Ernie Ball Music Man: New at NAMM 2022

NAMM 2022 is here and we’re kicking off with an announcement of all the Ernie Ball Music Man instruments and collaborations. Make sure to follow along on our social media channels starting Friday, June 3rd as a destination for everything NAMM. We’ll be sharing detailed product news, artist reviews, and even some live footage at the NAMM show. If you haven’t already, make sure to sign up for our newsletter for exclusive updates from Ernie Ball Music Man.

THE KAIZEN Guitar

Built for the modern player and influenced by Tosin Abasi’s unique design aesthetic and playing style, the Kaizen is an all-new visionary collaboration between the award-winning Ernie Ball Music Man design team, and the virtuoso guitarist and manufacturer. The Kaizen will be offered with an alder body, roasted maple neck, and ebony fingerboard. Watch the official Kaizen guitar film featuring Tosin Abasi here.

Multi-Scale – 24.75” to 25.5” (e to E or 1st to 6th string) multi-scale design provides affirmative string tension for thick and chunky rhythms on the bass strings, with a traditional feel on the treble strings for smooth bends and solos.

Infinity Radius Neck – Strategically positioned conical radius increases comfort while maintaining enhanced visibility of the fretboard and fret markers.

Steinberger Gearless Locking Tuners – Accurate, lightweight tuners that feature smooth rotation, and allow for a straight string pull.

New Music Man Pickups – A custom HT (Heat Treated) humbucker in the bridge position and a slanted mini-humbucker in the neck position have been specifically designed for the Kaizen.

Multi-Scale Tremolo – Super smooth modern Music Man tremolo with spring dampeners to alleviate unwanted overtones and ringing.

“Decidedly Contoured” – Ultra-lightweight design, deliberate body carves for extreme comfort, well-balanced with unrestricted fret access.

Available in multiple finishes, the instrument will be available first as a 7-string this holiday season, with a 6-string available in 2023.

 

The 2022 JOHN PETRUCCI COLLECTION

The John Petrucci line of signature guitars gets an extensive makeover this year. The Majesty lineup includes six new finishes in 6, 7, and 8-string models to complement the ever-growing range of this highly versatile instrument. All new Majesty instruments feature DiMarzio Dreamcatcher and Rainmaker pickups along with a piezo bridge pickup. The JP15 will also now be offered in the popular translucent Tiger Eye burst finish and a flamed Purple Nebula finish for all 6 and 7-string models. Watch the official JP 2022 Collection trailer video here.

The Majesty comes in 4 new finishes: Okelani Blue, Wisteria Blossom, Sanguine Red, and Emerald Sky. Available in 6,7, and 8-string models.

The Majesty Maple Top guitar comes in 2 new finishes: Spice Melange and Crystal Amethyst. The Spice Melange Majesty features a spalted maple top, roasted maple fretboard with a three-piece neck construction, two strips of Honduran mahogany, and a center strip of roasted flame maple. The Crystal Amethyst Majesty features a full flame maple top with a burst from green to purple with mystic dream metallic and alder back and sides.

The JP15 is offered in a Tiger Eye burst finish in flame or quilt, or the Purple Nebula finish. Featuring a lightweight Okoume body with a roasted figured maple top (Tiger Eye) or a maple top (Purple Nebula). Both finish options are offered with a roasted maple fingerboard. The JP15 is equipped with twin custom DiMarzio Illuminator pickups and a piezo bridge system with an onboard 20db gain boost. It also includes Schaller locking tuners and 24 stainless steel frets. Available in a 6 and 7-string.

The new John Petrucci collection will be available in June 2022.

 

THE HT GUITAR series

Inspired by over a decade of electric guitar string research, Ernie Ball Music Man has developed a fresh approach to pickup design with our all-new HT (Heat Treated) pickups. This patent-pending technology brings with it a new series of HT-equipped instruments, including a Cutlass HT SSS, StingRay HT, and a Sabre HT guitar. Watch the official HT Series trailer video here.

Inspired by over a decade of electric guitar string research – Incorporating the principles and insights that contributed to the development of Cobalt and M-Steel Slinkys resulting in new material-based innovation for pickups.

More Output and Dynamic Range – Outperforms normal spec pickups by providing extra output and excellent touch sensitivity.

Stronger Low End and Humbucking Designs – HT pickups display a more powerful bass response and expansion for higher frequency harmonics.

Single Coil and Humbucking Designs – HT bridge humbucker pickups use high output ceramic magnets while the single-coil designs utilize neodymium magnets.

Push-Push Boost Circuit – adjustable 20dB boost function for solos.

Transparent Buffered Output – Complete tonal consistency at all volume levels.

Silent Circuit (Cutlass ONLY) – Reduces hum inherent with single-coil pickups.

Tune-o-Matic Bridge (StingRay ONLY)

CUTLASS HT

STINGRAY HT

SABRE HT

The HT Series of instruments will be available in August 2022.

 

THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY STINGRAY 5 BASS

This year, the legendary StingRay 5 bass guitar turns 35, and with it comes an equally-spectacular anniversary edition that will be available this August. Since its introduction in 1987, the StingRay 5 has been heralded as one of the most innovative bass designs, used over the years by some of the world’s most iconic bassists including Flea, Tony Levin, John Myung, and Phoenix of Linkin Park. The 35th Anniversary StingRay 5 bass is made with an ash body and spalted top with a thin veneer of figured maple accentuating the Spalted Sunburst finish beautifully. Featuring a roasted figured maple neck, an ebony fretboard, and copper pearlescent block inlays. This StingRay 5 bass is equipped with all-black hardware, a 3-band EQ, and 18 volts of clean headroom. Each bass comes with a signed certificate of authenticity.

The 35th Anniversary StingRay 5 bass will be available in November 2022.

 

MUSIC MAN X MONO CASES

Starting later this year, Ernie Ball Music Man will make a transition from hardshell cases to MONO Cases. MONO has a long history of design-driven innovative case manufacturing, so it was a natural collaboration. Inside each case, the foam was custom molded to fit the instruments like a glove. It’s finished with soft plush lining, providing outstanding protection and a lush feel. The handle is reinforced with MONO-branded metal rivet, with MONO’s signature orange trim as the finishing touch. An extra-large zippered storage compartment with a built-in organizer is easily accessible without opening the case. The average MONO case is over 2 lbs lighter than a traditional hardshell case. Watch the official MONO case trailer video here.

Ernie Ball Music Man will make a rolling change to these new MONO cases starting in Q3, 2022. Hardshell cases will continue to be offered for a limited time.