Strings and Things Ltd, one of the UK’s most respected distributors of musical instrument accessories, is proudly celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026.
To mark this milestone, the company will be rolling out a series of exclusive offers, gifts, and special events over the coming months – bringing together customers, partners, and friends to celebrate five decades.
Founded in March 1976 by Rod Bradley, Strings & Things has its roots in a remarkable entrepreneurial journey. Rod’s career began in the early 1960s with a retail shop in Brighton, before going on to manage the iconic Orange Music Shop in Soho. By 1969, alongside his brother Craig, he co-founded Top Gear Music on London’s legendary Denmark Street, quickly establishing a reputation at the centre of the UK music scene.
By 1976, the Top Gear business had expanded to seven retail stores and a thriving wholesale operation. That wholesale arm evolved into Strings & Things, serving retailers nationwide from the South Coast ever since.
From the very beginning, Strings & Things has been synonymous with some of the most iconic names in music. At its core has always been Ernie Ball; A partnership that dates back to the early 1970s. In fact, the company’s very name was inspired by Ernie Ball’s ‘Strings and Things’ tagline.
1976 also marked another historic moment: at the NAMM Show that year, Rod was handed the first Music Man guitars to enter the UK. These instruments, designed by Leo Fender, were StingRay bass (#B001002) and StingRay guitar (#G001002), from the very first production run and are still retained by the Company.
In 1984, the company expanded into manufacturing, acquiring two South Wales string factories: Nashville Strings and GMS Strings. From there they went on to create the Picato Musicians Strings facility in Treorchy, which operated successfully for over 30 years, hand manufacturing strings for a variety of instruments for both in house brands and OEM production.
Today, Strings & Things continues to evolve while staying true to its South Coast roots. In 2023 it realised a dream and relocated to a brand-new purpose-built premises near where it all began. Its wholesale distribution business remains at the core, representing leading brands alongside Ernie Ball that include Hercules Stands, LR Baggs, Danelectro, Elixir Strings, Mooer and many others.
Now in his 80s, Rod Bradley remains actively involved in the business, working alongside his son Steve Bradley, the company’s Managing Director continuing a proud family legacy.
As Strings & Things celebrates its 50th year, the company extends its heartfelt thanks to the many loyal retail partners and industry friends who have been part of the journey. The anniversary is not just a celebration of the past, but a launchpad for the future continuing to support music-making across the UK for decades to come and as a proud partner of Music Venue Trust and the fine work they do to help preserve it.
