The factory tour

[tkarter]

I would like to thank Brian for the great tour of the factory. Explained it all very well.

Sterling you should know the pride your sons have in you. It showed all through that tour.

tk

 

[Big Poppa]

I think that Im more proud of them!

 

[Bass-sic]

Yes...Beth and a young man (I'm so sorry I forgot his name) did an excellent job of giving the factory tour. Thank you guys! And your workers were absolutely amazing. I couldn't believe how fast they packaged those strings. They were so fast I couldn't see their hands move...they were winding the strings and then a blur and then strings package was put on the belt..... I'm telling you, they were fast!

 

[tkarter]

I would say it runs equally both ways BP. You got some fine sons to be proud of and they a fine father to look up to.

Way more than great instruments run deep in your family.

imho

tk

 

[glockaxis]

Bass-sic, I was in the same group as you and I have to agree. Beth was excellent and did a great job answering my many questions. I also forgot the gentleman's name but he was in charge of the shipping department and did an equally great job of explaining things and again answering my questions.

 

[BigTony]

No pics, no factory

 

[tkarter]

Propieatary info. Or whatever that big word is.

tk

 

[francric]

No pics, no factory

Sorry but pics were not allowed....so I guess the factory does not exist, the strings just magically appear at your favorite music store.

 

[BigTony]

Sorry but pics were not allowed....so I guess the factory does not exist, the strings just magically appear at your favorite music store.

I believe they are called the Slinky Fairies

 

[Bass-sic]

.... I also forgot the gentleman's name but he was in charge of the shipping department and did an equally great job of explaining things and again answering my questions.

Yeah...I was thinking maybe it was Scott...but I'm am probably way off.

 

[dkassenbrock]

I would like to thank Brian for the great tour of the factory. Explained it all very well.

Sterling you should know the pride your sons have in you. It showed all through that tour.

tk

It is not only your sons that showed pride...It was ALL the employees that I met, who candidly spoke of how proud they are to work for such a fine individual. I saw how fast those employees worked making and packing strings...it was impressive! I had dinner with two of Sterlings LONG time employees... both had worked for Ernie prior to Sterling becoming pilot-in-command...both spoke so highly of Sterling it was like he could part the Red Sea by raising his six-string Bongo! Good work Sterling...your employees are as proud to work for you as you are to have them working for you. What a great company! If you were public, I'd buy stock.

 

[tkarter]

You just said it best. I felt it just like you said it.

tk

 

[jchalas]

The Ball men have some great qualities in common with their Big Poppa. Pride in the family and business and attention to detail. Scott and Brian - you were great in the factory tour and helping with all the to-ing and fro-ing of all of us.

dkassenbrock, NOW you've done it. Stock indeed. Hmmm... on second thought! Or, how about we could sponsor a brick (shaped like a pick, of course) in a walk of forumites fame somewhere in the factory? (If not an actual brick pick, maybe carved concrete.) Forumite bucks help keep the guitars coming, right? It's an interesting thought that may be worthy of further thought, IMHO. But that's just me.
Janice

It is not only your sons that showed pride...It was ALL the employees that I met, who candidly spoke of how proud they are to work for such a fine individual. I saw how fast those employees worked making and packing strings...it was impressive! I had dinner with two of Sterlings LONG time employees... both had worked for Ernie prior to Sterling becoming pilot-in-command...both spoke so highly of Sterling it was like he could part the Red Sea by raising his six-string Bongo! Good work Sterling...your employees are as proud to work for you as you are to have them working for you. What a great company! If you were public, I'd buy stock.

 

[Kristopher]

It was interesting seeing all that goes into making the strings, I didn't have any idea. It's really cool seeing the pride and values that go into the business. Makes me proud to be a customer.

 

[Beth]

That was Jeff Chadwick who gave the tour with me. Hard-working, FANTASTIC member of the team, and a pretty funny guy when you get to know him.

I had fun with all of you! I'm glad you enjoyed the tour!
Beth

 

[Big Poppa]

GUys thanks so much....Im glad we had it in the desert I know at first some people wondered if it was the right choice but This company operates out of two locations and both teams are stellar. It was good to have the Coachella team see what a real live knucklehead looks like and vice versa

THe team word is the operative concept. I try to not micro manage and try to give guidance when its needed.....Then sometimes im pretty firm...(just like here)

 

[GoKart_MoZart]

Our group got a kick out of seeing Kevin's cubicle: baseball bat, Giants calendar, etc. No sign required, we knew who sat there. HUMM BABY.

 

[kevin]

Humm Baby!!! We do have a great team...and we're(the team) lucky to have some super knowledgable mentors to absorb information from. I mean how many people can work with the likes of a Dan Norton, Dudley Gimpel, Sterling Ball etc....getting to attend events like these and witness first hand insight from all of the artists....absolutely priceless! We truely are lucky and I have learned a great deal in the 6 years I've been here! Its a great place to work!!

Thanks to all of the Knuckleheads for the appreciation shown....it doesn't go unnoticed, your a great group of people with a unique bond! Until next time friends.....

 

[beej]

I really enjoyed the factory tour- the engineer in me couldn't get enough of looking at all the machines, components, etc. Brian & Scott were awesome tour guides. Didn't even flinch when I asked where they store the Wah pedals

I hadn't had a chance to hang with Scott before and got the chance to play golf with him- awesome guy.

Again, there wasn't any part of this past weekend that wasn't top notch. Everyone at EB/MM bent over backward to make sure we all had a good time!

 

[adouglas]

I loved the Rube Goldberg feel of the machines, especially the Balling Machine. Swinging arms with pulleys strung with a cat's cradle of fine wire, the rhythmic "ptew" of the air reservoir.... great stuff.

Unfortunately I missed just about everything that was said...it's LOUD in there.

Great quote, too, from the fella doing QC checks by stretching strings until they break.

Norm: So, why did it break?
QC tester: Because I broke it.

LOL... This guy must have taken comedy lessons from BP....