpose-built for players who want the unmistakable authority of a StingRay but with a wider emotional range, from clean punch to full-throated, mix-crushing saturation. The Dark Rainbow finish gives the bass a shifting, prismatic presence under stage lights, turning it into a genuine visual statement before you even play a note.

Its select hardwood body is shaped to the familiar StingRay contours and finished in a deep, high-gloss polyester that highlights the color’s subtle dimensionality. Paired with the sleek black pickguard and black-plated hardware, the instrument projects a sense of precision and intent. At 13.5 inches wide and just 1-5/8 inches thick, it maintains the comfort and balance players expect from a modern five-string workhorse.

A roasted maple neck, secured with Music Man’s sculpted 5-bolt joint, delivers a fast, stable playing experience with an 11 inch radius and 22 high-profile frets that feel both substantial and responsive. The gunstock oil and wax blend finish gives the neck an immediately familiar, broken-in feel—clean, smooth, and effortlessly playable. The ebony fingerboard, or roasted maple on the Gold Bar finish variant, keeps the articulation crisp and focused, which suits the nature of this instrument extremely well. Lightweight custom Music Man tuners with tapered posts provide excellent tuning stability without adding unnecessary weight to the headstock.

Electronics are where the DarkRay truly sets itself apart. Developed in collaboration with Darkglass, it houses a custom 2-band active preamp paired with two powerful distortion circuits—Alpha and Omega—that transform the single neodymium humbucker into a wide sonic palette. With the 3-way selector, you can run the preamp clean, add the punchy precision of Alpha, or unleash the massive, growling power of Omega. Volume, gain, blend, treble, and bass controls let you fine-tune your voice, whether you need tight articulation for metal, thick presence for rock, or something bold and experimental.

Every detail serves the player, from the ergonomic clover tuners to the graphite-resin shielding and black-plated aluminum control cover. Weighing in at 9 lbs 9 oz, this StingRay 5 DarkRay feels substantial without crossing into fatigue territory, giving you the solidity you expect from a true performance bass.

Overall, the StingRay 5 DarkRay is a rare blend of tradition and innovation. It retains the signature punch and authority that made the StingRay a legend while embracing an entirely new level of tonal flexibility and attitude. It’s a fearless instrument for fearless players.

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 (Roasted Maple on Gold Bar)
• 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
• Model Number 129-66-53-P2-MB-CM
• 9 lbs 8 oz
• #S13408

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

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