151 Suburban Rd.
San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401 United States
(805) 544-7726
http://www.ernieball.com
Ernie Ball has the music world on a string -- a guitar string, that is. In addition to making Slinky strings, Ernie Ball makes Music Man guitars and basses. The music company also produces cables, locks, volume pedals, picks, straps, and other guitar accessories, such as motorized peg winders. The firm's products are sold in more than 6,000 music stores in the US and about 80 countries worldwide. Founder Roland S. "Ernie" Ball (who died in 2004 at age 74) challenged conventional wisdom in 1958 by opening the first music store in the US devoted solely to guitar sales (he sold it in 1967). He also was the first in the industry to offer guitar strings in various gauges, an innovation that has improved playability.