The 1998 Music Man StingRay 5 Fretless in Matte Natural Velvet is a custom-ordered variant of the classic StingRay 5, presented here in very good condition with a fresh setup and new strings. As a fretless 5-string it retains the StingRay’s muscular, active voice while offering smooth, vocal-like slides and microtonal expression. The neck-through or bolt-on construction (Music Man used both; confirm your serial for exact spec) supports sustained low-end clarity for the extended low B string, and the matte natural velvet finish gives the instrument a muted, satin feel under the hands.
Electronics on StingRay 5 models typically include an active 2- or 3-band preamp with an isolated humbucking pickup at the bridge, delivering the brand’s characteristic punch and presence—ideal for funk, rock, and studio work where a pronounced low end is required. This bass comes with original hardshell case (OHSC) and has been set up for immediate playability. It’s a road-ready, player-oriented instrument that blends the string definition and growl of a StingRay with the expressive nuance of a fretless fingerboard.
Features:
- Configuration: 5-string, fretless fingerboard
- Finish: Matte Natural Velvet (custom-ordered)
- Condition: Very good; fresh setup and new strings
- Case: Original hardshell case (OHSC) included
- Electronics: Active preamp with bridge humbucker (factory StingRay spec)
- Hardware: Music Man bridge and machine heads
