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EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony
Music Man StingRay RS
VS
Playability
73
Sound
82
Build
69
Value
75
Score
75
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Playability
68
Sound
74
Build
80
Value
64
Score
74
FIND IT ON:
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EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony vs Music Man StingRay RS

Reasons to Get
EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony over Music Man StingRay RS

Release Year
2021 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 10"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Pickup Mods
Killswitch vs None
Cuts out the pickups instantly
Nut Width
1.685'' (42.8mm) vs 1.625'' (41.3mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Tremolo
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Value Score
75 vs 64
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Music Man StingRay RS over EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Mexico
Built with higher quality standards
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.625'' (41.3mm) vs 1.685'' (42.8mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Floyd Rose
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance

Other Key Differences
EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony vs Music Man StingRay RS

Bridge Pickup
Direct Mount EVH Wolfgang Humbucking vs Music Man Custom Humbucker
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Direct Mount EVH Wolfgang Humbucking vs Music Man Custom Humbucker
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Okoume
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Figured Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Roasted Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6 vs 4-2
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Locking vs Compensated
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony vs Music Man StingRay RS

Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Music Man StingRay RS Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony is probably the better product overall with its final score of 75 compared to the Music Man StingRay RS's 74 score, although not by a lot.

The EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Music Man StingRay RS has the upper hand when it comes to build quality.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Music Man StingRay RS is the better choice.

The Music Man StingRay RS meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony meets only 5. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Music Man StingRay RS
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony Overview

  • From EVH's 2021 5150 Guitars series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Quartersawn Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Direct Mount EVH Wolfgang Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Direct Mount EVH Wolfgang Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Top-Mount EVH-Branded Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo with EVH D-Tuna bridge
  • EVH Modified C Backshape Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • EVH-Branded Gotoh tuners
  • Weight between 7.4lbs (3.4kgs) and 8.55lbs (3.9kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Music Man StingRay RS Overview

  • From Music Man's 2017 Stingray RS series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 10" Fretboard Radius
  • Okoume body
  • Roasted Figured Maple neck
  • Roasted Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Music Man Custom Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Music Man Custom Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Music Man Modern Tremolo bridge
  • Stingray RS Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Schaller M6-IND locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in the EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

Woods Used in the Music Man StingRay RS

Figured Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Figured Maple
Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple
Okoume wood pattern used for guitar building
Okoume

This wood has beautiful patterns only found in specific types of maple.

Roasted Maple is just maple without a finish. It's technically cheaper than regular maple, but it doesn't have any extra disadvantages because of this. The color is darker, and it's lighter weight and very stable even when there's a lot of humidity.

Okoume is an affordable wood and one of the first to replace Mahogany when the prohibitions started. It's generally softer than Mahogany and the tone has warmer lows.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony comes with some kind of pickup modification: Killswitch.

A Killswitch lets you disengage the pickups instantly. It can be useful when playing live, and it allows you to create some cool sound effects by using the switch rapidly.

They both share the following switching options:

EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony and Music Man StingRay RS pickups switch and push knobs diagram
EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony and Music Man StingRay RS's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony.

Final Sound Quality Scores

EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 74
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 82
Music Man StingRay RS
Pickups 90
Sustain 65
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 74

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony compares to the Music Man StingRay RS.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony is built in Mexico while the Music Man StingRay RS is made in United States.

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Music Man StingRay RS

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony has a Locking nut. Instead of a regular nut, this guitar has a locking system that will lock down the strings at the nut, preventing it from getting out of tune. It removes one of the disadvantages of tremolo bridges, tune stability.

On the other hand, the Music Man StingRay RS comes with a Compensated nut. Each hole where the string sits at the nut is cut at a different distance from the bridge, which compensates for the different amount of tension that each string is subject to. This fixes most intonation issues across the fretboard, so it gives great tuning stability.

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

In this comparison, the Music Man StingRay RS is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: Music Man StingRay RS.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

The EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony's brige is a Floyd Rose. This is a double-locking bridge system that allows you to perform techniques like dive bombs and pinch harmonics. The locking nut allows your guitar to stay in tune even after the most intense tremolo usage. The disadvantage is that it takes more work to change the strings and set up everything correctly.

On the other hand, the Music Man StingRay RS's is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony.

Tuners

The Music Man StingRay RS has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Nevertheless, the EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony has a locking nut, so it should have even better tune stability and doesn't need locking tuners.

Winner: Music Man StingRay RS.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Killswitch Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Retainer Bar
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Music Man StingRay RS
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Compensated Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony
Quality of materials 51
Features 80
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 69
Music Man StingRay RS
Quality of materials 81
Features 65
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 80

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony Nut Width
EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony Nut Width
Music Man StingRay RS Nut Width
Music Man StingRay RS Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony has the wider nut with 42.8mm (1.685'') vs 41.3mm (1.625''). This is a 1.5mm (0.06'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony and Music Man StingRay RS's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony Neck Profile
EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony's neck profile
Music Man StingRay RS Neck Profile
Music Man StingRay RS's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony and the Music Man StingRay RS have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony Fretboard Compound Radius
EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony's Compound Fretboard Radius
Music Man StingRay RS Fingerboard Radius
Music Man StingRay RS's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Music Man StingRay RS:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony Frets Size
EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony's Frets Size
Music Man StingRay RS Frets Size
Music Man StingRay RS's Frets Size

The EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Music Man StingRay RS's Medium Jumbo frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73
Music Man StingRay RS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 65
Playability 68

Specs Side-by-Side

EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony vs Music Man StingRay RS
General EVH 5150 Series Standard Ebony Music Man StingRay RS
Brand: EVH Music Man
Year: 2021 2017
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Mexico United States
Series: 5150 Guitars Stingray RS
Colors: Blue Blue, Brown
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Okoume
Bridge: Top-Mount EVH-Branded Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo with EVH D-Tuna Music Man Modern Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: EVH-Branded Gotoh Schaller M6-IND locking
Fretboard: Ebony Roasted Maple
Neck Material: Quartersawn Maple Roasted Figured Maple
Decoration: Cream Dot 1/4 Black Or White Face Dots
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: EVH Modified C Backshape Stingray RS
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.81'' (20.6mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 10"
Nut: Locking Compensated
Nut Width: 42.8mm (1.685'') 41.3mm (1.625'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Direct Mount EVH Wolfgang Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Music Man Custom Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Direct Mount EVH Wolfgang Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Music Man Custom Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Killswitch None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1