D'Addario EXL110 (.010–.046): the workhorse nickel-wound electric
Reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
D'Addario EXL110 is the workhorse XL Nickel Wound electric set in Regular Light .010 to .046, made in Farmingdale, NY since 1974. Nickel-plated steel wrap on hex steel core, the canonical rock and pop default across decades of working guitarists. Same gauge as Ernie Ball Regular Slinky and Elixir Nanoweb Light, just with D'Addario's wire-drawing process and the consistent set-to-set tone production engineers rely on for tracking sessions. Pick this set when you want a reliable, predictable, brand-neutral nickel-wound electric set that doesn't fight any rig.
What this set is
D'Addario EXL110 is the original XL Nickel Wound electric set in Regular Light .010 to .046, manufactured in D'Addario's Farmingdale, New York facility continuously since 1974. The pack is the company's best-selling electric string set across all gauges; it sits at the working-pro intersection of consistent intonation, predictable tone, and broad availability.
The XL Nickel material is nickel-plated steel wrap wire over a hexagonally-drawn high-carbon steel core. The wire-drawing process is proprietary to D'Addario; the set-to-set consistency that gives it its working-session reputation comes from the tight tolerances on that draw process.
Anatomy
- Model
- D'Addario EXL110 XL Nickel Wound Regular Light
- Gauge
- .010 – .046 (Regular Light)
- Gauge set
- .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
- String count
- 6 strings
- Core wire
- Hex high-carbon steel
- Wrap wire
- Nickel-plated steel (XL Nickel)
- Coating
- None, uncoated
- Winding
- Standard roundwound
- Intended scale
- Fits 25.5" Strat / Tele and 24.75" Les Paul / SG / ES-335 alike
- Intended tunings
- E standard primary; handles Eb standard and Drop D
- Made in
- United States (D'Addario manufacturing in Farmingdale, NY)
- Pack sizes
- Single (B0002F7K7Y), 3-pack (EXL110-3D), 10-pack, 12-pack bundle
Why this is the workhorse default
A .010 to .046 nickel-plated steel set on hex steel core is the canonical electric-guitar gauge for rock, blues, pop, and indie. The EXL110 sits at the intersection of three things working players want: predictable intonation across the fretboard (D'Addario's wire-draw tolerances are tight), broad availability (every guitar retailer in North America stocks it), and reliable per-set tone (the fresh-set sound is the same set after set).
The .010 high-E is light enough for vibrato and bend, heavy enough not to feel loose under hard pick attack. The .046 low-E holds E standard cleanly and can handle Drop D without flopping. The wound G-string (.017 plain or wound depending on variant) tracks through chord voicings without intonation drift. EXL110 is what most working session and touring guitarists default to before reaching for specialty alloys.
Compared to the alternatives
| D'Addario EXL110 | Ernie Ball Regular Slinky | Elixir Nanoweb Light | D'Addario NYXL1046 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wrap material | Nickel-plated steel | Nickel-plated steel | Nickel-plated steel + coating | NY Steel nickel-plated |
| Tone character | Bright, balanced | Slightly warmer | Warmer, slightly compressed (coating) | Brighter, more harmonic content |
| Tuning stability | Standard | Standard | Standard | ~131% greater than EXL110 |
| Lifespan | 2-6 weeks daily | 2-6 weeks daily | 8-24 weeks daily (coated) | 3-8 weeks daily |
| Price tier | $ | $ | $$ | $$ |
| Documented users | Broad working canon | Most Ernie Ball roster | Many Elixir endorsers | Modern working pros |
Best for
- Rock, blues, pop, indie rhythm and lead playing in E standard or Eb standard
- Working session players who need set-to-set consistency across tracking sessions
- Beginners stepping up from factory-shipped strings: the EXL110 is the canonical rock-set upgrade
Worst for
- Drop C or below: step to EXL115 or EXL116 for heavier gauges
- Players chasing maximum string life: coated alternatives (Elixir Nanoweb, D'Addario XS Coated) outlast EXL110 by 3-5x
- Modern prog-metal precision: NYXL1046 has tighter tuning stability under aggressive bending
Verdict
The EXL110 is the workhorse nickel-wound electric set. Predictable, consistent, available everywhere, and the gauge most working guitarists default to. If you want longer life, step to the coated alternatives. If you want maximum tuning stability and modern flagship feel, step to the NYXL1046. If you want the everyday standard, this is it.
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