D'Addario
A family-owned American manufacturer of musical instrument strings, drumheads, drumsticks, reeds, and accessories.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
D'Addario is a family-owned American musical-instrument accessories manufacturer whose best-known products are strings for guitars, basses, orchestral instruments, and other stringed instruments. The company also operates several specialist brands, including Evans Drumheads, ProMark Drumsticks, D'Addario Woodwinds, D'Addario Orchestral, and Puresound Snare Wire. Its products are sold to musicians, educators, orchestras, retailers, instrument manufacturers, and professional touring organizations across international markets. The family's involvement in string making reaches back to Salle in the Abruzzo region of Italy, where D'Addario ancestors produced gut strings for instruments. Following the destruction of Salle in an earthquake in 1905, members of the family emigrated to New York. Charles D'Addario initially imported strings made by his father and later began making and selling strings from a garage in Astoria, Queens. The business developed through C. D'Addario & Co. and C. D'Addario & Son, eventually moving from traditional gut products into steel- and nylon-core strings. The company's modern corporate history began in 1973, when John D'Addario Jr. and Jim D'Addario established J. D'Addario & Company in Lynbrook, New York. Earlier family ventures had helped shape the development of electric-guitar strings, including nickel-plated steel products that became an industry reference point. The business expanded beyond strings through acquisitions and internal product development. It acquired Kaplan Musical String Company in 1981, Planet Waves in 1998, Evans Drumheads in 1995, Rico Reeds in 2004, Puresound Snare Wire in 2007, ProMark Drumsticks in 2011, and Super-Sensitive Musical String Company in 2020. D'Addario's product strategy combines established materials expertise with engineering-led improvements in durability, tuning stability, consistency, corrosion resistance, and ease of use. Important examples include NYXL electric-guitar strings, the XT and XS extended-life string families, Evans Level 360 drumheads, ProMark ActiveGrip and FireGrain drumsticks, and the XPND modular pedalboard system. The company also makes reeds, rosin, instrument care products, straps, cables, tuners, picks, cases, and other accessories. The company remains privately held and family operated. In 2020, John D'Addario III became president and chief executive officer, while Jim D'Addario moved from the CEO role to chairman and chief innovation officer. D'Addario has manufacturing, distribution, or operating activities in the United States and several overseas markets, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, and China. Its Farmingdale headquarters is supported by additional locations in New York, Texas, California, England, and other countries. The company is also associated with sustainability and manufacturing initiatives, including its use of recycled packaging and material-efficiency programs, although detailed current financial information is not publicly available.
History
The D'Addario family's string-making tradition is traced to Salle in Abruzzo, Italy. For generations, family members made gut strings from animal intestines for guitars, violins, lutes, harps, and other instruments. An earthquake destroyed much of Salle in 1905, after which members of the family moved to New York. Charles D'Addario first imported strings made by his father and then established local production in Astoria, Queens, including a small garage-based operation. During the interwar period, Charles operated C. D'Addario & Co. His son, John D'Addario Sr., learned the trade and became a partner in C. D'Addario & Son during the 1930s. The business gradually moved from gut strings toward steel and nylon-core products. Nylon microfilament developed for industrial uses provided a suitable material for classical-guitar and harp strings, helping the company adapt to changing instrument construction and playing styles. In the 1940s and 1950s, the company refined nylon-string production while continuing to serve violinists and other instrumentalists. The growth of popular music and electric guitars created a major new opportunity. John D'Addario Sr. established Archaic Musical String Manufacturing Company in the 1960s and developed nickel-plated steel electric-guitar strings. The two family businesses were later combined as Darco Music Strings. Darco expanded during the rapid growth of the guitar and electric-bass markets. In 1959 it developed zinc-plated steel roundwound bass strings; during