Ernie Ball Music Man Majesty

In 1971, Tom Walker and Forrest White—two former Fender employees—approached Leo Fender about starting a new company. They launched the company as Tri-Sonix Inc, and after a few more name changes, settled on Music Man in early 1974.

In 1975, Fender’s “no-compete” legal restriction mandated by CBS in 1965 expired and they started using exclusive guitar and bass models through Fender’s CLF Research. 

In June 1976, production started on guitars and in August basses followed.  A two-pickup guitar, the StingRay 1 (Image # )  and the StingRay bass (Image # ) were designed by Fender and White and became the 1st Music Man models.

In November 1979, Leo left Music Man to found another company, partnering with former Fender company designer George Fullerton to form G&L Musical Instruments.  G&L was incorporated in May 1980.

When developing the first StingRay instruments for Music Man, Leo Fender relied on a young-and-up-coming star Sterling Ball—son of Ernie Ball—to test the instruments, work with R&D, and deal with artist relations.  Sterling eventually became the CEO of Ernie Ball Music Man when Music Man was sold to Ernie Ball, the renowned Hawaiian guitarist and, later, string maven in 1984.

In 1991the Edward Van Halen Signature model was introduced (Image # )

Ernie Ball’s Music Man guitars continue to be built to this day.

John Peter Petrucci (born July 12, 1967) is an American guitarist, best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. 

Petrucci attended Berklee College of Music in Boston with childhood friend John Myung (bass), where they met future bandmate Mike Portnoy (drums). While in Berklee they often covered two of their biggest influences, Iron Maiden and Rush. These three, in addition to Kevin Moore, formed the band Majesty. Because there was already another band with the same name, the group later became Dream Theater.

 

The Ernie Ball Music Man Majesty was designed with and for John Petrucci of Dream Theater, and introduced in 2014.
 

 

 

The Making Of a Majesty – Ernie Ball Music Man

 

Ernie Ball Music Man Ball Family Reserve John Petrucci Majesty 6  MSRP $5,649 (Image #2)

• Majesty BFR 6-String
• Size    12" wide, 1-3/4" thick, 37" long 
• Body Wood    
• Red Nebula: Quilt Maple top with Alder Wings, Mahogany & Flame Maple through neck
• Arctic Aurora & Blue Ink: Maple Burl top with Black Limba Wings, Mahogany & Flame Maple through neck
• Body Finish    High gloss polyester
• Bridge    Custom John Petrucci Music Man® floating tremolo of plated, hardened steel with Fishman Powerbridge piezo saddles
• Scale Length    25-1/2" 
• Neck Radius    17" 
• Headstock Size    Angled & Only 5-7/8" long
• Frets    24 - Medium Jumbo profile, Stainless Steel
• Neck Width   1-11/16" at nut, 2-1/4" at last fret
• Neck Wood    Mahogany & Flame Maple
• Fingerboard    Ebony
• Fret Markers    Atlante Majesty Inlays
• Neck Finish    High gloss polyester
• Neck Colors    Matches Body
• Tuning Machines    Schaller M6-IND locking
• Truss Rod    Adjustable - no component or string removal
• Neck Attachment    Through neck design
• Electronic Shielding    Graphite acrylic resin coated body cavity and aluminum control cover
• Controls    Custom Music Man® active preamp; push/push volume for gain boost, 500kohm push/push passive tone for custom 2 pickup configurations - .022µF tone capacitor
• Switching    3-way toggle pickup selector, with custom center position configuration; 3-way toggle piezo/magnetic selector, push/push mono/stereo button (back cavity)
• Pickups    HH - 1 DiMarzio Rainmaker - neck; 1 DiMarzio Dreamcatcher - bridge; Fishman Powerbridge piezo saddles

 

2014+ Ernie Ball Music Man Majesty Monarchy 6 - Launched in 2014 as Petrucci’s flagship signature model, replacing earlier JP models. The Majesty 6 is a USA-made, premium guitar for progressive metal built at Ernie Ball Music Man’s San Luis Obispo, CA facility.

