Ernie Ball Music Man Armada HH (2013) – Natural / Transparent Red
 
This guitar has the same energy as a vintage Corvette Stingray idling at a stoplight—wide hips, unapologetic curves, and absolutely no interest in subtlety. The Armada doesn’t just suggest muscle, it is muscle. Those sweeping body lines look like they were pulled straight off a ’60s Stingray after three espressos and a questionable life decision. Park it next to a slab guitar and it just smirks.
 
This is Ernie Ball Music Man doing what they do best: taking a familiar idea, tightening every tolerance to NASA levels, and then reminding everyone else they’re playing checkers. The carved maple top is stupid nice—flame for days—flowing into that Transparent Red like it knows it’s not getting discounted. It feels fast, balanced, and dangerously easy to play, which is usually how you end up accidentally sounding better than you deserve.
 
The HH setup absolutely rips. Thick, authoritative, no-fluff tones that stay articulate even when you lean on them. This thing doesn’t blur, doesn’t sag, and doesn’t apologize. It’s more “precision instrument” than “vintage diva,” but it still has enough attitude to knock a drink off your amp.
 
Now let’s address the two tiny elephants in the room, because transparency matters:

• There is a small finish crack at the base of the headstock. This is finish only. Not structural. Not repaired. Not spreading. Not a future problem. Think “wrinkle in the clear coat,” not “midlife crisis.”

• There was once a decal on the back that left the faintest outline. And I mean faint. Blink and you’ll miss it. Squint and you’ll still wonder if it’s actually there.
 
That’s it. No breaks, no funny business, no “trust me bro” energy. Structurally solid, plays flawlessly, and feels exactly like a high-end USA Music Man should.
 
Includes the original hardshell case and case candy, because of course it does—this guitar has standards.
 
If you want a guitar that looks like it could outrun most sports cars while cornering better than your excuses, the Armada is ready to burn rubber.