Best strings for Hard rock
Ranked by the CYS expert team. Updated 2026-04-20.
#1
CYS Likes
Full review →#2
CYS Likes
Full review →#3
CYS Likes
Full review →D'Addario
EJ22 XL Nickel Round Wound Jazz Medium (.013–.056)
.013 – .056
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardJazz
#4
#5
#6
Ernie Ball
Paradigm Skinny Top Heavy Bottom (.010–.052)
.010 – .052
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardMetal
#7
Ernie Ball
Power Slinky 2220 Nickel Wound (.011–.048)
.011 – .048
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#8
#9
Ernie Ball
Power Slinky RPS 2242 Nickel Wound (.011–.048)
.011 – .048
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#11
Ernie Ball
Papa Het's Hardwired Master Core (.011–.050)
.011 – .050
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardThrash metal
#12
D'Addario
EPS160 XL ProSteels Bass Medium (.050-.105)
.050 – .105
Price tier: $$
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Rock
#13
D'Addario
EPS170 XL ProSteels Bass Regular Light (.045–.100)
.045 – .100
Price tier: $$
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Rock
#14
CYS Likes
Full review →D'Addario
EPS230 XL ProSteels Bass Heavy (.055–.110)
.055 – .110
Price tier: $$
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Rock
#15
#16
#17
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
#18
D'Addario
EXL140 XL Nickel Wound, Light Top/Heavy Bottom (.010–.052)
.10–.52
D'Addario
EXL140 XL Nickel Wound, Light Top/Heavy Bottom (.010–.052)
.010 – .052
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardHard rock
#19
D'Addario
EXL160 XL Nickel Wound Bass Medium (.050-.105)
.050 – .105
Price tier: $
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Rock
#20
D'Addario
EXL170 XL Nickel Wound Bass Regular Light (.045-.100)
.045 – .100
Price tier: $
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Rock
#21
#22
#23
#24
#25
D'Addario
NYXL45100 Nickel Wound Bass Regular Light (.045–.100)
.045 – .100
Price tier: $$
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Rock
#26
D'Addario
NYXL50105 Nickel Wound Bass Medium (.050–.105)
.050 – .105
Price tier: $$
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Rock
#27
#28
D'Addario
XT Nickel Coated XTE1046 (.010–.046)
.10–.46
#29
Dunlop
Zakk Wylde String Lab Electric Guitar Strings (.010–.052)
.010 – .052
Price tier: $
Eb StandardDrop DHeavy metal
#30
#31
#32
#33
Ernie Ball
Hybrid Slinky Cobalt Bass (.045–.105)
.045 – .105
Price tier: $$
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Metal
#34
#35
#36
Ernie Ball
Paradigm Regular Slinky (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardPunk rock
#37
Ernie Ball
Regular Slinky Bass (.050–.105)
.050 – .105
Price tier: $
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Rock
#38
#39
Ernie Ball
Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass (.050–.105)
.050 – .105
Price tier: $$
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Metal
#40
Ernie Ball
Regular Slinky RPS 2241 Nickel Wound (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#41
#43
#44
GHS
Boomers Medium GBM Nickel-Plated Steel (.011–.050)
.11–.50
GHS
Boomers Medium GBM Nickel-Plated Steel (.011–.050)
.011 – .050
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#45
Rotosound
SH77 Steve Harris Signature Monel Flatwound (.050–.110)
.050 – .110
Price tier: $$
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Heavy metal
#46
#47
Dunlop
Billy Gibbons Custom Rev Willy's Guitar Strings (.007–.038)
.007 – .038
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardBlues rock
#48
Dunlop
Zakk Wylde String Lab Electric Guitar Strings (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardHeavy metal
#49
Dunlop
Zakk Wylde String Lab Electric Guitar Strings (.010–.056)
.010 – .056
Price tier: $
Drop DD StandardHeavy metal
#50
Ernie Ball
5-String Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass (.045–.130)
.045 – .130
Price tier: $$
B Standard (5-string)E Standard (4-string)Metal
#51
#52
#53
#54
Ernie Ball
Power Slinky Bass (.055–.110)
.055 – .110
Price tier: $
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Rock
#55
#56
#58
#59
#60
EVH
Premium Electric Guitar Strings (.009–.042)
.009 – .042
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardHard rock
#61
#62
La Bella
TI832 Tony Iommi Signature (.008–.032)
.008 – .032
Price tier: $
Eb StandardD StandardHeavy metal
#63
Rotosound
Swing Bass 66 Billy Sheehan Custom (.043–.110)
.043 – .110
Price tier: $$
E StandardDrop DRock
#64
Dunlop
Jim Root Signature Guitar Strings, Drop B (.011–.056)
.011 – .056
Price tier: $
Drop BMetalNu-metal
#65
Dunlop
Jim Root Signature Guitar Strings, Drop A (.012–.064)
.012 – .064
Price tier: $
Drop AMetalNu-metal
#66
Dunlop
Zakk Wylde String Lab Electric Guitar Strings (.010–.060)
.010 – .060
Price tier: $
Drop DHeavy metalHard rock
#67
#68
#69
