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United States
United States
Introducing the Nitro Collection featuring the Dustin Kensrue Black Honey, the Cutlass Classic '58, the Axis Translucent Purple, and the StingRay Retro '76.
Learn MoreClassic '58
The modern electric guitar has a rich history, rooted in the 20th century's "Golden Era" of instrument manufacturing. During this time, guitar manufacturing pioneers produced iconic solid body concepts, resulting in some of the world's most beloved designs. These techniques have garnered acclaim and appeal from guitar enthusiasts worldwide, paving the way for modern innovations. The Cutlass Classic Fifty-Eight celebrates this classic period with vintage-inspired specifications, including a 3-tone Sunburst finish, roasted alder body, and roasted maple neck. Nitrocellulose lacquer is thinly applied to protect the exquisite burst finish, while the electronics showcase three vintage single-coil pickups controlled by a 5-way switch with volume and separate tone controls. The Cutlass Classic 58 is a classic vintage-inspired instrument that offers a nostalgic vibe with modern touches for reliability and playability.
Cutlass Classic '58
Ordering by phone? Mention build code:
804-N71-22-SP
| Model | Cutlass Classic |
| Size | 12-7/8" wide, 1-5/8" thick, 38-1/8" long (32.7 cm wide, 4.1 cm thick, 96.8 cm long) |
| Body Wood | Roasted Alder |
| Body Finish | Nitrocellulose (additional information below) |
| Body Colors | '58 Burst |
| Body Bindings | N/A |
| Bridge | Music Man® Modern tremolo with vintage bent steel saddles |
| Pickguard | Single Ply Parchment |
| Scale Length | 25-1/2" (64.8 cm) |
| Neck Radius | 10" (25.4 cm) |
| Headstock Size | 6-3/8" (16.2 cm) long |
| Frets | 22 - High profile, medium width, Nickel |
| Neck Width | 1-5/8" (41.3 mm) at nut, 2-1/4" (56.9 mm) at last fret |
| Neck Wood | Roasted Maple |
| Fingerboard | Roasted Maple |
| Fret Markers | 1/4" Black Face Dots |
| Neck Finish | Nitrocellulose (additional information below) |
| Neck Colors | Natural |
| Neck Binding | N/A |
| Tuning Machines | Schaller M6LA |
| Truss Rod | Adjustable - no component or string removal |
| Neck Attachment | 5 bolts - Sculpted neck joint allows smooth access to higher frets |
| Controls | Passive 250kohm volume, tone and tone |
| Switching | 5-way lever pickup selector |
| Pickups | 50's style single coil wound with Heavy Formvar .42 AWG wire and Alnico V magnets. |
| Left Handed | No |
| Strings | 9p-11p-16p-24w-32w-42w (RPS 9 Slinkys #2239) |
| Additional Notes | Nitrocellulose Lacquer, or simply “Nitro,” is a coveted paint finish in the guitar world due to its beautiful aging qualities, its effect on the tone of the instrument, and its period-correct properties for the golden age of guitars. In many ways, Nitro is a more organic substance than modern Polyester and Urethane paints, and the lacquer drying process results in a thinner coating. For these reasons, it is therefore believed by the vintage guitar community that the inherent resonance of the wood is allowed to shine through best with Nitro. The distinct properties of this finish are important to understand as a Nitro instrument owner for maintenance and care purposes.
Every material used on a guitar will expand and contract with temperature and humidity fluctuations, but the wood will have the most drastic rate of movement. When the change in temperature happens quickly, the Nitro paint can crack or “check” because it will not expand or contract as quickly as the wood. Over time wood loses its moisture and shrinks, which can also cause the Nitro to sink into the wood grain or glue seams. Similar to every piece of wood, every Nitrocellulose Lacquer paint job has its own unique characteristics. The environment in which these instruments live and the attention by the owner will determine how they age. Chemical reactions will occur if the Nitro is brought in contact with certain Silicone, Vinyl, Plastic, or Rubber products. Be very careful to use the correct type of wall hangers, guitar stands, and guitar polishes to avoid degradation of the finish. Nitro disclaimers will usually be attached to guitar products/accessories for this very reason. |
3-Tone Sunburst finish with a roasted alder body
Single-ply pickguard, 5-way switch with separate volume and tone controls
Roasted maple neck with maple skunk stripe and headstock plug
Roasting accelerates the drying process, allowing the instrument to breathe and vibrate for maximum resonance due to its low moisture content.
