Brandwave

Gibson vs Recording King:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Gibson had more branded searches than Recording King among banjo brands worldwide. Gibson had about 8,100 branded searches, while Recording King had 4,200. Gibson made up 0.66% of all banjo brand searches we track, and Recording King accounted for 0.34%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about banjo brands, Recording King appeared in three of the four answers and Gibson in one. Recording King was mentioned before Gibson in every answer that named either.

Among banjo brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Gibson, about 93% more searches than Recording King

Gibson 8.1K searchesRecording King 4.2K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Recording King, mentioned in 3 of 4 answers, Gibson in 1

Recording King in 3 of 4Gibson in 1 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

Recording King, named ahead of Gibson in 3 of 3 answers

Recording King first in 3Gibson never first

Follow Gibson vs Recording King and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Track your brand against a rival →

Top banjo brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Recording King was mentioned in three out of four: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Gibson was mentioned in one out of four: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Recording King was listed before Gibson in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Deering1st
  2. Gold Tone2nd
  3. Recording King3rd
  4. Gibson4th
  5. Fender–
  6. Ibanez–
  7. Epiphone–
  8. Gretsch–
  9. Harmony Guitars–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Deering4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Gold Tone4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Recording King3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Gibson1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Fender0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Ibanez0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Epiphone0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Gretsch0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Harmony Guitars0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about banjo brands

4 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is Gibson or Recording King more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Gibson and Recording King by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine banjo brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Gibson and Recording King among banjo brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Gibson, Recording King. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthFenderIbanezEpiphoneGretschHarmony GuitarsGibsonDeeringRecording KingGold Tone
Oct 202570.3%13.9%9.3%4.2%0.62%0.68%0.46%0.31%0.25%
Nov 202568.4%16.3%9%4%0.58%0.66%0.44%0.32%0.29%
Dec 202568.4%16.3%8.9%4%0.59%0.65%0.54%0.4%0.29%
Jan 202664.8%18.9%10.4%3.8%0.55%0.62%0.41%0.35%0.28%
Feb 202667.3%15.7%10.6%3.9%0.68%0.77%0.52%0.35%0.28%
Mar 202666.2%19.6%8.8%3.2%0.58%0.65%0.43%0.29%0.23%
Apr 202667.3%15.7%10.6%3.9%0.69%0.77%0.42%0.35%0.34%
May 202665.9%19.8%8.9%3.3%0.58%0.65%0.36%0.3%0.24%
Jun 202664.4%23.6%7.1%3.2%0.47%0.52%0.28%0.24%0.23%
Jul 202668.5%16.6%9.1%3.3%0.73%0.67%0.45%0.31%0.3%
Aug 202668%16.5%9%4.1%0.61%0.66%0.44%0.37%0.36%
Sep 202668.1%16.5%9%4.1%0.72%0.66%0.36%0.34%0.3%

How has the Gibson and Recording King comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Gibson was ahead of Recording King in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Gibson’s share of searches among banjo brands worldwide moved from 0.68% to 0.66%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 9.9K to 8.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Recording King’s share of searches among banjo brands worldwide moved from 0.31% to 0.34%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.5K to 4.2K.

How did search popularity change for banjo brands worldwide in September 2026?

1 change

  1. In September 2026, Gibson fell from 5th to 6th among banjo brands worldwide.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Gibson’s and Recording King’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Gibson

1 branded search term

  • gibson bass

Recording King

2 branded search terms

  • recording king
  • recording king banjo

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among banjo brands

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Put your own brand in this comparison

Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.

Start free