Loud and Clear: Electric Guitar Strings Ring True in 2023

Higher prices, more eco-friendly packaging, and heavier gauge strings favored by the metal crowd (see our cover feature on extended range guitars) seem to be the biggest trends in electric guitar strings, based on this month’s MI retailer survey. Additionally, it’d seem that higher-end materials – coated strings and pure nickel, for example – are reaching wider audiences.

Competition from online and big-box sellers continues to be a thorn in the side of many, but with over 80 percent (80.4%) of participants in this poll reporting sales either level with or above those from last year, it would appear electric guitar strings remain a healthy profit generator for many dealers.

Read on to learn more about what’s driving this market segment…

For your MI retail business, when compared to early 2022, sales of electric guitar strings are currently…

Up: 36.8%

Level: 43.6%

Down: 19.6%

What types of electric guitar strings (material) are most popular with your customers? (select all that apply)

80/20 Bronze: 49.2%

Chrome: 31.2%

Coated: 25.2%

Cobalt: 2.7%

Nickel Bronze: 11.2%

Nickel Plated Steel: 59.6%

Pure Nickel: 7.9%

Stainless Steel: 19.2%

Steel: 19.2%

What types of winding do end-users prefer?

Flatwound: 22.5%

Half Round: 8.1%

Plain: 77%

Roundwound: 84.9%

What brands of electric guitar strings are the hottest sellers at your store? 

D’Addario: 83.8%

Ernie Ball: 74.1%

S.I.T.: 52.9%

Elixir: 34.8%

GHS: 34.8%

Fender: 32.1%

EVH: 20.3%

Black Diamond: 19.1%

DR Strings: 19.1%

La Bella: 19.1%

Rotosound: 19.1%

Gibson: 11.3%

Ibanez: 8.1%

Thomastik: 8.1%

Richard Cocco: 3.2%

Markbass: 3.2%

Are you noticing any significant trends with respect to electric guitar strings – buyer preferences, popular price ranges, materials, packaging?

“For years we have professed to our customers the importance of frequent string changes, citing the advantages of maximizing the axes’ performance and intonation. With the advent and stocking of popular brands offering multipacks at a discounted price, it has added credence to the discussion and easier to close.”

Jerry Vesely

Vesely Music Co.

Parowan, Utah

“Less plastic from some suppliers: very welcome.”

Joanne Julier

Cerdd Ystwyth Music

Aberystwyth, Credigion

Wales

“’Premium’ electric strings are selling well, such as Ernie Ball Paradigm and D’Addario NYXL.”

Clancy Ferrill

Clancy’s Music

Stockton, California

“D’Addario is offering a balanced tension set and we do carry some 9.5 electric sets.”

Will West

Will West Music and Sound

Jefferson City, Missouri

“We are noticing a trend with customers wanting heavier gages for dropped tuning.”

Will Postlethwait

High Strung Violins & Guitars, LLC

Durham, NC

“Seems like more and more people asking me for La Bellas. Especially bass players.”

Jay Golding

Detroit Guitar

Detroit, Michigan

“Players are gravitating to higher quality strings that last longer and are willing to experiment with other brands.”

Allan Fields

Sam Ash

New York, New York

“Due to constantly rising prices, soon players will be enjoying their strings for years instead of months.”

Jeff Elias

Interesting Music Shoppe

Wilfrid, Ontario

Canada

“More and more players are opting for heavier strings (12s and 13s) as they drop tune below the standard ‘E’ tuning.”

Ed Intagliata

Cassell’s Music

San Fernando, California

“More and more people are paying us to change them rather than doing it themselves… How hard can it be?”

Larry Gosch

Encore Music Center

Auburn, California

“Customers are starting to try other brands. Pure nickel S.I.T. and DR are really taking off.”

Dan Patterson

Patterson’s Music

Fort Payne, Alabama

“As more manufacturers produce coated strings, the percentage has gradually crept upward. Still, nickel plated are preferred by most electric players and 80/20 bronze by acoustic players.”

David St. John

Music & Arts

Glendora, California

“More manufacturers have switched to packaging that keeps the strings fresh. No worries there. If they still come in paper envelopes with a plastic pouch we are not carrying those any longer. Fresh strings guaranteed is an easy sell.”

Ted Parrish

Parrish Music

Viroqua, Wisconsin

“The high end string market has greatly expanded, but for us we still sell way more of the regular over the coated or treated options.”

Ed Magruder

Musician’s Warehouse

Athens, Georgia

“More players are opting for heavier strings. We rarely sell .008-.038 even though we stock the popular brands in that gauge. Most players seem to prefer .010-.046 or heavier, especially if the player tunes down. Coated electric strings don’t sell as well as acoustic coated strings, which are still good sellers. Premium electric guitar strings from D’Addario (NYXL in particular) are good sellers.”

Spidey Mulrooney

The Music Shop

Southington, Connecticut

“In our market, Ernie Ball still reigns king for electric guitar players and D’Addario is the top seller for acoustic strings. We have also seen an influx of younger kids wanting heavier gauge strings. The Ernie Ball Power Slinky’s have been very popular.”

Trent Dugger

Morgan Music

Lebanon, Missouri

“Online discounting continues to be a problem for brick and mortar music stores trying to complete. With little to no margin, shipping cost increases and multiple string cost increases, it makes things challenging.”

Rusty Olson

Rockhaus

Milwaukee, Wisconsin