Thinly applied coats of nitrocellulose lacquer protect the finish, allowing maximum vibration while providing a brilliant “Wet” showroom shine.
The Cutlass 58 features three vintage wound classic single-coil pickups with Heavy Formvar .42 AWG gauge wire and Alnico V magnets. Several late-fifties pickups were tested and examined to reproduce that warm sparkle, robust low-end, and crystal clear highs.
Like most 50s-era bolt-on instruments, the Cutlass’s maple neck is constructed from one piece of maple, and the truss rod is installed from the back of the neck. A maple wood plug and “skunk stripe have been implemented, covering the routes left after the rod has been installed.
Quality G&G case with Orange plush lining
Black Honey
The BFR Dustin Kensrue "Black Honey" signature guitar features a stark black nitro-finished Okoume body beautifully adorned with all gold hardware. Electronics include a simplified humbucking-single coil layout with a stacked tone and volume pot, mono/stereo switch and a three-way pickup selector switch that elicits a variety of humbucking and single coils options. Other specifications include a hard rock maple neck with an ebony fretboard with white binding and white pearl block inlays. The neck also features 22 stainless steel frets, matching painted headstock, gold Music Man tremolo, gold Schaller locking tuners, and an asymmetric neck carve with a 10" radius. The neckplate is laser etched with a custom Kensrue logo to signify its Artist Series designation. Limited production of 50 pieces worldwide.
Dustin Kensrue Black Honey
Ordering by phone? Mention build code:
826-NBK-32-18
| Model | Dustin Kensrue StingRay Guitar |
| Size | 14-1/16" wide, 1-5/8" thick, 39-1/4" long (35.7 cm wide, 4.1 cm thick, 99.7 cm long) |
| Body Wood | Okoume |
| Body Finish | Nitrocellulose (See additional note below) |
| Body Colors | Gloss Black |
| Body Bindings | N/A |
| Bridge | Gold plated Music Man® Modern tremolo with vintage bent steel saddles |
| Pickguard | 5 ply - Black/Cream/Black/Cream/Black |
| Scale Length | 25-1/2" (64.8 cm) |
| Neck Radius | 10" (25.4 cm) |
| Headstock Size | 6-3/8" (16.2 cm) long |
| Frets | 22 - High profile, medium width, Stainless Steel |
| Neck Width | 1-5/8" (41.3 mm) at nut, 2-1/4" (56.9 mm) at last fret |
| Neck Wood | Maple |
| Fingerboard | Ebony |
| Fret Markers | White Pearl Atlante Blocks |
| Neck Finish | Nitrocellulose (additional note below) |
| Neck Colors | Gloss Black |
| Neck Binding | Cream |
| Tuning Machines | Gold Schaller M6-IND locking |
| Truss Rod | Adjustable - no component or string removal |
| Neck Attachment | 5 bolt, sculpted neck joint |
| Electronic Shielding | Graphite acrylic resin coated body cavity and aluminum control cover |
| Controls | Passive Concentric 500kohm Volume/Tone POT - 0.022uf tone capacitor; 3-way pickup selector switch; mode switch to bypass controls (stereo) |
| Switching | 3-way toggle, mono/stereo mode button |
| Pickups | Gold covered StingRay RS bridge pickup & custom wound alnico neck single coil with gold pole pieces |
| Left Handed | No |
| Strings | 11p-14p-18p-32w-44w-58w (RPS Slinky), D Standard Tuning |
| Additional Notes | Nitrocellulose Lacquer, or simply “Nitro,” is a coveted paint finish in the guitar world due to its beautiful aging qualities, its effect on the tone of the instrument, and its period-correct properties for the golden age of guitars. In many ways, Nitro is a more organic substance than modern Polyester and Urethane paints, and the lacquer drying process results in a thinner coating. For these reasons, it is therefore believed by the vintage guitar community that the inherent resonance of the wood is allowed to shine through best with Nitro. The distinct properties of this finish are important to understand as a Nitro instrument owner for maintenance and care purposes.
