Four Generations: New Jersey-based manufacturer DR Strings began with an idea that Al Dronge, the founder of Guild Guitars, passed along to his son Mark Dronge. In 1989, when DR started production, computer-assisted machinery and semi-automatic machinery for winding strings were becoming more and more common in string winding. The crew at DR was convinced that they could feel and hear a difference between a machine-made string and a handmade string. Prior to founding DR HandMade Strings, Mark worked at Guild, while on the other side of the family, Herman Carlsson Levin founded Levin Guitars in Sweden—which were popular in Europe (and were even played by Django Reinhardt). Mark’s daughters, Annika and Camilla, recently joined the DR team. Among the musical greats who use and were known to use DR products are Stanley Clarke, Johnny Winter, Derek Trucks, Sting, Verdine White, Victor Wooten, Melissa Etheridge and the bands of Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.
Core Philosophies and Products: Mark Dronge believes that the work of DR Strings is both a science and an art form. They tout a return to American-made, old-fashioned hand craftsmanship, combined with the finest of American-made high-quality metals. They have also re-established the importance of winding on round core wire. They also make ZEBRA strings, alternating phosphor bronze and nickel-plated steel windings. DR introduced color coated strings in 2001 and brought out NEON strings in 2010, using the world’s first hard guitar string coating, K3. DR believes that trained string winders develop a feel or sweet spot and constantly adjust for minute differences as wrap wire is wound around core wire.
VERITASTM: This past year, DR Strings rolled out its latest product line, VERITAS, an innovative category of electric and acoustic guitar strings, with players noting VERITAS electrics with Accurate Core Technology (ACT) and QUANTUM-Nickel wrap wire last longer and have more power than ordinary nickel plated strings. ACT was designed to reinforce the core wire and fill in imperfections along its length. QUANTUM-Nickel, the dynamic wrap wire alloy, is more magnetic and therefore more responsive and powerful than ordinary NPS 8% nickel plated wire.
For more information, visit drstrings.com.
