Ernie Ball was born in Cleveland, OH in 1930. The American Depression pressured the family to move to Santa Monica, California in 1932. By age nine, Ball was practicing guitar, and this interest in music led to a twenty-year career as a professional steel guitarist, music teacher, and retailer.
During the 1950s, the steel guitar was a popular instrument to play - but there was some difficulty in obtaining a matched set of strings. Early electric guitar players were also turning to mixing sets of strings to get the desired string gauges, but at a waste of the other strings. Ball found great success in marketing prepackaged string sets in custom gauges, and the initial mail order business expanded into a nationwide wholesale operation of strings, picks and other accessories.
In the early 1970s, Ball founded the Earthwood company, and produced both electric guitars and acoustic basses for a number of years. After some production disagreements between the original Music Man company and Leo Fender's CLF Research in 1978 (see Music Man), Fender stopped building instruments exclusively for Music Man, and began designs and production for his final company (G & L). In 1984 Ernie Ball acquired the trademark and design rights to Music Man. Ball set up production in the factory that previously had built the Earthwood instruments. Ernie Ball/Music Man instruments have been in production at that location in San Luis Obispo, CA since 1984. In 2003, the string division of Ernie Ball moved to Indio, CA.
The first instruments that returned to production were Music Man basses, due to their popularity in the market. By 1987, the first guitar by Ernie Ball/Music Man was released. The Silhouette model was then followed by the Steve Morse model later in that year. Ernie Ball/Music Man has retained the high level of quality from original Fender/CLF designs, and has introduced some innovative designs to their current line. Ernie Ball passed away on September 9, 2004 at the age of 74. In 2008, Ernie Ball/Music Man introduced their Ball Family Reserve line of guitars that is a celebration of producing guitars in the U.S. For more information, visit Ernie Ball/Music Man's website or contact them directly.
Instruments currently produced in San Luis Obispo, CA under the Ernie Ball/Music Man trademark since 1984. Earlier Music Man models were produced in Fullerton, CA between 1976 and 1979. Currently distributed by Ernie Ball/Music Man.

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN Electric Guitars Models

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN ALBERT LEE (MODEL 920/930) Image

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN ALBERT LEE (MODEL 920/930)

- angular offset double cutaway ash body, aluminum-lined pickguard, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlay, strings-through fixed bridge, 4/2-per-side Schaller M6-IND locking tuners, choice of three single coil S...

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN BIG AL BASS (MODEL 940) Image

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN BIG AL BASS (MODEL 940)

- offset double cutaway alder body based on the Albert Lee guitar, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple or rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays or pau ferro fretless fingerboard with optional fretlines, maple headstock overlay, 3/1-per-side Sc...

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN ARMADA (MODEL 750/755) Image

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN ARMADA (MODEL 750/755)

- single cutaway uniquely-shaped mahogany body with V-shaped bookmatched mahogany top, four-ply body binding, bolt-on mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with custom MOP inlays, bound maple headstock with matching finish overl...

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN AXIS Image

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN AXIS

- single cutaway basswood body, bound figured maple top, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple or rosewood fingerboard with black dot inlay, strings through bridge, 4/2-per-side Schaller tuners with pearl buttons, chrome hardware, two humbucker...

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN AXIS SPORT Image

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN AXIS SPORT

- similar to Axis, except features ash body, Schaller M6-IND locking tuners, choice of two humbuckers, three single coils, or two single coil and one humbucker configuration, volume and tone controls, five-way switch, patented Silent Circui...

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN SABRE BASS Image

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN SABRE BASS

- offset double cutaway alder, ash, or poplar body, 34 in. scale, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret maple or rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, fixed bridge, 3/1 per side Schaller tuners, chrome hardware, 2 Ernie Ball humbucker pickups, vo...

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN STERLING BASS (MODEL 170) Image

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN STERLING BASS (MODEL 170)

- offset double cutaway ash body, pickguard, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple or rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, fixed bridge, 3/1 per side Schaller tuners, chrome hardware, single humbucker, dual humbucker, or single coil/humbucker p...

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN EDWARD VAN HALEN Image

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN EDWARD VAN HALEN

- single cutaway basswood body, bound figured maple top, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlay, strings through bridge, 4/2-per-side Schaller tuners with pearl buttons, chrome hardware, two humbucker DiMarzio pi...

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN Edward Van Halen Tremolo Image

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN Edward Van Halen Tremolo

- similar to Edward Van Halen, except has Floyd Rose double locking vibrato, available in Black, Metallic Gold, Natural, Sunburst, Trans. Black, Trans. Blue, Trans. Gold, Trans. Pink, Trans. Purple, or Trans. Red finish, mfg. 1991-95.

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN STING RAY BASS (MODEL 110) Image

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN STING RAY BASS (MODEL 110)

- offset double cutaway ash body, pickguard, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret maple or rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, fixed bridge, 3/1 per side Schaller tuners, chrome hardware, humbucker pickup, volume/2-band EQ controls, active electron...

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN JOHN PETRUCCI (MODEL 960) Image

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN JOHN PETRUCCI (MODEL 960)

- offset double cutaway basswood body, maple neck, 24 fret rosewood fingerboard with optional custom inlays, two custom DiMarzio humbucking pickups, custom John Petrucci Music Man tremolo bridge, three black knobs, three-way switch, 4/2-per...

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN SUB BASS (MODEL X01) Image

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN SUB BASS (MODEL X01)

- Sting Ray-style poplar body, maple neck painted black, 22-fret rosewood or fretless pau ferro fingerboards, diamond plate or matte black pickguard, single humbucker, three knobs on a plate, chrome hardware, available in Black, White, Teal...

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN SUB STERLING (MODEL X07) Image

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN SUB STERLING (MODEL X07)

- Sterling style poplar body, maple neck painted black, 22-fret rosewood or fretless pau ferro fingerboards, diamond plate or matte black pickguard, single humbucker pickup, four knobs, chrome hardware, available in Black, White, Teal, Red,...

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN LUKE (MODEL 915) Image

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN LUKE (MODEL 915)

- offset double cutaway alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, Floyd Rose vibrato, 4/2-per-side Schaller tuners, chrome hardware, two single coil and one humbucker EMG pickups, volume control, fiv...

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN L III (MODEL 912/914) Image

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN L III (MODEL 912/914)

- offset double cutaway alder body, bolt-on selected roasted maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with small dot inlays, roasted maple headstock overlay, 4/2-per-side Schaller locking tuners, floating vintage tremolo bridge, two covered...

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN REFLEX (MODEL 390) Image

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN REFLEX (MODEL 390)

- single cutaway chambered basswood body with a maple top and mahogany tone block, cream or black binding, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlays or rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, matching finish he...

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN SILHOUETTE (MODEL 510) Image

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN SILHOUETTE (MODEL 510)

- offset double cutaway alder, ash or poplar body, aluminum-lined pickguard, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret maple or rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, strings-through bridge, 4/2-per-side Schaller tuners, chrome hardware, two single coil an...

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN STEVE MORSE (MODEL 900) Image

ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN STEVE MORSE (MODEL 900)

- offset double cutaway poplar body, black shielded pickguard, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, 4/2-per-side Schaller tuners, chrome hardware, humbucker/slanted singl...