Every material used on a guitar will expand and contract with temperature and humidity fluctuations, but the wood will have the most drastic rate of movement. When the change in temperature happens quickly, the Nitro paint can crack or “check” because it will not expand or contract as quickly as the wood. Over time wood loses its moisture and shrinks, which can also cause the Nitro to sink into the wood grain or glue seams. Similar to every piece of wood, every Nitrocellulose Lacquer paint job has its own unique characteristics. The environment in which these instruments live and the attention by the owner will determine how they age. Chemical reactions will occur if the Nitro is brought in contact with certain Silicone, Vinyl, Plastic, or Rubber products. Be very careful to use the correct type of wall hangers, guitar stands, and guitar polishes to avoid degradation of the finish. Nitro disclaimers will usually be attached to guitar products/accessories for this very reason. |
Okoume body finished in black nitrocellulose
Custom wound humbucking/single coil pickups with unique gold pole pieces
Black matching headstock with gold Schaller locking tuners
Hard rock maple neck loaded with white pearlescent blocks inlays and white bound ebony fingerboard.
Stacked volume and tone control W/3-way pickup selector & optional stereo output.
Custom 4-ply black/cream/black/cream pickguard.
Quality G&G case with black leather ends and plush lining
Retro '76
The rich history of the modern electric bass guitar is rooted in the 20th-century "Golden Era" of instrument manufacturing. During this time, guitar and bass manufacturing pioneers produced legendary solid body concepts, crafting some of the world's most beloved Instrument designs. In celebration of these time-honored designs, we bring you the BFR Stingray Retro '76. The all-new Stingray Retro '76 is loaded with many vintage-inspired specifications celebrating Music Man's 70's era of American craftsmanship. This Stingray BFR edition features a beautiful nitro-finished 3-tone Sunburst ash body with vast black, yellow, and red swatches, capturing the look and feel of Music Man's flagship 4-string bass. A faithful reproduction, this retro edition bass reproduces the Stingray's original specifications, including an Alnico-loaded humbucking pickup, 2-band preamp, 21-fret 3-Bolt maple neck with micro-tilt adjustment, and a strings-thru-the-body-bridge with adjustable mute pads. Overall a classic feeling and sounding vintage-inspired instrument that offers the best of old-world craftsmanship with contemporary playability and reliability. The BFR Stingray Retro '76 bass comes with a period correct tolex case, certificate of authenticity and is limited to 100 pieces worldwide.
