Ernie Ball/Music Man Story in "Gitarre & Bass" (german magazine) from 1998

[banjoplayer]

Ernie Ball/Music Man Story in "Gitarre & Bass" (german magazine) from 1998

By surfing the web I found a story about Ernie Ball / Music Man from 1998 in the German Magazine "Gitarre & Bass".

As it is in German it may be interesting for our German forumites. Any others may try a translator?

Gitarre & Bass 05/98 - Story - Ernie Ball/Music Man

 

[metalmarty]

Thanks, I remember reading that article back in the day when I was an avid magazine reader. Gitarre & Bass usually is an excellent read.

I'll translate the article later in the day and post it here for the folks that can't read it

 

[bod]

Thanks a lot metalmarty

 

[RiverCIty28]

When I open the link, the Google toolbar in my browser (IE8) gives me the option to translate it. Clicked the link and about 5 seconds later I'm reading the article in English.

Anyway, here is the translation it gives:

A visit to Ernie Ball / Music Man

The history of electric guitar and electric bass was influenced by a few individuals : Leo Fender and Ted McCarty (Gibson ) are probably those who have set the major milestones. Another creative individualist is Ernie Ball , who has refreshed since the late 50's the guitar industry, with ever new ideas and even today , along with his son, Sterling Ball, actively engaged in the music industry.

The company produces Ernie Ball strings today under the name "Ernie Ball " , accessories like straps, picks , and volume pedals , as well as the Music Man instruments. Ernie Ball 1984 had bought this company in 1972 by the old Fender companions Forrest White and Tom Walker had been established. Leo Fender , who had known in 1965 sold his company to the CBS Corporation , and had finished his consulting work for Fender in 1970, developed and manufactured instruments for Music Man Interestingly, was already on " Leo Fender " Sterling Ball time to develop the most successful music -man instrument, the StingRay bass involved .

In early February 1998 I visited Ernie Ball / Music Man in San Luis Obispo , California, where the company has established since 1979 . Behind the original factory building in recent years a completely new guitar factory was built on the day of my visit for the first time was in full operation and was officially opened.

San Luis Obispo is a small, picturesque city, with about 70,000 inhabitants , halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco , 10 miles from the Pacific coast.

When Ernie Ball / Music Man 225 people are employed, about one- third of them are responsible for the production of Music Man . 40-50 instruments are made per day , 800 a month. There currently is still partially worked in two shifts , one hopes , however, that this can stop by the new production facility in the near future. At the same time , the extremely long delivery times, which are already common practice for years at Music Man , are somewhat reduced.

Philosophy
As Ernie Ball 1984, designs and trademarks of the Music Man , took over was the program that was by then in amplifiers , guitars and basses, pruned completely ; was initially only made the Music Man StingRay bass . No wonder , because that was ( and still is ) the flagship. Sterling Ball said in 1989 : "We have our standard of quality set high. Our philosophy was, from the beginning, only if we can really make a model of consistent quality , we begin a second . "

It is not surprising that the program is still very manageable and yet characterized by individual design. Even today, the benchmark is to build with the latest technology tools in " vintage " quality with classical sounds.

Sterling Ball himself is an excellent bass player and , in addition to his job at Music Man active again as a musician. His band , the Balls Biff , often reinforced by prominent musicians such as Albert Lee, the Sterling recorded a few albums, or Steve Morse , Steve Lukather and many more , tours at irregular intervals through the world and music fairs are always omnipresent. Sterling is extremely important to work with musicians and merchants. Thus, last year bought the Music Man- Truck , which goes on throughout the year by the U.S. and presents Music Man instruments and Ernie -Ball products.

Music Man Basses
The StingRay is a classic, which is manufactured since 1976, virtually unchanged. Trademarks are the top plate with the "3 +1 " mechanism and the typical arrangement humbucking pickup , which is responsible, together with the active electronics for the particular tone.

Since 1987 , the 5 -string version, the StingRay built 5th Beginning of the 90 was developed with the Sterling , a smaller and lighter version of the StingRay , the notice also by circuit tricks like a phantom coil, a dedicated preamp and a thinner neck. Since 1992, the silhouette six -string bass guitar in the program, in the typical form of guitar , but tuned an octave lower.

Music Man Guitars
In 1986, the silhouette was developed, which today is also unchanged in the program. Brand is the top plate with the "4 + 2 " mechanical arrangement.

Since 1987, builds the Music Man Steve Morse signature model that combines the pickup configurations of Deep Purple guitarist with the Music Man features perfectly.

Under the name "Edward Van Halen ", the model Axis 1990-1995 was offered before the guitarist preferred to switch to another manufacturer. features of the Axis are the little basswood body with a beautifully grained maple top .

In 1987 a prototype was developed with a radical body design, Albert Lee , a good friend of the Music Man, soon chose to be his favorite . Since 1993, the Albert Lee signature model is offered as standard.

Also in 1993 Steve Lukather came into the family, and "The Luke " with Floyd Rose- licensed vibrato and EMG Pickups ( 1 ' humbucker plus 2 ' - SA single coils ) is made since that time. Since the Zusammearbeit with Jeff Beck Lukather can change the way his model again , and so it is now also available with the vintage vibrato and slightly modified pickups ( vintage sound ).

1995 Silhouette Special was developed, which is equipped with a vintage vibrato , locking tuners and a patented Silent Circuit which reduces the single coil hum without altering the vintage sound .

The latest model , the Axis Sport, a modification of the Eddie Van Halen model, with mounted on the pickguard pickups , vintage vibrato , 65 -cm bore and a modified fingerboard radius ( review see G & B 4 / 98).

