The Score Magazine at The NAMM Show 2026
Some instruments don’t need hype. You hear one note and you already know what it is. The Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay is one of those rare basses. Fifty years on, it still sounds as bold, punchy, and unmistakable as it did when it first showed up and changed the game.
When the StingRay arrived in the mid 1970s, it wasn’t trying to follow trends. It did the opposite. Active electronics on a production bass were a big deal back then, and that signature low end cut through mixes in a way players hadn’t really experienced before. Funk, rock, pop, fusion, session work, live stages, the StingRay found a home everywhere because it simply worked.
To celebrate turning 50, Ernie Ball Music Man has released a 50th Anniversary StingRay, and thankfully, it doesn’t feel like a nostalgia exercise. This one feels intentional. The bass comes in two limited finishes, Liquid Gold, capped at just 50 instruments worldwide, and Molten Gold, limited to 300 pieces globally. Subtle flex, but earned.
The build stays true to what players love about the StingRay. A roasted flame maple neck, poplar body, and ebony fretboard give it a fast, comfortable feel that balances well on stage. Gold face dot inlays add a touch of class, while glow in the dark side markers are one of those practical details you appreciate during a dark set. Most importantly, it still sounds like a StingRay. Tight. Focused. No fluff.
What makes this anniversary interesting is that it arrives at a time when Ernie Ball Music Man isn’t slowing down. New models like the DarkRay II, fresh StingRay Special finishes, and artist driven releases from John Petrucci and Jason Richardson show that the brand is looking forward, not just back.
In a year when NAMM is celebrating 125 years and the industry is full of throwbacks and reissues, the StingRay at 50 feels different. It doesn’t need reinvention. It just needs to keep doing what it has always done.
Five decades later, the StingRay still earns its place. Plug in. One note. You’ll know why.
