Essential Information About the BFR DarkRay "Grapes of Wrath" Bass
- Ball Family Reserve Limited Edition: only 75 pieces with numbered certificate
- Premium aesthetics: flamed maple top, "Grapes of Wrath" finish, Purple Atlante inlays
- Active Darkglass electronics with two distinct distortion circuits, Alpha and Omega
- Modern sustain and attack thanks to ash body, roasted maple neck, stainless steel frets
Ball Family Reserve: the exception within the DarkRay range
This BFR DarkRay embodies the pinnacle of Music Man craftsmanship: figured wood selection, exclusive finishes, and ultra-limited production. Made in the USA, it features a flamed maple top enhanced by the "Grapes of Wrath" tint and a figured roasted maple neck. Each instrument comes with a numbered certificate of authenticity and a premium Mono Softshell case.
For whom and which styles?
Designed for intermediate to professional bassists, the DarkRay BFR excels in rock, metal, prog, and fusion genres, while remaining comfortable in modern funk thanks to its incisive dynamics. Its active electronics and high-level luthiery offer a palette ranging from articulate clean tones to dense saturated textures, ready for both stage and studio.
Sound
The neodymium magnet humbucker bridge pickup delivers deep lows, present mids, and precise highs. The Darkglass custom 2-band active preamp provides ample and musical gain, with effective bass/treble EQ. The two built-in distortion circuits, Alpha (tighter and more precise) and Omega (heavier and more aggressive), combine with volume, gain, and blend controls to dial saturation from subtle grit to biting drive. The ash body and flamed maple top add projection and definition, while the ebony fingerboard enhances attack and clarity. The 34" / 864 mm scale length and 22 stainless steel frets ensure exemplary sustain and intonation.
Recommended Compatible Accessories
To preserve the original feel and preamp settings, we recommend 34" long scale strings with gauges 45-65-80-100, identical to the factory set (Ernie Ball Super Slinky #2834). The Mono Softshell case is included for transport and protection.
Technical Specifications
Body
- Type: solid body electric bass
- Format: DarkRay
- Construction: solid body
- Body wood: ash
- Top: flamed maple (solid construction)
- Body finish: high-gloss polyester
- Top color: "Grapes of Wrath"
- Body color: dark translucent purple
- Pickguard: black
Neck
- Wood: figured roasted maple
- Joint: 5 bolts
- Profile: C
- Thickness at 1st fret: 0.830" / 21.1 mm
- Thickness at 12th fret: 0.936" / 23.8 mm
- Truss rod: adjustable without removing parts or strings
- Neck and fingerboard finish: "gunstock" oil + special wax applied by hand
- Headstock: natural
Hardware
- Bridge: Music Man vintage, top-loading, steel plate and saddles, black finish
- Tuners: Music Man custom, lightweight, tapered shafts, ergonomic "clover" buttons
- Hardware color: black
- Knobs: dome type
Electronics
- Type: active
- Pickup: 1 neodymium magnet humbucker at bridge
- Preamp: Darkglass custom 2-band
- Controls: volume, gain, blend, bass, treble, Alpha/Omega distortion circuit selector
- Output: mono
Fingerboard
- Wood: ebony
- Fingerboard radius: 11" / 279 mm
- Inlays: "Purple Atlante" block inlays
- Side markers: white dots
- Frets: 22 stainless steel frets
- Scale length: 34" / 864 mm
- Nut (material/width): melamine, 1-11/16" / 43 mm
Miscellaneous
- Origin: USA
- Factory tuning: standard (E-A-D-G)
- Factory strings: 45-65-80-100 (Super Slinky Bass #2834)
- Case included: Mono Softshell
- Series: DarkRay (Ball Family Reserve edition, limited to 75 units, numbered certificate included)
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