the 1960s it added bronze-wound acoustic strings and nickel-wrapped electric strings. Its relationship with C. F. Martin & Company became particularly important, and Darco eventually became a Martin division. In 1973, John D'Addario Jr. and Jim D'Addario launched J. D'Addario & Company in Lynbrook, New York. The company built its own identity as a broad musical-accessories manufacturer while retaining family ownership and a strong emphasis on string engineering. It expanded its portfolio organically and through acquisitions. Kaplan Musical String Company was acquired in 1981, bringing additional orchestral-string expertise. Planet Waves, acquired in 1998, broadened the business into guitar and instrument accessories. D'Addario entered adjacent instrument categories through the purchase of Evans Drumheads in 1995 and Rico Reeds in 2004. Evans gave the company a major drumhead platform, while Rico became part of the woodwind-reed business. Puresound Snare Wire was acquired in 2007, and ProMark Drumsticks joined the portfolio in 2011. Super-Sensitive Musical String Company was acquired in 2020, strengthening the company's presence in orchestral and specialty strings. Product development became a central part of the company's growth. D'Addario's nickel-plated steel formula influenced a large share of modern electric-guitar string design. Later innovations included NYXL strings, extended-life XT strings, coated XS strings, and accessory systems such as XPND pedalboards. Evans developed the Level 360 drumhead design to improve contact, tuning, and consistency. ProMark added specialized products such as ActiveGrip and FireGrain, supported by the company's manufacturing and materials research. A 2014 fire at the company's former sawmill in Prospect, Tennessee, contributed to the development of a new sawmill in Elkton, Tennessee, and later inspired the FireGrain drumstick concept. In 2020, the company underwent a leadership transition, with John D'Addario III becoming CEO and president and Jim D'Addario becoming chairman and chief innovation officer. During the COVID-19 crisis, D'Addario also adapted part of its manufacturing and research capability to produce face shields. Today, D'Addario markets products under several instrument-focused brands and operates across four continents. Its range covers strings, drumheads, drumsticks, reeds, snare wire, orchestral products, and a large collection of musician accessories. The business remains privately held, with headquarters in Farmingdale, Long Island, and additional operations in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, China, and other markets.
- 2025
XS Bass strings launch
[3]D'Addario extended the XS coated-string platform to bass guitar in four-, five-, and six-string configurations.
- 2022
XS Electric strings launch
[1]The electric version used a reformulated nickel-plated steel wrap wire aimed at increased brightness, output, sustain, and attack.
- 2021
XS Acoustic strings and XPND pedalboards launch
[1]XS Acoustic used an ultra-thin protective film, while XPND introduced a telescoping modular pedalboard format.
- 2020
John D'Addario III becomes CEO and president
[1]Jim D'Addario became chairman and chief innovation officer as part of the leadership transition.
- 2020
Super-Sensitive Musical String Company is acquired
[1]The acquisition broadened D'Addario's specialty and orchestral-string activities.
- 2019
The X Series strings are introduced
[1]The XT and XS families combined extended-life treatments and other D'Addario string technologies across several instrument categories.
- 2017
ProMark FireGrain launches
[1]The drumsticks use a proprietary flame-tempering process intended to improve durability.
- 2016
ProMark ActiveGrip launches
[1]The heat-activated coating was designed to become tackier as a drummer's hands warm during performance.
- 2014
NYXL electric-guitar strings are introduced
[1]NYXL combined a revised nickel-plated steel alloy with an emphasis on tuning stability, strength, and output.
- 2013
Evans introduces Level 360
[1]The design sought to improve the fit, contact, tuning, and tonal range of drumheads.
Products and positioning
A premium and technologically oriented musical-instrument accessories company emphasizing consistent manufacturing, musician-focused innovation, professional performance, and a broad multi-instrument portfolio.
Electric-guitar strings · 2014
NYXL
NYXL is D'Addario's high-performance electric-guitar string family. It uses a nickel-plated steel alloy and construction intended to improve tuning stability, break resistance, output, and upper-midrange presence while retaining the familiar response of nickel-plated strings.
