Does Ernie Ball Company own Mark Bass?

[ManWick]

I used to post frequently on the Ernie Ball Forum. I noticed that there appeared to be an unusally strong support for Mark Bass. It was defended as strongly as Music Man. BTW, I love Music Man basses, owning three of them.

I would never ask this on that forum because I would quickly get censored out. Does the Ernie Ball Company, or the owners, have some type of financial interest in the Mark Bass Company?

I suspect yes, but we'll probably never know.

[LDonnie]

No, Ernie Ball does not own MarkBass. Sterling Ball, the owner of Ernie Ball does endorse the company. MarkBass gets alot of love over there, but so do Ampeg, GK etc. It's a bit of a marketing thing.

[Bongolation]

Does Ernie Ball Company own Mark Bass?

No. In the US it's exclusively distributed through the Bain Capital proprietaries.

[xjeremiahx]

Funny you mention this, because in the pedal product demos, dude is always using an MM bass... hrrrrm. They aren't the same company though.

[Smallequestrian]

Originally Posted by ManWick

I used to post frequently on the Ernie Ball Forum. I noticed that there appeared to be an unusally strong support for Mark Bass. It was defended as strongly as Music Man. BTW, I love Music Man basses, owning three of them.

I would never ask this on that forum because I would quickly get censored out. Does the Ernie Ball Company, or the owners, have some type of financial interest in the Mark Bass Company?

I suspect yes, but we'll probably never know.

It wouldn't get censored.

Marco, the owner of Markbass, used to design some of the older Musicman amps, like the HD500 (you can see some similarities in ideas with that and some of the Markbass stuff). Him and Sterling are friends so there is some mutual back scratching. You might notice that there is always Musicman stuff in the Markbass NAMM booth or used in product pictures on the Markbass website as well.

[ManWick]

Both companies seem to be closely connected. Perhaps it's just a joint marketing thing. You see that in other industries. Music Man makes great basses. Mark Bass stuff is pretty good too.

FYI, the Ernie Ball Forum frequently sensors. I've never had anything censored myself but I've seen it done when someone doesn't tow the party line. It's their right since they pay the bills, but it's not the place to secure unbiased information.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by ManWick

Both companies seem to be closely connected. Perhaps it's just a joint marketing thing.

It's more likely a non-competition thing. If Mark Bass made basses and strings and Ernie Ball made amps and speakers they probably wouldn't be so cozy.

[Musicman20]

Has anyone noticed how good a Markbass amp sounds with a EBMM bass? Vice versa? Nice pairing...the amp lets the bass tone really shine.

[Smallequestrian]

Originally Posted by ManWick

Both companies seem to be closely connected. Perhaps it's just a joint marketing thing. You see that in other industries. Music Man makes great basses. Mark Bass stuff is pretty good too.

FYI, the Ernie Ball Forum frequently sensors. I've never had anything censored myself but I've seen it done when someone doesn't tow the party line. It's their right since they pay the bills, but it's not the place to secure unbiased information.

I've been on that forum for years. I know the deal. Questions about Markbass never get Censored there.

[Fun Size Nick]

Originally Posted by ManWick

Both companies seem to be closely connected. Perhaps it's just a joint marketing thing. You see that in other industries. Music Man makes great basses. Mark Bass stuff is pretty good too.

FYI, the Ernie Ball Forum frequently sensors. I've never had anything censored myself but I've seen it done when someone doesn't tow the party line. It's their right since they pay the bills, but it's not the place to secure unbiased information.

Sure they pay the bills, but I don't think that that kind of heavy-handed moderation (and the tirades from other forumites) is particularly helpful for their credibility. Hey, I live in China, I know about these things

[fenderhutz]

Originally Posted by Smallequestrian

Marco, the owner of Markbass, used to design some of the older Musicman amps, like the HD500 (you can see some similarities in ideas with that and some of the Markbass stuff). Him and Sterling are friends so there is some mutual back scratching. You might notice that there is always Musicman stuff in the Markbass NAMM booth or used in product pictures on the Markbass website as well.

Those Ernie Ball heads (HD-500) also sport Made in Italy on the back sticker. I think Ernie Ball had Marco MAKE these amps for them, they were the precursor to the MarkBass you see today in the US. If you look at the Ernie Ball cabs however I *think* they are made in the US.

Friendship ties I don't know about, but they have business ties.

[Freddels]

I wouldn't be surprised if Sterling had investments in Markbass. There's nothing wrong with it. He chooses to support companies and products that he believes in (so long as Markbass doesn't start making grills).

[basschick22]

Originally Posted by Musicman20

Has anyone noticed how good a Markbass amp sounds with a EBMM bass? Vice versa? Nice pairing...the amp lets the bass tone really shine.

+1 Played a Sterling (and was very impressed) through a MarkBass combo amp a couple of weeks ago....it was a very nice combination!

[Jim C]

Stirling Ball once mentioned that he was instrumental in getting Mark Bass picked up by GC.
In this day and age, it's often times very good business for non-competing companies in the same industry, to build alliances and/or offer cross support for each others' products.

[Rick Auricchio]

Originally Posted by Jim C

Sterling Ball once mentioned that he was instrumental in getting Mark Bass picked up by GC.

This makes sense; EB is close with Guitar Center. GC is EBMM's biggest retailer.

As for Markbass making barbecue/smoker grills, we probably don't have to worry. For the curious, Sterling ("Big Poppa") Ball's side business is http://www.bigpoppasmokers.com!