Music Man Dark Ray 4 Obisidian Black Ebony

A StingRay Special Reimagined by Darkglass

The DarkRay carries the DNA of the StingRay Special and adds a decidedly modern approach thanks to Darkglass Electronics, a key reference for contemporary bass tones. The idea is simple: retain the attack, presence, and authority typical of the Music Man platform while integrating a preamp specifically designed to offer built-in saturation textures, finely controllable and usable both on stage and in the studio.

For Which Bassists and Styles

The Music Man DarkRay 4 is aimed at intermediate to expert bassists who want a high-end bass capable of transitioning from ultra-defined clean sounds to aggressive tones without losing low-end presence. It excels in modern rock, metal, prog, fusion, punchy pop, and all contexts where the bass must remain clear in the mix, including with distortion. The controls (dedicated gain and blend) also allow for a slight grit for classic rock or a more radical fuzz for lead parts.

The Sound

At the heart of the DarkRay is a neodymium humbucker with a powerful, precise, and dynamic character, paired with a Darkglass 2-band active preamp (bass and treble) to immediately shape the spectrum. The 3-position selector provides access to a clean mode and two distinct saturation circuits (Alpha and Omega) with complementary behavior. The gain + blend controls allow you to dose the amount of saturated signal without sacrificing bass depth: you can stay surprisingly clean and punchy, add a light crunch, or push towards massive fuzz while maintaining the rhythmic foundation. The roasted maple neck and ebony fingerboard provide a sharp attack and excellent definition, while the stainless steel frets contribute to precision and consistent feel.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

To stay within the original specifications, you can use a set of strings 45w-65w-80w-100w (Super Slinky Bass #2834), identical to those recommended for this model.

Technical specifications

Electronics: microphone configuration	H	Body	Hardwood
Left handed	No	Electronics	Active
Strings	Steel	Color	Black
Nbr of strings	4	Finishing	Glossy
Fingerboard	Ebony	Hardware	Black
Nbrs of frets	22

Model	DarkRay Bass	Width at Last Fret	2.50" / 63.5 mm
Dimensions	13.50" / 343 mm wide, 1.61" / 41 mm thick, 44.88" / 1140 mm long	Neck Wood	roasted maple
Body Wood	selected hardwood	Inlays	dot inlays
Body Finish	glossy polyester - Obsidian Black; satin polyester - Granite Stone	Neck Finish	Gunstock oil and special wax blend, hand-rubbed
Bridge	Vintage Music Man steel bridge with black-plated steel vintage saddles	Neck Colors	roasted - Obsidian Black; body-matched - Granite Stone
Pickguard	black	Tuners	custom Music Man, lightweight, with tapered string posts and ergonomic clover design
Scale Length	34" / 864 mm	Neck Attachment	5-bolt, sculpted neck joint
Radius	11" / 279 mm	Electronic Shielding	body cavity coated with graphite acrylic resin and black-plated aluminum control cover
Headstock Size	only 8.75" / 222 mm	Controls	custom Darkglass 2-band active preamp with two distinct distortion circuits (Alpha and Omega); volume, gain, blend, treble, bass
Frets	22 - tall, wide profile	Switching	3-way toggle distortion selector (preamp only; preamp + Alpha distortion; preamp + Omega distortion)
Nut Width	1.69" / 42.86 mm	Pickups	single neodymium humbucker