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THE SLINKY STORY




SLINKY HISTORY VIDEO






FAMOUSLY SLINKY ®
SINCE 1962

For over 60 years, Ernie Ball Slinky® strings have been the premier choice of
musicians around the world. In 1962, Ernie Ball pioneered electric guitar
strings by creating new recipes that would become the voice of Rock and Roll and
inspire musicians for generations to come. Optimal for every playing style,
Ernie Ball strings are manufactured in our Coachella, California factory from
the finest materials using state-of-the-art winding technology while undergoing
strict quality control standards.


2022

Ernie Ball welcomes four additional gauge gauge combinations to its world-famous
Slinky line of electric guitars strings. Hyper, Magnum, Zippy, and Skinny Top
Heavy Bottom 7-String Slinky guitar sets feature the same great bright and
balanced tone that Slinkys are known for, in new never-before-offered
combinations. All sets feature nickel-plated steel wrap wire around a tin-plated
hex core for that iconic Slinky feel and tone that players have relied on for
decade.


1953

Ernie Ball, a professional steel guitar player, and musician, leaves the
military and works in and around the LA area playing clubs with local musicians.
During the day, he works on radio and TV recording jingles for KTLA Los Angeles.


1954

Ernie Ball opens up a teaching studio, giving guitar lessons to aspiring
players. It is through teaching these young students that he notices the
difficulty of bending strings and fingering guitar chords with the thicker gauge
strings.


1958

In the mid-1950’s Ernie opened what was the first all-guitar store in the world.
Never accepting the first forms of change, people warned him that he would go
broke. Though he did just that many times, first and foremost Ernie always paid
his bills. Finally in 1958 things started to turn around.


1960

As the guitarist playing in this new Rock-n-roll genre became more prominent,
guitar accessories quickly became a huge focal point for the aspiring player.
Recognizing this burgeoning trend early on, Ernie's involvement grew in a
rapidly growing industry.


1962

Ernie Ball pioneers custom string gauges for the younger player in four distinct
lighter gauges. Super, Regular, Power, and Skinny Top Heavy Bottom strings are
offered for the worldwide musician, and the Slinky line is officially born.


1967

Ernie Ball closes the retail store and moves to Newport Beach, CA to concentrate
on the string and accessories business. Ernie also had a vision of working
part-time, surfing and flying airplanes. However the guitar business took a new
and heightened direction and things would never be the same.


1972

The new Earthwood acoustic instruments were big and bold. Powered by Ernie Ball
Earthwood acoustic bronze strings, these instruments were revered for their
overarching projection and big booming sound. The new Earthwood 80/20 Bronze
alloy strings allowed the instrument to ring out with clarity and a crisp high
end.


1979

With the huge success of the Slinky line of electric guitar strings, sales were
booming. The time was ripe to expand the operation. In March 1979, Ernie Ball
moves corporate headquarters to the central coast of California. The string and
Earthwood facilities are packed up on their way to a new modern factory in San
Luis Obispo.


1984

RPS (Reinforced Plain Strings) Slinkys enter the market and quickly become an
artist favorite. During the 1980s heavy tremolo use was in fashion and RPS
Slinkys were perfectly suited for this application. RPS strings feature an extra
wrapping of brass around the ball end of the string for added strength and
stability.


1997

The very first Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands at the San Francisco Warped Tour
stop. The Battle of the Bands 1 has 18 stops in its first year and develops into
a long-lasting relationship with Kevin Lyman and The Warped Tour.


2004

Beefy and Not Even sets join the Slinky lineup. Sensing the younger players
needs for achieving a thicker, chunkier tone, Brian Ball creates string sets
optimal for modern tunings including D, drop D and C#. The thicker core wire and
wrap combinations of Beefy and Not Even Slinky strings, increase the tensions
needed to keep strings playable at pitch.


2008

Element Shield packaging launches with wide industry acclaim. Spearheaded by
Brian Ball, the new packaging aims to keep your strings as fresh as the day they
were made. “We wanted to give consumers the absolute freshest set of strings
possible, in addition to enhancing the merchandising appeal for retailers”
Element Shield packaging has also proven to combat counterfeiting!


2019

Slinky Line up expands with half gauges and more Ernie Ball welcomes new half-
gauge combinations to its world-famous Slinky line of electric guitars strings.
Featuring the same great bright and balanced tone that Slinkys are known for, in
new never-before-offered combinations that help musicians further refine their
gauge preferences. All sets feature nickel-plated steel wrap wire around a
tin-plated hex core for that iconic Slinky feel and tone that players have
relied on for decades.


2022

Ernie Ball welcomes four additional gauge gauge combinations to its world-famous
Slinky line of electric guitars strings. Hyper, Magnum, Zippy, and Skinny Top
Heavy Bottom 7-String Slinky guitar sets feature the same great bright and
balanced tone that Slinkys are known for, in new never-before-offered
combinations. All sets feature nickel-plated steel wrap wire around a tin-plated
hex core for that iconic Slinky feel and tone that players have relied on for
decade.


1953

Ernie Ball, a professional steel guitar player, and musician, leaves the
military and works in and around the LA area playing clubs with local musicians.
During the day, he works on radio and TV recording jingles for KTLA Los Angeles.






HEAR THEM
IN ACTION





NICKEL WOUND
ELECTRIC GUITAR STRINGS


MADE FROM NICKEL PLATED STEEL WIRE WRAPPED AROUND TIN PLATED HEX SHAPED STEEL
CORE WIRE.

OUTPUT



TREBLE



MIDRANGE



BASS


Shop Now



WELCOME TO
THE FAMILY





TRUSTED BY
ARTISTS SINCE
1962


PAUL
MCCARTNEY

SUPER SLINKY


ERIC
CLAPTON

REGULAR SLINKY


KEITH
RICHARDS

POWER SLINKY


JIMMY
PAGE

SUPER SLINKY


SLASH

PARADIGM POWER SLINKY


METALLICA

PAPA HETS CUSTOM SLINKY


ANGUS
YOUNG

SUPER SLINKY


BUDDY
GUY

POWER SLINKY


JOHN
PETRUCCI

REGULAR RPS SLINKY


STEVE
MORSE

REGULAR SLINKY


ALBERT
LEE

REGULAR SLINKY


STEVE
LUKATHER

PARADIGM SUPER SLINKY


JOHN
MAYER

REGULAR SLINKY


PETE
TOWNSHEND

POWER RPS SLINKY


JOE
WALSH

REGULAR SLINKY


BILLIE JOE
ARMSTRONG

REGULAR SLINKY


STEVE
VAI

SUPER SLINKY


IRON
MAIDEN

SUPER SLINKY


MICK
MARS

POWER SLINKY


PAUL
STANLEY

REGULAR SLINKY


JOE
BONAMASSA

POWER SLINKY


A7X

STHB SLINKY


MATT
BELLAMY

SUPER SLINKY


ST.
VINCENT

REGULAR SLINKY

COMPANY

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