Music Man StingRay 5 Special HH Ghostwood

General

Music Man have taken their classic two-humbucker five-string Stringray and nudged it even further into the future. This ultra-upgraded Special edition still bears the same trusted foundation, but the sound, look and feel has been given a modern edge. The pair of double-coils have been refitted with neodymium magnets, increasing the output to the active preamp where a wealth of tonal profiles is already opened up by the five-way pickup switch. Add the highly expressive three-band EQ section and you have accurate, in-depth tweaking power and range, all backed up by the extra chunk of headroom provided by the two 9 Volt batteries needed to power the preamp. The Special HH comes complete with a hardshell case.

The Stingray 5 Special HH: Improved Contouring & Control

The select hardwood body fills the foundation sound with excellent definition, but the wood selection is not just about sound. Ash is relatively lightweight which makes for a beautifully manageable bass, and since every edge has been smoothed down and rounded off to ensure supreme playing comfort, and the contouring has been improved contouring, this Stingray has an especially comfy feel when seated, and boasts sublime balance when standing. The hardware has also been spruced up for this Special edition, with an evident focus on tuning stability as well as acoustic tone, where the machine heads, steel bridge saddles, and bridge plate have been streamlined and made lighter to maximise resonant transfer. The playing comfort is at exactly the level you would expect, from the eased fret access offered by the rounded heel of the super-stable, five-bolt neck, to the higher profile of the frets themselves, putting more control beneath your fingers. Made of stainless steel, the frets also promise a far longer lifespan, while the back of the neck has been rubbed with gunstock oil before being finished with wax for a fast and buttery feel.