Who is really manufacturing your guitar strings?

On the string wall at Player’s Gear, you’ll find D’Addario, Ernie Ball, GHS, Martin, Fender, DR, Dunlop’s Reverend Willy’s, and Stringjoy. That’s a lot of different packages for something that, at first glance, looks pretty much the same.

But who actually makes what’s inside? Are we choosing between different manufacturers, or buying the same strings in different bags?

There is contract manufacturing in the string business. Some factories will turn out multiple brands of strings.  This post won't cover every brand--only those that are carried in the shop.

Here’s where they’re made.

D’Addario manufactures strings in New York and operates its own wire-processing facility. There’s more going on there than putting purchased strings into D’Addario packages. Ernie Ball makes its strings in Coachella—a separate operation from the Music Man guitar and bass factory in San Luis Obispo. GHS makes its strings in Battle Creek, Michigan. These are three distinct manufacturers.

Martin makes its strings in its own Navojoa factory in Mexico, with research and development in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. “Made in Mexico” doesn’t mean Martin simply puts its name on an anonymous bargain string. Martin describes its own inspection, winding, treatment, packaging, and testing process. 

DR makes its strings in Westwood, New Jersey, and emphasizes its hands-on production and American materials. Stringjoy makes strings in Nashville using trained operators and winding machinery. In this industry, “handmade” doesn’t mean someone wraps every turn of wire with bare fingers.

Dunlop makes strings at its Benicia operation. Reverend Willy’s is its Billy Gibbons signature line, developed with Billy at the Dunlop String Lab. That name on the package doesn’t represent another independent string factory. 

Fender deserves an asterisk. D’Addario is widely reported to manufacture Fender strings under contract. Their clarity of sourcing is less direct than the factory descriptions published by the other companies. I wouldn’t extend the claim to every current Fender product or assume a Fender set is identical to a particular D’Addario set. 

Does the same factory mean the same string?

No. A factory can make more than one recipe.

Jim D’Addario has discussed both private-label manufacturing and the importance of string specifications. One example he gives is the relationship between the core wire and the wire wrapped around it: a larger core with a smaller wrap can make a stiffer string than a smaller core with a larger wrap.

That means two wound strings can have the same outside diameter and still feel different. The gauge printed on the package doesn’t tell you everything about the construction. Guitar-Muse.com

Other differences include wrap-wire alloy, round versus hexagonal cores, winding methods, coatings, and ball-end construction. Manufacturers use different combinations of these features within their own product lines.

DR, for example, uses hex-core round strings on their DDTs. D’Addario offers conventional XL Nickel strings, NYXL strings with a different core and wrap formulation, and coated XS strings. Those are deliberate construction differences from the same manufacturers. 

But are there actual quality differences among the brands?

There can be. Consistent winding, dependable ball ends, resistance to breakage, and protection against corrosion are practical concerns. Materials, process control, inspection, and packaging all contribute to the finished product. Manufacturers’ descriptions explain how they address those concerns, although those descriptions alone don’t establish which brand performs best. 

It might sound boring compared to what talking heads online will say, but the best string comes down to personal preference. You may prefer a warmer sound, a more flexible feel, or an uncoated surface. Another player may want a brighter response or longer corrosion resistance.

Does a more expensive string always sound better than an economical string?

No.  Definitely no.

A higher price may buy different materials, additional processing, or corrosion protection. It doesn’t guarantee that you’ll like the sound.

What I’d pay attention to when choosing strings

Know where they’re made if that matters to you. Then look at the actual set: individual gauges, materials, construction, and coating.  Just to add emphasis to a previous point:  do not assume that spending more money will produce better tone.

When comparing gauges, be aware that it will take some time to get used to the feel of a new gauge.  Lighter strings require less pressure to sound a note and are easier to bend.  If you go to a lighter string, you'll have problems with fretting notes too hard and making the notes sound sharp.  You can overbend, too.  Going heavier doesn't usually have issues with fretted notes, but it will be a little tougher to bend a string to your goal note.  Give yourself a few days to acclimate yourself to the new gauge before making a judgement call.

When comparing brands, use the same guitar and similar gauges and materials. Give each set some playing time. Comparing fresh strings with the dead set you just removed makes it difficult to tell how much of the improvement comes from the brand.

Player’s Gear carries several brands because players have different needs. Tell me what you like about your current strings—and what you wish were different—and we can make the next choice with a little more information than the color of the package.