Documented string gauges and brands B.B. King used on Lucille, his Gibson ES-355 series. Gibson signature SEG-BBS (.010-.054 pure nickel) and earlier-era Fender Rock 'n' Roll strings. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Artist rigs
What working guitarists actually play, cited from interviews, rig rundowns, and official press. Endorsed relationships and verified use are labeled on each artist's page.
Showing 12 guitarists tagged Blues.
Documented string gauges, brands, and tunings Billy Gibbons uses with ZZ Top on his 1959 Les Paul 'Pearly Gates'. Dunlop Reverend Willy Extra Light (.007–.038). With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Buddy Guy
Solo
Documented string gauge and gear for Buddy Guy: Ernie Ball Power Slinky (.011-.048), Fender Stratocasters, custom Chicago Blues Box amps, and the Dunlop signature wah. With citations.
Documented string gauges and tunings Chuck Berry used on his Gibson ES-355 / ES-345 / ES-350T archtop electrics. Light-gauge electric strings + standard E tuning + the foundational rock-and-roll lead vocabulary. With citations.
Documented string gauges and gear Derek Trucks uses for slide guitar: DR Pure Blues custom hybrid gauge (.011–.046), Gibson Signature SG in open E, Dunlop medicine-bottle glass slide. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauges, brands, and tunings Eric Clapton uses on his Fender Stratocaster (Blackie / Brownie / current sigs) and acoustic Martin. With citations.
Eric Johnson
Solo
Documented gear for Eric Johnson: his switch to D'Addario strings in 2016, his 1954 Strat 'Virginia,' Fender Thinline signature Strat, and a four-amp clean, dirty, and lead rig. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented gear Gary Clark Jr plays: D'Addario strings on his Epiphone Casino 'Red' and Gibson SG/ES-355 signatures, Fender Vibro-King amps, and his Dunlop signature wah. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauges, brands, and tunings Joe Bonamassa uses on his Les Pauls and vintage Strats. Ernie Ball Burly Slinky (.011–.052). With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
John Mayer
Solo
Documented string gauges, brands, and tunings John Mayer uses on his PRS Silver Sky. Ernie Ball Silver Slinky signature (.0105–.047), between .010 and .011 by design. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
John Scofield is one of the most-cited D'Addario electric jazz guitarists, playing a custom .013 to .052 set with a plain (unwound) .022 G string he can bend. Heavy gauge in the EJ22 lane with a critical bending modification.
Documented string gauges and tunings Stevie Ray Vaughan used with Double Trouble. GHS Nickel Rockers in a custom heavy set (around .013–.058) on his 1962/63 Stratocaster Number One, tuned to Eb standard. With citations.
