Introducing The Pino Palladino StingRay Bass Collection!

An Icon Reimagined: Two Artist Series Basses and a Limited-Run Icon Model Honor One of the Most Influential Bassists of All Time

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA (July 9, 2025) — Today, Ernie Ball Music Man is proud to announce the release of the Pino Palladino StingRay Bass Collection, a tribute to the unmistakable tone and legacy of one of the most revered bassists in modern music. The collection includes two Pino Palladino Artist Series StingRay Basses—available in fretted and fretless models—as well as the highly exclusive Pino Palladino Icon Series StingRay Bass, a meticulous recreation of his original 1979 fretless StingRay. Only 15 Icon Series instruments will be made available worldwide.

The Pino Palladino StingRay Bass Collection

Video by Ernie Ball

The Artist Series: Signature Feel, Legendary Tone

Inspired by Pino’s original fretless StingRay, the Artist Series models deliver the essence of his tone, feel, and style in both fretted and fretless options. Featuring a poplar body finished in ’79 Burst, a dark-tinted hard rock maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, and a custom asymmetrical neck carve, these basses offer a player-focused blend of comfort and authenticity.

A vintage-style Alnico pickup and hand-wired 2-band preamp (voiced with a 500k treble pot like Pino’s original) capture the warmth and detail that defined Pino’s sound on countless records. Additional features include:

Brass saddles with a string-through-body bridge and adjustable mute pads
Bullet truss rod and 3-bolt neck plate with micro-tilt adjustment
GraphTech NuBone hand-shaped nut
Fretted model strung with Pino Signature Flatwound Strings
Fretless model strung with custom Slinky Nickel Wound Strings .036, .055, .065, .090
Each bass ships in a MONO case with an Artist Series neck plate

The Icon Series: A Museum-Grade Replica of Pino’s Original

Limited to just 15 pieces worldwide, the Pino Palladino Icon Series StingRay Bass is an exacting recreation of Pino’s beloved 1979 fretless model. Every detail has been scrutinized and faithfully reproduced—from the nitrocellulose lacquer finish and genuine late-‘70s bridge plates (with era-correct serial numbers) to the placement of the headstock decal and string tree.

Highlights include:

Hand-selected poplar bodies and slab rosewood fretless fingerboards
NOS bridge plates with brass saddles and spring mutes
Custom-wound pickup with 5/8” Alnico V magnets and 42 gauge wire
Period-correct active preamp with CTS pots and aged voicing
Vintage waterslide decal, Wales Rugby sticker replica, and headstock hand-signed by Pino
Ships in a G&G black/gold-lined case with a certificate of authenticity and vintage-inspired case candy

This is more than a signature instrument—it’s a faithful time capsule of an artist-defining tool that helped shape the course of modern bass playing.

“Since I bought that bass, it really changed my career. I became known as a fretless bass player… I used that bass exclusively on nearly all the recordings I did from ’81 to ’95.” – Pino Palladino

Behind the Build: The Music Man Legacy

From wood selection and relic distressing to preamp circuitry and final assembly, every step of the Icon Series build process reflects the same craftsmanship and attention to detail that defines Music Man’s legacy. Original tooling, hand-applied nitro lacquer, media tumbling, oxidation, and extensive handwork bring each bass to life—down to the last paint chip and softened edge.

Availability

The Pino Palladino Artist Series StingRay Basses are available now through authorized Ernie Ball Music Man dealers. The Icon Series is strictly limited to 15 pieces worldwide and will be available through select dealers as well as the Ernie Ball Music Man Vault.

To learn more, visit www.music-man.com.

About Ernie Ball

In 1962, veteran player and guitar teacher Ernie Ball created Slinkys®, the innovative light gauge electric guitar strings widely revered by thousands of iconic players including Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, Paul McCartney, Metallica, Brad Paisley, Slash, John Petrucci, Angus Young, and John Mayer. The strings are all crafted in Coachella, CA. Ernie Ball also offers state-of-the-art instrument accessories that are carried in more than 6,000 stores in the U.S. and 120 countries worldwide. Officially purchasing the Music Man® company in 1984, Sterling, joined later by his sons Scott and Brian, has built a team of dedicated professionals based in San Luis Obispo, CA who collectively share a common goal: crafting the highest level of hand-crafted instruments available. Originally founded by Tom Walker, Forrest White, and Leo Fender in 1974, Music Man built its name leading an industry revolution, introducing active electronics on its production instruments. As part of the team during the ’70s, Sterling Ball played an important role in the design and development of the iconic StingRay basses. The family-run company maintains its founder’s dedication to preserving the musician’s playing experience and delivering superior sound quality through the development of new products, such as Cobalt Slinkys, M-Steel, Earthwood, and the revolutionary Element Shield Packaging, keeping each set as fresh as the day they were made. The company also fosters artist development through musician-focused programs such as the world’s largest and longest-running unsigned artist programs, where bands compete each year to play live on national tours, festivals, and events.

Visit them online at www.ernieball.com and www.music-man.com.