Sterling guitars by Music Man replaced the ‘SUB’ line of lower-priced “mid-range” instruments in 2009. These guitars catered to a budget market, ranging in price typically between a half or third of their “standard” instruments. The SUB series were still constructed in the USA but moving manufacturing to the Far East meant a further increase in affordability. Praxis Musical Instruments Inc. were licensed to build the new sterling models, which still include the SUB and S.U.B range today with updated features.
They Sterling line includes the classic StingRay SR50, with the original Fender Music Man design updated by the Ernie Ball Music Man design team. The Axis AXDOD with it’s Double Locking Tremolo and lock nut, zebra DiMarzio AXIS Humbuckers, 3 position selector with single volume control.
The John Petrucci (of Dream Theater) line includes the JP60 and JP70 (seven string), based on the JP Signature Series, featuring high quality, die-cast, locking tuning machines, and full float Modern Tremolo. JP Majesty with it’s “Unfettered fret access throughout, perfect balance and ultimate playability”, the JP100D, 150 and 1507 with African Mahogany bodies.
The Steve Lukather (Toto) LK100D, features “Push-push” active boost, passive tone control, 5-way balanced switching, classic “V” contoured neck. The Cutlass features 22 frets, 3 single coil Ernie Ball Music Man spec pickups with 5-way switching, Vintage Tremolo, and an oversized 4 + 2 headstock with locking tuning machines.
The Sterling range includes models with tailor features that have resulted in the distillation of years and years of expert tweaking from the highly dedicated Music Man and Ernie Ball group and focus on the needs and desires of the growing market for these mid-range budget instruments.
