Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray 5 Special HH | Mean Blue Burst

The Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 5 Special HH in Mean Blue Burst is the premium evolution of a time-tested workhorse. The StingRay shape is one of the most recognizable designs in bass history thanks to Leo Fender, but the Mean Blue Burst finish makes it look sharper and more modern. The burst has a deep, almost liquid transition from natural wood tones into bright electric blue into darker outer edges, providing movement without losing that aggressive StingRay identity. Paired with the black pickguard, black chrome hardware, a roasted maple neck, and an ebony fingerboard, it is sleek, high-performance, and unmistakably premium, with the kind of visual balance that makes it look just as good on stage as it does in the studio.

In hand, the StingRay 5 Special feels refined in all the ways you want a modern five-string to feel. The sculpted 5-bolt neck joint makes upper fret access completely effortless. The roasted maple neck feels broken-in, keeping your hand moving without resistance, while the ebony board adds a smooth feel under the fingers that suits fast runs and articulate playing. The 34” scale keeps the low B tight and controlled without feeling stiff. It has that balance where it feels substantial but never oversized, which is exactly what you want from a serious five-string.

The StingRay 5 Special HH dual neodymium humbuckers paired with the 3-band active preamp provide massive tonal range, but always with that unmistakable StingRay growl. The low end is tight and punchy with a fast attack that keeps everything articulate even under heavy playing. The mids have that signature StingRay bark, aggressive enough to cut through a mix but controlled enough to stay musical, while the highs stay crisp and clear without getting harsh. The 5-way switching makes a huge difference here, unlocking everything from full, dual-humbucker power to tighter, more focused single coil textures voices. It is the kind of bass that can cover clean funk, modern rock, aggressive fingerstyle, or hard-driving pick attack without ever feeling like it is working outside its lane. This is a bass built to handle any genre, while always holding onto the unmistakable StingRay Identity.