Pricing and availability

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Sweetwater
4.5 (69)
$8.99
Guitar Center
5.0 (328)
$8.99
Amazon
4.8 (59283)
$8.54
Reverb
5.0 (53)
$5.49 New
$4.99 Used
Musician's Friend
4.0 (240)
$8.99
zZounds
5.0 (10)
$8.99
Thomann
4.8 (11979)
$5.30

Price History

Based on price data from 4 merchants for "Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46)". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

Experience the compelling combination of impeccable craftsmanship and outstanding sound with the Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46). Admired globally, these strings bear the mark of excellence, and have been the choice of legends like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Pete Townsend.

Ernie Ball's Regular Slinky strings are meticulously constructed to produce a tone that's rich, warm, and balanced. The custom gauge set, .010, .013, .017, .026w, .036, and .046, offers the perfect blend of flexibility and resistance for effortless bending. Engineered with high-carbon, specially tempered steel wires wrapped around a hexagon-shaped core, these strings deliver long-lasting durability and an even, rich tone.

Whether you're launching into an explosive solo or gently fingerpicking, Regular Slinkys offer unmatched versatility, allowing you to shape your own sound easily. These nickel wound electric guitar strings are an industry standard and a testament to Ernie Ball's uncompromising pursuit of quality. With these strings, you're not just playing music, you're creating a legacy.

Key Features:

  • Industry-standard, top-selling set
  • Custom Gauge set: .010, .013, .017, .026w, .036, and .046
  • Made from high-carbon, specially tempered steel wires
  • Nickel-plated, wound around a hexagonal steel core
  • Delivers a warm, balanced tone
  • Long-lasting durability
  • Used by professional musicians worldwide
  • Offers excellent bendability
  • Provides versatility for all playing styles

Product specs

Guitar Type Electric Guitar
Number of Strings 6
Coated No
Gauges .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
Core Material Tin-plated Hexagonal Steel
Winding Material Nickel Plated Steel
Winding Type Round Wound

FAQs

What type of music are Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46) best suited for?

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46) are versatile and suitable for a wide range of musical styles, including rock, blues, and pop, due to their balanced tone and playability.

What is the gauge of Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings?

The gauge of Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings is .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046, offering a balanced feel and sound ideal for many playing styles.

Are Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings coated?

No, Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings are not coated. They are made with nickel-plated steel for a bright, clear tone.

What material are Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings made from?

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings are made from tin-plated hexagonal steel core with nickel-plated steel winding, providing a bright and balanced sound.

Are Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings suitable for beginners?

Yes, Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings are suitable for beginners due to their balanced tension and playability, making them comfortable for new players to use.

GAK

GAK

What Guitar Strings Are Right For You? | Ernie Ball

Video thumbnail for What Guitar Strings Are Right For You? | Ernie Ball by GAK

What Guitar Strings Are Right For You? | Ernie Ball

GAK

GAK

Video thumbnail for Ernie Ball Electric Guitar Strings Comparison - The Ultimate Strings Demo! by Guitar World

Ernie Ball Electric Guitar Strings Comparison - The Ultimate Strings Demo!

Guitar World

Guitar World

Video thumbnail for Ernie Ball Regular Slinky: THE ULTIMATE STRING COMPARISON! by Sped Spedding

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky: THE ULTIMATE STRING COMPARISON!

Sped Spedding

Sped Spedding

Video thumbnail for Ernie Ball Regular Slinky String Review & Demo by Jake Pool Music

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky String Review & Demo

Jake Pool Music

Jake Pool Music

Video thumbnail for Guitar Strings Setup and Demo on Les Paul (Ernie Ball Regular Slinky ) by Ralph Aouad Guitar

Guitar Strings Setup and Demo on Les Paul (Ernie Ball Regular Slinky )

Ralph Aouad Guitar

Ralph Aouad Guitar

Reviews

PROS

  • Affordable, high-quality strings

  • Excellent tone for a wide range of music styles

  • Retain brightness for a long time

  • Smooth feel, comfortable for long playing sessions

  • Strong tuning stability after break-in period

  • Great for both rhythm and lead playing

  • Durable, do not break easily

  • Suitable for different guitar types and tunings

  • Easy to bend, good for solos

  • Widely available and used by famous musicians

CONS

  • Packaging produces a lot of waste

  • Rusts quickly for some users

  • Short break-in period where tuning is unstable

  • May feel rough compared to other brands

  • Inconsistent durability; some sets break quickly

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46).

Setup and maintenance

  • High E string breakage often linked to burrs at nut or saddle; filing these areas can prevent future breaks.

    Source
  • Using DR Pure Blues nickel strings reduces corrosion and prolongs lifespan, offering an alternative to Ernie Ball Slinkys for longevity.

    Source

User experience

  • Ernie Ball Paradigm strings are praised for durability but criticized for losing tone quickly compared to Regular Slinkys.

