Dustin Kensrue's guitar strings: the Thrice rig, sourced

What's on the guitar

Dustin Kensrue's rig reflects Thrice's range across their catalog:

Guitars: Fender Jazzmaster and Jaguar variants (primary), LTD and ESP signature models for heavier material.
Strings: Ernie Ball Beefy Slinky Cobalt (.011–.054), SKU 2727.
Tuning: Drop C# and Drop C on most current Thrice material. Drop D and Eb standard on earlier catalog.
Amps: Matchless, Fender Deluxe Reverb, and various high-headroom cleans pushed into edge-of-breakup.

Thrice's material spans post-hardcore, alt-rock, and more introspective indie territory. The .011–.054 Cobalt gauge supports both, heavy enough for the band's more aggressive rhythm tunings, light enough that single-note playing doesn't feel fatigued.

Endorsed vs. verified use

Kensrue is a documented Ernie Ball String Theory subject. String Theory is Ernie Ball's long-form content series highlighting specific artists' rigs; being featured is a relationship marker beyond a conventional endorsement. His Cobalt use is on the record in that content and in Ernie Ball blog coverage.

Why Beefy Slinky Cobalt for Drop C#

The .054 low string in Drop C# on a 25.5-inch scale produces roughly 17 pounds of tension, firm, not stiff, and recovers quickly from palm mutes. Going heavier (.056 Not Even Slinky) would add tension but stiffen the top strings in a way Kensrue's melodic lead work wouldn't benefit from. Going lighter (.048 Power Slinky) would leave the low string flappy in Drop C#.

The Cobalt wrap's value here is specifically in definition on palm-muted low-string work, which is one of the core rhythmic elements of Thrice's sound. A nickel .054 in the same tuning reads as slightly smeared against a high-gain rhythm tone; Cobalt's upper-mid presence corrects that.

Sources

"Ernie Ball String Theory: Dustin Kensrue." https://www.ernieball.com/stringtheory/dustin-kensrue
"Six Things We Learned From Watching Ernie Ball String Theory Featuring Dustin Kensrue." Ernie Ball Blog. https://blog.ernieball.com/strings/the-top-six-things-we-learned-from-watching-ernie-ball-string-theory-featuring-dustin-kensrue-of-thrice/
Thrice Premier Guitar Rig Rundown coverage.

Re-verified on each Thrice album cycle.

If you want this rig

Ernie Ball

Beefy Slinky Cobalt (.011–.054)

Price tier: $$

Why this one: Kensrue's exact set. The .011–.054 Cobalt in Drop C# is the sweet spot, heavy enough for palm-muted rhythm, light enough for lead work.

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Next steps

Step heavier for Drop B or baritone: Not Even Slinky Cobalt (.012–.056) review.
Drop C tuning guide.
Adjacent post-hardcore and indie rigs: J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.).

Frequently asked questions

What strings does Dustin Kensrue use?

Ernie Ball Beefy Slinky Cobalt (.011–.054), SKU 2727. Cobalt-iron wrap, tin-plated hex core. The set was documented in Ernie Ball's String Theory video series for Kensrue.

What gauge does Kensrue play?

.011–.054, heavy enough for Drop C# and Drop C rhythm work without going into the .012–.056 'Not Even Slinky' weight class. The .054 low string sits comfortably on a 25.5-inch scale in Drop C#.

What tuning does Thrice play in?

Drop C# and Drop C on most recent material. Drop D appears on some tracks. Earlier Thrice catalog has more E standard and Eb standard work.

Is Kensrue endorsed by Ernie Ball?

Yes, he's the featured subject of an Ernie Ball String Theory episode documenting his rig and Cobalt use. String Theory is Ernie Ball's long-form artist content series.

What's the difference between his set and the Not Even Slinky Cobalt?

One step. Kensrue's Beefy Slinky Cobalt is .011–.054. Not Even Slinky Cobalt is .012–.056. For Drop C# or Drop C on a 25.5-inch scale, Beefy is the right weight. For Drop C to Drop B or baritone territory, Not Even Slinky is the move.

What guitars does he use?

Primarily Fender offset-style guitars in Thrice, Jazzmasters and Jaguars, and some LTD/ESP signature models for heavier material. The Cobalt set works across body types because the gauge does the heavy lifting, not the guitar.