StingRay Retro '76
Ordering by phone? Mention build code:
345-N71-22-02
| Model | StingRay Retro |
| Size | 13-1/2" wide x 1-5/8" thick x 44-7/8" long (34.3 cm wide, 4.1 cm thick, 114.0 cm long) |
| Body Wood | Ash |
| Body Finish | Nitrocellulose (See additional notes below) |
| Body Colors | 76 burst |
| Body Bindings | N/A |
| Bridge | Pre-EB Geometry Music Man® chrome plated, steel bridge plate with vintage stainless steel saddles |
| Pickguard | 3 ply - White/Black/White |
| Scale Length | 34" (86.4 cm) |
| Neck Radius | 7.5" (19.1 cm) |
| Headstock Size | 8-3/4" (22.2 cm) long |
| Frets | 21 - Low profile, wide, nickel |
| Neck Width | 1.686" (4.282 cm) at nut; 2.466" (6.264 cm) at last fret |
| Neck Wood | Maple |
| Fingerboard | Maple |
| Fret Markers | 5/16" Dot |
| Neck Finish | Nitrocellulose (See additional notes below) |
| Neck Colors | Slight yellow tint |
| Neck Binding | N/A |
| Tuning Machines | Schaller Bass |
| Truss Rod | Bullet truss rod adjustment at headstock |
| Neck Attachment | 3 Bolt, Pre EB Music Man Design with Micro-Tilt Neck Shim Adjustment |
| Controls | Custom 2-band active preamp; vol, treble, bass |
| Pickups | Vintage style alnico humbucking pickup with long alnico 5 magnets and wound with original single poly-nylon wire. |
| Left Handed | No |
| Strings | 45w-65w-80w-100w (Super Slinky Bass #2834) |
| Additional Notes | Nitrocellulose Lacquer, or simply “Nitro,” is a coveted paint finish in the guitar world due to its beautiful aging qualities, its effect on the tone of the instrument, and its period-correct properties for the golden age of guitars. In many ways, Nitro is a more organic substance than modern Polyester and Urethane paints, and the lacquer drying process results in a thinner coating. For these reasons, it is therefore believed by the vintage guitar community that the inherent resonance of the wood is allowed to shine through best with Nitro. The distinct properties of this finish are important to understand as a Nitro instrument owner for maintenance and care purposes.
Every material used on a guitar will expand and contract with temperature and humidity fluctuations, but the wood will have the most drastic rate of movement. When the change in temperature happens quickly, the Nitro paint can crack or “check” because it will not expand or contract as quickly as the wood. Over time wood loses its moisture and shrinks, which can also cause the Nitro to sink into the wood grain or glue seams. Similar to every piece of wood, every Nitrocellulose Lacquer paint job has its own unique characteristics. The environment in which these instruments live and the attention by the owner will determine how they age. Chemical reactions will occur if the Nitro is brought in contact with certain Silicone, Vinyl, Plastic, or Rubber products. Be very careful to use the correct type of wall hangers, guitar stands, and guitar polishes to avoid degradation of the finish. Nitro disclaimers will usually be attached to guitar products/accessories for this very reason. |
Ash body with vintage Sunburst finish featuring thinly applied coats of nitrocellulose lacquer to protect the finish, allowing maximum vibration while providing a brilliant “Wet” showroom shine
Humbucking pickup with longer alnico 5 magnets wound with original single poly-nylon wire
Classic Inspired 1976 “Radio” volume and tone knobs
Original pre-EB StringRay bullet truss rod adjustment for proper neck action.
3-Bolt chrome plated neck attachment with Micro-Tilt provides neck angle adjustment without the need for shims. Firm neck and neck pocket tolerances ensure a tight fit with no shifting.
String-through body bridge with stainless steel saddles replicates the classic Stingray design. The original rubber mute pads have been added for a desired muted tone on demand.
The 2-EQ preamp is a hand-soldered circuit board constructed with high-quality components using vintage correct ceramic disc capacitors.
Quality Cream G&G case with Orange Plush lining
Translucent Purple
The all-new BFR nitro-finished Axis Purple harkens back to Ernie Ball Music Man’s initial production period celebrating one of Music Man’s earliest artist-inspired guitar designs. The BFR Axis features a beautiful nitro-finished hand-stained translucent purple figured maple top over a lightweight basswood body. Contrary to the original black back, a unique purple-shaded back and sides are beautifully accented with cream binding. The electronics package includes dual proprietary Dimarzio Zebra pickups, a 3-way toggle switch, and a single 500k volume knob. Each guitar has a numbered certificate of authenticity and a G&G hardshell salt and pepper case.