Production
The new Music Factory -Man has been adapted to the specific requirements, and as much space is available, the production structures and processes could be considered in the planning, the environmental aspect also plays a major role.

The entire plant is air-conditioned and the air circulation is controlled so that in painting and polishing can not penetrate dusty air.

The wood for the Music Man instruments come almost exclusively from the USA ( alder, poplar , ash ) and Canada (maple ).

The wood is cut into blanks and depending on the condition stored air-dried. Some woods are processed after three months , some woods - especially for their necks - Store up to five years.

Before processing the wood in drying to about 6% moisture is heruntergetrocknet . Then, each body blank is weighed, because only when special specifications are met, the body is used.

A body is usually composed of two parts. Music Man glues but the two sawed from a piece of wood parts together not flat , but uses a so-called "Finger Joint " , a kind of pen -and-groove connection, which will ensure a greater gluing surface and better grip.

Body and neck are associated with the help of CNC milling in several stages in the right shape, whether all milling and drilling carried out.

For instruments with maple fingerboard, a one-piece neck blank is used , the later fingerboard is separated, labeled and later, after the steel bar is used again on the same neck glued , so that you can tell by precision- fitting the separation point no .

After milling the raw neck and body are again reworked.

All workplaces , is ground on which are provided with a suction device that pulls all dust down and disposed of.

In the Music Man- necks only the top plates are painted, the rest will be oiled and waxed. The necks are dipped in an oil bath, then wiped off , dried, ground again , before then applied by hand wax, which is then polished in the last step again.

The instruments are painted with polyester. After three times of the primer is first sanded again , then three, applied in black paint five, and then another five thin layers of clear coat . The painted parts are then dried in a heated four days to about 45 degrees room before the paint is polished final.

In the final assembly is extremely invested much time into the dressing and polishing of the frets in order afterwards to achieve an optimum string height and playability.

Before mounting holes are countersunk again , so that when the screws Hereindrehen not the paint crack.

The last operation , the individual setting of the instruments is done with utmost care , every instrument is played for some time and checked for the setting are very close tolerances. Frequently appears on sterling ball in the final inspection in order to convince himself of the settings . He bets happy with his team, whether the particular tool is now the tolerance or not.

In the old building remains the pickups for the bass guitars are made , all prefabricated metal parts for the Music Man instruments are processed and prepared for assembly.

The R & D department is equipped with a sophisticated computer system , with the instruments on the screen can be designed. Also, all steps of the CNC milling are here prepared , programmed and can be checked visually.

History
Ernie Ball , raised in Santa Monica, California , began his career as a pedal steel guitar player , with 19 he had his first professional job. In 1958 he had tired of touring and opened in Tarzana , a few miles away from Hollywood, the first pure guitar shop in the U.S..

Through its customers, it was pointed out that many guitarists with the thick string gauges that were then common to not get on . When he got from the market leader Fender no such strings delivered, he could be special G- strings ( .024 instead of the usual make .029 ). As a short time later came the string bending in fashion, and replaced the e-string guitar by banjo strings, he again took on contact with the market leaders . But again, they took his suggestion does not , and so did Ernie Ball strings set his special make 010 - .046 . This " Slinky " strings were initially sold only in his shop, before they are known by word of mouth throughout the country were at first and then by mail order and later by other dealers at Ernie Ball have been appointed.

Ernie's next brilliant idea was individual string sets that are customers in the store of individual strings of the strengths of .008 to .024 and from .018 to .058 wrapped ( could ) put together themselves.

Until 1967 these ideas were so popular nationwide that Ernie sold his music business in Newport Beach and started his own string production.

1972 was presented after a long development time of the Earthwood bass, a pure acoustic bass, which was long before the "unplugged "era to a legendary instrument and is sought today by bass players. At the same Earthwood strings were developed by its new alloy has a more brilliant , produced powerful sound, and the development of modern bass sounds extremely forward drive .

1979 we moved the entire production to San Luis Obispo, where were still produced until early 1985 Earthwood basses and guitars.

Ernie Ball was also the first offering of the special, colorful Picks and thus opened a completely new market , including its robust volume pedal is still unchallenged in the scene. And so it was clear that Ernie Ball could also link with the takeover and revival of Music Man, since 1985, these successes.

Music Man in the Internet: Ernie Ball | Home



Dieter Roesberg



This story and a lot more one can read in guitar & bass 05/98 . As of Friday , 17 April in the trade!

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Sterling Ball himself is an excellent bass player and , in addition to his job at Music Man active again as a musician. His band , the Balls Biff...

I lol'd!!!

 

[RiverCIty28]

I suspect no translator is perfect

 

[straycat113]

Thanks a lot Rivercity for the translation. Great article, and their is nothing more interesting than reading back history about the behind the scenes process of how things are done. The Balls Biff,=classic.lol

 

[browndog]

That was a good read. I’ve mentioned before I got a book off Amazon called:

Music Man 1978-1982 (and then some)!! The other side of the story.

It was like $25. Good informative read with lots of pictures.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Thanks for the translation - i look forward to reading that when I get home from work.

That was a good read. I’ve mentioned before I got a book off Amazon called:

Music Man 1978-1982 (and then some)!! The other side of the story.

It was like $25. Good informative read with lots of pictures.

Yeah I'm glad I got that book too.

 

[Big Poppa]

The book is weak.

 

[mantrarock]

The book is weak.

Will we have the opportunity of reading all those stories that you have (and I'm glad you share here) in print? It's not like you don't have anything else to do...

Thanks again for being part of the forum!