    Source
  • Players with oily skin report that Ernie Ball strings can go dead within a week, while D'Addario strings maintain a newer feel for longer.

    Source
  • Some users experience better tuning stability with D'Addario, requiring less frequent retuning compared to Ernie Ball strings.

    Source
  • Some players report Ernie Ball strings staining fingers with nickel corrosion, leaving a metallic smell, unlike D'Addario NYXLs.

    Source
  • Ernie Ball strings come in individual envelopes, useful for managing multiple guitars without loose strings.

    Source

Comparisons

  • D’Addario NYXLs are noted for better tuning stability and longer life than Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys.

    Source
  • Ernie Ball strings are noted for their initial brightness but tend to corrode faster than D'Addario XLs, which have a higher nickel content.

    Source
  • Ernie Ball strings are described as having a more bass-heavy sound, whereas D'Addario offers a brighter, more mid-focused tone.

    Source
  • DR Pure Blues users claim they retain tone for years, with some having strings that are over 4 years old and still used for gigging.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Regular Slinky strings are favored by players who frequently bend strings, even up to 2.5 steps, without breakage when setup correctly.

    Source
  • Ernie Ball strings are favored for immediate readiness after restringing, whereas D'Addario strings may require a day of wear-in before optimal performance.

    Source
  • Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys are preferred for short-scale guitars tuned to A-Standard for ease of intonation.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Applying Big Bends Nut Sauce on bridge and nut saddles can reduce string breakage and improve longevity.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46) review on reviewingthis.com

reviewingthis.com

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings have long been hailed as the standard, beloved by guitarists like Eric Clapton and John Mayer. The review lauds their balanced tone and durability, making them perfect for letting a guitar's natural sound shine. While not revolutionary in design, they offer consistent performance and value, particularly when bought individually rather than in multi-packs. However, for those seeking cutting-edge innovation, these strings may not provide the thrill. Yet, their no-nonsense reliability keeps many players coming back, establishing them as a trusted choice in the guitarist community.

positive

Review: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky guitar strings - Light Audio Recording

lightaudiorecording.com
Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 92 Reviews and 481 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
ammarplp

tonality but easy to rust

i often use this regular slinky for guitar recordings because the tonality and clarity are clear, but it's a shame this regular slinky doesn't match my sweat on stage, once it's used it rusts immediately

jimmarchi1

The best of the worst, the rest are just cursed.

I grew up on the old papery neon yellow pack of ernies with non-sealed envelopes filled with wonderful rock 'n roll gauge strings. I always used these bad boys from day one and I always return to them. I am used to the sound and feel, for better or worse... and they're still damned cheap by the case!

omega9

Love them and used for last 6 years. Now they're got expensive where I live and, I think, fake in almost every store.

jimmarchi1

I've been using slinkies or super slinkies with only a few departures to try other brands since I was like 12.... so 23 years. Take that youngster.

fuzzycat

Great strings! I have found tuning issues with the super slinkies, but I couldn't agree more about their sound and feel.

jimmarchi1

I never seem to have any issues, maybe a little on the G of all my gibsons, but that's gibsons for you.... any brand ofs trings has the G slippage on SG and LP type guitars with a traditional headstock

blondguru

Rusty

They're nice because they're cheap, but EB strings seem to rust within a week of being put on. I've not had this problem with other strings just these. They're good to throw on before a weekend group of shows or a tour or something, or to have as a backup- but not preferred.

2007_mercedes_clk200

Can't go wrong with these.

They last long and are simply great strings. I've been using them for years.

fabio_solimann

my go to for standard tuning

Not very much to say rather than it's cheap, lasts very long and sounds great for playing standard tuning

dannfeltrin

My favorite!

I use this set to play in standard and half-step down tuning, and they are great. I've using ErnieBall for over 12 years, and they never disappointed me. They sound good right after you put them on your guitar, but my favorite taste is a week old set... to me, it's when they will sound the best!

From Gear Setup
gato
gato

143

My Favorite Strings

These are great strings, at a reasonable price. If you play a Telecaster and you don't use 0.10 of this type or similar, you miss the sweet spot of the instrument. I think Eric Clapton and John Mayer also use them... I like them.

This review has been translated automatically into English. See original
fleshwound

Amazing strings

Great balance between tuning strength and bending ability, bass and treble, lead and rhythm. My favourite all round strings.

silvermountainman

Great All Around Strings

These are great for all around strings. Standard tuning works the best for these. They stay in tune and bends can be performed with ease. I use these on my Telecaster and open G tuning yields no problems with staying in tune.

darkyal

Simple, yet awesome.

