Ernie Ball Music Man is using the 2026 NAMM Show to mark a major milestone in electric bass history: the 50th anniversary of the StingRay. Introduced in 1976, the StingRay helped redefine bass tone with active electronics, a powerful humbucker design, and a look that quickly became iconic across genres.
To commemorate the anniversary, the California-based manufacturer has unveiled a wide slate of new instruments and stunning new finishes, led by limited-edition StingRay models and supported by updates across its bass, guitar, and Custom Design Experience lines.
The centerpiece of the anniversary lineup is the 50th Anniversary StingRay Special, offered in two limited finishes designed to reflect the instrument’s influence and longevity.
The Liquid Gold version is hand-numbered and limited to just 50 instruments worldwide. It features a reflective gold pickguard, gold hardware throughout, and a commemorative 50th Anniversary-stamped bridge. The Molten Gold edition expands availability slightly, with 300 instruments finished in metallic gold across both the body and headstock.
Both versions include roasted flame maple necks, ebony fretboards with gold face dot inlays, glow-in-the-dark side markers, and poplar bodies for balance and comfort. Each bass ships in a deluxe hardshell case with a certificate of authenticity and a commemorative headstock silkscreen.
The Molten Gold model will be available through authorized retailers, while Liquid Gold will be offered exclusively through the Ernie Ball Music Man Vault. MSRP not available at this time.
DarkRay II Expands the Bass Effects Frontier
Building on the aggressive identity of the original DarkRay, the new DarkRay II bass adds fully integrated octave-up and octave-down effects, significantly broadening its sonic range without external pedals.
The onboard electronics include master volume, bass and treble EQ, distortion control with two selectable voices, and an octave control that toggles between upper and lower octaves. LED-lit control rings provide instant visual feedback, while a three-way switch allows players to choose between core tone, octave-only, or octave-plus-distortion modes.
Available finishes include Black, Showtime, Spectralite, and Mean Green Burst. The DarkRay II is expected to ship this spring.
New Finishes for the StingRay Special Line
In addition to the anniversary models, Ernie Ball Music Man has introduced new finish options for the StingRay Special bass lineup. The StingRay Special remains available in four- and five-string configurations, with single-humbucker (H) or dual-humbucker (HH) layouts.
The expanded palette offers players more aesthetic choice while retaining hallmark StingRay features such as the oval pickguard, 3+1 tuning configuration, and Music Man humbucker design.
John Petrucci Majesty Premium Select
The John Petrucci Signature Majesty Premium Select returns with a refined feature set reflecting years of touring and recording input from the Dream Theater guitarist.
The guitar features a mahogany neck-through body with alder wings and a thick maple top, paired with a 24-fret ebony fingerboard and stainless steel frets. Electronics include DiMarzio Rainmaker and Dreamcatcher humbuckers, a piezo-equipped floating tremolo, stereo and mono outputs, and a 20+ dB onboard gain boost.
Finish options include Carnelian Red, Ka’anapali Dream, Mystic Dream, Purple Nebula II, and Strawberry Moon. Availability is scheduled for this spring.
Jason Richardson Artist Series Expands to Eight Strings
The Jason Richardson Artist Series Cutlass HT 8-String represents a significant expansion of the line, aimed squarely at modern technical players.
The multiscale design ranges from 25.5 inches on the high strings to 27 inches on the low F#, delivering clarity and tension across the extended range. An alder body with buckeye burl top is paired with a roasted figured maple neck and ebony fretboard.
Additional features include Jason Richardson HT humbuckers, stainless steel frets, a hardtail bridge for sustain and tuning stability, a 20+ dB boost via push/push volume control, and coil-splitting through the tone knob. New translucent finishes include Water Temple, Death Mountain, and Kokiri Forest.
Celebrating 30 Years of the Axis Guitar
Also debuting is the 30th Anniversary Axis, which revisits the translucent quilt maple finishes that defined the model’s 1996 introduction. Color options include Translucent Gold, Black, Pink, Red, Blue, and Purple, each paired with lightly sparkled black backs.
The guitar features a figured maple neck with the original asymmetrical carve, stainless steel frets, glow-in-the-dark side dots, and DiMarzio custom-wound pickups. Production is tightly limited by color, with each instrument shipping in a Music Man hardshell case and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
Expanded Custom Design Experience
Ernie Ball Music Man has also expanded its Custom Design Experience, adding 14 new finishes for StingRay bass builds. The online configurator allows players to customize string count, handedness, pickup configuration, finishes, necks, hardware, tuning, cases, and more.
All Custom Design Experience instruments are built in San Luis Obispo, California, and ship directly to customers.
From the StingRay’s revolutionary beginnings to today’s highly specialized artist instruments, Ernie Ball Music Man’s 2026 lineup reflects both continuity and evolution. The company’s anniversary releases celebrate not only a historic bass design, but a broader commitment to innovation across tone, playability, and customization—five decades in, with no signs of slowing.
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