• Body: Basswood with maple top (standard) or mahogany/maple (Monarchy), solidbody, double-cutaway with ergonomic contours, Royal Red finish, high-gloss polyester
• Neck: Mahogany, neck-thru-body, 25.5-inch scale, 1.69-inch GraphTech nut, 17-inch radius
• Fingerboard: Ebony, 24 medium jumbo stainless steel frets, custom JP shield inlays
• Pickups: DiMarzio Sonic Ecstasy (bridge ~14k ohms, neck ~7.5k ohms), with optional piezo bridge pickup
• Electronics: 1 volume (push/push 20dB boost), 1 tone, 3-way toggle, piezo/magnetic blend (if equipped), active preamp
• Hardware: Custom John Petrucci Music Man floating tremolo, Schaller M6-IND locking tuners, black or chrome hardware
• Weight: ~6.5–7.5 lbs (lighter than Sterling model due to basswood)
• Accessories: Hardshell case, Certificate of Authenticity (BFR models)

 

Ball Family Reserve (BFR) | Ernie Ball Music Man - a celebration of our heritage in instrument craftsmanship which features some of the finest figured tone woods and finishes available. These rare pieces are offered in limited production runs and allow us to present instruments to the public that were previously reserved for family and our loyal artists.

 

Ernie Ball Music Man Artist Series Collection - focuses on an array of standard EBMM models that have been customized and personalized by endorsed Ernie Ball Music Man artists

 

John Petrucci Collection | Ernie Ball Music Man

 

The Majesty | Guitars | Ernie Ball Music Man - The Majesty is the result of John's unwavering demand for high-performance and playability. One of the most well-balanced and innovative instruments available, the Majesty features a neck-through-body design, unparalleled upper fret access, ergonomic in-line control knob placement, and an advanced pickup switching system, which effectively eliminates the delay between pickup selection. The Majesty is the exemplification of everything we know a John Petrucci signature model to be - innovative technology, versatile performance, and a sleek modern feel.

 

The Mach Five Guitar is a 2020 Sterling by Music Man John Petrucci Signature Majesty 200XFM Dimarzio Royal Red SN 200103760

The Sterling by Music Man John Petrucci Signature Majesty 200XFM DiMarzio is a high-performance, solidbody electric guitar designed in collaboration with Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci, and is an upgraded version of the Majesty series, featuring DiMarzio pickups and premium appointments for progressive metal and shred

This guitar mirrors Petrucci’s own Ernie Ball Music Man Majesty

• Model: MAJ200XFM-RRD
• Body Wood: Mahogany - Flame Maple Veneer Top
• BFR-inspired shieldless body
• Body Color: Royal Red (RRD)
• Bridge: Modern Tremolo
• Pickguard: N/A
• Scale Length: 25.5"
• Neck Radius: 16"
• Frets: 24 Stainless Steel Frets, Medium Jumbo Profile
• Neck Width: 1.65" at Nut, 2.24" at Last Fret
• Neck Wood: 3-piece Mahogany
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Fret Markers: Custom JP Inlays
• Tuning Machines: Locking
• Truss Rod: Dual Action
• Neck Attachment: Set-in Design
• Controls: 1 Push/Push Volume (12dB boost), 1 Tone
• Switching: 3-way Toggle Pickup Selector
• Pickups (HH):
  • Neck:  DiMarzio LiquiFire DP227 (Alnico 5, 10.75 Kohm)  Dimarzio LiquiFire Review (DP227)
  • Bridge: DiMarzio Crunch Lab  DP228BK+BK (Ceramic, 11.03 Kohm) Dimarzio Crunch Lab Review DP228

 

Note:  In 2009 John Petrucci, in collaboration with Larry DiMarzio introduced the new Dimarzio Crunch Lab (bridge) and Liquifire (neck) pickups that would replace the D-Sonic and Air Norton combo that Petrucci had used since 2005.  These were considered to be the next set of John Petrucci signature pickups, even though they were not directly named as such. It was a way of keeping up with the current technology, trends, and demands of modern high gain guitars. These pickups would now become standard on all JP models moving forward, and were also available separately so it was very common to find these pickups across other brands and models of guitars too.

1 - The Mach Five Guitar

2 - Ernie Ball Music Man John Petrucci Majesty 6 - Red Nebula

3 - John Petrucci playing his Majesty

4 - Rod Nadal playing his Majesty

5 - Rod Nadal with Stevie Ray Jawn

6 - Rod Nadal & Stevie Ray Jawn with the Seven Band

 

StingRay 1 (Image # )

StingRay bass (Image # )

Edward Van Halen Signature model (Image # )  

John Petrucci and the Music Man Majesty Guitar Official]

John Petrucci Presents Sterling by Music Man Majesty | MAJ200XFM

Sterling By Music Man® MAJESTY MAJ200XFM | Royal Red 

Music Man Majesty Red Nebula John Petrucci Dream Theater

Dream Theater - Images and Words (FULL ALBUM 1992)

 

Sterling By Music Man MAJ200 John Petrucci Signature Majesty Electric Guitar - Blood Orange Burst, Ebony Fingerboard | Sweetwater

 

