Best strings for Rock
Ranked by the CYS expert team. Updated 2026-04-20.
#1
CYS Likes
Full review →#2
CYS Likes
Full review →D'Addario
EJ22 XL Nickel Round Wound Jazz Medium (.013–.056)
.013 – .056
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardJazz
#3
#4
#5
Ernie Ball
Paradigm Skinny Top Heavy Bottom (.010–.052)
.010 – .052
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardMetal
#6
Ernie Ball
Power Slinky 2220 Nickel Wound (.011–.048)
.011 – .048
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#7
#8
Ernie Ball
Power Slinky RPS 2242 Nickel Wound (.011–.048)
.011 – .048
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#10
Ernie Ball
Papa Het's Hardwired Master Core (.011–.050)
.011 – .050
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardThrash metal
#11
Cleartone
9410 EMP Coated Nickel-Plated Steel (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardRock
#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: $$
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Rock
#27
#28
D'Addario
XT Nickel Coated XTE1046 (.010–.046)
.10–.46
#29
Dean Markley
Blue Steel 2558 Light Top/Heavy Bottom (.010–.052)
.10–.52
Dean Markley
Blue Steel 2558 Light Top/Heavy Bottom (.010–.052)
.010 – .052
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#31
Elixir
Polyweb 12050 Nickel Plated Steel (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardJazz
#32
#33
#34
Ernie Ball
Hybrid Slinky Bass (.045–.105)
.045 – .105
Price tier: $
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Rock
#35
#36
Ernie Ball
Hybrid Slinky Cobalt Bass (.045–.105)
.045 – .105
Price tier: $$
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Metal
#37
#38
#39
Ernie Ball
Paradigm Regular Slinky (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardPunk rock
#40
Ernie Ball
Regular Slinky Bass (.050–.105)
.050 – .105
Price tier: $
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Rock
#41
#42
Ernie Ball
Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass (.050–.105)
.050 – .105
Price tier: $$
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Metal
#43
Ernie Ball
Regular Slinky Cobalt Flatwound (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardRock
#44
Ernie Ball
Regular Slinky RPS 2241 Nickel Wound (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#45
#47
Fender
Dura-Tone 860CL Coated Phosphor Bronze (.011–.052)
.11–.52
Fender
Dura-Tone 860CL Coated Phosphor Bronze (.011–.052)
.011 – .052
Price tier: $
E StandardDrop DRock
#48
Fender
Super 7250 Bass (long-scale, .045–.105)
.045 – .105
Price tier: $
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Punk rock
#49
#50
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
#51
GHS Strings
Bass Boomers Flea Signature M3045-F (.045–.105)
.045 – .105
Price tier: $
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Funk
#52
Rotosound
SH77 Steve Harris Signature Monel Flatwound (.050–.110)
.050 – .110
Price tier: $$
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Heavy metal
#53
#54
Dean Markley
Blue Steel 2552 Cryogenic Light (.009–.042)
.009 – .042
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#55
DR Strings
Pure Blues PHR-10 Pure Nickel (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardBlues
#56
DR Strings
Pure Blues PHR-11 Pure Nickel (.011–.050)
.011 – .050
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardBlues
#57
Ernie Ball
5-String Regular Slinky Bass (.045–.130)
.045 – .130
Price tier: $
Bass — B StandardE Standard (4-string)Progressive metal
#58
Ernie Ball
5-String Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass (.045–.130)
.045 – .130
Price tier: $$
B Standard (5-string)E Standard (4-string)Metal
#59
#60
#61
#62
Ernie Ball
Power Slinky Bass (.055–.110)
.055 – .110
Price tier: $
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Rock
#63
#64
#66
#67
#68
#69
#70
GHS
Nickel Rockers R+EJM Custom Medium (.011–.052)
.11–.52
#71
La Bella
TI832 Tony Iommi Signature (.008–.032)
.008 – .032
Price tier: $
Eb StandardD StandardHeavy metal
#72
Rotosound
Swing Bass 66 Billy Sheehan Custom (.043–.110)
.043 – .110
Price tier: $$
E StandardDrop DRock
#73
#74
#75
#76
#77
#78
GHS
Boomers David Gilmour Signature Blue (GB-DGF, .010–.048)
.010 – .048
Price tier: $$
E StandardRockClassic rock
#79
#80
GHS
Nickel Rockers R+EJL Custom Light (.010–.050)
.10–.50
#81
La Bella
760FL Deep Talkin' Stainless Flatwound (.043–.104, light)
.043 – .104
Price tier: $$$
E Standard (4-string)MotownR&B
