The Guitar Player's Resource
Guitar style linked to players such as James Valentine.
As part of the Grammy-winning band Maroon 5, James Valentine’s funk-infused licks have served up constant earworms for millions of listeners, not to mention contributing to the trademark sound of one of today’s hottest pop-rock acts. Ernie Ball Music Man tapped into James’s mystique to create the Valentine, combining vintage aesthetics and modern enhancements to form an instrument all its own. Its timeless combination of ash and maple for the body, neck, and fingerboard feels great in the hands of players of all generations while laying a solid tonal foundation that plays exceptionally well with the Valentine’s electronics. Speaking of electronics, EBMM outfitted the Valentine with an incredible set of custom-designed pickups as well as a handy coil split and gain boost — practically every electric guitar tone imaginable can be summoned by the Valentine! Even the hardware has been meticulously chosen for quality and reliability, with a Music Man Modern Classic hardtail bridge and Schaller locking tuners to keep everything in tune while you slay onstage.
The classic combination of an ash body and maple neck represents one of the sweetest and twangiest tonal cocktails ever envisioned. The Valentine pays homage to this recipe with a touch of contemporary class thrown in for equal parts vintage and modern. Its ash body is supremely comfortable in all playing positions, tapered where it sits against the midsection to hug its namesake’s body exactly how he prefers.
Not only does the Valentine’s roasted maple neck deliver that trademark “spank” and “snap” guitarists have loved for decades, but it’s also a sight to behold. This stunning axe boasts beautiful figuring throughout that’s sure to garner more than a few looks when you hit the stage. Finally, its matching maple fingerboard is smooth to the touch and guaranteed to send your fretting hand from head to heel in a flash.
Ernie Ball Music Man treated the Valentine to a rock-steady set of Schaller locking tuners up at the headstock, reinforced with a Music Man Modern Classic hardtail bridge for an anchoring that prioritizes both tuning precision and steadfast accuracy as you play. To boot, 22 stainless steel frets and a Melamine nut keep your string response purified and incredibly articulate, giving proper attention to every note the piece demands.
Model: Valentine
Additional Features: Music Man preamp
Number of Strings: 6
Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
Body Type: Solidbody
Body Shape: Ernie Ball Doublecut
Body Material: Ash
Body Finish: High Gloss Polyester
Color: Baby Blue
Neck Material: Roasted Figured Maple
Neck Shape: C
Neck Joint: 5-way Bolt-on
Radius: 10"
Fingerboard Material: Roasted Figured Maple
Fingerboard Inlay: Dots
Number of Frets: 22, .095" x .047", Stainless Steel
Scale Length: 25.5"
Nut Material: Melamine
Bridge/Tailpiece: Music Man Custom Modern Classic Hardtail
Tuners: Schaller Locking
Neck Pickup: Music Man Custom Wound offset mini Humbucker
Bridge Pickup: Music Man custom wound staggered pole piece Single-coil
Controls: 1 x volume (push/pull gain boost), 1 x tone (push/pull coil-split)
Switching: 3-way blade pickup switch
