Ernie Ball Super Slinky Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings – 9-42 Gauge

Good set of strings for a great price. Compared to other strings from D’addario, Gibson, and Elixer, these strings are a much better value since they are so cheap. However, in all the years that I have been playing, I have not once said, “man this guitar is great, what kind of strings are these?” Great guitars play and sound great, period, given of course that you are using at least decent strings. I know that every guitarist has their go-to strings, as do I (and the brands and styles vary across each of my guitars), but honestly strings are strings. These days, so much attention is paid to the manufacturing of these strings, that the quality and consistency is great across a number of different brands. Generally, I can’t tell much of a difference in tone, playability, or “slinky-ness” across brands. (I can hear the groans now) Hear me out though, if I want to change the tone, I will get a different string gauge, and this is the same for slinkyness. In the end, given 5 sets of top notch strings, I will pick the fresh set vs. a worn set 10 times out of 10.

Pros:
Very cheap for 3 sets of strings, that means you can change more often, which in turn means that these strings will feel and sound better longer

I feel like they definitely last longer than say Gibson vintage strings, but most coated, modern strings will be comparable.

Cons:
None

Conclusion:
Strings are strings, and given a good set of strings, I would only base this recommendation on price and great value (5 stars for that). If you are just starting out, I recommend you try a number of different strings to find your preference, but usually in a pinch whatever my local shop has on hand has worked just fine

Great for players who like a lighter gauge but NOT a soggy ‘bottom end’
The packet is VERY slippy but fortunately it floats. 🙂

Good playability from these strings. Return customer

Strings are like fuel. As guitarist we just use them. Playing a nice set of strings changes the feel of a guitar. Don’t get a new guitar, get new strings.

Sadly the return window closed on 21 August so I have no option other than to publicly complain about the product rather than try and resolve matters directly with the seller. One of the strings (bottom E) is rusty. This may not be a total disaster. After all, 5 out of 6 strings were fine. Nevertheless, the fact that I needed to replace this string in particular means this product is useless. So I open the second packet (I bought two) and the same string is also rusty. 2 out of 2 is not a comprehensive sample given how many of these I presume are made, but it is enough for me never to buy from this seller again, and probably not this product again. Your mileage may vary, but as they say, caveat emptor – buyer beware. Thank you for reading my review.

For many years I have used Ernie Ball Super Slinky (which are great), but as my playing has improved I decided to step up to 10s to start building a bit more finger strength and improving my bending technique. These (Skinny Top Heavy Bottom) are great, easy to play, don’t stretch too much after first stringing so are good on my Floyd rose guitar. Heavy bottom gives a really nice thick tone for metal licks whilst the 10s on top are still flexible enough for playing high up on the frets and bend easily.

I like Ernie Ball strings as they are not as ‘tinny’ (bright?) sounding as D’addario (which I have also tried), I like their slightly less treble’y tone, each to his own with stings and plenty of people will disagree with me, but finding your own guitar tone is a personal thing, so play what you like the sound of, not what some review says you should like!! For a fiver these are reasonably priced and so if you don’t like them then you haven’t wasted a fortune.

I got some Beefy Slinky strings at the same time, but I find them much harder work (especially on the fixed bridge guitar I put them on) still playable and a nice tone, but you know after a few minutes practice that that you are using heavier strings. These strings on the other hand I can comfortably play for an hour or so without aching fingers!!

I noticed a comment about string snapping, I have always used Ernie Ball (for around 27 years) and apart from when I was first starting out I have rarely snapped a string through playing, I found it was due to that old chestnut of not recognising tone and turning the tuning pegs the wrong way, or turning the wrong tuning peg and even then it was only usually the high ‘E’ so I used to pick up a spare, at my local music shop (who sold them individually from a wooden tray in the days before the internet). That said I don’t have a heavy picking arm, I find the volume knob on the amp is better for ‘going loud’ than beating seven bells out of the strings, so I can’t vouch for these strings for those who pick really heavy, perhaps try the new RPS line if you are having real problems, or change your picking technique!!

yea theyre good