Ernie Ball Music Man and Tim Commerford, bassist for Rage Against The Machine, have teamed up to create two limited edition StingRay signature bass guitars.
The new collection includes an active four-string StingRay in a military-inspired Xavier Green finish and a passive version in Quentin Blue, both featuring a matte poly finish. Each model is being produced in limited numbers, with only 50 of each available. Commerford was closely involved in the design process at every stage.
For many Rage Against The Machine fans, the StingRay bass is synonymous with Commerford. He recalls his long-standing connection with the instrument, which began when he first discovered one at a pawnshop. “This is a bass that I fell in love with at a pawnshop and used to play on the first Rage record, and I’m proud to play these basses and feel wholeheartedly that they are the best basses I’ve ever played in my life,” says Commerford.
This isn’t the first time Commerford and Ernie Ball Music Man have collaborated; they previously teamed up in 2021, releasing several variations of the StingRay, including both long and short-scale models, as well as active and passive versions.
The new StingRay models are designed with subtle signature details. Commerford’s name is engraved on the neck plate, alongside his logo and the model number, but otherwise, the basses are tailored to his personal specifications. Those who appreciate the StingRay design will find these models particularly appealing.
Both basses feature solid ash bodies and roasted maple necks, joined by a five-bolt connection. The heel has been sculpted for comfort, and the peg-heads are painted to match the body finish. A high-contrast parchment pickguard in the classic oval shape completes the aesthetic. The fingerboard is made of ebony, with an 11” radius and 22 stainless steel frets. As expected, all the high-end touches of Ernie Ball Music Man instruments are present, including a special gunstock oil and hand-rubbed wax blend on the neck.
Commerford has opted for black hardware on both models, including custom lightweight clover-style tuners with tapered string posts to improve the break angle over the nut. The nut is compensated to ensure accurate intonation, and the bridge features a string-through-body design with vintage-plated saddles.
The main difference between the two models lies in the electronics. The active model includes a single neodymium Music Man humbucker, powered by an 18V preamp with a volume control and a three-band EQ. The passive model, on the other hand, offers a three-way rotary pickup voice selector with parallel, single-coil, and series configurations, as well as a passive boost activated by a push-pull volume pot and a tone control.
Both models are highly versatile, with the standout feature being the adjustable thumb ramp. Positioned next to the pickup, the ramp provides added comfort for thumb players like Commerford. “This is what truly makes this bass unique,” he explains. “If you’re a thumb player and you anchor down like I do, having a few spots to be able to put your hand that are comfortable is really helpful.”
As Commerford often uses overdrive, fuzz, and other effects, the basses are also equipped with adjustable mute pads on the bridge, which help to dampen any unwanted noise. “It’s a Music Man StingRay, but better than that—it’s my own version of that,” says Commerford. “This bridge, to me, is a work of art, and the mutes that are on it really are useful, especially for effects, distortion, and whatnot.”
The Tim Commerford StingRay bass is now available for purchase at a price of $3,099.
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