Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Bass (.050–.105): the default 4-string Slinky bass gauge
Reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Bass (P02832) is the original 4-string nickel-wound bass gauge, .050 to .105, on a hex steel core. It's the bass-string counterpart to the classic guitar Regular Slinky, Ernie Ball's long-scale, all-purpose default. Rage Against the Machine and Prophets of Rage bassist Tim Commerford strings his Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay basses with this exact gauge, per Premier Guitar's Rig Rundown. Uncoated, bright, balanced, built for standard-tuned rock and funk bass.
What this set is
Ernie Ball's Regular Slinky Bass is the 4-string nickel-wound gauge the rest of the Slinky bass family is built around: .050 to .105, wound on a hex steel core, standard long scale. Ernie Ball's own product page says its bass Slinky line is wound to produce "a bright, balanced tone," and Regular Slinky is the direct bass-string counterpart to the guitar Regular Slinky that made the Slinky name famous in the first place.
It's also a documented working-pro gauge, not just a factory default. Premier Guitar's Rig Rundown covered Rage Against the Machine and Prophets of Rage bassist Tom Morello's bandmate Tim Commerford and his Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay basses; Ernie Ball Music Man's own blog recap of that same rundown names this exact set by name.
Anatomy
- Model
- Ernie Ball P02832 Regular Slinky Bass
- Gauge
- .050 – .105
- Gauge set
- .050, .070, .085, .105
- String count
- 4 strings
- Core wire
- Hex steel
- Wrap wire
- Nickel-plated steel
- Coating
- None, uncoated
- Winding
- Standard roundwound
- Intended scale
- Long scale, Ernie Ball's standard 4-string bass length (the nickel Slinky bass line also ships dedicated Short Scale, Medium Scale, and Super Long Scale variants for other instruments)
- Intended tunings
- E standard primary; handles Eb standard and Drop D
- Made in
- United States, per Ernie Ball's own product description (Southern California manufacturing)
- Package
- Single pack
Who plays it: Tim Commerford's Rage Against the Machine rig
Premier Guitar's 2016 Rig Rundown on Tim Commerford, best known for Rage Against the Machine and Prophets of Rage, covers his touring rig of Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay basses. That's the Regular Slinky Bass gauge, this set, on the StingRays Commerford has toured behind for years.
Ernie Ball Music Man's own blog coverage of the same rundown states it directly: Commerford "plays custom Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay basses and Ernie Ball Regular Slinky bass strings," naming this exact gauge by name and independently confirming the brand relationship.
| Super Slinky | Hybrid Slinky | Regular Slinky (this set) | Power Slinky | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gauge | .045-.100 | .045-.105 | .050-.105 | .055-.110 |
| Low string | .100 | .105 | .105 | .110 |
| Feel | Lightest, fastest | Light top, same low B tension as Regular | Working-pro default | Heaviest, most resistance |
| Best for | Light-touch fingerstyle | Easier top strings, full low end | All-purpose standard-tuned rock | Hard pick attack, standard/Eb |
Best for
- Standard-tuned 4-string rock and funk bass that wants a bright, punchy nickel roundwound without specialty pricing
- Working and touring bassists who want the same gauge Tim Commerford runs on tour with Rage Against the Machine and Prophets of Rage
- Players stepping up from a lighter gauge who want more tension and low-end grip without jumping all the way to Power Slinky
Worst for
- Drop tunings below D: step to Power Slinky (.055-.110) or Beefy Slinky (.065-.130) for the tension a lower tuning needs
- Fast fingerstyle and light-touch players: Super Slinky (.045-.100) or Hybrid Slinky (.045-.105) feel faster and looser under the hand
- Players who hate restringing often: these are uncoated nickel rounds; a coated bass set holds its fresh tone longer between changes
Verdict
Regular Slinky Bass is Ernie Ball's default 4-string gauge for a reason: .050 to .105 is heavy enough to hold standard tuning with authority and light enough to stay playable across a full set. It isn't a specialty product, it's the working bassist's default, the same gauge Tim Commerford reaches for on tour with Rage Against the Machine and Prophets of Rage.
If you're unsure whether Regular is right for your hands, Hybrid Slinky Bass keeps the same .105 low string with an easier top end, and Power Slinky Bass adds tension if you tune lower than D.
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