Multiversal
Well-known member
Amazing, man.
Your father is for sure proud of you, Pops.
Your father is for sure proud of you, Pops.
- Thread starter Big Poppa
- Start date
Boy Oldigs
Well-known member
Thanks for sharing us this awesome history shot where EB starts his incomparable way of do business .
Big Poppa
Well-known member
okinawa te
Eggman
Well-known member
That's cool. Very traditional - disciplined art.
BP thanks for sharing this picture and story.
Colin
Well-known member
Australia maybe?
the24thfret
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2007
- Messages
- 2,458
Awesome BP, thanks for that!
D.K.
Well-known member
Thanks a lot, Big Poppa for sharing that story. It's quite moving to see a pic like that of Your father, especially considering what it started!
Now, as we've begun talking about starting it all - does anyone have pics of the first ever produced EBMM instruments, first pics, the very first advertisement shots for the then new "Ernie Ball Music Man Bass & Guitar Manufacturer" (Am I right, did the basses come first?). In one word, let's make it a nostalgia thread per excellence!
Now, as we've begun talking about starting it all - does anyone have pics of the first ever produced EBMM instruments, first pics, the very first advertisement shots for the then new "Ernie Ball Music Man Bass & Guitar Manufacturer" (Am I right, did the basses come first?). In one word, let's make it a nostalgia thread per excellence!
Last edited:
dwells
Well-known member
very special poppa
Trev
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2006
- Messages
- 254
Nice piece of musical instrument/ family history there BP.
I'll bet he's full of pride looking at you and folks at the company as it is today.
I look at the back of the headstock of my JP sometimes and just think about the "Made in San Luis, Obispo, California, USA". I only have an tiny idea of the difficulties involved in building a true made in the USA guitar but I really do appreciate it, and am glad that you've carried on the tradition.
Trev
I'll bet he's full of pride looking at you and folks at the company as it is today.
I look at the back of the headstock of my JP sometimes and just think about the "Made in San Luis, Obispo, California, USA". I only have an tiny idea of the difficulties involved in building a true made in the USA guitar but I really do appreciate it, and am glad that you've carried on the tradition.
Trev
Thanks for allowing us to share your memories. I'm intrigued w/ history in general and even more so w/ EBMM. The picture reminds me of some old ones I have of my dad from the 60s/70s working in his shoe shop in Burbank and my uncle working in his autobody/panelbeater shop in Ontario, CA during the 60s. Pictures do indeed flood the mind w/ all sorts of memories and emotions.
I'd love to see the history of EBMM documented in a definative book along w/ pics.
I'd love to see the history of EBMM documented in a definative book along w/ pics.
Big Poppa
Well-known member
How many young men put it all on the line with a passion and an itch knowing that somehow they could get the public to scratch........My Dad had no idea back then that he would make guitars or change the way strings are packaged and marketed industry wide. He didnt have a clue that he would create a product that is thebiggest constant in the creation of popular music......Slinky's. From the Stones to the Beatles Beach Boys Hendrix,Zeppelin and through today. He went on a jouney that always began with the passion and love of the guitar and a different way of leaping over the hurdles of young entrepenourship.
He loved it so much that he had to each it. He had to teach it because at that time he had two mouths to feed and was fresh out of the Air Force with no college education and about 5 bucks in his pocket. When he started teaching it he realized that he needed better books. Books that had graphic representations to reinorce the written word.
Duering the day he would teach and do sessions and at night he would play on live tv on KTLA in Los Angeles..from western swing shows to big bands to a crazy guy named Esquivel...(google that guy..wow)
He then reaslized that there was very little guitar music and what existed was buried in music distributors catalog...He got the idea for Ball Music Publishing. "Hey how about a onestop for all your guitar music needs?" He went broke. Flat ass broke. I remember it being in the back of s garage addition and being about 6 (1961) and throwing it into trash cans.....Yeah that is my first memory of my dad and business. Hard to believe but I really do remember.
He went broke in 1958 too....Moved the store and teaching studio to a nice storefront on Ventura BLvd in Tarzana Califrnia. Realize that there was no freeway connecting the Valley then. It was the country for all intents and purposes. May 18, 1958.
My little sister Nova was born and my dad had a store full of Fender stuff that Tommy Walker fronted my dad as a show of faith. My Mom went into labor and my dad rushed to the hospital and didnt call the insurance guy yet. Everytime and I mean everytime we were out and about when the store was closed we had to do the circle and check it out. I was at home and three at the time but my dad did the circle and the store was wiped out...Robbed....done.
Leo and Tommy filled the store again and told him to pay it when he could. He paid every penny back. I learned from my Dad that it is a good thing to help when you can. Tommy Walker did.
Ill fill in some blanks later but to show what goes around comes around fast forward to Tommy Walker (use search funtion to learn about the Great Tommy.) CBS bought Fender. Forced the pioneers out like Tommy...even Leo. Tommy had designed some amps in his garage and secretly designed the preamp for LEos new basses and guitars.
That became Music Man.