Very good strings. Hold very good and suits myself. I love medium-high tension on my guitars. I'm myself a very agressive (mostly rrhythm) player, and this holds as they should. Haven't broke any before having to change them. If you take care of the strings puting your guitar in her case, and wipe them after playing with clean hands, can last quite a while.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how John Mayer uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46)

John Mayer

Guitarist

John Mayer Trio

...
Verified via Photo

John Mayer uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46), as shown in a promotional image from Ernie Ball. These strings, known for their precision manufacturing and balanced tone, are a popular choice among musicians for their consistency and durability.

See how Billie Joe Armstrong uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46)

Billie Joe Armstrong

Singer, Guitarist

Green Day

...
Verified via YouTube

Here's Billie's technician showing Billies' rig during a 2013 tour, he talks about the string at 1:28, he talks about ''Ernie ball .10's''

See how Eric Clapton uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46)

Eric Clapton

Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

...
Verified via Ernieball

Eric Clapton uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46) on his non-archtop guitars, as noted by Ernie Ball.

See how Thom Yorke uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46)

Thom Yorke

Singer, Guitarist

Radiohead

...
Verified via Photo

Thom Yorke used Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46) during the 2010 Atoms for Peace tour, as evidenced by the large quantity of strings visible next to his guitar rack in a tour photograph.

See how Matthew Bellamy uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46)

Matthew Bellamy

Guitarist, Singer

Muse

...
Verified via Photo

For this promotional poster, Matt endorses Regular Slinky strings. He's also on the Artists page of Ernie Ball's website.

See how Tom Morello uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46)

Tom Morello

Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

...
Verified via Premierguitar

If you click on the Tele's picture, it says from the bottom: "He goes with Ernie Ball Regular Slinky"

See how Kirk Hammett uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46)

Kirk Hammett

Guitarist

Metallica

...
Verified via Fbcdn

Kirk Hammett uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46), as shown in a photo from Fbcdn.

See how Mac DeMarco uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46)

Mac DeMarco

Singer, Guitarist

Mac DeMarco

...
Verified via YouTube

In the Bad Bonn Song Book tutorial video titled "The Stars Keep On Calling My Name," Mac DeMarco can be seen using Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46) throughout.

See how Johnny Marr uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46)

Johnny Marr

Singer, Guitarist

Modest Mouse

...
Verified via Smithsonguitar

"I use Ernie Ball strings, gauged .010 to .046, on most of my guitars."

See how Noel Gallagher uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46)

Noel Gallagher

Singer, Guitarist

Oasis

...
Verified via Premierguitar

Although forum talks say that those strings were used for Don't Believe The Truth album, definitely confirmed source dates from 2015, where in the interview for Premier Guitar, it was listed that Noel Gallagher uses Slinkys 2221.

See how Steve Vai uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46)

Steve Vai

Guitarist

Whitesnake

...
Verified via YouTube

In this June 2022 rig rundown with Thomann's Guitar & Basses, at 5:45, Steve Vai's guitar tech Doug pulls down a Mirror finish Ibanez with L.E.D. fretboard inlays stating:

[Doug]: "...This guitar gets used on "Avalancha", it's tuned to Drop-C."

[Thomann]: "My favorite tune on the new record."

[Doug]: "Yeah, it's a cool record... Steve lightened up his gauge for Drop-C, he used to always use 10-52, it's 10-46 right now, it might change, Steve changes thing up y'know, he's constantly evolving. So that's what this guitar's set up with."

See how Billy Corgan uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46)

Billy Corgan

Singer, Guitarist

The Smashing Pumpkins

...
Verified via YouTube

At 3:06 in the video, it clearly shows these strings.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46), it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Community setups

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hashimoto

hashimoto

Gear IQ 14708

joaoribeiro

joaoribeiro

Gear IQ 573

rye_ryan

rye_ryan

Gear IQ 457

axel_tnl

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lars_gustav_larsson

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rye_ryan

rye_ryan

Gear IQ 457

axel_tnl

axel_tnl

Gear IQ 2135

davidjtessier

davidjtessier

Gear IQ 383

rylie_stokley

rylie_stokley

Gear IQ 204

M

metalheadforlifeguitar

Gear IQ 73

yuriseregati

yuriseregati

Gear IQ 136

dannfeltrin

dannfeltrin

Gear IQ 1871

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aaronrev206

Gear IQ 160

kamiguitar

kamiguitar

Gear IQ 202

kamiguitar

kamiguitar

Gear IQ 202

semi_truck

semi_truck

Gear IQ 207

hakanbaysal

hakanbaysal

Gear IQ 11284

joaoribeiro

joaoribeiro

Gear IQ 573

lars_gustav_larsson

lars_gustav_larsson

Gear IQ 3586

ryanhislop

ryanhislop

Gear IQ 222

onur_demiroglu

onur_demiroglu

Gear IQ 109

4 alternative and related items for Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Guitar Strings (10-46), curated by the Equipboard community.

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high-end alternative

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