My dad would set up all of the guitars that he sold. Players would come in from all over Southern California to buy Teles and Strats from us because of that Our acoustic guitar strings line includes Aluminum Bronze, Earthwood 80/20 Bronze, Paradigm 80/20 Bronze, Everlast Coated Phosphor Bronze, Paradigm Phosphor Bronze, Earthwood Phosphor Bronze and Everlast Coated 80/20 Bronze.

Ernie Ball started making their slinky strings with the now simple concept to offer musicians a set that you could bend easily! Since then they have built a wide variety of string choices to suit different tonal choices and playing styles; from the classic regular slinky sets, to titanium coated, ultra high output M-Steel, and Cobalt.

Purchasing

When we started doing the battle of the bands, a lot of people in the industry were saying that the guitar was dead,” Sterling says. “We got 32,000 tapes that proved they were wrong about that. The contest became even bigger when my son Brian got involved with it. This collaboration would eventually lead to a major game-changing development for Ernie Ball during the next decade. Ernie Ball handed over the full-time responsibility of running the company to Sterling in 1975, and its sales and success continued to grow at a rapid pace. The company responded to its growing competition by focusing on diversification and innovation, expanding its selection of custom gauge electric guitar string sets and making strings for a wider range of instruments, including bass and acoustic guitar. Ernie Ball are a family run company that have been providing strings for the world’s greatest guitar players since 1962 with the introduction of the Super Slinky series.

We don’t have contracts with our artists,” Sterling says. “I never wanted a piece of paper to determine whether someone played our guitars or not. I wanted to make sure we always earned that privilege. Most of our artists have been with us a very long time. It’s all about family.” Our guitar string sets are available for 6-string and 12-string guitars. We also offer 5-string sets for Mandolin and Banjos. Individual gauge strings are also available. Sterling Ball on stage. Ball would road test the StingRay prototypes and offer Leo Fender a player's perspective. (Image credit: Ernie Ball Music Man) We don’t have contracts with our artists. I never wanted a piece of paper to determine whether someone played our guitars or not Sterling BallErnie Ball introduced its acoustic Earthwood brand in a literally big way in 1972. In addition to rolling out the new line of Earthwood acoustic guitar strings, the company also produced its very first instrument: the Earthwood acoustic-electric bass guitar.

Ernie Ball/Music Man has remained focused on meeting artists’ needs both by working closely with well-known touring and recording musicians and supporting up-and-coming talent. In 1997 the company started sponsoring its battle of the bands on the Warped tour and has held this event on every Warped tour since then. With players like Lee, Morse and Richards enthusiastically supporting the brand, interest in Music Man guitars began to grow. However, the next artist to join the Music Man guitar roster – Eddie Van Halen – instantly transformed the response to the company from interested raised eyebrows to dropped-jaw, eyes-wide-open amazement. The sole remedy for breach of the Guarantee and Limited Warranty shall be this express Guarantee and Limited Warranty. This Guarantee and Limited Warranty shall be governed by the laws of the State of California, U.S.A., without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. Any warranty that the Product is compatible with any product or instrument is expressly disclaimed. With this Guarantee and Limited Warranty, Ernie Ball grants the customer specific legal rights which do not restrict any statutory consumer rights. Ernie Ball’s dedication to guitarists was inspired by his own experiences as a player at first and later as a music retailer. After returning from service in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, he played pedal steel in various bands around Los Angeles before becoming a member of the house band on KTLA television’s “Western Varieties” program and doing session work.

Frequently Asked Questions about Music Man Guitars

Soon the company outgrew the production capabilities of its facilities in Newport Beach. In 1979, Ernie Ball relocated to San Luis Obispo about 200 miles up the coast in central California, where its main headquarters are still located today. During this period the company enjoyed an impressive spike in sales, thanks to the efforts of Ernie Ball’s son Sterling, who was still a teenager. “I had worked for my dad on and off since I was 9, when I first ran the store’s cash register,” Sterling says. “I started working for the company as a road rep in 1973. My dad had this car in the factory parking lot that no one was using. Leo wasn’t a musician, so I brought the player’s perspective to the StingRay’s design Sterling Ball Since then, the company has been under the leadership of 3 generations of the ball family, with Brian Ball being appointed in 2015. Series

When Leo Fender sold Fender to CBS in 1965, he signed a non-compete clause refraining from any guitar design work for a period of 10 years. The Ernie Ball brand has earned international acclaim throughout the last century and this continues through to the present day. When you choose Ernie Ball, you’re guaranteed the satisfaction and greatly improved musical experience of a brand with heritage and integrity.

Mail order guitar strings direct to your door or pop in to our Glasgow shop.

When finding the right fit for your acoustic guitar string needs, consider the body style of the guitar, your own playing style, the desired tone, and finally, the age and condition of your instrument. These will determine which material and gauge is best for you and your guitar. Experiment with what feels best to you and what sounds best for the kind of music that you want to produce. Also remember that lighter gauges are generally best for beginning musicians, while heavier gauges are used by more experienced musicians. Many iconic guitarists throughout multiple genres of music play Ernie Ball Music Man electric guitars, including John Petrucci, Steve Morse, Albert Lee, Steve Lukather, St Vincent, James Valentine, Jason Richardson, Hunter Hayes, Dustin Kensrue, and many more. Instruments for Guitar Players who Demand Perfection. Demand for the Edward Van Halen signature model was so overwhelming that the company could have easily sold tens of thousands of units every year if the factory were able to produce that many. Under Brian Ball’s direction, Ernie Ball continues to be a leader in developing innovations in string technology. His contributions have included the high-output Cobalt and M-Steel electric strings, ultra-high-strength Paradigm acoustic and electric strings, revolutionary Aluminum Bronze acoustic strings and half-gauge sets featuring E strings measuring .0085, .0095 and .0105 that further expand players’ options.