STERLING BY MUSIC MAN Sterling CT50HSS Daphne Blue Satin

A Cutlass redesigned for the modern player

In the Sterling by Music Man range, the Cutlass CT50 focuses on "plug and play" ergonomics: a roasted maple neck for stability, locking tuners to minimize tuning issues, and a vintage vibrato to capture the nuances of expressive playing. This 2021 version positions itself as a more refined evolution of a classic, with choices aimed at comfort and efficiency both on stage and in the studio.

For which guitarist and styles?

The CT50HSS is aimed at ambitious beginners as well as intermediate players who want a versatile electric guitar that is easy to set up and enjoyable over time. Its DNA broadly covers pop, funk, rock, indie, and blues, while still reserving room for more saturated tones. The 25.5" scale and 12" radius facilitate both clean chords and bends as well as more modern licks.

The sound

The poplar body delivers a clear balance, with readable mids and a sharp attack, ideal for tones that cut through the mix without excess. The roasted maple neck enhances the sense of quick response while promoting good long-term stability. Regarding pickups, the description highlights an HSS setup (one humbucker and two single coils) for switching from crisp cleans to thick crunches, while the specs indicate HH for a more powerful and consistent saturation range. With 1 volume and 1 tone, it goes straight to the point: effective control over the tone and dynamics usable with both pick and fingers.

Recommended compatible accessories

To maintain the original feel, you can opt for a set of Ernie Ball 2221 Regular Slinky strings (the string set indicated in the specs). If you want the same response under your fingers after a change, sticking to this reference is the safest choice.

Technical specifications

Electronics: microphone configuration	HH	Body	Poplar
Category	ST	Types of frets	Medium Jumbo
Format	Stratocaster	Vibrato	Sterling vintage tremolo
Left handed	No	Nbre of pickups	3
Strings	Steel	Neck Pickup	Sterling single coil
Nbr of strings	6	Middle pickup	Sterling single coil
Top	Poplar	Bridge pickup	Sterling humbucker
Neck	Roasted maple 3 pieces screwed 5 points	Electronics	Passive
Radius	305 mm	Selector	5-position
Nut Width	42 mm	Settings	1 x volume and 1 x tone
Fingerboard	Roasted maple	Electroacoustic	No
Nbrs of frets	22	Color	Blue
Scale (mm)	648 mm	Colours	Daphne Blue Satin
Tuning pegs	Lockings	Finishing	Satin
Original Strings	Ernie Ball 2221 Regular Slinky	Hardware	Chromed
Scalloped	Double

Model	CT50HSS	Truss rod	dual action
Body wood	poplar	Neck attachment	5 bolts
Pickguard	White (FSV, DCP, RGD), Black (VC)	Bridge	Vintage Tremolo
Neck wood	roasted maple	Tuners	locking
Inlays	dot markers	Controls	1 volume, 1 tone
Scale length	25.5" / 648 mm	Pickup selector	3-position toggle switch
Frets	22 medium	Pickups	HH
Width at last fret	57 mm / 2.24"	Gig bag	N/A