Ernie Ball Regular Slinky String Set (10 - 46)

by Ernie Ball

Product Features

• Made from nickel plated steel wire wrapped around tin plated hex shaped steel core wire.
• Produces well balanced all around good sound
• Plain strings are made of specially tempered tin plated high carbon steel
• Gauges: 10-13-17-26-36-46
• Played by Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Steve Vai and legions of guitar players worldwide
• Manufactured to the highest standards and most exacting specifications

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 0.2 x 4.5 inches ; 5.9 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002M6CVC
• Item model number: 2221
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (321 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #1 in Musical Instruments > Instrument Accessories > Guitar & Bass Accessories > Strings > Electric Guitar Strings
  • #1 in Sports & Outdoors > Hunting & Fishing > Fishing
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 13, 2004

Product Description

Size: Medium

Tone, playability, reliability and quality are what you look for in a good instrument. Why not demand these features from your strings? Ernie Ball strings are made from the finest materials so you get quality and consistency in every set. The specially tempered high carbon steel core wire's hexagonal shape ensures the wrap wire is securely held in place through the length of the string. Precision crafted Swiss brass ball ends are attached with a triple lock twist.   Ernie Ball is the pioneer of Rock and Roll guitar strings. Since setting the industry standard for electric guitar strings, the list of Slinky users has grown to include the likes of Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Steve Vai and Slash. If you like tone, you'll like Slinkys!    Made from the finest materials so you get quality and consistency in every set. Specially tempered high carbon steel core. Core wire's hexagonal shape ensures the wrap wire is securely held in place through the length of the string.  Precision crafted Swiss brass ball ends are attached with a triple lock twist.      Gauges: .010; .013; .017; .026; .036; .046

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

169 of 201 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Mandatory Read May 29, 2006

By B. Stallings

Size Name:Light

Take this to heart. I have been playing for 16 years this Christmas. For the first seven years I experimented with different brands and gauges. These were the strings I settled on after all that experimentation and I have never looked back. Slinky 9's are ALL I have bought for the past nine years. There are two types of electric guitar strings: Expensive and cheap. NEVER buy cheap strings. They sound too bright and about one out of twenty will break when you wind them up. Expensive strings are a little more complicated. The durability factor is much better with expensive strings. About one out of eighty will break. The difference between the expensive brands is in the sound. Some are "tinny" or bright. Some sound like bass strings tuned way up. With that said, Ernie Ball Super Slinky 9's have what I call a "V" voicing. It's like they have a little equalizer built in set to a good rock setting. You know, boost the mids and highs and roll back the mids. THESE... are the only strings designed specifically for rock/metal/southern rock/progressive heavier jam bands/etc. Period.

Man... I sound like a commercial. It's because I am passionate about these strings.

44 of 50 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Love the Super Slinky strings! May 27, 2008

By A. Thomas

Size Name:Light

My experience with guitar started in the 70s with a beat up acoustic my dad handed down to me. I was enthralled with the sounds of the guitar, but hated that giant hunk of junk. In the early 80s I got myself a job, tossed that pile of warped wood, and bought myself a Gibson electric. A friend quickly turned me on to GHS Boomers, which I used exclusively for probably 7-8 years. I had tried several other brands, but for me, the Boomers were the best.

Well, the 90s came around, and my musical taste changed from alt-rock to a heavier sound. My preference transitioned from Gibson guitars through Orange and Mesa/Boogie amps to Jackson guitars through Marshall amps. Due to budgetary constraints, I switched to Carvin strings -- they used to be incredibly affordable -- but "discovered" the Ernie Ball Super Slinky strings when a guitar tech friend of mine restrung one of my super-strats for me, and that was that.

So what do 'Slinkies' do?

1. Bend forever.
2. Quack on a Strat with the best of 'em!
3. NOT break when setting up a Floyd Rose.
4. Last for as long as you can stand rubbing the oxidation off of the higher strings.

Okay, you get the picture. In a nutshell, these are high-quality strings at an affordable price, delivering the best tone out there. Novice or pro; you won't be disappointed.

48 of 58 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple and Effective August 4, 2009

By BeeSee

Size Name:Heavy

I've been playing the guitar for 20 years, and I've tried a lot of different strings. Across all of the different options that are available, I'm convinced that there are really two variables that control 95% of the sound:

1) String gauge. Suck it up and buy the 11's. You will *not* get the tone that heavy strings deliver with pedals, rack effects, or other widgets. Yes, you fingers will hurt if you've been playing .009's. No, you will not regret it once you get used to it.

2) String age. Change your strings when they start to sound bad. It's a pain, but even good technique and heavy strings can't make up for crusty, stretched-out, worn-out strings. Changing before every show is excessive. Use your ears; when the sparkle and crispness of new strings is gone, and the sound bothers you, then change your strings.

That being said, I use Ernie Ball Slinkys pretty much exclusively these days. They're reasonably cheap, sound great, and are found in pretty much any guitar shop anywhere in the world. What else could you ask for? Five stars!