S.I.T. Strings: The Akron, Ohio Guitar String Maker Since 1980

Since 1980, S.I.T. Strings has made guitar strings by hand in Akron, Ohio, strings that have ended up on guitars played by The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, KISS's Bruce Kulick, and Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx. Edgewater Guitars (Valley City, OH) buys vintage guitars from across Ohio, including Akron. Call or text (440) 219-3607 for a free appraisal.

A String Company Built on "Stay In Tune"

S.I.T., short for Stay In Tune, was founded in 1980 and has manufactured its strings in Akron ever since, currently out of a shop at 2493 Romig Road. The company's own description of its process is simple: strings made "one at a time" rather than on a fully automated line, with an emphasis on tuning stability and tone over volume production. Forty-six years later, it is still an independent, Akron-based manufacturer rather than a brand name licensed out to an overseas factory, which is unusual for a strings company still standing this long.

The Akron Guitarist Who Never Left

Dan Auerbach, guitarist and singer of The Black Keys, grew up in Akron and met future bandmate Patrick Carney as a kid in the same neighborhood; both later attended Firestone High School together. Auerbach enrolled at the University of Akron before dropping out to chase the guitar style of Mississippi hill-country blues player Junior Kimbrough, and formed The Black Keys with Carney in Akron in 2001. According to S.I.T.'s own artist page, Auerbach "has used S.I.T. Strings since the early days back in Akron, Ohio." Premier Guitar's 2014 rig rundown backs that up with the specifics: his main guitars run S.I.T. .011-.050 strings, with a lighter .010-.046 set reserved for the Thunderbird he plays on the band's more reserved songs.

From the Garage to Arena Stages

Auerbach is far from the only well-known name on S.I.T.'s artist roster. The company's endorsers include Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue, Bruce Kulick of KISS and Grand Funk Railroad, Max Cavalera of Soulfly, David Ellefson of Megadeth, Richard Z. Kruspe of Rammstein, Gus G. of Firewind, Barry Stock of Three Days Grace, and Eric Bass of Shinedown. It is a real cross-section of working rock and metal guitarists and bassists who have all strung up with a small manufacturer that still makes its product in Ohio rather than overseas.

Does the String Brand Affect a Vintage Guitar's Value?

Unlike the guitar itself, strings are a consumable. Every vintage guitar we buy has had its strings changed many times over the decades, so the strings currently on an instrument, S.I.T. or any other brand, do not affect what it is worth. What does affect value is what is underneath the strings: original tuners, bridge, pickups, and finish. Changing strings is routine maintenance; swapping out original hardware is what collectors and buyers actually price around. If you are getting ready to sell, a fresh set of strings for the appraisal photos will not hurt, but old strings will not cost you anything either.

Selling a Vintage Guitar in Akron or Anywhere in Ohio

Edgewater Guitars buys vintage guitars across Ohio, including Akron, home to a string company that has quietly outfitted some of rock and metal's biggest names for more than four decades. If you have a vintage instrument sitting in a case, strung with S.I.T. strings or anything else, we would like to see it. Start at edgewaterguitars.com/get-a-free-estimate or call or text (440) 219-3607 for a free appraisal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is S.I.T. Strings?

S.I.T. (Stay In Tune) Strings is a guitar string manufacturer founded in 1980 and still based in Akron, Ohio. It makes electric, acoustic, and bass guitar strings, along with strings for banjo, mandolin, and other stringed instruments, and its endorsed artists include Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys and Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue.

Does S.I.T. Strings make guitars?

No. S.I.T. makes guitar strings, not guitars. Ohio-made guitars have come from companies like Columbus's Jackson-Guldan, which built violins and student guitars from 1915 to 1971, and Cleveland's Grover Musical Products, which has made guitar tuners since 1922.

Do the strings on a vintage guitar affect its value?

Generally no. Strings wear out and get replaced regularly on every guitar, vintage or new, so the current strings are not a value factor the way original tuners, pickups, or finish are. What matters for a vintage guitar's value is what is underneath the strings, not the brand on them.

More Ohio Guitar History

S.I.T. is not the only Ohio company with a real guitar story. Columbus's Jackson-Guldan built violins and student guitars from 1915 to 1971 before closing for good, and Cleveland's Grover Musical Products has made the tuners on guitars worldwide since 1922.

About This Guide

Written by Stephen Pedone, co-owner of Edgewater Guitars, a vintage guitar buyer based in Valley City, Ohio. We buy vintage guitars from across Ohio and nationwide. Last updated: August 2026.