Ernie Ball Music Man

Music Man was started in the 1970s by Tom Walker and Forrest White, two Fender veterans, who brought in Leo Fender after he left CBS; the first product was an amplifier, and the company's own date for its founding is 1974, with other sources giving 1972. The StingRay guitar and bass appeared in 1976 and introduced the 3+1 tuner layout that became a Music Man trademark.

Ernie Ball bought the company in 1984, and the 5-string StingRay introduced in 1987 was the first new bass after the purchase and was quickly adopted by players such as Tony Levin. The Axis, a 1991 model for Eddie Van Halen, was his first official signature guitar, and the line continued after he left for Peavey in 1995. Signature models followed for Albert Lee and Steve Lukather in 1993, and for John Petrucci from 2001, including the Majesty, co-designed with chief engineer Drew Montell.

US production has been in San Luis Obispo, California since 1985. The lower-priced Sterling line is built in Asia by the same design team. Guitar Radar follows Music Man's new models and signature guitars and basses.