Guitar string sets
Every major string set we've reviewed, organized by brand. Pick a brand to filter, or browse the full catalog.
- Cleartone9410 EMP Coated Nickel-Plated Steel (.010–.046)
Cleartone 9410 nickel-plated steel coated electric guitar strings, .010 to .046 (Light). EMP (Enhanced Molecular Protection) coating, made in Bountiful, Utah. The coated alternative for players who hate the slick polymer feel of older coatings.
$$ - D'AddarioEJ16 Phosphor Bronze Light (.012–.053)
D'Addario EJ16 Phosphor Bronze acoustic guitar strings, .012 to .053 Light. The most-played D'Addario acoustic set, phosphor bronze wrap on hex steel core. Warm balanced tone, broad availability, made in Farmingdale, NY.
$ - D'AddarioEJ17 Phosphor Bronze Medium (.013–.056)
D'Addario EJ17 Phosphor Bronze acoustic guitar strings, .013 to .056 (Medium). The heavier-gauge canon for dreadnought strummers, bluegrass flatpickers, and slide acoustic players. Made in Farmingdale, NY since 1974.
$ - D'AddarioEJ22 XL Nickel Round Wound Jazz Medium (.013–.056)
D'Addario EJ22 XL Nickel Round Wound Jazz Medium electric guitar strings, .013 to .056 with a wound .026 third (G). The canonical jazz electric set, the heavy-gauge wound-third lane for archtops, hollowbodies, and any rig that needs the tighter intonation of a wrapped G string.
$ - D'AddarioEPS230 ProSteels Bass Light (.045–.100)
D'Addario EPS230 ProSteels light-gauge stainless-steel roundwound bass strings, .045 to .100. The bright, articulate, harmonic-rich line that sits opposite XL Nickel Wound in D'Addario's bass catalog. Lane fit, anatomy, who plays them.
$$ - D'AddarioEXL110 XL Nickel Wound (.010–.046)
D'Addario EXL110 XL Nickel Wound electric guitar strings, .010 to .046 (Regular Light). The most-played D'Addario electric set since 1974 — nickel-plated steel on hex steel core, made in Farmingdale, NY. The standard rock and pop default.
$ - D'AddarioEXL120 XL Nickel Wound (.009–.042)
D'Addario EXL120 XL Nickel Wound electric guitar strings, .009 to .042 (Super Light). The lightest standard rock gauge, ideal for lead-focused playing, pop, country, and students stepping up from factory strings. Made in Farmingdale, NY.
$ - D'AddarioNYXL0942 Nickel Wound (.009–.042)
D'Addario NYXL0942 nickel-wound electric guitar strings, .009 to .042 (Super Light). NY Steel core, Fusion Twist plain steels, reformulated nickel-plated steel wrap. About 131% greater tuning stability than EXL120. The lead-rock and pop-country flagship.
$$ - D'AddarioNYXL1046 Nickel Wound (.010–.046)
D'Addario NYXL1046 Nickel Wound electric guitar strings, .010 to .046 Regular Light. The flagship NYXL line: 131% greater tuning stability, reformulated NY Steel core, fusion-twist plain strings. The modern working-pro electric set.
$$ - D'AddarioXS Nickel Coated XSE1046 (.010–.046)
D'Addario XSE1046 XS Nickel Coated electric guitar strings, .010 to .046 (Regular Light). Reformulated NPS wrap, NY Steel core, Fusion Twist plain steels, ultra-thin polymer coating. The longest-lasting D'Addario electric set, made in Farmingdale, NY.
$$ - Dean MarkleyBlue Steel 2552 Cryogenic Light (.009–.042)
Dean Markley Blue Steel 2552 cryogenically treated electric guitar strings, .009 to .042 (Light). Cryogenically frozen at -320°F for tighter molecular structure, longer life, and brighter sustained attack. Made in USA.
