D'Addario vs Ernie Ball:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, D'Addario had more branded searches than Ernie Ball among guitar string brands in New Zealand. D'Addario had about 400 branded searches, while Ernie Ball had 350. D'Addario made up 41.2% of all guitar string brand searches we track, and Ernie Ball accounted for 36.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about guitar string brands, both D'Addario and Ernie Ball appeared in all five answers. D'Addario was mentioned before Ernie Ball in three out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
D'Addario, about 14% more searches than Ernie Ball
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
D'Addario, named ahead of Ernie Ball in 3 of 5 answers
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Top guitar string brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both D'Addario and Ernie Ball showed up in all five answers. D'Addario was listed before Ernie Ball in three of them.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- D'Addario1st
Ernie Ball2nd
Elixir Strings3rd
Martin4th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- D'Addario5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Ernie Ball5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Elixir Strings5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Martin4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about guitar string brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which guitar string brand should I buy in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best guitar string brands in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best guitar string brand in New Zealand for a new string set?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best guitar strings”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“electric guitar strings nz”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Is D'Addario or Ernie Ball more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for D'Addario and Ernie Ball by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all four guitar string brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for D'Addario, Ernie Ball. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | D'Addario | Ernie Ball | Elixir Strings | Martin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 49.5% | 28.3% | 14.1% | 8.1% |
| Nov 2025 | 46% | 28% | 16% | 10% |
| Dec 2025 | 46% | 28% | 20% | 6% |
| Jan 2026 | 50% | 30.4% | 15.2% | 4.3% |
| Feb 2026 | 40.4% | 35.4% | 18.2% | 6.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 30.4% | 24.3% | 40% | 5.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 26.4% | 39.7% | 28.9% | 5% |
| May 2026 | 32% | 45.6% | 17.6% | 4.8% |
| Jun 2026 | 41.2% | 36.1% | 18.6% | 4.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 39.8% | 34.3% | 18.5% | 7.4% |
| Aug 2026 | 43.4% | 31.8% | 14% | 10.9% |
| Sep 2026 | 41.2% | 36.1% | 16.5% | 6.2% |
How has the D'Addario and Ernie Ball comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Ernie Ball took it in April 2026, D'Addario took it in June 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, D'Addario’s share of searches among guitar string brands in New Zealand moved from 49.5% to 41.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 490 to 400.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ernie Ball’s share of searches among guitar string brands in New Zealand moved from 28.3% to 36.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 280 to 350.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand guitar string brands in September 2026?
2 changes
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, D'Addario lost share of searches among guitar string brands in New Zealand, from 43.4% to 41.2%.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using D'Addario’s and Ernie Ball’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.
D'Addario
2 branded search terms
- d'addario
- d'addario strings
Ernie Ball
2 branded search terms
- ernie ball
- ernie ball strings
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