D'Addario NYXL0942 (.009–.042): the modern flagship Super Light
Reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
D'Addario NYXL0942 is the .009 to .042 Super Light flagship, the modern version of EXL120 built on D'Addario's NY Steel hex core and Fusion Twist plain-steel process. Roughly 131% greater tuning stability than EXL120, stronger break resistance under hard bending, and a reformulated nickel-plated steel wrap that delivers brighter output and more pronounced midrange. The lead-rock and pop-country flagship at the lighter end of the standard rock electric gauge range.
What this set is
D'Addario NYXL0942 is the Super Light flagship of the NYXL line, .009 to .042, made in the same Farmingdale, NY facility as EXL120 but built on a fundamentally different steel platform. The NY Steel hex core and Fusion Twist plain-string process produce a string that holds tuning under hard bending about 131% better than EXL120 and resists plain-string breakage under the same conditions.
The wrap is a reformulated nickel-plated steel that D'Addario specifically tuned for greater output and stronger midrange than the original XL Nickel material. The combination is the modern lead-rock electric flagship at the lighter end of the standard rock gauge range.
Anatomy
- Model
- D'Addario NYXL0942 Super Light
- Gauge
- .009 – .042 (Super Light)
- Gauge set
- .009, .011, .016, .024, .032, .042
- String count
- 6 strings
- Core wire
- NY Steel hex core
- Wrap wire
- Reformulated nickel-plated steel
- Coating
- None, uncoated (XSE0942 is the coated variant)
- Plain steels
- Fusion Twist process for break resistance
- Tuning stability
- About 131% greater than EXL120
- Intended scale
- Fits 25.5" Strat / Tele and 24.75" Les Paul / SG / ES-335 alike
- Intended tunings
- E standard primary; .042 low E too light for Eb standard or Drop D
- Made in
- United States (D'Addario, Farmingdale, NY)
- Pack sizes
- Single (B00IZCSW3M), 3-pack, 25-pack
Why the NYXL platform matters
The NYXL line is D'Addario's response to two failure modes the older EXL line couldn't solve at the lighter gauges: plain-string breakage under aggressive bending, and tuning drift under sustained pick attack. Both failures cost working players time and money, broken strings mid-set, retunes between songs.
The Fusion Twist plain-string process addresses the first failure. Where standard plain steels are drawn to a single specification, Fusion Twist produces a wire with a higher break threshold without changing the gauge or pitch. The .009 high E lasts through more bend cycles before it snaps.
The NY Steel core addresses the second. The reformulated steel composition holds its tuning under tension changes (which happen every time you bend, palm-mute, or hammer-on hard) about 131% better than EXL line steel. In working terms, that translates to fewer tuning stops per set and tighter pitch consistency on long sustained notes.
Compared to the alternatives
| D'Addario NYXL0942 | D'Addario EXL120 | Ernie Ball Super Slinky | D'Addario XSE0942 (coated) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core wire | NY Steel hex | Standard hex | Tin-plated hex | NY Steel hex |
| Wrap material | Reformulated NPS | Standard NPS | Standard NPS | Reformulated NPS + XS coating |
| Tuning stability | ~131% over EXL120 | Standard | Standard | ~131% over EXL120 |
| Plain string break resistance | Fusion Twist (high) | Standard | Standard | Fusion Twist (high) |
| Lifespan | 3-8 weeks daily | 2-6 weeks daily | 2-6 weeks daily | 8-24 weeks daily |
| Price tier | $$ | $ | $ | $$ |
Best for
Lead-focused players in E standard who bend aggressively. Working session and touring guitarists who can't afford string breakage during a take or a song. Strat and Tele players whose factory string was .009 to .042 and want the best modern version of that gauge. Pop, country, and indie rhythm-and-lead players who need clean intonation across long sessions.
Worst for
Eb standard, Drop D, and lower tunings (the .042 low E is too light; step to NYXL1046). Heavy palm-muted rhythm playing where the lighter gauge feels rubbery. Players on a tight string budget where the price step from EXL120 isn't worth it for casual playing. Drop C and below, step to NYXL1156 or heavier sets in the NYXL line.
Verdict
The Super Light flagship of the modern D'Addario electric line. NY Steel core, Fusion Twist plain steels, and a reformulated nickel-plated steel wrap deliver a string that bends easier, holds tuning better, and breaks less than the EXL120 it replaced as D'Addario's premium .009 to .042 set. Pick this when you bend hard, play lead-focused E-standard rock, or just want the best uncoated electric set in the lightest standard rock gauge.