$ - DR StringsPure Blues PHR-10 Pure Nickel (.010–.046)
DR Strings PHR-10 Pure Blues pure-nickel electric guitar strings, .010 to .046. Round-core construction with a pure-nickel (not nickel-plated steel) wrap. The vintage-tone alternative to mainstream nickel-plated sets, hand-wound in Emerson, NJ.
$$ - ElixirNanoweb Light (.010–.046)
Elixir Nanoweb 12052 Light electric guitar strings, .010 to .046, nickel-plated steel with the ultra-thin Nanoweb coating. 3-5x longer tone life than uncoated, the working-pro coated electric canon.
$$ - ElixirNanoweb Phosphor Bronze Light (.012–.053)
Elixir Nanoweb 16052 Phosphor Bronze acoustic guitar strings, .012 to .053 Light. Phosphor bronze wrap with the ultra-thin Nanoweb coating. 3-5x longer tone life than uncoated, the working-pro coated acoustic canon.
$$ - ElixirPolyweb 12050 Nickel Plated Steel (.010–.046)
Elixir Polyweb 12050 nickel-plated steel electric guitar strings, .010 to .046 (Light). The original Elixir coating, thicker and warmer than Nanoweb, made in Plymouth, Minnesota. The pick when you want maximum coating life and the deepest warmth Elixir's catalog offers.
$$ - Ernie Ball5-String Regular Slinky Bass (.045–.130)
Ernie Ball 5-String Regular Slinky Nickel Wound bass strings, .045 to .130 long-scale 5-string set (P02836). The most-played 5-string bass set in prog-metal, with John Myung's documented Dream Theater rig sitting on the Slinky family. Sourced from Ernie Ball's String Theory feature.
$ - Ernie Ball7-String Regular Slinky Cobalt (.010–.056)
A full breakdown of Ernie Ball 2728 7-String Regular Slinky Cobalt: anatomy, tone, the .010–.056 voicing for 7-string E standard and Drop A, and the pros who run it (Jason Richardson).
$$ - Ernie Ball7-String Slinky Cobalt (.010–.062)
A full breakdown of Ernie Ball 2730 7-String Slinky Cobalt: anatomy, tone, the .010–.062 voicing for 7-string prog-metal and djent, and the pros who run it (Mark Holcomb, PRS Mark Holcomb SVN factory-strung).
$$ - Ernie Ball7-String Slinky Cobalt Custom (.009–.062)
The non-stock .009–.062 Cobalt 7-string custom: anatomy, tone, the lighter-top voicing for fast 7-string lead playing, and the pros who run it (Keith Merrow, Wes Hauch). Custom factory-strung on the Schecter KM-7 MKIII signature.
$$ - Ernie BallAluminum Bronze 2566 Medium Light (.012–.054)
Ernie Ball Aluminum Bronze acoustic guitar strings, .012 to .054 (Medium Light). Maraging steel hex core, aluminum bronze wrap. Brighter, more cutting tone than 80/20 or phosphor bronze, with improved corrosion resistance. Made in Coachella, CA.
$ - Ernie BallBeefy Slinky Cobalt (.011–.054)
A full breakdown of Ernie Ball 2727 Beefy Slinky Cobalt: anatomy, tone, the .011–.054 voicing through passive pickups, and the documented pros who run it (Dustin Kensrue / Thrice).
$$ - Ernie BallParadigm Regular Slinky (.010–.046)
Ernie Ball Paradigm Regular Slinky 2021 electric guitar strings, .010 to .046, with Everlast nano-treatment and patented break-resistant construction. Billie Joe Armstrong's touring set. Same Slinky tone, longer life and stronger break resistance.
$$ - Ernie BallPower Slinky 2220 Nickel Wound (.011–.048)
Ernie Ball Power Slinky 2220 nickel-wound electric guitar strings, .011 to .048. The classic step-up from Regular Slinky for chunkier rhythm tone, lower tunings, and the gauge favored by Slash, Metallica, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
$ - Ernie BallPower Slinky Cobalt (.011–.048)
A full breakdown of Ernie Ball 2720 Power Slinky Cobalt: anatomy, tone, the .011–.048 voicing through passive pickups, and the documented pros who run it (Slash and other Eb-standard rock players).
$$ - Ernie BallPower Slinky RPS 2242 Nickel Wound (.011–.048)
Ernie Ball Power Slinky RPS 2242 nickel-wound electric guitar strings, .011 to .048. The Reinforced Plain Strings version of Power Slinky, with brass-wrap reinforcement at the ball-end twist that resists breakage on heavy attack. The wound-string half of Kirk Hammett's documented hybrid set.
