Ernie Ball/Music Man Auctions Off New, Collectable 2006 Bongo 4 to Benefit the Casey Lee Ball Foundation Starting Friday, Sept. 29 on eBay

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA (September 29, 2006) - Ernie Ball/Music Man will auction off a brand new, very rare and desirable 2006 Ernie Ball Music Man Bongo 4 on eBay beginning Friday, September 29 and ending Sunday, October 8.

This exquisite instrument features a solid ash body, two massive humbucking pickups, neodymium magnets, and custom vintage Sunburst finish. An all rosewood neck and omitted pick guard rounds out the custom appointments. A truly stunning and beautiful work of art, this instrument weighs only 8.65lbs and sounds tremendous. Company President Sterling Ball's signature on the headstock will ensure this bass to be a rare and unique collectable for years to come. All proceeds will be donated to the Casey Lee Ball Foundation for pediatric kidney research at the UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital.

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 was the first to offer rock strings with the creation of Slinkys, and further revolutionized the market by offering guitarists Custom-Gauge single strings. The Ernie Ball Company also produces Music Man guitars and basses, volume pedals, and other accessories. The company's strings and accessories are available in more than 6,000 music stores throughout the U.S. The company also exports to 82 countries. For more information, contact the Ernie Ball company at (800) 543-2255, or visit their website at www.ernieball.com.

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:
Derek Brooks
Ernie Ball, Inc.
(800) 543-2255

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