Best strings for Classic rock
Ranked by the CYS expert team. Updated 2026-04-20.
#2
CYS Likes
Details →D'Addario
EJ22 XL Nickel Round Wound Jazz Medium (.013–.056)
.013 – .056
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardJazz
#3
#4
#5
Ernie Ball
Power Slinky 2220 Nickel Wound (.011–.048)
.011 – .048
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#6
#7
Ernie Ball
Power Slinky RPS 2242 Nickel Wound (.011–.048)
.011 – .048
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#8
#9
#10
DA
D'Addario
EXL116 XL Nickel Wound, Medium Top/Heavy Bottom (.011–.052)
.11–.52
D'Addario
EXL116 XL Nickel Wound, Medium Top/Heavy Bottom (.011–.052)
.011 – .052
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardHard rock
#11
D'Addario
EXL140 XL Nickel Wound, Light Top/Heavy Bottom (.010–.052)
.010 – .052
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardHard rock
#12
#13
#14
DA
D'Addario
XT Nickel Coated XTE1046 (.010–.046)
.10–.46
#15
Dean Markley
Blue Steel 2558 Light Top/Heavy Bottom (.010–.052)
.010 – .052
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#17
#18
#19
#20
#21
Ernie Ball
Regular Slinky Cobalt Flatwound (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardRock
#22
Ernie Ball
Regular Slinky RPS 2241 Nickel Wound (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#25
#26
GH
GHS
Boomers Medium GBM Nickel-Plated Steel (.011–.050)
.11–.50
GHS
Boomers Medium GBM Nickel-Plated Steel (.011–.050)
.011 – .050
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#27
#28
DR Strings
Pure Blues PHR-10 Pure Nickel (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardBlues
#29
DS
DR Strings
Pure Blues PHR-11 Pure Nickel (.011–.050)
.11–.50
DR Strings
Pure Blues PHR-11 Pure Nickel (.011–.050)
.011 – .050
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardBlues
#30
Dunlop
Billy Gibbons Custom Rev Willy's Guitar Strings (.007–.038)
.007 – .038
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardBlues rock
#31
Ernie Ball
Earthwood 80/20 Bronze Light (.011–.052)
.011 – .052
Price tier: $
E StandardDrop DClassic rock
#32
#33
#34
#36
EB
Ernie Ball
Primo Slinky Cobalt (.0095–.044)
.9.5–.44
#37
#39
#40
Ernie Ball
Super Slinky Cobalt Flatwound (.009–.042)
.009 – .042
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardRock
#41
#42
EVH
Premium Electric Guitar Strings (.009–.042)
.009 – .042
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardHard rock
#43
FE
Fender
Super 250R Nickel Plated Steel (.010–.046)
.10–.46
#44
#45
La Bella
TI832 Tony Iommi Signature (.008–.032)
.008 – .032
Price tier: $
Eb StandardD StandardHeavy metal
#48
GH
GHS
Boomers David Gilmour Signature Blue (GB-DGF, .010–.048)
.10–.48
GHS
Boomers David Gilmour Signature Blue (GB-DGF, .010–.048)
.010 – .048
Price tier: $$
E StandardRockClassic rock
#49
#50
GH
GHS
Nickel Rockers R+RL Light (.010–.046)
.10–.46