Sterling has launched its new premium Music Man Session series, headlined by the Session StingRay bass, priced starting at €1,658 for the four-string model and €1,755 for the five-string. The new line marks the highest tier of Sterling by Music Man and celebrates the 50th anniversary of the original StingRay bass, which debuted in 1976. While the Session StingRay is manufactured in Indonesia, it features premium components like Schaller tuners and a roasted maple neck, bridging the gap between Sterling’s Standard models and the more expensive Ernie Ball Music Man instruments.
Sterling is positioning the Session Series to attract players who aspire to the iconic StingRay sound and feel but may find the top-tier Ernie Ball models out of reach.
Sterling Launches Premium Bass Line
- Sterling introduces the premium Music Man Session series with the Session StingRay, celebrating 50 years of the iconic bass.
- Priced from €1,658, the new line sits between Sterling’s Standard models and Ernie Ball Music Man’s high-end offerings.
- Manufactured in Indonesia, the Session StingRay features modern refinements like a compensated nut and vintage-style Schaller tuners.
A Half-Century of Tone Gets a Modern Makeover
The StingRay’s story begins in 1976, born from a design by Leo Fender, Tom Walker, and Forrest White. Walker's active preamp made the StingRay the first production bass with built-in active EQ. In 1984, Ernie Ball acquired Music Man, and under their stewardship, the StingRay evolved to include the now-standard three-band equalizer. The new Session StingRay draws direct inspiration from the models that defined the instrument in the 1990s and 2000s, capturing what Sterling describes as the “unmistakable sound, punch, and attitude of the era.”
Developed in close collaboration with the Ernie Ball Music Man team, the Session Series isn’t a simple reissue. Central to this is the inclusion of a compensated nut for improved tuning stability and a roasted maple neck finished with oil and wax, promising a smoother playing experience. The electronics remain core to the StingRay identity, featuring a Music Man Session Alnico 5 humbucker and a three-band active preamp that delivers the “powerful low end, articulate attack, and unmistakable growl” the instrument is known for.
Bridging the Gap Between Sterling and Ernie Ball
Eddie Park, Director at Sterling, calls the Session StingRay “the most premium expression of Sterling” and states it “truly bridges the gap between the Sterling Standard line and Ernie Ball Music Man instruments.” This positioning is key. The RAY34, for instance, shares some DNA with the new Session model but uses a nyatoh body and comes at a significantly lower price point. The Session line now creates a distinct, higher-quality tier for Sterling, offering features and build quality closer to the Ernie Ball Music Man instruments without reaching the stratospheric price of the limited-edition 50th Anniversary StingRay Special, which is priced at €3,599.
Sterling emphasizes that each Session StingRay undergoes “rigorous quality control throughout the process,” a necessary detail to assure players that the premium price is justified by the craftsmanship.
| Model | Body Wood | Neck/Fingerboard | Price (4-String) | Price (5-String) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling Session StingRay | Ash or Poplar | Roasted Maple or Rosewood | €1,658 | €1,755 |
| Ernie Ball 50th Anniv. Special | — | — | €3,599 | |
From Wood to Wallet: The Calculated Craftsmanship
Sterling has made the Session StingRay available in five distinct finishes, with the choice of body wood adding another layer of price differentiation. The Natural and Tobacco Burst models feature an ash body, while the Black, Olympic White, and British Racing Green options use poplar. The neck is consistently roasted maple, with a compensated nut measuring 1.69 inches wide on the four-string and 1.75 inches on the five-string, catering to players who prefer a specific feel.
The hardware is a mix of vintage and modern. The use of Music Man Schaller open-gear tuners is a direct nod to the StingRay models of the 90s and 2000s, prized for their reliability. The bridge is a new design specific to the Session line, and the bass comes with a premium Music Man Session bag. The attention to detail is clear, from the choice of inlays—black dots on maple fingerboards and white dots on rosewood—to the 21 or 22 frets depending on the string count.
The Sound of Legacy, Built for Today
Ultimately, the Music Man Session StingRay is an instrument that carries the weight of history while being designed for the modern player.
“The Music Man Session StingRay has been years in the making. This model represents the most premium expression of Sterling and truly bridges the gap between the Sterling Standard line and Ernie Ball Music Man instruments.”
With its launch, Sterling is not just selling a bass; it’s selling a piece of musical history, updated for a new generation of musicians. The question now is whether the premium price point and “Made in Indonesia” label will be seen as a value proposition by serious players or a barrier to entry. The Music Man Session StingRay is now available, ready to carve out its own legacy in the next 50 years of music.
