ANAHEIM, CA (JUNE 2, 2022) –– Today, Ernie Ball Music Man is proud to announce an all-new guitar collaboration with Tosin Abasi (Animals as Leaders, Abasi Concepts), along with the 2022 John Petrucci Signature Guitar Collection, all-new HT (Heat Treated) pickup technology and instruments, the 35th Anniversary StingRay 5 bass guitar, as well as a case collaboration with Mono.
KAIZEN - Built for the modern player and influenced by Tosin Abasi’s unique design aesthetic and playing style, the Kaizen is an all-new visionary collaboration between the award-winning Ernie Ball Music Man design team, and the virtuoso guitarist and manufacturer.
“I chose to collaborate with Music Man because I’ve been a fan of their guitars and artists for a while. I see myself as a designer and love the act of creating new guitars,” Tosin explains. “A parallel project looked like a fun and unique opportunity to do something new. I think the result is truly a blend of our ideas.”
This new 7-string guitar incorporates a number of advanced and innovative features like:
Multi-Scale - 24.75” to 25.5” e to E multi-scale design provides affirmative string tension for thick and chunky rhythms on the bass strings, with a traditional feel on the treble strings for smooth bends and solos
Infinity Radius Neck - Strategically positioned conical radius increases comfort while maintaining enhanced visibility of the fretboard and fret markers.
Steinberger Gearless Locking Tuners - Accurate, lightweight tuners that feature smooth rotation, and allow for a straight string pull.
New Music Man Pickups - A custom HT (Heat Treated) humbucker in the bridge position and a slanted mini-humbucker in the neck position have been specifically designed for the Kaizen
Multi-Scale Tremolo - Super smooth modern Music Man tremolo with spring dampeners to alleviate unwanted overtones and ringing
“Decidedly Contoured” - Ultra-lightweight design, deliberate body carves for extreme comfort, well-balanced with unrestricted fret access
“Part of the reason we did this is encapsulated in the name, Kaizen,” Abasi continues; kaizen is a Japanese word for continuous change or improvement over time. “I think a lot of the time, people look at the guitar as fixed. That is totally fine, but I am inspired by pushing the instrument further, and I think this was an opportunity to do that.”
The Kaizen will be offered with an alder body, roasted maple neck, and ebony fingerboard. Available in multiple finishes, the instrument will be available first as a 7 string this holiday season, with a 6 string available in 2023.
The John Petrucci line of signature guitars gets an extensive makeover this year. The Majesty includes six new finishes in 6, 7, and 8-string models to complement the ever-growing range of this highly versatile instrument.
The JP15 will also now be offered in the popular translucent Tiger Eye burst finish and a flamed Purple Nebula finish for all 6 and 7-string models.
Inspired by over a decade of electric guitar string research, Ernie Ball Music Man has developed a fresh approach to pickup design with their all-new HT (Heat Treated) pickups.
This patent-pending technology brings with it a new series of HT-equipped instruments, including a Cutlass HT SSS, StingRay HT, and a Sabre HT.
This year, the legendary StingRay 5 bass guitar turns 35 and with it comes an equally-spectacular anniversary edition that will be available this August.
Since its introduction in 1987, the StingRay 5 has been heralded as one of the most innovative bass designs, used over the years by some of the world’s most iconic bassists including Flea, Tony Levin, John Myung, and Phoenix of Linkin Park.
Starting later this year, Ernie Ball Music Man will make a transition from hardshell cases to MONO Cases.
MONO has a long history of design-driven innovative case manufacturing, so it was a natural collaboration.
You can check out all of the latest Ernie Ball Music Man offerings at the NAMM show in booth #5620.
More information is available at www.ernieball.com and www.music-man.com.