Acoustic and classical strings
EJ Series
The EJ range covers widely used acoustic-guitar, classical-guitar, and related string sets. It includes multiple materials, tensions, gauges, and tonal profiles for players seeking traditional, bright, warm, or projection-oriented responses.
Extended-life strings · 2019
XT
XT strings combine high-carbon steel cores, established string alloys, and an extended-life treatment. The range is designed to improve corrosion resistance, pitch stability, and break resistance without substantially changing the feel of an uncoated string.
Coated strings · 2021
XS
XS uses an extremely thin film coating to protect wound strings from corrosion while aiming to preserve acoustic response and tactile feel. The family has been offered for acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, and, later, bass.
Drumheads · 1957
Evans Drumheads
Evans produces synthetic drumheads for acoustic drums, including coated, clear, resonant, bass-drum, and specialty formats. Its Level 360 design is intended to provide even contact around the bearing edge, supporting tuning consistency and a broad tonal range.
Drumsticks and mallets · 1957
ProMark Drumsticks
ProMark manufactures wooden and specialty drumsticks, mallets, and related percussion tools. Product families include Rebound, Finesse, ActiveGrip, FireGrain, and SPYR, with manufacturing controls that sort sticks by weight and pitch for pair consistency.
Woodwind reeds
D'Addario Woodwinds
D'Addario Woodwinds supplies reeds and accessories for clarinet and saxophone players. The portfolio incorporates products historically associated with Rico and Royal and serves students, advancing musicians, educators, and professionals.
Orchestral strings and accessories
D'Addario Orchestral
The orchestral portfolio includes Prelude, Ascenté, Helicore, and Kaplan strings for violin-family instruments, together with rosin and maintenance accessories. It serves student, advancing, and professional orchestral players.
Pedalboards · 2021
XPND
XPND is a modular pedalboard system with a telescoping design that lets musicians alter the usable board area. Integrated cable management and adjustable layouts are intended for live performance, rehearsal, and studio setups.
Brand decisions
2020
Transfer chief executive responsibility to John D'Addario IIIOtherBackground
The family-owned company planned a generational leadership transition.
Action taken
John D'Addario III became CEO and president, while Jim D'Addario became chairman and chief innovation officer.
Aftermath
Operational leadership passed to the next generation while Jim D'Addario retained a senior governance and product-development role.
2020
Repurpose drumhead materials for face shieldsOtherBackground
COVID-19 restrictions reduced normal business activity and created demand for protective equipment.
Action taken
D'Addario's research and development team used Mylar film associated with Evans drumhead production to develop face shields.
Aftermath
The company expanded face-shield manufacturing with support from a New York State grant.
New York State grant. $341,000 (2020)
2014
Launch NYXL electric-guitar stringsProduct launchBackground
Players sought strings offering greater durability and tuning stability without abandoning the established sound of nickel-plated steel.
Action taken
D'Addario introduced NYXL with a revised nickel-plated steel alloy and related construction changes.
Aftermath
NYXL became one of the company's principal premium electric-guitar string lines.
1995
Acquire Evans DrumheadsM&ABackground
D'Addario sought to enter the drumhead category through the purchase of the established Evans business.
Action taken
The company acquired Evans Drumheads and moved its factory from Dodge City, Kansas, to Farmingdale, New York.
Aftermath
Evans became a major percussion brand within D'Addario's portfolio and later introduced manufacturing and design initiatives such as Level 360.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
D’Addario acquires National Picks[4]
Reported:
D’Addario acquired metal fingerpick maker National Picks, which will be known as D’Addario National Picks.
D'Addario launches Eco-Comfort Recycled guitar straps[5]
Reported:
D'Addario launched a new line of Eco-Comfort Recycled guitar straps made using recycled fabrics, water-free dyeing, and repurposed Eco-Leather.
Sources5 sources
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