Music Man

Music Man

Behind Music Man with its wide range of products, one might expect a huge company, but its not. It is structured like a small custom shop and to this very day sends it products out into

Music Man was stared as Tri-sonic in 1972 by Leo Fender, Tom Walker and Forrest White. The company was situated in Anaheim, California and was founded to produce electric guitars, basses and guitar amp’s. Soon after founding the famous Music Man Stingray bass was developed and highlighted active sound, its still one of the most popular basses today. In 1982 Leo Fender pulled out of Music Man and in 1984 Walker sold the company to
Ernie Ball. By now the StingRay was being modified into a 3-band EQ. Ernie built a new manufacturing plant in San Luis Obispo/California. Soon all ERNIE BALL and Music Man products were being made here. In 1986 the Music Man Silhouette was being developed and a year later the first Music Man 5 string bass with new design, the StingRay 5 was introduced.
In 1988 the first Music Man signed series, the “Steve Morse” was introduced. In 1991 the second Music Man signed series, the legendary “ Eddie van Halen” was launched, today its slightly modified and available as “Axis” In 1992 the Music Man silhouette a mixture of a guitar and a bass was released. In 1993 the new Music Man bass, the „Sterling“ had its market introduction, only a year later the third signature model “Albert Lee” and the “Luke” came out. By 1995 the new Music Man Silhouette Special with 22 frets, Wilkinson tremolo and new noise killing “ Silent circuit” was released to the enthusiastic guitarists. A year later a left hand versions of the StingRay 3 band EQ, the StingRay 5 and the Silhouette Special were frenetically awaited by the lefthanders. In 2001 john Petrucci was signed as an endorser to Music Man. In 2003 the updated Bongo, with new electronics and new design was released. Shortly after that, the S.U.B. bass guitar, a budget version of the StingRay followed, later the S.U.B 1, a variation of a Silhouette came out. Also Benji Madden from Good Charlotte was given a Music Man signature model, a Silhouette Special with a Humbucker and a fixed bridge. Music Man basses and guitars are played by: Paul Landers (Rammstein), Michael "Flea" Balzary (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Dave LaRue, Steve Morse (Deep Purple), Johannes Stolle (Silbermond), John Deacon (Queen), John Petrucci (Dream Theater), Robert Trujillo (Metallica), Steve Lukather (Toto), und Shavo Odadjian (System Of A Down).