Since 1984, Ernie Ball Music Man has stood as a beacon of innovation and quality in the guitar industry. The commitment to creating unparalleled instruments is evident in every Music Man Guitar that leaves their San Luis Obispo, California factory. By carefully balancing time-honored hand-craftsmanship with cutting-edge robotic technology, Music Man has mastered the formula for producing some of the finest playing and sounding guitars in the world. This dedication to excellence ensures that every Music Man guitar is not just an instrument, but a tool for musical expression, built to inspire and perform.
The journey of a Music Man guitar begins with the selection of exceptional tonewoods. Sourced from the world’s most reputable suppliers, these woods are the foundation of the instrument’s sonic character. Bodies are crafted from premium alder, ash, poplar, basswood, mahogany, and maple, each piece meticulously chosen for its unique tonal properties, consistent grain, and natural beauty. Beyond aesthetics, each body and neck blank undergoes a rigorous hand-selection process based on weight and is then kiln-dried to precise specifications. This crucial step ensures optimal moisture content, resulting in maximum stability and resonance for each Music Man guitar.
In the sanding shop, the human touch takes center stage. Ernie Ball Music Man necks and bodies progress through numerous stages of hand sanding, a process essential to achieving the flawless finishes that define the brand. This meticulous attention to detail guarantees maximum playability and comfort. Each guitar neck is carefully matched to its body and finished to perfection. Options include a durable polyurethane finish or a hand-rubbed gunstock oil and wax treatment, the latter designed to preserve the natural feel and resonance of the wood. Further enhancing playability, every fret is individually hand-leveled and crowned by highly skilled craftsmen, ensuring ultimate comfort and a smooth playing experience on every Music Man guitar.
The visual artistry of a Music Man guitar is just as important as its sonic qualities. Master painters utilize exclusive, custom-mixed color coats to achieve the vibrant and distinctive finishes that Music Man is known for. To create a luxurious, state-of-the-art finish, three layers of high-gloss polyurethane are applied to the bodies. This not only provides a stunning visual depth but also robust protection for the instrument. Finally, before any Music Man guitar is ready to inspire musicians worldwide, it passes through the hands of trained setup technicians. These experts meticulously set up and intonate each instrument, ensuring optimal playability straight out of the case. Each guitar is then strung with a fresh set of Ernie Ball premium strings, completing the journey from raw materials to a performance-ready instrument.
Music Man Guitar Artist Series: Instruments for Visionary Players
The dedication to perfection at Ernie Ball Music Man is further exemplified through their long-standing collaborations with iconic guitarists. These partnerships have resulted in some of the most innovative and sought-after Music Man guitar models available.
The collaboration between Ernie Ball Music Man and John Petrucci spans over two decades, a testament to their shared pursuit of guitar innovation. The Music Man John Petrucci signature models, most notably the Majesty, represent the pinnacle of performance and design. Born from Petrucci’s relentless demand for excellence, the Majesty is an ergonomic masterpiece, offering unparalleled fret access, streamlined controls, and advanced digital pickup switching for instantaneous tone changes. It embodies cutting-edge technology, versatile performance, and a sleek, modern aesthetic, defining what a signature Music Man guitar can achieve.
The Music Man Luke III, Steve Lukather’s signature guitar, is the culmination of a design evolution that began with the original Luke model over 28 years ago. Developed in close collaboration with Lukather to meet the demands of a touring professional, the Luke III features a mahogany tone block, an on-board 12db boost, a stunning A++ figured maple top, and a roasted birdseye maple neck. These refinements elevate this Music Man guitar to new levels of tonal richness and versatility. Equipped with Ernie Ball Super Slinky strings, the Luke series is available in a variety of colors and options, offering exceptional playability and tone for discerning musicians.
Steve Morse, the virtuoso guitarist known for his work with Deep Purple, joined the Ernie Ball Music Man family in 1985. Since 1987, the Music Man Steve Morse signature guitar has been a cornerstone of their artist lineup. Featuring a poplar double-cut body, custom Dimarzio pickups, and elaborate pickup switching, the Morse model is incredibly versatile, suited for genres ranging from rock and country to jazz and beyond. The Y2D variant, with its maple top, offers the same tonal palette with enhanced visual appeal, expanding the Music Man guitar offerings for players seeking both performance and aesthetics.
Albert Lee, a Guitar Player’s Gallery of Greats inductee, has been part of the Ernie Ball Music Man family since 1971. In the late 1980s, he received a prototype that would become the Music Man Albert Lee signature model. This guitar is unique in its design, form, and function, perfectly complementing Lee’s world-renowned “chickin’ pickin'” style. The Albert Lee is available in two configurations: the SSS model with a swamp ash body and three single-coil pickups, and the HH model with an Okoume body and dual humbuckers for a richer, deeper tone, catering to diverse playing styles within the Music Man guitar range.
Annie Clark, known as St. Vincent, collaborated with Ernie Ball Music Man to create the Music Man St. Vincent signature guitar. Her vision was to design a comfortable, lightweight instrument with complete tonal flexibility. Crafted from lightweight Okoume, with a roasted maple neck and rosewood or ebony fretboard, the St. Vincent is designed to fit her form and playing technique perfectly. The gold foil pickups offer a wide array of tonal options, making this Music Man guitar a versatile tool for any musical landscape.
The Music Man Axis guitar is engineered for players seeking powerful hard rock tones. Featuring two DiMarzio humbuckers mounted on a lightweight basswood body with a figured maple top, the Axis delivers the quintessential hard rock sound. The inclusion of a locking MM Floyd Rose tremolo system ensures tuning stability even under heavy tremolo use. An asymmetric hard rock maple neck and 22 frets complete the key features of this Music Man guitar, making it a favorite for high-energy performances.
Modern Classic Electric Guitars: Heritage Reimagined
The legacy of Music Man guitars is intertwined with the history of electric guitar innovation. Founded by Leo Fender associates after his non-compete agreement with CBS, Music Man initially launched the Cutlass and Stingray guitars in 1977. While these original models, inspired by Fender classics, faced challenges in the market due to their bright tonality and certain design elements, they laid the groundwork for future innovation.
The modern Music Man Cutlass and StingRay guitars are a testament to how heritage can be reimagined for contemporary players. Paying homage to the vintage styling of Leo’s originals, these updated models incorporate modern refinements. Vintage-spec electronics, a super smooth tremolo system, and a lightweight alder body address the shortcomings of the original designs. The ergonomic 4+2 headstock with straight string pull enhances tuning stability, and flawless craftsmanship is evident throughout. These modern classics blend old-world aesthetics with contemporary playability and performance, representing the best of Music Man guitar design.
Artist Series Guitars: Personalized Perfection
The Ernie Ball Music Man artist series extends beyond signature models, offering customized versions of standard EBMM guitars. Developed in collaboration with endorsed artists, these instruments start as stock models and are then personalized with custom pickups, electronics, hardware, and finishes. The Artist series allows players to access unique Music Man guitar variations tailored to specific artist preferences, offering enhanced features and aesthetics not typically found on standard models.
In conclusion, the range of Music Man guitars is vast and varied, offering instruments tailored to diverse musical styles and performance aspirations. From hand-selected tonewoods to meticulous craftsmanship and artist-inspired innovations, every Music Man guitar embodies a commitment to quality and detail. Ernie Ball Music Man’s dedication to creating the “perfect guitar” is evident in every instrument they produce, ensuring that each Music Man guitar is a tool to inspire musical greatness.
