Guitar String Secrets
I have often asked the question at Haywire Custom Guitars, how many companies in the USA actually manufacture guitar strings? The answer entails guitar string secrets or “trade secrets”.
While it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact number, there are only a handful of companies in the USA that actually manufacture their own guitar strings. Most brands are sourcing their strings from only about 8 primary manufacturers. Many string manufacturing companies offer private label sets so other companies can use their own brand label. What I mean is they specifically produce strings for other companies and package them under their brand name. For example: Elixir strings are made by W. L. Gore & Associates, the same company that develops Gore-Tex fabric. While they manufacture the strings, they don’t produce the raw string material itself. The raw strings are manufactured by D’Addario. Elixir’s innovation lies in their unique Polyweb coating, which helps protect the strings from corrosion and extends their lifespan. They simply rebrand the strings under the Elixir name. Here is what we know.There are Very few Guitar String Manufacturers in the USA:
Ernie Ball: Is a well-known long established string manufacturer.
D’Addario: Another major string manufacturer.
GHS: A long-standing string manufacturer, since 1964.
DR Strings: Known for hand-wound strings.
Dean Markley: Another in-house string manufacturer.
SIT Strings: A smaller manufacturer producing guitar strings.
Curt Mangan: States they offer custom-made strings.
Stringjoy a newer name in the business makes their own guitar strings in Nashville, Tennessee.
There are many more brands that are sold, but the number of actual manufacturing companies is much smaller.
