Sterling by Music Man has partnered with acclaimed guitarist, composer, and Animals as Leaders founder Tosin Abasi to release the Kaizen, a sleek standard-scale evolution of the groundbreaking Ernie Ball Music Man model. With prices starting at just $849.99, this collaboration makes Abasi’s futuristic vision of speed, comfort, and innovation more attainable than ever before.
Developed alongside Abasi himself, the Sterling by Music Man Kaizen maintains the ergonomic hallmarks of the original design while adopting a fixed scale length for players who prefer a more traditional feel. Its lightweight contoured body and roasted Maple neck deliver effortless playability across all 24 frets, while the guitar’s bold but functional silhouette ensures both comfort and stage presence.
“I want the guitar to play fast, I want it to wear close to the body, and I want it to communicate a degree of aggression and forward-thinking – and I think the Kaizen really embodies that,” Abasi explained. “There’s a foundational shape to the Kaizen that’s really bold and impactful, but it doesn’t depart too far from what a guitar should look like.”
Equipped with dual uncovered ceramic humbuckers, the Kaizen provides a raw, punchy tone with searing mids that cut effortlessly through even the densest mixes. Its floating tremolo system supports expressive pitch play, while Steinberger Gearless Tuners – borrowed from the flagship Music Man model – deliver rock-solid tuning stability and smooth precision.
Available in 6- or 7-string configurations, the Kaizen comes in striking matte finishes – Firemist Purple Satin and Stealth Black – both paired with color-matched headstocks for a sharp, modern aesthetic.
Named after the Japanese concept of “Kaizen,” which translates to “continuous improvement,” the guitar embodies its namesake through design choices that blend tradition with innovation. As Abasi summed up: “We needed to retain some things from the Music Man model because they’re quintessential to how the guitar plays and feels, and we changed some things that we thought would actually be beneficial. This was an opportunity to give people an option, and I think we really hit a sweet spot.”
Get the Sterling by Music Man Kaizen here for $849.99 (or $899.99 for the 7-string), and keep up with all our Sterling By Music Man coverage right here!
