About

California heritage since 1974

Originally founded in 1974, Music Man built its name leading an industry revolution, introducing active electronics on its production instruments. As part of the team during the 70’s, Sterling Ball played an important role on the design and development of the iconic StingRay basses.

Officially purchasing the company in 1984, Sterling, joined later by his sons Scott and Brian, has built a team of dedicated professionals who collectively share a common goal: building the highest level of hand-crafted instruments available.

Shipping to more than 135 countries from the Central Coast of California, the brand continues to expand its reach worldwide based on the strict quality standards, innovative design and the finest craftsmanship it is known for.

  • Sterling Ball

    President

  • Brian Ball

    CEO

  • Scott Ball

    Vice President

We build tools for artists

  • Design

    Every Ernie Ball Music Man guitar has been meticulously designed and crafted with the utmost attention to every detail. With each new model, our world-class team of designers and engineers delivers the best playing experience possible.

  • Millwork

    Our wood mill employs the perfect balance of machine-driven precision and the personal touch of an experienced handcraftsmen. High-quality wood is sculpted into beautiful instruments.

  • Big Bird

    Big Bird is a recently-added member of the Ernie Ball Music Man robot family, feeding the wood raw materials into the computer-controlled cutting and drilling machine with automated precision.

  • Fretting

    All frets are hand-applied to exact specifications, ensuring each guitar or bass has the playability you'd expect from Ernie Ball Music Man.

  • Sanding

    Ernie Ball Music Man necks and bodies are hand-sanded multiple times, creating flawless finishes and maximum playability.

  • Paint

    Three layers of high-gloss polyurethane are applied to each color-coated instrument body, producing a luxurious state-of-the-art finish.

  • Buffing/Ursula

    We use state-of-the-art technology like Ursula, our beloved buffing robot. Automation ensures a high-quality and cost-effective product, every time.

  • Electronics

    Each instrument is hand-soldered using the latest technology in our San Luis Obispo factory.

  • Setup

    When you purchase an Ernie Ball Music Man guitar or bass, it has already been personally tested and tuned by one of our experienced setup technicians, ensuring you can play right out of the box.