Ernie Ball/Music Man Auctions One of a Kind Bass from Legendary Artist Tony Levin on eBay

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA (May 14, 2007) - Ernie Ball/Music Man auctions off a 20th Anniversary Stingray 5 bass made for renowned bassist Tony Levin. The auction started on May 10 and ends on May 15. This Trans Black work of art was commissioned at the 2007 Winter NAMM show for Levin to use on his upcoming tours with Todd Rundgren and Peter Gabriel.

Along with the bass, signed by Levin on the control cavity cover, the auction winner also receives two tickets to one of Levin's upcoming performances (in a location closest to the winning bidder), autographed copies of his latest recorded music utilizing Ernie Ball Music Man basses, his CDs Resonator and Double Espresso (double live) and his book "Beyond the Bass Clef."

Features of the bass include an ash body with bookmatched figured maple top and mahogany "tone block" underneath the pickups. The bass also features a maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, 22 frets, patented compensated nut, Schaller Tuners and two massive Humbucking pickup with Alnico magnets that provide rich powerful tones while retaining the warmth and sparkle that only a Music Man can provide. As an added bonus, this bass will ship with six sets of Ernie Ball 5 bass strings, a set of Ernie Ball "Wonder Wipe" instrument care products and a Music Man Stingray T-shirt. 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 thirteen 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. To date the foundation has raised over 7.5 million dollars.

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