Since introducing Power Wound electric guitar strings in 1980, our goal has always been simple: build the highest-quality American-made strings possible and never stop improving.
For more than four decades, guitar players have trusted Power Wound strings for their balanced tone, exceptional tuning stability, and dependable performance. During that time, we've continued to invest in our manufacturing processes, develop our own proprietary winding equipment, and refine the technology behind every set that leaves our factory in Akron, Ohio.
That commitment to improvement hasn't changed.
What has changed is the experience surrounding the strings.
If you've recently received a set of Power Wound strings in new packaging, you probably noticed it looks very different from what you've seen for years. That wasn't a decision we made overnight, and it certainly wasn't just about giving the product a new look.
This redesign didn't happen overnight.
It's the result of years of listening, testing, refining, and asking ourselves how we could make the entire Power Wound experience better.
As the Power Wound line continued to grow, we listened carefully to feedback from players, dealers, distributors, artists, and our own team. We heard what people liked about the original packaging, but we also heard where the experience could be improved.
Some players found the paired envelopes confusing the first time they restrung their guitar. Others weren't sure which string was which because every string used the same gold ball end. Dealers told us that having different package colors for nearly every gauge made it difficult to present Power Wound as one unified product family, both on store shelves and online.
None of that changed how the strings performed.
It changed how people experienced them.
For us, that's just as important.
Built Around the Player Experience
Our previous Power Wound packaging served us well for many years.
Each set was packaged in three paper envelopes, with two strings per envelope, and then sealed inside an outer plastic pouch. It protected the strings well and became familiar to generations of guitar players who trusted S.I.T. Strings.
As the Power Wound family continued to grow, though, we also began hearing the same comments from players and dealers.
Some players weren't immediately sure why two strings were packaged together.
Others found it difficult to identify the correct string during installation because every string used the same gold ball end.
Dealers told us that having different package colors for nearly every gauge made it difficult to present Power Wound as one unified product family, especially as more players began shopping online.
None of those comments had anything to do with the quality of the strings.
They were about the experience.
As manufacturers, we knew we could do better.
So instead of simply designing a new package, we stepped back and asked ourselves a simple question:
How can we make opening, identifying, installing, and shopping for Power Wound strings easier while preserving everything players already love about them?
That question guided every decision that followed.
Better Protection From the Factory to Your Guitar
One of the biggest changes inside the new package is something many players won't notice at first glance, but it plays an important role in protecting every set of strings.
Instead of packaging the strings in three individual paper envelopes and then sealing them inside an outer plastic pouch, every Power Wound set is now packaged together inside a sealed VCI (Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor) bag before being placed inside its premium carton.
VCI technology is designed to help protect metal components from corrosion while they're in storage and during shipping. Combined with a sealed package, it helps reduce exposure to moisture and other environmental contaminants that can affect strings over time.
For players, that means greater confidence that the strings you open are as fresh as the day they left our factory.
It also creates a simpler, cleaner experience. Open the box, remove the sealed bag, and your complete set is ready to install. There are no multiple envelopes to sort through and no unnecessary packaging to work around.
Opening a fresh set of strings should feel like opening a premium product. We wanted every step of that experience to reflect the same care that goes into manufacturing the strings themselves.
Like every change we made during this redesign, the goal wasn't simply to update the appearance.
It was to improve the experience from the moment you open the package.
Color-Coded Ball Ends That Make Sense
One of the first things longtime S.I.T. players will notice is that the ball ends are no longer all gold.
For years, every Power Wound electric guitar string featured a gold ball end. It became part of the identity of the product, and many longtime customers never gave it a second thought.
At the same time, we heard from plenty of first-time S.I.T. users who found restringing more difficult than it needed to be. Once the strings were removed from the package, every ball end looked exactly the same. If you accidentally mixed them up, it wasn't always obvious which string belonged where.
That feedback led us to one of the simplest, yet most meaningful improvements in the entire redesign.
Every Power Wound electric guitar set now features alternating Gold, Black, and Silver ball ends in a repeating pattern across all six strings.
The pattern is simple: Gold, Black, Silver, Gold, Black, Silver. It's easy to remember, easy to recognize, and removes much of the guesswork during restringing. Once you've installed a set or two, identifying each string quickly becomes second nature.
This makes it much easier to identify each string during installation while keeping the process familiar for players who are already accustomed to color-coded ball ends from other brands.
It's a small detail, but it's one that makes restringing quicker, easier, and more intuitive, especially for first-time S.I.T. players.
Most importantly, the color of the ball end doesn't change the string itself.
You're still getting the same Power Wound string construction, the same premium American materials, and the same tone, feel, and tuning stability players have trusted for decades. The only difference is that installing your next set should be a little easier.
One Product Family. One Clear Identity.
If you've used Power Wound strings for years, you probably remember that different gauges often came in different colored packages.
That system worked for a long time, especially when the Power Wound line offered fewer options. As new gauges, specialty sets, and extended range products were introduced over the years, however, the packaging gradually became less consistent. Instead of looking like one unified product family, each set began to develop its own identity.
As manufacturers, we looked at that and saw an opportunity to improve.
The new design was created to feel as modern as the strings themselves. Every Power Wound set now features a premium black carton with metallic silver branding and bold green graphics inspired by the energy and movement of music. The clean, unified design creates a stronger identity for the entire Power Wound family while making each set instantly recognizable.
We also reorganized the front of the package to make finding the right set easier than ever. The set name, string count, gauges, and individual string sizes are all clearly displayed, allowing players and dealers to identify the correct set at a glance whether they're shopping in a store or online.
This change also gives us a much stronger foundation for the future.
As we introduce new gauges, artist sets, specialty products, and eventually custom configurations, we no longer need to create an entirely new package design for every variation. Instead, new products become part of the same Power Wound family while remaining easy to identify at a glance.
