Roland Sherwood "Ernie" Ball (1930? - September 9, 2004 in San Luis Obispo, California) was a pioneer maker of guitar strings used over the past 40 years by such artists as B.B. King to the Rolling Stones.

According to British music writer Mo Foster , in the 1950s Ball was the first industry figure to notice and exploit the trend for electric guitarists to buy lighter gauge banjo strings to replace the heavier gauge guitar strings which were then the standard, to improve playability. This led to his development of the so-called 'slinky' string sets which became his trademark. He died in September 9,2004 after a long battle with emphysema in a hospital in Canada.

External link

• Ernie Ball/Music Man Company http://www.ernieball.com/