$ - Ernie BallRegular Slinky Cobalt (.010–.046)
A full breakdown of Ernie Ball 2721 Regular Slinky Cobalt: anatomy, tone, the .010–.046 voicing through passive pickups, and the documented pro guitarists who run this set, J Mascis, Slash, Steve Vai, and more.
$$ - Ernie BallRegular Slinky RPS 2241 Nickel Wound (.010–.046)
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky RPS 2241 nickel-wound electric guitar strings, .010 to .046. The Reinforced Plain Strings version of the canonical .010 set, with a brass wrap at the ball-end twist that resists breakage on heavy pick attack. The plain-string half of Kirk Hammett's documented hybrid set.
$ - Ernie BallNot Even Slinky Cobalt (.012–.056)
A full breakdown of Ernie Ball 2726 Not Even Slinky Cobalt: anatomy, tone, best tunings, the 30 pro guitarists with documented Cobalt use, and when to reach for something else.
$$ - Ernie BallSuper Slinky Cobalt (.009–.042)
A full breakdown of Ernie Ball 2723 Super Slinky Cobalt: anatomy, tone, the .009–.042 voicing for shred and lead-driven rock, and the documented pros who run it (Steve Vai).
$$ - FenderSuper 7250 Bass (long-scale, .045–.105)
A breakdown of Fender's Super 7250M nickel-plated-steel long-scale bass roundwounds (.045–.105). The default P-Bass set, Mike Dirnt's documented gauge across the Green Day catalog, and the most-shipped Fender bass string in production.
$ - GHS StringsBass Boomers Flea Signature M3045-F (.045–.105)
GHS Strings Flea Signature Bass Boomers, M3045-F, nickel-plated steel roundwound long-scale 4-string set, .045 to .105. The Red Hot Chili Peppers signature SKU, designed around Flea's slap and fingerstyle pocket.
$ - GHSBoomers GBL Nickel-Plated Steel (.010–.046)
GHS Boomers GBL nickel-plated steel electric guitar strings, .010 to .046 (Light). The 'Power String' since 1964, made in Battle Creek, Michigan. The working rock canon at a working-rock price.
$ - La Bella760FHM Deep Talkin' Flats
A breakdown of La Bella 760FHM Deep Talkin' Flatwound bass strings: what they sound like, who plays them, and when a bassist reaches for them.
$$$ - La Bella760FL Deep Talkin' Stainless Flatwound (.043–.104, light)
La Bella 760FL Deep Talkin' Bass Flatwound, stainless steel flat .043 to .104 long-scale 4-string. The lineage product to James Jamerson's Motown session strings, awarded Bass Player Magazine's flatwound roundup pick.
$$$ - MartinMA540 Authentic Acoustic SP 92/8 Phosphor Bronze Light (.012–.054)
Martin MA540 Authentic Acoustic SP 92/8 phosphor bronze acoustic guitar strings, .012 to .054 (Light). Made in Nazareth, PA. The string Martin uses to set up its own dreadnoughts at the factory, and the working canon for bluegrass, folk, and singer-songwriter pickers.
$ - MartinSP Phosphor Bronze Light
Martin SP Phosphor Bronze Light reviewed: warmth, projection, break-in, and who uses them across country, folk, singer-songwriter, and fingerstyle.
$ - PirastroEvah Pirazzi Neo Violin
A breakdown of Pirastro Evah Pirazzi Neo violin strings, the synthetic-multifilament-core soloist set co-developed with Janine Jansen and adopted by Rachel Barton Pine. Construction, lane fit, and how Neo differs from regular Evah Pirazzi and Evah Pirazzi Gold.
$$$ - Ernie BallRegular Slinky
A full breakdown of Ernie Ball Regular Slinky: anatomy, tone, best tunings, who uses them, and when to reach for something else.
$ - RotosoundSH77 Steve Harris Signature Monel Flatwound (.050–.110)
Rotosound SH77 Steve Harris Signature Monel flatwound bass strings, .050 to .110. The signature heavy-gauge flatwound built around Iron Maiden's gallop, awarded Bass Player Magazine's flatwound of choice.
$$ - RotosoundSwing Bass 66
A breakdown of Rotosound Swing Bass 66 long-scale bass strings: what they sound like, who plays them, and when a bassist reaches for them.
$$ - Thomastik-InfeldDominant Violin
A breakdown of Thomastik-Infeld Dominant violin strings, the canonical Perlon-core 4/4 set used by Hilary Hahn, Itzhak Perlman, and a generation of conservatory-trained soloists. Construction, lane fit, and where Dominant lives in the modern violin-string catalog.
$$