Ernie Ball Music Man Pino Palladino Icon StingRay Relic (443)

The Pino Palladino Icon Series StingRay Bass is a meticulously crafted, exact replica of Pino’s legendary 1979 fretless StingRay, limited to just 15 pieces worldwide. Built using many period-correct parts and materials, this bass features a full nitrocellulose gloss finish and a broken-in feel, with every dent, ding, and scrape painstakingly replicated to capture the true character of this road-worn icon. The poplar body and slab rosewood fretboard capture the tone and character of Pino’s original, while the dark-tinted maple neck has the same unique asymmetrical carve that transitions from a V on the bass side to a C on the treble side, just like the bass he purchased in 1981.

This model includes genuine New Old Stock bridge plates from the late 70s, complete with serial numbers close to Pino’s original bass. It also features brass saddles, a GraphTech NuBone nut with meticulously sanded and softened shoulders, and a perfectly placed water decal on the headstock, matching the irregular position of Pino’s original. The string tree is precisely located between the D and G strings, as it was on his bass.

The pickup and preamp have been faithfully recreated to match the tone of Pino’s original electronics, using period-correct components and designs to capture the same warmth, clarity, and dynamic response that defined his early recordings. StingRay enthusiasts will appreciate the attention to detail, including the use of a 500k treble pot in place of the original 1 Meg, matching the modification Pino made to his bass many years ago.

To further capture the spirit of his instrument, each bass comes with a large replica Wales Rugby Bobblehead sticker on the back, a nod to Pino’s personal touch. The back of each headstock is hand-signed by Pino Palladino himself, making each piece truly one-of-a-kind. The bass comes in a premium G&G case with a black shell and gold fur lining, along with vintage-inspired case candy including a Certificate of Authenticity, Allen wrenches, a hangtag manual, and a yellow polish cloth.

This is more than a bass – it’s a piece of history, capturing the unmistakable tone and feel of a true icon

Body Color: 79 Burst, Aged to Replicate Pino's Original
Body Finish: Nitrocellulose, Artificially Aged to Replicate Pino's Exact Bass
Body Wood: One-Piece Poplar
Bridge: N.O.S. Pre-Ernie Ball Music Man® Chrome Plated Steel Bridge Plate with Brass Saddles & Stainless Steel Spring Mutes
Controls: 2-Band Active Preamp – 25k Volume; 500k Treble; 100k Bass
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: Unlined Fretless
Hardware: "Aged" Chrome
Neck Attachment: 3-Bolt Period Correct with Old Music Man Stamp
Neck Color: Dark Orange Tint
Neck Finish: "Aged" Nitrocellulose
Neck Radius: 7.5"
Neck Width: 1.686" at Nut; 2.458" at Heel
Neck Wood: Maple
Pickguard: "Aged" 3-Ply Black/White/Black
Pickups: Late 70s StingRay Voiced with Shorter "Aged" Pole Pieces (Flush with Cover) & "Aged" Cover
Scale Length: 34"
Strings: 36w-55w-65w-90w Custom Gauge Ernie Ball Slinky Nickel Wound
Truss Rod: Traditional Bullet Nut at Headstock, Walnut Skunk Stripe on Back of Neck
Tuning Machines: "Aged" Schaller Bass