Pino Palladino Icon Series
This model includes genuine New Old Stock bridge plates from the late 70s, complete with serial numbers close to Pino’s original bass. It also features brass saddles, a GraphTech NuBone nut with meticulously sanded and softened shoulders, and a perfectly placed water decal on the headstock, matching the irregular position of Pino’s original. The string tree is precisely located between the D and G strings, as it was on his bass.
The pickup and preamp have been faithfully recreated to match the tone of Pino’s original electronics, using period-correct components and designs to capture the same warmth, clarity, and dynamic response that defined his early recordings. StingRay enthusiasts will appreciate the attention to detail, including the use of a 500k treble pot in place of the original 1 Meg, matching Pino’s bass.
To further capture the spirit of his instrument, each bass comes with a large replica Wales Rugby Bobblehead sticker on the back, a nod to Pino’s personal touch. The back of each headstock is hand-signed by Pino Palladino himself, making each piece truly one-of-a-kind. The bass comes in a premium G&G case with a black shell and gold fur lining, along with vintage-inspired case candy including a Certificate of Authenticity, Allen wrenches, and a yellow polish cloth.
This is more than a bass—it’s a piece of history, capturing the unmistakable tone and feel of a true icon
Only 15 available worldwide.
Your Custom Options:
- Model:
- Pino Palladino Icon Series
- Color:
- Aged 79 Burst
- Neck:
- Tinted Maple - Rosewood - Fretless
- Pickguard:
- Black
- Hardware:
- Relic Chrome
Build Code
295-71R-71R-01-CS-RC
Pino Palladino Icon Series Highlights
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Rosewood Fretless Neck
Dark-tinted hard rock maple neck with a slab rosewood fretless fingerboard
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Custom Hand Shaped Nut
1.686" wide, the meticulously hand-shaped Graphtec Nubone nut duplicates Pino’s modification to enhance tone, volume, and harmonics.
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Active Micropowered Preamp
The 9-volt 2-eq preamp is a hand-soldered circuit board with period correct components and CTS Pots (500K treble pot rather than 1 meg, just like Pino's) voiced to replicate the tone of Pino's aged preamp.
See & hear it
"In 1981, I think, I was in NY on my first tour of America with my good friend Jools Holland. I walked into Sam Ash Music store and saw this fretless Music Man bass up on the wall. It looked so cool. They unlocked the bass so I could try it, and I plugged it in. I immediately felt like I could play it, and the intonation felt pretty good. I ran back to the hotel, found my tour manager, and told him that I needed $350 immediately. He wasn’t thrilled about it but came up with it eventually. I ran back to the store and bought the bass. I played it that night on the gig that we had. Since I bought that bass, it really changed my career. I became known as a fretless bass player… I used that bass exclusively on nearly all the recordings I did from 81 - 95/96."
- Pino Palladino
Vintage Style Alnico Pickup
Custom humbucking pickup with 5/8" tall alnico 5 magnets wound with original 42 gauge wire along with the custom 2EQ preamp, provides the same warmth, clarity, and dynamic response of the original bass.
String-Through Body Bridge
The Pino Palladino icon series basses utilize new old stock pre-Ernie Ball Music Man® chrome bridge plates, equipped with brass saddles and stainless steel spring mutes. These NOS original late 70s bridge plates have serial numbers within the range of Pino's original bass.
3-bolt neckplate with micro-tilt adjustment.
The 3-bolt chrome-plated neck plate uses the original Music Man logo stamp that was used on the original neck plates. These 3-bolt plates include a micro-tilt adjustment that allows for adjustments to the neck angle without needing shims. Firm neck and neck pocket tolerances ensure a tight fit with no shifting.
Bullet Truss Rod
The original pre-EB StingRay bullet truss rod adjustment ensures proper neck action.
Classic Original Music Man Logo
Period-appropriate antique gold Music Man waterslide decal is precisely positioned on the headstock, aligning with the unconventional placement of Pino’s original bass
Asymmetric Neck
The back profile toward the bass side of the neck has a strong “V” shape. It softens to a rounder “C” profile near the treble side of the neck for a more accurate custom playing experience under the fingertips.
A Faithful Recreation
Hand-selected one-piece poplar body blanks were chosen for their specific weight and appearance characteristics to match Pino's original bass. The “79 Burst” Sunburst bodies and fretless rosewood necks were then sprayed with nitrocellulose lacquer to replicate the period-correct finishing techniques.
The Difference Is In The Details
At Music Man, the arduous task at hand was capturing the entire essence of this instrument one hundred percent. Staying true to the original, every nick, paint chip, and blemish was painstakingly examined and recreated by our skilled team of artisans and master craftsmen.
FROM THE FACTORY FLOOR
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WOODWORKING
The manufacturing methods for this unique bass took careful consideration in order to properly match the aesthetic, feel, and performance of Pino Palladino’s beloved fretless StingRay. The one-piece Poplar bodies were thoroughly graded and weighed to ensure a match of the original, while the neck woods were hand picked to match the grain structure and color hues necessary. Ensuring the accuracy of the final product required a master skillset.
