5-string · bolt-on
Nine volt active 3 band EQ, 3 position pickup selector switch, ceramic humbucker with hum canceling phantom coil, Comfortable and compact, well-suited for a wide range of players. Optional dual humbucker in the neck position.
| Construction | bolt-on |
| Strings | 5 |
| Body | Select Hardwoods |
| Neck | Select roasted maple neck |
| Fingerboard | Maple or Rosewood |
| Neck Pickup | Music Man® humbucking with ceramic magnets and hum canceling phantom coil |
| Bridge Pickup | Music Man® humbucking with ceramic magnets and hum canceling phantom coil |
| Controls | vol, treble, mid, bass |
| Bridge | Music Man® chrome plated, hardened steel bridge plate with stainless steel saddles |
Artists documented playing the Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling 5: Benny Rietveld, Brad Walst, Brian Gibson, Brian J. Robinson, Charles Berthoud, Chi Cheng, Colin Greenwood, Danny Lohner, Dave LaRue, Dougie Poynter, Eric Bass, Fil Thorpe-Evans, Jamie Mathias, Jennifer Young, Joe Dart, Johnny Christ, Marcelo Corvalán, Mark Klepaski, Max Green, Murphy Karges, Neck Deep, Paul Gray (2), Phil Soussan, Roger Lima, Ryan Scott Graham, Tyler Williams, Will Bottomley.