eBay Auction Features Custom Ernie Ball Music Man Super Sport Signed by SLASH

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA (August 5, 2005) ? Ernie Ball Music Man is proud to offer up for auction a custom Ernie Ball Music Man Axis Super Sport Guitar, signed by world renowned rock guitarist, SLASHof GNR and Velvet Revolver. The guitar will be auctioned through eBay from August 4-13. All proceeds will be donated to the Casey Lee Ball Foundation for pediatric kidney research at the UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital.

Featuring an exotic custom veneer top, the special model is one of only five on the planet. In addition to the guitar, the winning bidder will receive two signed Ernie Ball RPS Power Slinky guitar string sets - Slash's personal preference. AC/DC, Metallica, Iron Maiden, and System of a Down have also signed guitars in this exclusive series of guitars up for bid on eBay throughout the year.

Currently the world's largest private pediatric kidney foundation, the Casey Lee Ball Foundation is a non-profit organization working for the advancement of pediatric kidney research. Casey Lee Ball, third son of Sterling Ball, was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease at age two. At age five, while Casey and Sterling were recuperating from kidney transplant surgery, they decided to create the Casey Lee Ball Foundation. As a result of their tireless efforts over the last eleven years, several new medicines have made it to the market in record time and are helping to reduce the side effects of kidney transplant medications.

Ernie Ball is a leading innovator of guitar strings. The company was the first to offer rock strings with the introduction of Slinkys, and further revolutionized the market by offering guitarists Custom-Gauge® single strings. Ernie Ball also produces Music Man® guitars and basses, volume pedals and other accessories. Strings and accessories are available in more than 5,500 music stores throughout the U.S. and in 75 countries. For more information, contact the Ernie Ball Company at (805) 544-7726, or visit their website at .

These products are Ernie Ball trademarks registered in the USA and many foreign countries:

ERNIE BALL®     CUSTOM GAUGE®     SLINKY®     EARTHWOOD®
MUSICMAN®
STINGRAY®     SILHOUETTE®     AXIS®
STERLING®     4+2®     3+1®

Trademark ownership is indicated by the symbol ®, however, for the sake of brevity it is omitted during the story.

Contact:
Brian Ball
Ernie Ball, Inc.
(800) 543-2255

Media Contact:
Keith Negrin
MORSEKODE
(952) 853-9555