Possibly the one and only thing this month’s dealer survey (sent out to over 300 MI retailers) made clear is this: if you want to start a fight between two fretted instrument store owners, put them in a room and have them discuss acoustic guitar strings.
It’s par for the course for these polls to have some variety within responses – geographic, financial, and cultural differences come into play, as well as plain old subjective points of view, but this issue’s took “variety” to a whole new level.
Today’s players are savvier, say many. Consumers today don’t know anything about what they’re purchasing, claim others. End-users are willing to pay more for nicer strings is the trend of 2020… unless you listen to the equally large number of folks who say customers just want whatever’s cheapest. Phosphor bronze is king – no, 80/20 is what’s big nowadays.
However, no topic within the larger subject of acoustic guitar strings is (apparently) more polarizing than coated strings. When asked about current trends of note in this market segment, Big Apple Music’s (New Hartford, New York) Mark Bolos offered the following: “Less people are asking for coated strings.” Responding to the same question, Mike Trombley of Burlington, Vermont’s Advance Music Center asserted, “More and more people are moving to coated strings.”
Elixir – not surprisingly – is “ground zero” for the coated strings debate. “I can’t sell Elixirs at any price,” claims John Diffley of Stewartville, Minnesota’s Diffley Guitar, whereas Music & Arts’ (Glendora, California) David St. John asserts, “Coated strings have become extremely popular with all manufacturers… Elixir outsells all others by a good ten to one margin.”
Well, that clears things up!
Regardless, acoustic strings of some variety are a mainstay for virtually all dealers. As Ted Parrish of Viroqua, Wisconsin observes, “Strings are always a steady seller, whether instruments are selling or not. Every player needs them!”
“The best sellers are D’Addario’s EJ series, Elixir Nanowebs, and Martin Authentic. The D’Addario Nickel Bronze strings sell very well here also. For the real aficionados, we stock the Straight Up Strings by Roger Siminoff. He has some unique ideas regarding string tension compensation and his strings are a favorite with the hardcore bluegrass crowd. Remember to use suggestive selling when it comes to strings. People like to try new things! You just have to remind them.”
Tim Bascom
Morgan Music
Lebanon, Missouri
Have you noticed any significant shifts or trends when it comes to acoustic guitar strings – on either the end-user or supplier sides?
“What used to be a great margin item is now a drop in the bucket, since big box two-fers and now low-ball online selling. We remain vigilant and price competitively, but keep a leg up by offering free installation. Our goal is two-fold. When customers wait for their axe to be restrung, they peruse and sample instruments and browse other accessories. If necessary, we will recommend neck, nut, or saddle adjustments to improve action or intonation for an additional charge. We also polish the guitar and treat the fingerboard. It’s called customer service and they love it.”
Jerry Vesely
Vesely Music
Parowan, Utah
“80/20 [is] selling better than Phosphor.”
Steve Burgess
St. Pete Guitars
St. Pete Beach, Florida
“Phosphor Bronze is the new ‘IT’ string, after years of 80/20.”
Larry Gosch
Encore Music Center
Auburn, California
“Customers are buying more expensive sets like Elixir, D’Addario NY, or EXP.”
Stephen Zampino
Jupiter Music
Jupiter, Florida
“We have noticed a move away from coated strings. Many of the working players in the area tend to want to change their strings often.”
Steve Patterson
Full Score Music
Toledo, Ohio
“All the string companies are trying to reintroduce Monel steel acoustic strings. I find this funny, in the fact that Monel steel was all there was before bronze and brass alloyed strings.”
Jeff Hashbarger
Jeff’s Morrell Music Shop
Kingsport, Tennessee
“Martin’s decision to sell direct to Canada ended our supply and support of our best-selling acoustic string line for the last 25 years.”
Jeff Elias
Interesting Music Shoppe
Cannington, Ontario
Canada
“More premium strings are on the market. People are willing to spend a little more if the quality is there.”
Spidey Mulrooney
The Music Shop
Southington, Connecticut
“Most shoppers don’t seem to have a favorite brand or even know their string brand preferences, but it gives us an opportunity to make a connection with them by giving recommendations!”
Karen Janiszewski
Music Room
Buffalo, New York
“Since Martin changed from the color-coded box to the envelope Martin sales [have] dropped by 80 percent.”
Ray Noguera
Laconia Music Center
New Hyde Park, New York
