Jaimoe Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 Maybe it's appropriate that I'm the one to post this sad report - my last name is the same as the man in question, and I'm going to my step-grandmother Zella Ball's funeral tomorrow in Kingston. Guitar String Maker Ernie Ball Dies at 74 Fri Sep 10, 3:33 AM ET SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Ernie Ball, a pioneer maker of rock 'n' roll guitar strings used by legions of artists from the Rolling Stones to Merle Travis, has died. He was 74. Ball died at his home Thursday after an ongoing illness, the mortuary handling services announced. His strings and instruments were used by music stars over the past four decades, from B.B. King to Metallica (news - web sites). Beginning with a small music shop in the San Fernando Valley, Ball built a business with annual sales of $40 million and a worldwide reputation. Along the way, he bucked traditional thinking in the music business. "He changed the way people thought of guitar accessories, and how they sold and marketed them, and to this day the Ernie Ball way is the industry standard," his son, Sterling Ball, said in a statement. In 1958, Ball opened a shop in Tarzana that, uniquely, sold only guitars. "Sales reps would come in and say, 'Ern, you've got to sell clarinet reeds, drum sticks, valve oil, blah blah blah,'" Ball once recalled. "And I'd tell them 'I just want to sell guitars.'" In 1962, complaints from customers that they couldn't find lighter-gauge, flexible strings for their rock 'n' roll instruments prompted Ball to create and sell sets of strings he called "Slinkys." They were a hit. He later branched out into instruments and accessories, buying the Music Man electric guitar company in 1985. Today, Ernie Ball items are sold in more than 5,000 music stores in the United States and exported to more than 70 countries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 Cheers to Ernie for giving so much to the musicians! And to you Jaimoe...sorry about your Step-grandmother! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted September 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 Thanks Sunshine. And for anyone that'll be in Kingston Tuesday night, I will be at the Sports watching the World Cup final. Go Canada!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blurry Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 Cheers to Ernie for giving so much to the musicians! And to you Jaimoe...sorry about your Step-grandmother! agreed! Can't believe they're not going to make guitars anymore! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaggyBalls Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 poor soul made players glad to be able to find cheap strings in almost any music store. my first .115's were ernie balls....thanks for the gauge buddy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 On the recommendation of a local musical celebrity I used to use Ernie's Rock and Roll 10's back in the days when I would shred electric music for the masses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B & Z Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 Wail a blues for Ernie!!!! Love 'dem strings.....N Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 Ernie Ball Slinky strings were my first regular brand. I was a sucker for the packaging. RIP Ernie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouche Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 My Ernie Ball volume pedal is flying at half-volume today for Ernie. To be honest, I didn't know there really was a guy behind Ernie Ball. I thought it was kind of like the Burt Neilson Band illusion. I guess I'll have to do some research and learn a little bout him now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamilton Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 To be honest, I didn't know there really was a guy behind Ernie Ball. I thought it was kind of like the Burt Neilson Band illusion. Which one is Pink? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooly Posted September 14, 2004 Report Share Posted September 14, 2004 cheers ernie for everything you did.i dont like the strings though they snap way too easily, i prefer elixers, too bad im not rich enough to buy them often Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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