---
title: "Guitar string brands in New Zealand: Which are searched most?"
description: "Compare the guitar string brands New Zealanders buy. Share of Search among D'Addario, Ernie Ball, Elixir Strings and Martin, the guitar string brands Brandwave compares in New Zealand, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time."
canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-guitar-string-brands"
publisher: "Brandwave"
---

# Guitar string brands in New Zealand: Which are searched most?

Compare the guitar string brands New Zealanders buy. Share of Search among D'Addario, Ernie Ball, Elixir Strings and Martin, the guitar string brands Brandwave compares in New Zealand, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.

## Key facts

- **Competitive set**: Guitar string brands
- **Market**: New Zealand
- **Brands compared**: 4
- **Month measured**: Sep 2026
- **Highest Share of Search**: D'Addario, 41.2%

## Which brand is most popular in search among guitar string brands in New Zealand?

- In September 2026, D'Addario was the most searched among guitar string brands in New Zealand, with an estimated 400 branded searches, 41.2% of all searches for the four we track.
- Ernie Ball is in 2nd place, 5.2 percentage points behind at 36.1%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, D'Addario’s share of searches among guitar string brands in New Zealand decreased from 49.5% to 41.2%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ernie Ball’s share of searches among guitar string brands in New Zealand increased from 28.3% to 36.1%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Elixir Strings’ share of searches among guitar string brands in New Zealand increased from 14.1% to 16.5%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Martin’s share of searches among guitar string brands in New Zealand decreased from 8.1% to 6.2%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, D'Addario’s share of searches among guitar string brands in New Zealand peaked at 50% in January 2026 and was lowest at 26.4% in April 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ernie Ball’s share of searches among guitar string brands in New Zealand peaked at 45.6% in May 2026 and was lowest at 24.3% in March 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Elixir Strings’ share of searches among guitar string brands in New Zealand peaked at 40% in March 2026 and was lowest at 14% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Martin’s share of searches among guitar string brands in New Zealand peaked at 10.9% in August 2026 and was lowest at 4.1% in June 2026.

## Top guitar string brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, D'Addario, Ernie Ball and Elixir Strings appeared every time. D'Addario was recommended most often, coming first in three out of five answers. Ernie Ball was second, and Elixir Strings was third.

Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options.

| Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| D'Addario | 1st | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 |
| Ernie Ball | 2nd | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 |
| Elixir Strings | 3rd | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 |
| Martin | 4th | 3 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 |

## Every AI answer about guitar string brands

- Asked ChatGPT "Which guitar string brand should I buy in New Zealand?": 1. D'Addario, 2. Ernie Ball, 3. Elixir Strings, 4. Martin
- Asked ChatGPT "What are the best guitar string brands in New Zealand?": 1. D'Addario, 2. Ernie Ball, 3. Elixir Strings, 4. Martin
- Asked ChatGPT "What's the best guitar string brand in New Zealand for a new string set?": 1. D'Addario, 2. Elixir Strings, 3. Ernie Ball, 4. Martin
- Searched Google, AI Overview "best guitar strings": 1. Ernie Ball, 2. Elixir Strings, 3. D'Addario, 4. Martin
- Searched Google, AI Overview "electric guitar strings nz": 1. Ernie Ball, 2. D'Addario, 3. Elixir Strings

Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

## Compare search popularity between leading brands

- [D'Addario vs Ernie Ball: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/daddario-vs-ernie-ball): 41.2% against 36.1% Share of Search.
- [D'Addario vs Elixir Strings: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/daddario-vs-elixir-strings): 41.2% against 16.5% Share of Search.
- [D'Addario vs Martin: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/daddario-vs-martin-guitars): 41.2% against 6.2% Share of Search.
- [Ernie Ball vs Elixir Strings: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/elixir-strings-vs-ernie-ball): 36.1% against 16.5% Share of Search.
- [Ernie Ball vs Martin: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/ernie-ball-vs-martin-guitars): 36.1% against 6.2% Share of Search.
- [Elixir Strings vs Martin: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/elixir-strings-vs-martin-guitars): 16.5% against 6.2% Share of Search.

## How did search popularity change for New Zealand guitar string brands in September 2026?

- In September 2026, Ernie Ball gained share of searches among guitar string brands in New Zealand, from 31.8% to 36.1%.
- In September 2026, Elixir Strings gained share of searches among guitar string brands in New Zealand, from 14% to 16.5%.
- In September 2026, Martin lost share of searches among guitar string brands in New Zealand, from 10.9% to 6.2%.
- In September 2026, D'Addario lost share of searches among guitar string brands in New Zealand, from 43.4% to 41.2%.

