Does Ernie Ball make their own strings?

[357mag]

I know both Fender and Dean Markley make their own strings. Was wondering if Ernie Ball makes their own strings also. Anybody know?

[dmandude123455]

yea they do, i got some ernie ball 9's on my strat and i enjoy them very much lol

[beandip]

Yes, Ernie Ball makes their own strings. They're actually one of the very few string manufacturers still located here in the US and not outsourced. D'addario being another brand.

[jake_xms3_punk]

the usual strings i go for are ernie ball hybrid slinky's

[beandip]

Originally Posted by jake_xms3_punk

the usual strings i go for are ernie ball hybrid slinky's

The hell does that have to do with anything?

[Zerberus]

Originally Posted by beandip

Yes, Ernie Ball makes their own strings. They're actually one of the very few string manufacturers still located here in the US and not outsourced. D'addario being another brand.

DR as well, I think GHS also still has a US plant.. and IIRC Gibson still starts new employees out on the string winder, too..

[beandip]

Originally Posted by Zerberus

DR as well, I think GHS also still has a US plant.. and IIRC Gibson still starts new employees out on the string winder, too..

Yup yup. Not sure about Gibson. I won't say this is true, but I'd heard from a reliable person that Gibson had outsourced their string production. I have no way to verify, and not saying it's true, but yeah.

Ya know, I wouldn't mind being a string winder. It'd be a very boring job, but I mean...at the end of the day you've got some brand new strings on your guitar to make it all A-OK.

[phil_104]

I love my EB 9s. That's all I put on my #1. Love the hot pink packaging.

[astrozombie]

Yes, many ernie ball products are infact made in the usa.

IMO, Slinkys are among (if not THE) best strings for general electric guitar.

[Evan Skopp]

Back when Ernie Ball wound their strings in San Luis Obispo, I once visited the factory and saw the string winders in action. Since then, they've moved the string factory a few hours south-east to the California desert. As I understand it, the Music Man instruments are still built in SLO.

BTW, I've also visited the SIT factory in Akron and the Everly / Cleartone factory in the San Fernando Valley. Both are American-made strings.

[Grandturk]

Originally Posted by beandip

Not sure about Gibson. I won't say this is true, but I'd heard from a reliable person that Gibson had outsourced their string production. I have no way to verify, and not saying it's true, but yeah.

Outsourced is one thing, off-shored is another. I don't know where they get their strings from, and I won't speculate, but a lot of brands buy from US manufacturers and label them with their brand, as well.

Its just a fact of business - if something is not your core competancy, buy from from a service provider.

[beandip]

Originally Posted by Grandturk

Outsourced is one thing, off-shored is another. I don't know where they get their strings from, and I won't speculate, but a lot of brands buy from US manufacturers and label them with their brand, as well.

Its just a fact of business - if something is not your core competancy, buy from from a service provider.

I'm speaking of outsourced. Hell, D'Addario has become the Samick of string production, making a good number of brands.

[Grandturk]

Originally Posted by beandip

I'm speaking of outsourced. Hell, D'Addario has become the Samick of string production, making a good number of brands.

I'm fine with that. I think a lot of manufacturers should stick to what they do best. Gibson should stick to guitars, for instance, and buy in pickups.

[Zerberus]

Originally Posted by beandip

I'm speaking of outsourced. Hell, D'Addario has become the Samick of string production, making a good number of brands.

Yep, and GHS does most of the rest

Seriously, electric guitar strings are like the only thing left where it´s almost impossible not to buy USA if you stick to the leading brands

[DrNewcenstein]

Last time I had a pack of Dean Markley's they were made by GHS. Said so right on the package.

Saw a guy at Summer NAMM last year who had colored/coated strings, and he claimed to be THE supplier of ALL colored/coated strings to every string brand who sells them. He had every color on display - pink, red, green, blue, black, orange, yellow, purple, - I think he even had white.


However, the important thing to consider with strings being outsourced is not "well, if GHS makes strings for everyone, I'll buy GHS-branded strings" because the actual chemical compositions and wrapping specs and other minute details are critically important, and generally protected by patents. It's not like Samick who can churn out Samick-branded Les Pauls because they make them for Epiphoney or Samick-branded Satch models because they make the JS-100 for Ibenhad.
Gibson has a patented exclusive design spec for their branded strings which GHS cannot duplicate for their own label. Everyone does. Ergo, you aren't getting "the same string at less cost" when you buy the manufacturer's brand.

[James Rock]

Ernie Balls are my favourite tried D'addario, Gibson which were both ok and Fender (yuck). They are also the favourites of tons of big name musicians.

[DrNewcenstein]

That has nothing to do with the original topic. He wanted to know if Ernie Ball makes Ernie Ball strings, not if they were popular.

[357mag]

I believe Dean Markley manufactures their own strings. I find Fender's to be very good but I just put on some Ernie Ball Regular Slinky's on my Mexican Strat and I'm blown away by how good they sound.

It may be one of those things where you got to find the right string to match the pickups your using.

[richard parker]

I just had bacon, eggs and toast for breakfast and now I'm drinking a big mug of tea. Sorry Dr N, this has even less to do with the original topic.

[jake_xms3_punk]

The hell does that have to do with anything?

i was stating that ernie ball do make strings and they are good so i use them, whats wrong with that?