~ Words Will Never Be Enough Thanks Ernie ~
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Following is a clip from an earlier Email to Beth @ Ernie Ball MusicMan when I first read the news of Ernie's passing
I've since joined this Forum and I wish to thank the family of Ernie Ball for sharing him with a world of guitar and electric bass musicians, most of whom play sweeter because of him ... whether or not they're aware of his creations
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What an unhappy shock to read the news about Mr. Ernie Ball.
I've spent the last 4 months learning to live with the loss of my own father back in April so I'm having some powerful thoughts right now. It was my Dad who supported the acquisition of my StingRay5s and even sponsored the last one after I'd fallen sick and had to quit my dayjob. He knew how special they are to me and always referred to them as my "Ernie Balls".
Easy words for a believer and follower like me to say the contributions of Ernie Ball to the world of guitar music are legendary along with those of Leo Fender. Since my earliest Fender Bass dreams there has been a deep and unique feeling knowing that I was loving playing with real, quality, original musical instruments created by real people.
I feel so lucky to be able to say the names of these gentlemen as though they are members of my own family ... on second thought, as though *I'm* lucky enough to be a member of *their* families.
Always memorable is the sunny, mid-August lunch hour when I made the deposit on my first StingRay5. That was the day I walked back to work on higher air, knowing the wishing was almost over and I was soon going to bring home a genuine Ernie Ball MusicMan StingRay5 Fretless electric bass guitar.
Heaven only knows how many and deep are the dreams of aspiring players - dreams that eventually come true because men like Ernie Ball had the dreams themselves, and the character to apply themselves to the realization of their dreams.
In my mind and heart there can be no comparison between the lifelong work and play of an Ernie Ball, and anyone else. Ernie Ball's work was obviously driven from the "same_deep_within" as from where the music comes.
In the world of business endeavors the pursuit of financial outcomes can never hope to reach the level of significance or share the dimensions with the Creative Flame of an Ernie Ball who served a far greater universal calling than the quest for mere money.
Please forward my sadness, and respect to Mrs. Ball and her family; and my "forever_gratitude" for their generous sharing of Ernie with us dreamers and pickers.
This sad day on Earth is just another special day in Heaven now that Ernie has been called to play with the Angels.
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Sincere Condolences,
/ Rayan
