• Founded: 1962
• Founder: Ernie Ball
• Headquarters: San Luis Obispo
• Industry: Musical instrument manufacturing
• Products: Guitar strings, bass strings, acoustic strings, guitar picks, straps, cables, volume pedals, instrument accessories, electric guitars, and bass guitars
• Parent company: Privately owned by the Ball family
• Manufacturing: Made in the United States2

Early years

Ernie Ball began his career as a guitarist and music teacher during the 1950s. While instructing students, he observed that many beginners struggled with the heavy-gauge guitar strings available at the time, which made string bending unnecessarily difficult.

In 1958, Ball opened what is widely regarded as the world’s first retail store dedicated exclusively to electric guitars. His close relationship with Leo Fender provided valuable insight into the rapidly expanding electric guitar market.3

Birth of Slinky strings

In 1962, Ernie Ball introduced custom-gauge electric guitar strings designed specifically for rock musicians. Marketed as Slinky Strings, these sets offered lighter gauges that facilitated easier bending and faster playing techniques.

The Slinky line quickly gained popularity among emerging rock musicians of the 1960s and eventually became one of the industry’s best-selling guitar string brands.4

Growth during the rock era

As rock music expanded worldwide, Ernie Ball strings were adopted by influential guitarists including:

• Eric Clapton
• Jimmy Page
• Jeff Beck
• Keith Richards
• Paul McCartney
• Slash
• Buddy Guy

Their widespread use helped establish Ernie Ball as one of the most respected names in guitar equipment.5

In 1984, Ernie Ball acquired Music Man, a company originally founded in 1972 by Tom Walker, Leo Fender, and Forrest White.

Following the acquisition, the company began producing premium American-made electric guitars and basses under the Ernie Ball Music Man name. These instruments became renowned for exceptional craftsmanship, innovative electronics, and ergonomic designs.6

Guitar strings

Ernie Ball manufactures strings for:

• Electric guitar
• Acoustic guitar
• Bass guitar
• Classical guitar

Popular series include:

• Slinky
• Super Slinky
• Regular Slinky
• Hybrid Slinky
• Skinny Top Heavy Bottom
• Power Slinky
• Beefy Slinky
• Cobalt Slinky
• M-Steel Slinky
• Earthwood Acoustic Strings
• Everlast Coated Strings
• Aluminum Bronze Strings
• Flatwound Bass Strings7

Accessories

Beyond strings, the company produces a comprehensive range of accessories:

• Guitar picks
• Instrument cables
• Guitar straps
• Capos
• Volume pedals
• Expression pedals
• Polish and maintenance products
• Slide bars
• Tool kits
• Gig accessories8

Instruments

Under the Ernie Ball Music Man division, the company manufactures premium electric guitars and basses, including well-known models such as:

• StingRay
• Axis
• JP (John Petrucci Signature)
• Majesty
• Cutlass
• Sabre
• Valentine
• Luke
• Kaizen9

Ernie Ball emphasises:

• American manufacturing
• Premium raw materials
• Precision quality control
• Continuous product innovation
• Artist collaboration

The company has introduced several proprietary technologies, including:

• Element Shield packaging to improve string freshness
• Reinforced Plain Strings (RPS)
• Cobalt alloy strings
• M-Steel alloy technology
• Everlast protective coatings10

Thousands of professional musicians have used Ernie Ball products throughout their careers. Notable artists include:

• Eric Clapton
• Jimmy Page
• Slash
• Steve Vai
• John Petrucci
• Paul McCartney
• Keith Richards
• Buddy Guy
• Steve Morse11

Ernie Ball remains a family-owned company. Leadership has included:

• Ernie Ball – Founder
• Sterling Ball – CEO and son of Ernie Ball
• Brian Ball – President and third-generation family member12

Ernie Ball transformed the guitar industry by popularising lighter-gauge strings better suited to modern rock and blues techniques. The introduction of Slinky strings influenced generations of guitarists and helped define the sound of electric guitar music from the 1960s onwards.

Today, the company is recognised as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of guitar strings and accessories, whilst its Ernie Ball Music Man division produces some of the most respected high-end electric guitars and basses available. With more than six decades of innovation, artist partnerships, and family ownership, Ernie Ball remains one of the most influential brands in modern music equipment.13

1. About | Ernie Ball
2. “It was like, ‘Congratulations, you just bought Leo Fender’s company. Now you gotta learn how to make guitars'”: The origins of Ernie Ball Music Man – and how it all started with a bass
3. “I said, ‘It’s everything I need. Can I borrow it to do my demo?’ They went, ‘Let me ask Ern'”: Steve Morse on how a gear nightmare lead him to Ernie Ball – and the signature guitar of his dreams
4. Hi, I’m Brian Ball, President of Ernie Ball Music Man, the world’s premier manufacturer of strings, guitars and amplifiers. Ask Me Anything.
5. About | Ernie Ball
6. About | Ernie Ball
7. Electric Guitar Strings, Acoustic Guitar Strings, Bass Strings, and Guitar Accessories | Ernie Ball
8. About | Ernie Ball
9. Earthwood Acoustic Guitar Strings | Ernie Ball
10. Artists | Ernie Ball
11. The Slinky Story | Ernie Ball
12. About | Ernie Ball
13. О бренде