Eric Clapton's guitar strings: the Stratocaster rig, sourced
Solo / ex-Cream / ex-Yardbirds / ex-Derek and the Dominos · reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
Eric Clapton uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (.010–.046) on his electric guitars per his long-time guitar tech Lee Dickson. He moved up from Ernie Ball Super Slinky (.009–.042), the gauge he played in the 1970 Cream / early-solo era documented in a Guitar Player interview at the time, to .010s in his later career. On acoustic, Martin & Co. light-gauge phosphor bronze (.012–.054) is his standard, and he has spoken about endorsing Martin acoustic strings publicly.
Who Eric Clapton is
Eric Clapton is one of the most documented blues-rock guitarists in recorded history, six decades of catalog from the Yardbirds (1963–1965) through Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos, and a solo career that reached commercial peaks with 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974), Slowhand (1977), and Unplugged (1992). His Fender Stratocaster signature is the production version of the spec he played for decades on the hybrid 'Blackie' Strat.
This page documents his current string setup as confirmed by his guitar tech, Lee Dickson, plus the historical gauge change he made earlier in his career.
What he plays
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046) is the current set across his electric guitars. Per his guitar tech, this has been his standard for the modern era of his playing.
The earlier-career gauge he played, .009–.042 (Super Slinky), is documented in a 1970 Guitar Player interview where Clapton confirmed Ernie Ball Super Slinky on his Stratocaster "Brownie." The move from .009s to .010s in his later career is widely discussed as a feel-and-stability decision rather than a tone choice; lighter sets bend easier but drift more under sustained vibrato.
On acoustic, he plays Martin & Co. light-gauge phosphor bronze (.012–.054). Martin Guitar has publicly confirmed his endorsement.
Why this fits the rig
The Eric Clapton signature Stratocaster ships with Lace Sensor pickups and an active mid-boost circuit, voiced for the warm, vocal lead tone he built his solo career on. .010-gauge nickel-plated steel with a 25.5-inch scale gives him the bend feel his blues vocabulary depends on without the pitch-stability cost of going lighter. The .046 low E is heavy enough that aggressive rhythm work in E standard doesn't go floppy.
Related
- Ernie Ball Regular Slinky review
- Cream · Derek and the Dominos
- How often to change strings, touring-rock cadence section