Über uns

While Ernie was in Arizona, he heard about the radio repairman named Leo Fender who was making solid body electric guitars and steel guitars. Ernie took leave, drove to Fullerton, and he and Leo hit it off. Ernie thought this was the best thing he had seen. From there he beta-tested for Leo and became an endorsee.

Ernie Ball's official Fender endorsee photo.

Ernie Balls offizielles Fender-Endorser-Foto.

Während Ernie in Arizona verweilt, hört er von Leo Fender, einem Radio-Techniker, der Solidbody-E-Gitarren und Steel-Gitarren baut. Ernie nimmt sich frei, fährt nach Fullerton und freundet sich mit Leo an. Für Ernie das Größte: Er testet ab jetzt Beta-Versionen für Leo und wird Endorser.

Ernie Ball eröffnet das Teaching Studio und unterrichtet dort angehende Gitarristen. Erst durch diese Lehrtätigkeit mit jungen Leuten wird ihm bewusst, wie schwierig es ist, dickere Saiten zu ziehen und darauf Akkorde zu greifen.

Ernie Ball expands his business and starts to sell drums.

Ernie Ball umringt von Gitarren in seinem ersten Laden in Tarzana, Kalifornien.

By 1965, word of Ern's Rock 'N Roll strings had spread beyond students and teenagers to british rockers like Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck. With the popularity of Super Slinky strings, the Slinky name was extended across the Rock 'N Roll Line.

Ernie Ball and his famous trend-setting Xerox machine ad.

Ernie Ball erweitert sein Angebot und beginnt, Schlagzeuge zu verkaufen.

Accessoires für Rock 'N' Roll-Gitarren rücken schnell in den Mittelpunkt und festigen Ernies Position in der schnell wachsenden Branche.

Rock'N'Roll guitar accessories also become a focal point, further cementing Ernie's involvement in a rapidly growing industry.

Ernie Ball introduces Earthwood Bronze Acoustic Strings, wound with 80/20 Bronze, offering consistently reliable high quality strings for acoustic players in 6 different gauges.

Ernie Ball bringt individuelle Saiten-Stärken für weltweit tourende Musiker auf den Markt. Die Slinky-Ära beginnt.

Ernie Ball in seiner richtungsweisenden Anzeige für Xerox-Kopiergeräte.

In early 1973 Sterling decides to join the team as a traveling sales rep and fully thrown himself into the evolving company. Sterling says to the inside sales manager at the time "Give me a month, a gas card and that old Chevy ou in the parking lot that's not being used, pay me only what I sell and if it isn't worth it, then fire me." Needless to say, Sterling went on to set record sales that year and hasn't looked back since.

Sterling Ball was involved with the family business at the early age of 9 years old. Running cash registers and packaging strings, he worked part-time after school and on weekends. Being part of a very musical family, Sterling picked up the bass and guitar early on and was involved with many bands around the LA area. This early musical adaptation led to a life-long career in the music business, most notably working as a beta-tester for Leo Fender's new bass, the Music Man StingRay.

Ernie Ball expands its bass offerings to include Flatwound Bass Strings for a smooth feel and a mellow, rich tone in four different gauge combinations as well as Custom Gauge single string systems for players to build their own sets. These strings were the first to feature the iconic Eagle logo found on countless Ernie Ball sets including Slinkys.

Ernie Ball schließt sein Geschäft und zieht nach Newport Beach in Kalifornien, um sich auf die Produktion von Saiten und Accessoires zu konzentrieren. Außerdem möchte er seine Vision vom Teilzeitjob neben Surfen und Fliegen verwirklichen. Allerdings entwickelte sich die Gitarrenindustrie ganz anders – und Ernies Leben sollte nie nicht mehr das Gleiche sein.

Phosphor Studio Bronze Strings are introduced in four gaues offering a rich, balanced tone.

Slinky Sets get a new icon with the addition of the Eagle, first featured in Eagle'Toons Issue #1.

Ernie Ball moves corporate headquarters to San Luis Obispo, CA. The string and Earthwood facilities and packed up on their way to a new home in March 1979.

Hybrid Slinky strings are added, combining the gauges of Super and Regular Slinky.

The Music Man company was bought by Ernie Ball in 1984 with the vision to produce high quality guitars and basses in California.

Ernie Ball RPS (Reinforced Plain Strings) Slinkys enter the market and quickly becomes an artist favorite. RPS strings feature an extra winding of brass around the ball end of the string for added strength and stability.

Slinky Bass Strings hit the market with a new offering for 5-string basses, providing the iconic Slinky tone and feel to bass players.

Das erste Guitar Center erhält 1971 für eine Werbeaktion eine Lieferung von Ernie Ball. Mit mittlerweile mehr als 260 Geschäften weltweit arbeitet das Guitar Center bei vielen Aktivitäten weiterhin mit Ernie Ball zusammen und ermöglicht so Künstlern ohne Vertrag Auftritte auf der ganzen Welt.