## Share of Search ranking

| Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | Change vs prior month | Owned by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | D'Addario | 41.2% | 400 | -28.6% | D'Addario |
| 2 | Ernie Ball | 36.1% | 350 | -14.6% | Ernie Ball |
| 3 | Elixir Strings | 16.5% | 160 | -11.1% | Elixir |
| 4 | Martin | 6.2% | 60 | -57.1% | Martin |

## Historical estimated branded-search demand

| Month | Brand | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Oct 2025 | D'Addario | 490 | 49.5% | 1 |
| Oct 2025 | Ernie Ball | 280 | 28.3% | 2 |
| Oct 2025 | Elixir Strings | 140 | 14.1% | 3 |
| Oct 2025 | Martin | 80 | 8.1% | 4 |
| Nov 2025 | D'Addario | 460 | 46% | 1 |
| Nov 2025 | Ernie Ball | 280 | 28% | 2 |
| Nov 2025 | Elixir Strings | 160 | 16% | 3 |
| Nov 2025 | Martin | 100 | 10% | 4 |
| Dec 2025 | D'Addario | 460 | 46% | 1 |
| Dec 2025 | Ernie Ball | 280 | 28% | 2 |
| Dec 2025 | Elixir Strings | 200 | 20% | 3 |
| Dec 2025 | Martin | 60 | 6% | 4 |
| Jan 2026 | D'Addario | 460 | 50% | 1 |
| Jan 2026 | Ernie Ball | 280 | 30.4% | 2 |
| Jan 2026 | Elixir Strings | 140 | 15.2% | 3 |
| Jan 2026 | Martin | 40 | 4.3% | 4 |
| Feb 2026 | D'Addario | 400 | 40.4% | 1 |
| Feb 2026 | Ernie Ball | 350 | 35.4% | 2 |
| Feb 2026 | Elixir Strings | 180 | 18.2% | 3 |
| Feb 2026 | Martin | 60 | 6.1% | 4 |
| Mar 2026 | Elixir Strings | 460 | 40% | 1 |
| Mar 2026 | D'Addario | 350 | 30.4% | 2 |
| Mar 2026 | Ernie Ball | 280 | 24.3% | 3 |
| Mar 2026 | Martin | 60 | 5.2% | 4 |
| Apr 2026 | Ernie Ball | 480 | 39.7% | 1 |
| Apr 2026 | Elixir Strings | 350 | 28.9% | 2 |
| Apr 2026 | D'Addario | 320 | 26.4% | 3 |
| Apr 2026 | Martin | 60 | 5% | 4 |
| May 2026 | Ernie Ball | 570 | 45.6% | 1 |
| May 2026 | D'Addario | 400 | 32% | 2 |
| May 2026 | Elixir Strings | 220 | 17.6% | 3 |
| May 2026 | Martin | 60 | 4.8% | 4 |
| Jun 2026 | D'Addario | 400 | 41.2% | 1 |
| Jun 2026 | Ernie Ball | 350 | 36.1% | 2 |
| Jun 2026 | Elixir Strings | 180 | 18.6% | 3 |
| Jun 2026 | Martin | 40 | 4.1% | 4 |
| Jul 2026 | D'Addario | 430 | 39.8% | 1 |
| Jul 2026 | Ernie Ball | 370 | 34.3% | 2 |
| Jul 2026 | Elixir Strings | 200 | 18.5% | 3 |
| Jul 2026 | Martin | 80 | 7.4% | 4 |
| Aug 2026 | D'Addario | 560 | 43.4% | 1 |
| Aug 2026 | Ernie Ball | 410 | 31.8% | 2 |
| Aug 2026 | Elixir Strings | 180 | 14% | 3 |
| Aug 2026 | Martin | 140 | 10.9% | 4 |
| Sep 2026 | D'Addario | 400 | 41.2% | 1 |
| Sep 2026 | Ernie Ball | 350 | 36.1% | 2 |
| Sep 2026 | Elixir Strings | 160 | 16.5% | 3 |
| Sep 2026 | Martin | 60 | 6.2% | 4 |

## What is being compared

- **D'Addario**: Measured on the search terms “d'addario” and “d'addario strings”, summed into one figure.
- **Elixir Strings**: Measured on the search terms “elixir guitar strings” and “elixir strings”, summed into one figure.
- **Ernie Ball**: Measured on the search terms “ernie ball” and “ernie ball strings”, summed into one figure.
- **Martin**: Measured on the search terms “martin guitar strings” and “martin strings”, summed into one figure.

- [D'Addario](/demand/nz/brands/daddario)
- [Elixir Strings](/demand/nz/brands/elixir-strings)
- [Ernie Ball](/demand/nz/brands/ernie-ball)
- [Martin](/demand/nz/brands/martin-guitars)

## Methodology

- [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which brand is most popular in search among guitar string brands in New Zealand?

In September 2026, D'Addario was the most searched among guitar string brands in New Zealand, with an estimated 400 branded searches, 41.2% of all searches for the four we track.

## Cite this page

Brandwave. "Guitar string brands in New Zealand: Which are searched most?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-guitar-string-brands

This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-guitar-string-brands. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.