For our dealers and distributors, the unified packaging creates a cleaner presentation on the shelf and a more recognizable brand presence.
For players, it simply makes choosing the right set easier.
Sometimes the best improvements aren't about changing the product itself. They're about removing small frustrations and making every interaction with that product just a little better.
Stay In Tune: More Than Just Our Name
When people hear the name S.I.T. Strings, the first thing they think of is Stay In Tune.
That isn't just our name. It's our philosophy, and it's built into the way we manufacture every Power Wound string.
One of the ways we accomplish that is through our proprietary Stay-In-Tune™ process. During manufacturing, the ball-end twist is reinforced using a specialized bonding treatment that strengthens one of the most highly stressed areas of the string. That reinforcement helps prevent slippage at the twist, contributing to the dependable tuning stability Power Wound strings have become known for.
Every Power Wound string is also built using premium American materials, including a high-carbon steel hex core and nickel-plated steel wrap wire. The result is a bright, balanced tone with clear highs, tight lows, and the consistent feel players have trusted for decades. Every material we choose and every manufacturing step we refine has one purpose: delivering a string that performs consistently every time a player opens a new set. That's the sound and feel players have come to expect from Power Wound, and one of the things we worked hardest to preserve throughout this redesign.
While the Power Wound formula has remained true to its roots, we've never stopped improving how we manufacture it.
Over the years we've invested in proprietary automated winding equipment, refined our production methods, and incorporated advanced computer-controlled manufacturing systems to improve consistency from one set to the next. Most players will never see those improvements, and that's exactly the point. Our goal isn't to change the character of Power Wound. It's to make sure every set delivers the same quality, performance, and reliability players expect every time they open a new package.
That's what Stay In Tune means to us.
It isn't just about tuning stability.
It's about consistency.
It's about delivering the same quality, feel, and dependable performance every time someone opens a new set of Power Wound strings.
Whether we're designing proprietary manufacturing equipment, refining our production processes, strengthening the ball-end twist through our Stay-In-Tune™ process, or redesigning our packaging, the goal never changes.
Build the best strings we know how to build.
Never stop improving.
The Strings Players Trust. The Technology That Never Stops Improving.
One question we've already heard is simple:
"Are the strings changing?"
The answer is simple.
The Power Wound tone, feel, and performance players have trusted for decades remain at the heart of every set we build.
What has continued to evolve is how we manufacture them.
Since introducing Power Wound in 1980, we've continually invested in proprietary manufacturing equipment, advanced computer-controlled winding technology, and production processes designed to improve consistency from one set to the next.
Many of those improvements aren't visible.
They're felt every time a player opens a new package.
Every investment we've made has been driven by the same objective:
Build the best Power Wound strings we know how to build.
Why We Made the Investment
Whenever a company introduces new packaging, it's natural for some people to wonder if the change was made to reduce costs.
That's a fair question.
In our case, the answer is simple.
No.
This redesign wasn't driven by cutting costs. It was driven by creating a better experience for the people who use our strings every day.
The new premium carton, sealed VCI bag, color-coded ball ends, updated printing, and new packaging system all represent an investment in the Power Wound product line. Every decision was made with one goal in mind: making it easier to identify, protect, install, and enjoy every set of strings. We didn't make these changes because we had to. We made them because we believed the entire Power Wound experience deserved the same level of attention as the strings themselves.
We also wanted the packaging to better represent the product inside.
Power Wound strings have earned their reputation over more than four decades through consistent quality, dependable performance, and American manufacturing. We felt the first impression should reflect the same level of craftsmanship that goes into every set we build.
The new premium carton features a clean black design, metallic silver branding, bold green graphics, and clearly organized product information that makes every set easy to identify. Whether it's hanging on a dealer's wall, displayed online, or sitting in your guitar case, the packaging now reflects the premium quality of the strings inside.
To us, good packaging should do more than protect the product. It should communicate the same attention to detail, consistency, and pride that goes into manufacturing every Power Wound string.
This new platform also gives us the flexibility to continue growing the Power Wound family in a way that simply wasn't practical before. As we introduce new gauges, artist sets, and specialty products, they'll all share the same consistent identity while remaining easy to recognize and easy to shop.
To us, that's an investment worth making.
Looking Ahead
Power Wound has come a long way since it was first introduced in 1980.
Over the years we've expanded the product line, refined our manufacturing processes, built proprietary equipment, and continued investing in the technology behind every set of strings we produce.
This packaging redesign is another step in that same journey.
It's a reflection of how we think as manufacturers.
Respect what has worked.
Listen to the people who use your products.
Keep improving wherever you can.
Never stop looking for ways to build a better experience.
If you've been playing Power Wound strings for years, thank you for trusting us.
If this is your first experience with S.I.T. Strings, welcome.
Whether you receive our previous packaging during the transition or one of the new cartons, you can be confident you're getting the same commitment to quality that's guided us for more than four decades.
We know that changing the look of a product people have trusted for decades is a big step. We didn't make that decision lightly. Every change was carefully considered, thoroughly tested, and made with one goal in mind: giving guitar players a better experience while preserving everything they've always loved about Power Wound.
The outside may look different.
The inside reflects more than 45 years of continuous improvement.
The experience is better.
Our commitment to building great American-made strings remains exactly the same.
We're proud of the new packaging because it finally reflects what's been happening inside our factory for years. We've never stopped improving the product. Now the outside tells that story, too.
Since 1980, Power Wound has earned the trust of musicians one string, one set, and one player at a time.
That's something we never take for granted.
The packaging has changed because Power Wound has continued to evolve. The reason musicians choose it hasn't.
Thank you for trusting S.I.T. Strings.
Stay In Tune.
