Ernie Ball Music Man debuts the March Ball Family Reserve range
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10.03.2021

Ernie Ball Music Man debuts the March Ball Family Reserve range

Words by Will Brewster

Another big flex from the Ernie Ball camp.

It’s that wonderful time of the year again where Ernie Ball Music Man pull out all the stops for their bi-monthly Ball Family Reserve collection, with March serving up four sparkling additions to the bespoke range.

Summary

  • Ernie Ball Music Man’s Ball Family Reserve collection for March 2021 consists of four electric guitars: a Sabre, JP15, Albert Lee and Luke III.
  • Each guitar features a bespoke finish and custom appointments such as rosewood and roasted maple necks.
  • All guitars can be ordered today via your domestic Ernie Ball Music Man dealer.

Catch up on all the latest product news here.

March Ball Family Reserve

For March, the Ball Family Reserve have chosen to spotlight three of their acclaimed signature models – the Albert Lee, John Petrucci and Steve Lukather guitars – in addition to a Coral Blue Burst Sabre.

The BFR Sabre, which was officially relaunched by the company last year, is limited to only 60 units worldwide, and pairs an okoume body with a figured maple top and a bolt-on rosewood neck and fretboard for a striking look.

Twin Music Man HH-2 humbuckers adorn the neck and bridge position of the guitar, while a five-way pickup selector switch and volume and tone controls allow for simple tonal adjustments.

The range also offers up a jaw-dropping John Petrucci Signature JP15, limited to only 89 pieces worldwide. It pairs a sleek S-type design with a rosewood body with a micro-thin maple veneer and rosewood top, which are each complemented with a rosewood neck and matching fretboard for good measure.

For electronics, this one boasts a pair of DiMarzio Illuminator humbuckers with a piezo system tucked away in the floating bridge, with both pickup types featuring independent outputs to allow you to blend acoustic and electric tones with ease. Other little goodies include a tremolo cover signed by Petrucci himself, plus stainless steel frets, Schaller M6-IND locking tuners and a sturdy hard case.

Offset fans will find great solace in the new Albert Lee signature in Seafoam Sparkle, which is limited to a scant 59 units and features a glorious roasted and figured maple neck and fretboard.

As is the norm for these models, this one boasts an okoume body, and features a DiMarzio bridge humbucker and two Music Man single coils in the neck and middle position. It’s also signed by Lee himself, which should serve to satisfy any staunch collector out there.

Finally, there’s the remarkable BFR March Luke III, a twisted take on the signature model favoured by legendary Toto guitarist Steve Lukather. With a sleekly-contoured okoume body, bolt-on roasted maple neck and black-block inlaid fretboard, this guitar boasts 22 low wide frets and a double-locking Floyd Rose tremolo for maximum shredability, while a ceramic neck humbucker and alnico bridge humbucker provide a myriad of tones.

Limited to only 69 pieces worldwide, the BFR Luke III is finished in a sweet Black Sparkle colour-way, and is available to order from today.

Check out the range in full here. For local enquiries, get in touch with CMC Music.