Dunlop Kerry King Artist-Selected Strings (.010–.046, +.052): the Slayer signature set, reviewed
Reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
Dunlop's Kerry King Artist-Selected Guitar Strings (KKN1052) are Slayer guitarist Kerry King's own signature set: nickel-wound .010-.046, built through Dunlop's String Lab process, with a spare .052 low E string included for drop tunings. King's real stage rig actually runs three different gauges across three tunings (.009-.042 for D#, .010-.046 for C#, .010-.056 for B), so this retail set matches his C# standard guitar exactly. Best for aggressive rhythm playing and C# standard.
What this set is
Dunlop built the Kerry King Artist-Selected Guitar Strings (SKU KKN1052) directly with the Slayer guitarist through Dunlop's in-house String Lab research process. It's a nickel-wound, six-string electric set gauged .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046, medium by Dunlop's own numbering, with one extra string included in the pack: a .052 low E for players who want a drop tuning without buying a second set just for one string.
Dunlop's own product page keeps the pitch simple: a set built to survive King's "full-throttle picking style, aggressive vibratos, and gnarly bends" while staying "crunchy, clear, and defined even at Slayer's high-speed tempos." The same SKU has been sold under at least two earlier names, an Icon Series badge and then a String Lab Series badge, before landing on Dunlop's current Artist-Selected branding. Check the SKU (KKN1052) rather than the product name if you're comparing listings across retailers. Some older listings still use the earlier names for the identical product.
King has been a Dunlop signature artist for years beyond just this string set. He also had a discontinued MXR Kerry King Ten Band EQ pedal built through the same relationship, and his Tortex Triangle .88mm picks are stock Dunlop, not a separate named shape.
Anatomy
- Model
- Dunlop Kerry King Artist-Selected Guitar Strings
- SKU
- KKN1052
- Gauge
- .010 – .046 (+.052 spare low E)
- Gauge set
- .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046, plus .052 spare
- String count
- 6-string set, plus 1 spare string
- Core wire
- Steel (Dunlop's listing doesn't break out core spec beyond "Nickel Wound")
- Wrap wire
- Nickel
- Coating
- None, uncoated
- Winding
- Standard roundwound
- Tension
- Not published by Dunlop
- Intended guitar
- Solidbody electric; King plays Dean USA V-shape signature models
- Intended tunings
- C# standard is King's own documented gauge for this exact set; the base .046 also suits E or Eb standard, and the spare .052 unlocks a drop tuning
- Also sold as
- Icon Series, String Lab Series (older Dunlop branding, same KKN1052 SKU)
The retail set vs King's real stage rig
Signature string sets usually round an entire artist's rig down to one convenient number. Dunlop's KKN1052 does something more specific: it lands exactly on one of King's three real stage gauges, not a rough approximation of all of them at once.
Per Premier Guitar's Rig Rundown with Slayer, King's touring rig runs three different Jim Dunlop string gauges across three tunings: .009-.042 for D# (Eb) standard, .010-.046 for C# standard, and .010-.056 for B standard. The KKN1052 retail pack's outer gauges, a .010 high E and a .046 low E, match the range Premier Guitar documented him playing in C# standard. If you're chasing his D# or B standard setups specifically, you'd need the lighter or heavier gauge separately. This pack doesn't ship either of those.
The included spare .052 string is where Dunlop's marketing and King's documented rig diverge a little further. It's a genuine drop-tuning option straight from the pack, not an aftermarket workaround, but it isn't the same .056 King actually uses for B standard. In short: this pack gets you the exact C# standard gauge range King plays, plus a bonus string for going one step lower. It doesn't replicate his entire three-tuning rig in a single pack.
| Dunlop KKN1052 (King) | D'Addario NYXL1052 | Ernie Ball Beefy Slinky Cobalt | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gauge | .010-.046 (+.052 spare) | .010-.052 (true LTHB) | .011-.054 |
| Wrap alloy | Nickel | Nickel-plated steel | Cobalt-iron alloy |
| Built for | King's C# standard, +1 drop option | Purpose-built heavy bottom | Heavier drop C/C# option |
| Documented via | Dunlop's own product page | D'Addario's own product page | Ernie Ball's own product page |
Best for
- Players chasing King's documented C# standard gauge. The .010 to .046 range is what Premier Guitar reported him actually playing in that tuning, not a marketing approximation.
- Aggressive rhythm players. Dunlop built this set through its String Lab testing process specifically around a hard-picking, thrash-rhythm attack; the gauge holds up without feeling like a shred-light set.
- Anyone who wants a drop-tuning option in reserve. The spare .052 string means you don't need a second pack just to try dropping your low string a step.
Worst for
- King's D# or B standard gauges specifically. This pack doesn't include either. Buy Dunlop's .009-.042 or .010-.056 sets separately if you want those exact tunings.
- 7-string players. This is a 6-string set with one spare string, not a true 7-string gauge progression. See Ernie Ball's Cobalt line for heavier extended-range options.
- Players who want a factory-built heavy-bottom set. D'Addario's NYXL1052 is a true Light Top/Heavy Bottom design from .010 to .052. The KKN1052's .052 is a spare add-on, not a redesigned middle-string progression.
Verdict
KKN1052 is the honest version of a signature string set. Most artist strings round an entire rig down to one convenient number; this one lands exactly on King's real C# standard gauge and throws in a genuine drop-tuning option instead of pretending to cover his D# and B standard guitars too. If you play thrash or hard-rock rhythm in C# standard and want the gauge Slayer's own guitarist actually plays there, this is a straightforward, well-tested pick built through Dunlop's own String Lab process. If you specifically want his lighter D# or heavier B standard setup, buy those Dunlop gauges directly instead of expecting this one pack to cover all three.
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