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PAINT
Nitrocellulose lacquer is a challenging material to handle, apply, and distress properly. The history of this paint and its chemical composition is fascinating. It is heavily sought after in the guitar world because of its truly living and breathing qualities which help support the resonance and natural frequencies of the instrument. This is also what makes it so volatile and prone to its beautiful ageing properties. After extensive testing and research, we ensured the paint was as true to the original as possible.
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FABRICATION
Utilizing the same tooling that was used when the original bass was made is a privilege and a testament to the legacy of Music Man instruments. Recreating a vintage piece to pay homage to a legendary instrument is no small task. Every detail matters.
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ELECTRONICS
The tonal match of the instrument was of the utmost importance, and the pickup and preamp are at the heart of this machine. Through extensive iterations and research into this specific vintage electronics recipe, we left no stone unturned to gain Pino’s stamp of approval.
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TUMBLING
Careful use of our media tumbler helps bring out the character of a select few parts involved in the relic process. This is the first step before further oxidation, degradation, and dings by hand are placed in the correct spots of each component.
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DISTRESSING
The hand work necessary for each part to come alive is extensive. Nitro lacquer, nickel plating, chrome plating, raw brass, and stainless steel all decay in a different fashion. When all of these pieces are combined, it creates a beautiful vintage aesthetic that helps to tell the story of a well loved and heavily played instrument.
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FINAL TOUCHES
The Music Man team was honored to work on such an incredible project that highlights our company’s history and legacy. Our hope is that the love and effort that we have put into these exclusive pieces can be felt and heard by those lucky enough to play one with their own hands.
Specifications, Schematics & More
Specifications
| Body Wood | One Piece Poplar |
|---|---|
| Body Finish | Nitrocellulose - artificially aged to replicate Pino's exact bass |
| Body Colors | 79 Burst, Aged to replicate Pino's original |
| Bridge | N.O.S. Pre-Ernie Ball Music Man® Chrome Plated, Steel Bridge Plate with Brass Saddles and Stainless Steel Spring Mutes |
| Pickguard | "Aged" 3 ply Black/White/Black |
| Scale Length | 34" |
| Neck Radius | 7.5" |
| Frets | Unlined Fretless |
| Neck Width | 1.686" at Nut; 2.458" at Heel |
| Neck Wood | Maple |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood |
| Neck Finish | "Aged" Nitrocellulose |
| Neck Colors | Dark Orange Tint |
| Tuning Machines | "Aged" Schaller Bass |
| Truss Rod | Traditional Bullet Nut at Headstock, Walnut Skunk Stripe on back of neck |
| Neck Attachment | 3-Bolt period correct, old Music Man stamp |
| Controls | 2-band active preamp, 25k Volume; 500k Treble and 100k Bass |
| Pickups | Late 70s StingRay Voiced (Shorter "Aged" Pole Pieces, flush with cover) with "Aged" Cover |
| Strings | 36w-55w-65w-90w Custom Gauge Ernie Ball Slinky Nickel Wound |
Compare Specs
| Specifications | Pino Palladino Icon Series | — |
|---|---|---|
| Size | ||
| Body Wood | One Piece Poplar | |
| Body Finish | Nitrocellulose - artificially aged to replicate Pino's exact bass | |
| Body Colors | 79 Burst, Aged to replicate Pino's original | |
| Body Bindings | ||
| Bridge | N.O.S. Pre-Ernie Ball Music Man® Chrome Plated, Steel Bridge Plate with Brass Saddles and Stainless Steel Spring Mutes | |
| Pickguard | "Aged" 3 ply Black/White/Black | |
| Scale Length | 34" | |
| Neck Radius | 7.5" | |
| Headstock Size | ||
| Frets | Unlined Fretless | |
| Neck Width | 1.686" at Nut; 2.458" at Heel | |
| Neck Wood | Maple | |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood | |
| Fret Markers | ||
| Neck Finish | "Aged" Nitrocellulose | |
| Neck Colors | Dark Orange Tint | |
| Neck Binding | ||
| Tuning Machines | "Aged" Schaller Bass | |
| Truss Rod | Traditional Bullet Nut at Headstock, Walnut Skunk Stripe on back of neck | |
| Neck Attachment | 3-Bolt period correct, old Music Man stamp | |
| Electronic Shielding | ||
| Controls | 2-band active preamp, 25k Volume; 500k Treble and 100k Bass | |
| Switching | ||
| Pickups | Late 70s StingRay Voiced (Shorter "Aged" Pole Pieces, flush with cover) with "Aged" Cover | |
| Left Handed | ||
| Strings | 36w-55w-65w-90w Custom Gauge Ernie Ball Slinky Nickel Wound |
Control Function Diagrams
Product Registration
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