Strings real manufacturer

[supremo]

There are so many string brands, but which companies make strings?
I know that Fodera, Warwick, Ernie Ball etc put their company label on strings package but they don't make strings. Which are the real company makers around the world?

 

[jrusidoff]

They're all made by little elves in a hollow tree.

 

[Baird6869]

There are so many string brands, but which companies make strings?
I know that Fodera, Warwick, Ernie Ball etc put their company label on strings package but they don't make strings. Which are the real company makers around the world?

Fodera absolutely makes their own strings. Tiny factory in the Pennsylvania boonies with 3 employees.

A large portion of other brands are made by D'Addario. LaBella makes strings (generally flats) for 3rd parties as well IIRC.

Ernie Ball does make (or used to) their own as well, but not sure if they still do.

 

[Jon Moody]

There are so many string brands, but which companies make strings?
I know that Fodera, Warwick, Ernie Ball etc put their company label on strings package but they don't make strings. Which are the real company makers around the world?

Fodera make their own strings.
Warwick gets theirs from Everly/Cleartone.
Ernie Ball most certainly make their own strings.

We (GHS) make our own strings, but like many of the other companies, make what are called "Private Label" sets, which are strings made and packaged for another company (like Warwick's above). This can be as simple as repackaging strings we already make (and just change the silk colors), or it can be as complex as adhering to a different set of specifications. Given that, as a "Private Label," many of those companies do not want you to know who makes their strings (some probably don't care), there will probably be some you won't find out.

And as an employee of GHS, I usually stay away from any of our "Private Label" relationships, to retain a form of gleeful ignorance on this type of topic, and to respect the companies relations.

 

[tjh]

... there are also mfr's out there that not many folk are even aware of, like Guitar String Manufacturing (California) that only make strings for other companies ... GSM specializes in oem and private label strings.

 

[cnltb]

Newtonestrings make their own strings and strings for some other companies as well.
I've been using them and nothing else for years.

 

[fenderhutz]

I would like to think there is a little old lady named Ethel sitting in the DR plant meticulously wrapping every string I put on my bass. They just sound so good and you can tell they do something right.

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Fodera make their own strings.
Warwick gets theirs from Everly/Cleartone.
Ernie Ball most certainly make their own strings.

We (GHS) make our own strings, but like many of the other companies, make what are called "Private Label" sets, which are strings made and packaged for another company (like Warwick's above). This can be as simple as repackaging strings we already make (and just change the silk colors), or it can be as complex as adhering to a different set of specifications. Given that, as a "Private Label," many of those companies do not want you to know who makes their strings (some probably don't care), there will probably be some you won't find out.

And as an employee of GHS, I usually stay away from any of our "Private Label" relationships, to retain a form of gleeful ignorance on this type of topic, and to respect the companies relations.

I was going to mention Warwick not fitting correctly into that list...

But I am sorry your post made me laugh thank you for that!

fenderhutz...

DR most certainly makes their own strings. They even make their own coated wire in house! I was lucky enough to get a tour... I have pictures just haven't gotten a chance to post them up yet :-/ There are only 2 people who make Hi-Beams, it is pretty cool!

 

[themarshall]

Oh great. Now we're going to have "Dick" vs. "Jane" Hi-Beams threads.

 

[Jon Moody]

... there are also mfr's out there that not many folk are even aware of, like Guitar String Manufacturing (California) that only make strings for other companies ... GSM specializes in oem and private label strings.

That's actually how GHS started out. Three people left Squire (which was later bought by Fender), formed GHS and started as OEM only.

 

[JustForSport]

Kalium makes their own.
Dean Markley has been making their own, also.

 

[I am Soma]

Link Removed does. My favorite strings

 

[mmbongo]

Also make their own:
SIT
Dunlop
Rotosound

These days it seems like the only strings not made in house come from companies whose main business is instruments, such as Fender, Sadowsky, Ken Smith, etc. Fodera being the exception as was pointed out.

 

[nuhckes8]

Does anyone know if Zon makes their own strings? I used them in the past and loved them.

 

[Martin Beer]

These days it seems like the only strings not made in house come from companies whose main business is instruments, such as Fender, Sadowsky, Ken Smith, etc. Fodera being the exception as was pointed out.

The Fender flats are made by D'Addario to Fender's spec, though I don't know about the rounds.
Sadowsky strings are made by LaBella, which Roger Sadowsky has been quite open about on forums. He's also made it quite clear that they've worked with the company to develop their own sets which are not identical to the stock LaBellas.

 

[mmbongo]

Does anyone know if Zon makes their own strings? I used them in the past and loved them.

They do not make their own.

So far it looks like Fodera is the only bass company with a string factory out back

 

[Lebowsky]

They do not make their own.

So far it looks like Fodera is the only bass company with a string factory out back

and Ernie Ball

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I don't know of a Dingwall string factory (certainly not one in town) I am pretty sure they get them manufactured by somebody else. The use a super thin core though so they are definitely not just repackaged strings with added length. I think only Labella uses a thinner core.

 

[okcrum]

Fodera make their own strings.
Warwick gets theirs from Everly/Cleartone.
Ernie Ball most certainly make their own strings.

We (GHS) make our own strings, but like many of the other companies, make what are called "Private Label" sets, which are strings made and packaged for another company (like Warwick's above). This can be as simple as repackaging strings we already make (and just change the silk colors), or it can be as complex as adhering to a different set of specifications. Given that, as a "Private Label," many of those companies do not want you to know who makes their strings (some probably don't care), there will probably be some you won't find out.

And as an employee of GHS, I usually stay away from any of our "Private Label" relationships, to retain a form of gleeful ignorance on this type of topic, and to respect the companies relations.

There are only 4 or 5 string makers here in the US; all others are rebranded. I am pretty certain now that Fender is out of the business, no bass builders make their own strings other than maybe Ernie Ball. I also agree with your sentiment of gleeful ignorance concerning who labels what.

 

[Just Thumpin']

There are so many string brands, but which companies make strings?
I know that Fodera, Warwick, Ernie Ball etc put their company label on strings package but they don't make strings. Which are the real company makers around the world?

You are not correct about us. We do make our own strings. You can read and see more about it here:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Regards,

Jason