With its fierce tonal profile, cutting-edge electronics and aggressive modern attitude, the Ernie Ball Music Man DarkRay 5 5-string electric bass guitar is an extended-range weapon that beckons you to delve deeper into the heart of darkness. A striking collaboration between Music Man and the sonic visionaries at Darkglass Electronics, this 5-string powerhouse delivers immense low-end authority and boutique-grade tone shaping. A custom Darkglass preamp and neodymium humbucker unlock a vast spectrum of sounds—from articulate cleans to ferocious drive courtesy of two onboard distortion circuits—while the roasted maple neck and ebony fingerboard provide the speed, stability and precision today’s players demand. A refreshed palette of finishes—Plasma Purple, Silverburst and Stealth Black—offer a continued evolution of the DarkRay’s stealthy aesthetic, cementing its status as an envelope-pushing icon in modern bass design.
Custom Darkglass Preamp With Onboard Distortion
At the heart of the DarkRay 5 lies a bespoke Darkglass Electronics two-band active preamp paired with a powerful neodymium humbucker. This versatile setup offers three selectable modes—Clean for crystalline clarity, Alpha for focused distortion and Omega for full-throttle fuzz—giving you studio-grade tone shaping right at your fingertips. A three-way mode selector and onboard gain control make real-time adjustments intuitive, while the illuminated LED ring provides instant visual feedback. The blend knob allows you to dail in the perfect amount of saturation while maintaining the tight, controlled low end that anchors the classic Music Man sound. From pristine definition to searing drive, the DarkRay 5 adapts effortlessly to any genre or playing style.
Lightweight Ash Body With Sleek Contours and Striking Finishes
The DarkRay 5’s contoured ash body strikes a perfect balance of comfort, resonance and visual impact. Lightweight ash construction enhances sustain while keeping the instrument comfortably balanced, producing deep lows and articulate punch. It features the same sculpted silhouette as the StingRay, ensuring fatigue-free play and a natural fit against the body. High-gloss finishes in Plasma Purple, Silverburst and Stealth Black highlight the grain with striking depth and dimension, while a matching headstock and blacked-out hardware complete the cohesive, stage-ready look. Whether under bright lights or in the studio, the DarkRay 5’s design captures the perfect mix of elegance and aggression.
Roasted Maple Neck and Ebony Fingerboard for Precision Playability
The DarkRay 5's roasted maple neck delivers rock-solid stability and a smooth, satin-like feel, enhanced by Music Man’s gunstock oil and hand-rubbed wax finish. The C-shaped profile provides a natural grip, while the five-bolt joint ensures exceptional sustain and alignment. Topping it off, the 11″ radius ebony fingerboard adds snap and precision to your attack, complemented by 22 stainless-steel frets for lasting durability. The combination of maple and ebony yields a tactile, fast-playing surface that lets every nuance of your technique shine through.
Premium Hardware and Stealthy DarkRay Appointments
Every detail of the DarkRay 5 reinforces its modern, performance-driven identity. Custom Music Man lightweight tuners with tapered string posts ensure precise tuning stability, while the black-plated vintage steel bridge enhances sustain and resonance across all five strings. A black pickguard, dome knobs and matching headstock complete the sleek, unified aesthetic. Combined with the ebony fingerboard and stealthy hardware, the result is a bass that looks as commanding as it sounds. From its ergonomic contours to its boutique-grade electronics, every inch of the DarkRay 5 exudes purpose, precision and unmistakable Music Man craftsmanship.
The DarkRay 5: Built for the Bold
The Ernie Ball Music Man DarkRay 5 is a bold declaration of what a modern high-performance bass can be. Its Darkglass-powered electronics deliver studio-quality tone shaping on the fly, while its refined construction ensures lasting comfort and control. Designed for players who push sonic boundaries, the DarkRay 5 merges cutting-edge technology with the unmistakable feel of a Music Man. Confident, responsive and unapologetically bold, it’s a bass built to lead from the front line of modern music.