1976 MUSICMAN STINGRAY BASS - In 1976 Leo Fender unveiled the Musicman Company, ten years after selling Fender to CBS. In June he debuted the Musicman Stingray bass which was his first "active" instrument utilizing a battery powered preamp. The 3 bolt neckplate included a serial number starting with either an "X" (prototype) or "B00" prefix, a MM logo, and Tilt Adjust. The first B00 serial number started at B001000.  Other 1976 Stingray characteristics: Logo including gold lettering and "TM", hex truss rod adjust at headstock, phillips screw tuners engraved with "Musicman" name and logo- 3 to 1 to a headstock side, solid maple neck with skunk stripe, black dot fret markers, pencil date or date ink stamp on neck butt, date ink stamp in body neck pocket, white/black/white or black/white/black oval pickguard, 8 pole humbucker pickup with black or white plastic cover, 3 plastic "radio" or chrome "knurled" knobs (volume, eq, eq) and input jack on chrome controls plate, CTS potentiometers, black epoxy covered preamp, chrome 4 saddle bridge including black rubber string mutes and engraved "Musicman Pat Pend", 2 screw chrome battery cover on body back, string through body grommets on body back, Sunburst, Natural or Red finish

The 10 most iconic StingRay bass players of all time

 

2019 Ernie Ball Music Man Limited Edition Tiger Eye John Petrucci Signature Majesty  MSRP $4499

• The Ernie Ball Music Man Limited Edition Tiger Eye John Petrucci Signature Majesty is a premium, USA-made, solidbody electric guitar designed for Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci, known for its ergonomic design, versatile tone, and high-end craftsmanship. Released as a limited-edition model in 2019, it features a distinctive Tiger Eye finish, premium tonewoods, and DiMarzio Dreamcatcher/Rainmaker pickups with a piezo bridge.
• limited-edition run of 300 units worldwide (6-string and 7-string combined, with approximately 150–200 6-string units
• The Tiger Eye finish, a smoky sunburst with a three-dimensional flame maple top, was a one-off design, with matching maple on the headstock and neck back. Each guitar includes a backplate signed by John Petrucci and a numbered Certificate of Authenticity (COA)
• crafted at Ernie Ball Music Man’s San Luis Obispo, CA facility
• No reissues have been made due to its exclusive Ball Family Reserve (BFR) status.
•         ○ Limited Edition 300 made
          ○ Made in California
          ○ 25.5" scale Alder body  with Flame maple top and through neck
          ○ Set in 17" radius 3-piece Mahogany/Maple/Mahogany neck, Ebony fretboard
          ○ 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless steel frets, 1.69" GraphTech nut
          ○ Custom John Petrucci Music Man® floating tremolo of chrome plated, hardened steel with Fishman Powerbridge piezo saddles
          ○ Dimarzio 4 conductor Ceramic John Petrucci Rainmaker DP281F $90 & Dreamcatcher DP282F $90
              § Created specifically for the EBMM Majesty
          ○ 3-way toggle pickup selector, with custom center position configuration; 3-way toggle piezo/magnetic selector, push/push mono/stereo button (back cavity)
          ○ Custom Music Man® active preamp; push/push volume for gain boost, 500kohm push/push passive tone for custom 2 pickup configurations - .022µF tone capacitor
•  
• Body: Alder with a carved flame maple top (0.5-inch thick, book-matched), solidbody, double-cutaway with ergonomic contours, Tiger Eye gloss polyester finish.
• Neck: 3-piece Honduran mahogany with a center strip of flame maple, neck-thru-body, 25.5-inch scale, 1.69-inch (43mm) GraphTech nut, 17-inch radius, Petrucci’s signature carve.
• Fingerboard: Ebony, 24 medium jumbo stainless steel frets, Atlante Majesty (white pearl shield) inlays.
• Pickups: DiMarzio Dreamcatcher (bridge, ~14k ohms, high-output), DiMarzio Rainmaker (neck, ~7.5k ohms, warm and clear), plus piezo bridge pickup for acoustic tones.
• Electronics: Push/push volume (20dB active boost), push/push tone (coil-split in middle position), 3-way toggle pickup selector, 3-way piezo/magnetic selector (piezo, magnetic, or both), mono/stereo output.
• Hardware: Custom Music Man piezo floating tremolo bridge, Schaller M6-IND locking tuners, black hardware.
• Weight: ~6.5–7.5 lbs (lighter than Sterling MAJ200XFM-RRD due to alder/maple).
• Accessories: Deluxe hardshell case, signed backplate, numbered COA.
• Notable Use: Designed for Petrucci’s progressive metal style (A View from the Top of the World), offering clarity for down-tuned riffs and versatility for clean/acoustic tones.