[Deathwatch] Ernie Ball, guitar string maker, 74

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

Guitar String Legend Ernie Ball Dies in California
Fri Sep 10
	
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Guitar string maker Ernie Ball, famed for
strings that almost single-handedly allowed rock groups in the 1960s to
play wailing riffs and belt out endless vibratos, has died in San Luis
Obispo, California, at age 74, his family said on Friday.

Roland Sherwood "Ernie" Ball founded the Ernie Ball Company in 1962
after his strings became the hottest-selling item in his family's music
shop.

The Beach Boys, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix used
Ernie Ball Slinky Strings, sold in distinctive neon-colored packages.

"He changed the way people thought of guitar accessories, and how they
sold and marketed them, and to this day the Ernie Ball way is the
industry standard," said Sterling Ball, Ernie's son and chief executive
of the private San Luis Obispo company.

Ernie Ball guitar strings are sold in 5,500 music stores across the
United States and in over 75 countries.