It was our turn to help. My dad gave them Dan Norton to build their trade show displays. I gave them R&D, artist relations and every possible resource I had. I set up the original accessories and sources including strings even though Frank Green claims to have started it.....Frank managed and developed the program (the accessories went nowhere) but I stated it
The fecal matter hit the fan with the partners and Tommy was forced to either sue Leo and win or move on. Ive said this beofre ...I asked Tommy why he didnt't sue Leo and he said..."That's not the way my Dad taught me"
We bought Music Man at a bank ordered auction in 1984. Tommy came to work for us and had a job until he didn't want one. Rode his bike to work everyday and finally passed away less than a mile from our company...
Tommy was always proud of my Dad and especially proud of his godkids as he and Pat never had kids.
This is a tribute to my dad and an appreciation for Tommy and hoepfully a lesson to all that you never know where passsion and drive will lead.
__________________
Hey Knuckleheads,
A couple of favors to ask:
1. Please Dont pm me...
2. Please contact customer service prior to posting a problem with your instrument....
Thanks a bunch!
He loved it so much that he had to each it. He had to teach it because at that time he had two mouths to feed and was fresh out of the Air Force with no college education and about 5 bucks in his pocket. When he started teaching it he realized that he needed better books. Books that had graphic representations to reinorce the written word.
Duering the day he would teach and do sessions and at night he would play on live tv on KTLA in Los Angeles..from western swing shows to big bands to a crazy guy named Esquivel...(google that guy..wow)
He then reaslized that there was very little guitar music and what existed was buried in music distributors catalog...He got the idea for Ball Music Publishing. "Hey how about a onestop for all your guitar music needs?" He went broke. Flat ass broke. I remember it being in the back of s garage addition and being about 6 (1961) and throwing it into trash cans.....Yeah that is my first memory of my dad and business. Hard to believe but I really do remember.
He went broke in 1958 too....Moved the store and teaching studio to a nice storefront on Ventura BLvd in Tarzana Califrnia. Realize that there was no freeway connecting the Valley then. It was the country for all intents and purposes. May 18, 1958.
My little sister Nova was born and my dad had a store full of Fender stuff that Tommy Walker fronted my dad as a show of faith. My Mom went into labor and my dad rushed to the hospital and didnt call the insurance guy yet. Everytime and I mean everytime we were out and about when the store was closed we had to do the circle and check it out. I was at home and three at the time but my dad did the circle and the store was wiped out...Robbed....done.
Leo and Tommy filled the store again and told him to pay it when he could. He paid every penny back. I learned from my Dad that it is a good thing to help when you can. Tommy Walker did.
Ill fill in some blanks later but to show what goes around comes around fast forward to Tommy Walker (use search funtion to learn about the Great Tommy.) CBS bought Fender. Forced the pioneers out like Tommy...even Leo. Tommy had designed some amps in his garage and secretly designed the preamp for LEos new basses and guitars.
That became Music Man.
It was our turn to help. My dad gave them Dan Norton to build their trade show displays. I gave them R&D, artist relations and every possible resource I had. I set up the original accessories and sources including strings even though Frank Green claims to have started it.....Frank managed and developed the program (the accessories went nowhere) but I stated it
The fecal matter hit the fan with the partners and Tommy was forced to either sue Leo and win or move on. Ive said this beofre ...I asked Tommy why he didnt't sue Leo and he said..."That's not the way my Dad taught me"
We bought Music Man at a bank ordered auction in 1984. Tommy came to work for us and had a job until he didn't want one. Rode his bike to work everyday and finally passed away less than a mile from our company...
Tommy was always proud of my Dad and especially proud of his godkids as he and Pat never had kids.
This is a tribute to my dad and an appreciation for Tommy and hoepfully a lesson to all that you never know where passsion and drive will lead.
__________________
Hey Knuckleheads,
A couple of favors to ask:
1. Please Dont pm me...
2. Please contact customer service prior to posting a problem with your instrument....
Thanks a bunch!
Quarter
Well-known member
Thanks again BP!!
Mystic-Creation
Well-known member
WOW, thanks BP, I love hearing these things. I think it really helps people reflect, respect and inspire to drive forward with their dreams. Although I don't know you BP, I'm sure just from the things I have seen you do and say here, that your Dad is very proud of you, you've carried on what he started in such a great way. Have you ever stopped to wonder how many smiles you and your Dad have put on people's faces?
That in itself is truely inspiring. EB is something special for all of us Music Man fans and I really appreciate you taking the time to share you thoughts and memories.
Great photo by the way (I'm only 24 so my jaw drops every time I see cars like that
)
That in itself is truely inspiring. EB is something special for all of us Music Man fans and I really appreciate you taking the time to share you thoughts and memories.
Great photo by the way (I'm only 24 so my jaw drops every time I see cars like that
)
Vito Porkleone
Well-known member
BP - Threads like this are the reason I dig this place so much. Thanks for sharing the pics and stories...
Smellybum
Well-known member
If you're not keen to rite your bio - maybe you should consider writing Ernie's - sharing all these great stories with everyone beyond this forum.
Spudmurphy
Well-known member
there's not many of 'em about these days BP. People like your Dad & Tommy are few and far between now.
lumberjack
Well-known member
I love these types of thread. Very cool read. Thanks for sharing Poppa.
Colin
Well-known member
I never tire of hearing these stories and sharing them with others. Thanks BP