Nitro Axis Translucent Purple
Ordering by phone? Mention build code:
304-QTP-12-00
| Model | Axis |
| Size | 12-5/8" wide, 1-3/4" thick, 36-1/4" long (32.1 cm wide, 4.5 cm thick, 92.0 cm long) |
| Body Wood | Basswood |
| Body Finish | Nitrocellulose (additional information below) |
| Body Colors | Translucent Purple Top; Opaque Purple Back |
| Body Bindings | Cream |
| Bridge | Music Man® double locking tremolo with fine tuners; lowers pitch only |
| Pickguard | N/A |
| Scale Length | 25-1/2" (64.8 cm) |
| Neck Radius | 10" (25.4 cm) |
| Headstock Size | Only 5-7/8" (14.9 cm) long |
| Frets | 22 - High profile, medium width stainless steel |
| Neck Width | 1-5/8" (41.3 mm) at nut, 2-3/16" (55.6 mm) at last fret |
| Neck Wood | Figured Maple |
| Fingerboard | Figured Maple |
| Fret Markers | 1/8" Black dot |
| Neck Finish | Gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend; Nitrocellulose Headstock |
| Neck Colors | Natural; Headstock matches body |
| Tuning Machines | Schaller M6LA with pearl buttons |
| Truss Rod | Adjustable - no component or string removal |
| Neck Attachment | 5 bolts - Sculpted neck joint allows smooth access to higher frets |
| Electronic Shielding | Graphite acrylic resin coated body cavity and aluminum lined control cover |
| Controls | 500kohm volume pot |
| Switching | 3-way toggle pickup selector |
| Pickups | HH - 2 DiMarzio custom humbucking |
| Left Handed | No |
| Strings | 9p-11p-16p-24w-32w-42w (RPS 9 Slinkys #2239) |
| Additional Notes | Nitrocellulose Lacquer, or simply “Nitro,” is a coveted paint finish in the guitar world due to its beautiful aging qualities, its effect on the tone of the instrument, and its period-correct properties for the golden age of guitars. In many ways, Nitro is a more organic substance than modern Polyester and Urethane paints, and the lacquer drying process results in a thinner coating. For these reasons, it is therefore believed by the vintage guitar community that the inherent resonance of the wood is allowed to shine through best with Nitro. The distinct properties of this finish are important to understand as a Nitro instrument owner for maintenance and care purposes.
Every material used on a guitar will expand and contract with temperature and humidity fluctuations, but the wood will have the most drastic rate of movement. When the change in temperature happens quickly, the Nitro paint can crack or “check” because it will not expand or contract as quickly as the wood. Over time wood loses its moisture and shrinks, which can also cause the Nitro to sink into the wood grain or glue seams. Similar to every piece of wood, every Nitrocellulose Lacquer paint job has its own unique characteristics. The environment in which these instruments live and the attention by the owner will determine how they age. Chemical reactions will occur if the Nitro is brought in contact with certain Silicone, Vinyl, Plastic, or Rubber products. Be very careful to use the correct type of wall hangers, guitar stands, and guitar polishes to avoid degradation of the finish. Nitro disclaimers will usually be attached to guitar products/accessories for this very reason. |
Hand-stained Translucent Purple maple top
Exclusive dual Dimarzio humbucking pickups
Floyd Rose style double locking tremolo with fine tuners
Beautiful translucent purple maple veneer over lightweight basswood body
Rock solid maple neck with 22 stainless steel frets and Schaller non-locking tuners
The basswood body back is finished in Purple, complementing the translucent maple top
Quality G&G case with purple leather ends and plush lining
Ball Family Reserve is a celebration of our heritage in instrument craftsmanship which features some of the finest figured tone woods and finishes available. These rare pieces are offered in limited production runs and allow us to present instruments to the public that were previously reserved for family and our loyal artists.
The Ball family is the last of a dying breed, a family business making premium guitars and basses on the California central coast since 1984. Sterling Ball, alongside his sons Brian and Scott, combine the laser precision of robotics and old-world hand craftsmanship to develop innovative instrument designs that push the boundaries of performance and playability.
All September BFR offerings
Since 1984, Ernie Ball Music Man has been crafting instruments in San Luis Obispo, California. Watch the factory tour and see how the difference is in the details.
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