Anna Cara's guitar and strings: Ibanez Xiphos and her S.I.T. 10-52 gauge

Anna Cara is a guitarist from Newcastle upon Tyne, England, who went from self-taught bedroom covers to Alice Cooper's touring band inside a few years. She joined Tommy Henriksen's band Crossbone Skully at 19 in 2022, its debut album Evil World Machine earning millions of streams, and by 22 had also become lead guitarist for Storace, fronted by Krokus vocalist Marc Storace alongside Pat Aeby, Dom Favez, and Emi Meyer. In April 2026, Alice Cooper introduced her as the guitarist covering Nita Strauss's touring chair while Strauss took maternity leave, a slot Strauss herself recommended Cara for.

Guitars

GuitarPlayer's reporting on Cara's rise documents her playing a collection of X-shaped Ibanez Xiphos electric guitars on stage with Cooper's band. No formal Ibanez sponsorship is publicly confirmed; this is a cited sighting from a guitar-press Rig-style report, not a claimed endorsement deal.

Strings

Cara is listed on S.I.T. Strings' own artist roster. Her page quotes her directly on her setup: "I'm using 10-52s and they feel incredibly smooth and consistent. I can always rely on them whether I'm recording or on stage!" That's a .010-.052 hybrid gauge, a standard light top paired with a heavier bottom three. CYS does not carry S.I.T.'s own line, but the Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Slinky Cobalt ships the identical .010-.052 layout, a straightforward way to match her numbers on a widely available, currently sold set. That's a gauge match only, not a documented claim that Cara plays Ernie Ball strings.

Cara returns to Alice Cooper's band in September 2026, while continuing to tour with Storace through the summer and into December. This is a starter profile; documented rig detail will expand as further sourced specs are confirmed.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Anna Cara?

A guitarist from Newcastle upon Tyne, England, born around 2003. Self-taught from age 14, she joined Tommy Henriksen's band Crossbone Skully at 19, then became lead guitarist for Storace, fronted by Krokus singer Marc Storace, before joining Alice Cooper's touring band in April 2026.

What guitar does Anna Cara play?

GuitarPlayer has documented her playing a collection of X-shaped Ibanez Xiphos electric guitars on stage with Alice Cooper's band. No formal Ibanez endorsement deal is publicly confirmed.

What strings does Anna Cara use?

Cara is a S.I.T. Strings artist. Her own quote on S.I.T.'s artist page: "I'm using 10-52s and they feel incredibly smooth and consistent. I can always rely on them whether I'm recording or on stage!"

RelatedA 10-52 gauge match CYS carries

How did Anna Cara join Alice Cooper's band?

Cooper guitarist Tommy Henriksen spotted her on social media and recruited her for his own band, Crossbone Skully, in 2022. When Nita Strauss announced she was taking maternity leave from Cooper's band in early 2026, Strauss herself recommended Cara as her replacement.

Is Anna Cara a permanent member of Alice Cooper's band?

No. She is covering Nita Strauss's touring chair while Strauss is on maternity leave, an arrangement all parties have described as temporary. As of this writing, Strauss has not announced a specific return date.

What other bands does Anna Cara play in?

She tours with Storace, fronted by Krokus vocalist Marc Storace, and originally came up through Tommy Henriksen's Crossbone Skully, whose debut album Evil World Machine earned millions of streams.

Is there a CYS string set that matches Anna Cara's gauge?

Yes. Ernie Ball's Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Slinky Cobalt ships a .010-.052 hybrid gauge, the same numbers Cara cites for her S.I.T. set. It's a gauge match on a currently sold set, not a documented claim that she plays Ernie Ball strings.