2023 Music Man BFR "Shadow Korina" DarkRay Bass Guitar

Some instruments are built to be played. Others are built to be remembered. The 2023 Music Man BFR "Shadow Korina" DarkRay is both — a limited edition instrument of extraordinary rarity, exceptional craftsmanship and sonic capability that places it in a category entirely its own.

Limited to just 100 units worldwide, this is one of the most exclusive production bass guitars ever made. With fewer than 80 known to exist in the hands of players globally, the opportunity to acquire one — let alone in Australia — is genuinely rare. This is that opportunity.

What is a Music Man BFR?

BFR stands for Ball Family Reserve — Music Man's highest tier of instrument production, overseen personally by the Ball family who have owned and operated Ernie Ball Music Man since 1984. BFR instruments represent the pinnacle of what the San Luis Obispo factory is capable of producing.

Where standard production instruments are built to exceptional standards, BFR instruments go further — featuring premium tonewoods, advanced hardware, elevated specifications and production runs so limited that they routinely become collector's pieces within months of release. Owning a BFR is not simply owning a great bass. It is owning a piece of Music Man history.

The Shadow Korina — Black Limba at Its Finest

The body of this DarkRay is crafted from Black Limba — also known as Korina — one of the most revered tonewoods in guitar and bass building. Korina carries a legacy that stretches back to the late 1950s when Gibson used it for the original Flying V and Explorer, instruments now considered among the most collectable electric guitars ever made.

Tonally, Korina sits between mahogany and swamp ash — delivering warm, resonant low end with a clarity and articulation that mahogany alone rarely achieves. For bass, it produces a rich, full-bodied fundamental with excellent note definition across the entire frequency range. The satin finish lets the natural grain speak for itself while providing a tactile playing surface that feels as good as it looks.

• Black Limba (Korina) body — historically significant and tonally exceptional
• Satin finish — tactile, natural and visually stunning
• DarkRay body shape — ergonomic and aggressive in equal measure
• Each piece of Korina is unique — no two instruments look exactly alike

Roasted Maple Neck and Fretboard

The neck and fretboard are both crafted from roasted maple — a thermally treated maple that has been baked at high temperatures to drive out moisture and crystallise the wood's cell structure. The result is a neck that is dimensionally stable across temperature and humidity changes, resistant to warping, and tonally enhanced through the roasting process.

Roasted maple produces a warmer, more complex tone than standard maple while retaining the snap and clarity that maple is prized for. The visual result — a rich caramel to dark brown colouration — gives the neck a vintage character that complements the Shadow Korina body beautifully.

• Roasted maple neck — superior stability and enhanced tone
• Roasted maple fretboard — warm, complex and visually stunning
• C neck profile — comfortable for extended playing sessions
• 5-bolt neck joint — exceptional rigidity and sustain transfer
• 11" radius — comfortable for both fingerstyle and slap technique

Stainless Steel Frets — Built to Last a Lifetime

The 22 frets are stainless steel — a premium choice that is significantly harder than standard nickel silver frets. Stainless steel frets resist wear dramatically better than nickel, maintain their level surface for decades of playing, and produce a brighter, more articulate tone with enhanced note clarity and sustain.

On an instrument of this calibre and rarity, stainless steel frets are not merely a specification upgrade — they are a statement of intent. This bass is built to be played hard and to remain in immaculate condition for generations.

• 22 stainless steel frets — exceptional wear resistance
• Enhanced clarity, sustain and articulation
• Maintain playability for decades without refretting
• 34" scale length — standard long scale for full, powerful tone

Darkglass 2 EQ Preamp with Alpha and Omega Distortions

The electronics package sets this bass apart from virtually every other production instrument available at any price point. The onboard Darkglass 2 EQ preamp is a collaboration between Music Man and Darkglass Electronics — the Finnish company whose outboard preamps and distortion pedals have become the definitive choice for modern heavy bass tones worldwide.

Integrated directly into the bass are both the Alpha and Omega distortion circuits — Darkglass's two signature distortion flavours — selectable via a 3-way blade switch. The Alpha delivers a grinding, mid-focused overdrive. The Omega produces a tighter, more aggressive distortion with enhanced low-end retention. Both can be blended with the clean signal using the dedicated blend control.

The result is a bass that is simultaneously a precision studio instrument, a versatile live performance tool and a fully integrated effects unit — without a single pedal on the floor.

