With the Music Man StingRay 40th Anniversary "Old Smoothie" Mint Green, the company from San Luis Obispo, California, presents a detailed reproduction of the prototype with the number 26, which paved the way to the first series-produced electric bass with active electronics with its eponymous, smooth sound image. Accordingly, the four-string has the classic combination of alder and maple for neck and body, while the unique 10 pole piece humbucker and active 2-band tone control reproduce the typical sound.
The construction of the Music Man StingRay 40th Anniversary Bass follows the specifications of the original "Old Smoothie" from the 1970s. Accordingly, the alder body has the exactly reproduced form of the prototype of that time, while the neck, screwed six times, is made in one piece from maple and carries the classic "Skunk Stripe" made of walnut over the truss rod. This combination gives the bass a crisp primary tone with pushing bass pressure and agile response that skilfully translates every groove. For the classic playing feeling, Hals also has an authentically recreated profile with which he lies full and comfortable in the hand when playing bass.
The Music Man 40th Anniversary StingRay uses a detailed reproduction of the "Old Smoothie" pickup, which immediately catches the eye with its unusual design and decisively shapes the sound of the bass. For example, the humbucker has 10 tens of pairs of Alnico rod magnets between which the strings are guided. In this way, the electric bass on the amplifier delivers the typical Vintage Stingray sound, whose smooth tonal articulation and rich bass foundation bring every note to life. In addition, an active 2-band tone control is available for adjusting the bass sound, whose voicing is perfectly matched to "Old Smoothie".
In addition, the Music Man 40th Anniversary StingRay is equipped with hardware based on the prototype. For example, the classical Music Man stainless steel bridge is located on the body, but the strings are guided through the body for more pressure on the string riders. In addition, the bridge has four mute pads that dampen string vibrations if necessary. The headstock, whose shape is based exactly on the original, also features Schaller BM tuners for precise and reliable tuning. Another authentic reminiscence of the original "Old Smoothie" bass is the two-piece cap of the Humbucker, which is held together by a strip of black adhesive tape.