EB...You Missed Out 25 Years Ago

[peabody]

I am a new member to this site (I just picked up my first Sterling and I'm wondering what took me so long). I may be new here, but I'm chronologically experienced (I'm 45). Seeing the Ernie Ball Strings Topic reminded me of something that happened many, many years ago (many). In the late 70's I played in a rock band with a bunch of guys (the same guys I'm playing with now, but that's a story for another day). Anyway, we were on our way to our gig, just filled up my '67 Dodge van with gas and pulled out onto the highway. Disaster struck...the accelerator cable snapped and we found ourselves stranded at the side of the road wondering how we were going to get to the gig. Suddenly I had an idea...I grabbed a guitar string out of our guitar player's case and jerry-rigged a new accelerator cable. Of course the guitar string was an Ernie Ball Super Slinky (D string as I recall). It worked perfect and it got us to and from the gig without a problem. A week or so after the incident I wrote a letter to Ernie Ball (this is way before the internet ..way, way before), and let them know what happened. I figured this would be a great promotion piece. I envisioned a new advertising campain that stated not only did EB strings sound great, they could be used as car parts, etc. My response back from Ernie Ball was a form letter thanking me for my recent inquiry about Ernie Ball strings and they enclosed a string brochure. I'm thinkin' EB missed out....it could have been big...big I tell you. Anyway, if nothing else, everyone out there will now know exactly what to do if their accelerator cable snaps. EB...you know, it's probably not too late for that ad campaign.....

 

[Colin]

Well if they didn't respond to that story, I'll have no chance with my story about my cheese slicer going down

Colin

 

[francric]

Sounds like a great commericial to me...........

 

[sandaas]

Well if they didn't respond to that story, I'll have no chance with my story about my cheese slicer going down

Colin

Can be used for anything - like gaffertape - AND sounds great on your instrument too!

 

[Bassplyr]

and dont forget, when you forget your underwear, you've always got the g-string.

 

[SteveB]

peabody,

I can sympathize with your viewpoint. However, you should take into consideration the fact that they authored your form letter on a typewriter whose keys were broken and replaced with the ball ends of Regular Slinky strings.

 

[peabody]

peabody,

I can sympathize with your viewpoint. However, you should take into consideration the fact that they authored your form letter on a typewriter whose keys were broken and replaced with the ball ends of Regular Slinky strings.

Yes, that's true, but as I recall, I painstakingly wrote my letter out longhand on the back of an old set list, walked 2 miles to the Post Office in knee deep snow and mailed it using a stamp I borrowed from my mother (I was playing bass for a living and couldn't afford the 25 cent stamp). I'm thinking this could be more than just an ad campaign...it could be a mini-series. I wonder if Ben Affleck is available to play me.....

 

[koogie2k]

and dont forget, when you forget your underwear, you've always got the g-string.

HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAH..........

 

[SteveB]

Peabody,

To quote Sam Kinison from the Rodney Dangerfield "Back to School" movie..

"Good answer.. good answer... I like the way you think... I'm gonna be watchin' you!"

 

[blackspy]

Awesome story peabody ... we should start a new thread. Alternate uses for strings.

 

[Bassplyr]

Hey, Afflack is doing Jennifer Garner right now. If he's smart that;'s all he has time for.

 

[peabody]

This might be a great Earth Day idea.... Just think how many used guitar strings there are out there. We could start a campaign and collect all of these and sell them to Mr. Goodwrench, Mopar, Autolite, whatever, and they could convert them into accelerator cables. Reduce, reuse, recycle.... Of course, if less accelerator cables are manufactured, this could put a strain on an already weak steel industry. I'd hate to be responsible for putting people out of work. Oh well, back to the drawing board. You know, I like Colin's idea about the cheese slicer...especially since I'm from Wisconsin. Of course, I hear a lot of people say their guitar "plays like butter"...somehow saying my guitar "cuts the cheese" just doesn't have the same positive impact. Anyone else have any good ideas?

 

[Sambuccashake]

Hehehe, that's a really cool story!

Although I don't think EB would ever dare to use it in a commercial.
Imagine the lawsuits pouring in when a "slinkified" car is in a crash.

//Jensa