• Darkglass 2 EQ onboard preamp
• Alpha distortion — grinding, mid-focused overdrive
• Omega distortion — tight, aggressive with low-end retention
• 3-way blade switch — clean, Alpha or Omega distortion selection
• Blend control — mix clean and distorted signals continuously
• Independent volume, gain, treble and bass controls
• Music Man Neodymium Humbucker bridge pickup
• Vintage Music Man top-loaded black plated bridge
• Custom Music Man tuners

Rarity and Collectibility

With a worldwide production run limited to just 100 units and fewer than 80 known to be in players' hands globally, the Shadow Korina DarkRay is not simply a premium bass — it is a genuinely rare collectible instrument. Each bass ships with a numbered certificate of authenticity, confirming its place in the limited production run.

BFR instruments have a documented history of appreciating in value. Their combination of extreme scarcity, premium specification and the Music Man BFR reputation creates demand that consistently exceeds supply. Players who purchased previous BFR releases at retail have seen significant appreciation in the secondary market.

• Limited to 100 units worldwide
• Fewer than 80 known to exist in players' hands globally
• Numbered certificate of authenticity included
• Ships in a softshell case
• Documented history of BFR value appreciation

Full Specifications

• Number of Strings: 4
• Orientation: Right-handed
• Body Shape: DarkRay
• Body Material: Black Limba (Korina)
• Body Finish: Satin
• Neck Material: Roasted Maple
• Neck Shape: C
• Neck Joint: 5 Bolt-on
• Radius: 11"
• Fingerboard Material: Roasted Maple
• Fingerboard Inlay: Dots
• Number of Frets: 22, Stainless Steel
• Scale Length: 34"
• Nut Width: 1.6875"
• Nut Material: Compensated Melamine
• Bridge: Vintage Music Man Top Loaded, Black Plated
• Tuners: Custom Music Man
• Bridge Pickup: Music Man Neodymium Humbucker
• Controls: Volume, Gain, Blend, Treble, Bass
• Switching: 3-way blade (distortion selector)
• Strings: Ernie Ball Super Slinky .045-.100
• Case: Softshell Case
• Weight: 4.55kg
• MPN: 128-BNK-10-01-MB-B2
• RRP: $8,999.00

Why Buy From Angkor Music

Angkor Music is Melbourne's most trusted music retailer — rated 4.9 stars from over 1,500 Google reviews. We are an authorised Music Man dealer with the expertise and experience to properly represent instruments of this calibre.

This bass has been photographed in our store. What you see is exactly what you receive. We do not use manufacturer stock images for instruments of this significance — every photograph shows the actual instrument you will own.

For an instrument at this price point we encourage serious enquiries by phone or in person at our Altona store, where you are welcome to play this bass before purchase.

★★★★★ 4.9 Stars — Read Our 1,500+ Google Reviews →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does BFR stand for?
BFR stands for Ball Family Reserve — Music Man's highest production tier, overseen personally by the Ball family. BFR instruments feature premium specifications, extremely limited production runs and represent the absolute pinnacle of what the Ernie Ball Music Man factory produces.

How many of these basses exist?
The Shadow Korina DarkRay was limited to a worldwide production run of 100 units. Fewer than 80 are known to exist in players' hands globally. Each instrument comes with a numbered certificate of authenticity confirming its place in the production run.

What is Korina and why is it significant?
Korina — also known as Black Limba — is a West African tonewood with a celebrated history in guitar and bass building. Gibson used it for the original 1958 Flying V and Explorer, instruments now among the most valuable electric guitars ever made. Tonally it delivers warm, resonant low end with exceptional note clarity — highly prized for bass construction.

What is roasted maple and what are its benefits?
Roasted maple is thermally treated at high temperatures to remove moisture and crystallise the wood's structure. The result is a neck that is more stable across temperature and humidity changes, resistant to warping, and tonally enhanced — warmer and more complex than standard maple while retaining its characteristic snap and clarity.

What do the Alpha and Omega distortions sound like?
The Alpha produces a grinding, mid-focused overdrive with an organic character — ideal for rock and alternative applications. The Omega delivers a tighter, more aggressive distortion with superior low-end retention — the choice for modern metal and heavy music. Both can be blended continuously with the clean signal using the dedicated blend control.

Can I try this bass before purchasing?
Yes. This bass is available to play in our Altona Melbourne store. For an instrument of this significance we strongly encourage players to visit in person. Please contact us to arrange a time.

Is this the actual bass in the photographs?
Yes. Every photograph shows the exact instrument you will receive. We do not use manufacturer or stock images for instruments of this calibre.

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