David Ball, Ernie Ball und Tom Walker auf der NAMM. Ernie und Tom Walker lernen sich kennen, als Tom im Fender-Verkauf an der Westküste tätig ist und Ernies Gitarrengeschäft kontaktiert. Sie entwickeln eine enge Freundschaft; Tom Walker wird sogar als Patenonkel für Sterling Ball. In den frühen Siebzigern entwirft Tom einen neuen Preamp-Schaltkreis, den man später in die neuen Verstärker der Firma Music Man verbaut. 1972 von Tom Walker, Leo Fender und Forest White gegründet, kauft Ernie Ball das Unternehmen Music Man im Jahr 1984.

The very first Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands at the San Francisco Warp Tour stop. The Battle of The Bands 1 had 19 stops in its first year and developed into a long-lasting relationship with Kevin Lyman and The Warped Tour.

Die Earthwood-Produktion liefern den ersten Bass an Kunden aus.

Ab 1973 stürzt sich Sterling kopfüber in die rapide wachsende Firma und tritt zunächst dem Team der Handelsvertreter bei. Zu seinem Vorgesetzten sagt er: "Gib mir einen Monat, eine Tankkarte und den alten Chevy auf dem Parkplatz, den eh niemand nutzt. Bezahle mich nur nach dem, was ich verkaufe; wenn ich es nicht wert bin, kannst du mich feuern." Natürlich fährt Sterling in diesem Jahr Rekordumsätze ein. Ab da geht es nur noch vorwärts.

Beefy and Not Even sets join the Slinky lineup. Sensing the younger players needs for achieving a thicker, chunkier tone, Brian Ball creates string sets optimal for modern tunings including D Standard, Drop, D, and Drop C#. Thicker gauges combined with optimal core to wrap ratios increase the tension needed to keep strings playable at pitch while maintaining the iconic slinky tone and feel.

Ernie Ball "Scion Tours" hit the US, visiting dealers and stopping at every roadside attraction along the way. Dealers and end users alike are able to track the Scion's progress online with an up-to-the-minute website featuring blogs, photos, and insight as to what the Scion team is up to.

Ernie Ball zieht seinen Firmenhauptsitz nach San Luis Obispo in Kalifornien um. Die Produktionsstätten für Saiten und Earthwoods packt man im März 1979 zusammen.

Due to the high demand generated by the first mobile stage, Ernie Ball unveils MS2! The second mobile stage now serves as one of the main stages on The Warped Tour.

Element Shield packaging launches with wide industry acclaim. Spearheaded by Brian Ball, the new packaging aims to keep your strings as fresh as teh day they were made. "We wanted to give consumers the absolute freshest sets of strings possible, in addition to enhancing the merchandising appeal for retailers". Element Shield packaging has also provide to combat counterfeiting".

New Coated Acoustic and Coated Electric Slinky strings make their debut at the Summer NAMM show 2008. These new coated Slinky strings feature a titanium reinforcement around the ball end to prevent string breakage and enhance tuning stability.

Ernie Ball marks its 50th anniversary, celebrating half a century of innovation and influence in the music industry.

Cobalt Slinky Strings are introduced, engineered for maximum clarity with increased low end and crisp, clear highs.

Everlast Coated Strings make their debut, providing added longevity with zero impact on tone or feel.

M-Steel Slinky Strings are launched, providing maximum output power low end using a unique steel alloy core for unprecedented performance.

Ernie Ball R.P.S. (Reinforced Plain Strings) Slinkys stürmen den Markt und mutieren schnell zum Künstlerliebling. RPS-Saiten verfügen über eine zusätzliche Messing-Schlaufe am Abschluss der Saite und liefern so besondere Stärke und Stabilität.

Ernie's grandson, Brian Ball, is promoted to President. CEO Sterling Ball stated, "Since 1962, Ernie Ball Inc. has been dedicated to providing tools for artists, and we are excited to see what another 50-plus years in the industry will bring under Brian's leadership."

Ernie Ball launched the #iplayslinky campaign, highlighting some of the most iconic guitarists in the world that play Ernie Ball strings, including Clapton, Page, Beck, Richards, Slash, and more. Thousands of fans were also able to make their own #iplayslinky ads on our website.

Ernie Ball celebrates 20 years of partnering with Warped Tour to provide opportunities for bands to play live. In 2016, the longest-running Battle of the Bands program is renamed to Ernie Ball: PLAY Warped Tour, giving bands the opportunity to win over $40,000 in cash and prizes, a 3-son EP with New Found Glory's Chad Gilbert, plus a spot on the Warped Main Stage.

Ernie Ball expands its string offerings with the introduction of Burly, Ultra, Primo, Mega, and Mammoth Slinky strings, providing new gauge combinations for various playing styles and preferences. Additionally, Beefy Slinky Bass Strings are launched, targeting bassists who seek the thickest and most robust tones.

Element Shield Plus envelopes are added to string packages, enhancing protection against environmental factors and maintaining string freshness.