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Ernie Ball Burly Slinky Guitar Strings (11-52)

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Ernie Ball Burly Slinky Guitar Strings (11-52)

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$5.99 to $11.98

4.5 (7)

3 Reviews

Find out who is using Ernie Ball Burly Slinky (11-52)

1 community setup

1 wishlisted

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Page last updated Jul 06, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 7 stores. Prices updated July 4, 2026.

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5.0 (4)

$11.98

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4.5 (22)

$8.99

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4.8 (1393)

$8.99

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$5.99 93 available New

$7.99 2 available Used

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5.0 (3)

$8.99

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$8.99

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£7.48

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Price History

Based on price data from 4 merchants for "Ernie Ball Burly Slinky Guitar Strings (11-52)". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

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If you're a guitarist who thrives on fat tones and robust tension, the Ernie Ball Burly Slinky Guitar Strings (11-52) are designed just for you. These strings cater to musicians who demand a thicker sound for their chords and a heavier feel under their fingers, providing both a beefy low end and the perfect resistance for expressive solos. Crafted with precision, each string features a nickel-plated steel wrap wire wound around a tin-plated, hex-shaped steel core. This combination delivers the iconic Slinky feel and tone that has made Ernie Ball a trusted name among guitarists worldwide.

The Burly Slinky set isn't just about weight; it strikes an ideal balance between brightness and warmth, ensuring your music shines across genres. Whether you're riffing through classic rock or exploring modern metal landscapes, these strings promise durability and a consistently reliable performance. With decades of innovation behind them, each pack of Ernie Ball strings guarantees a legacy of quality and a sound that guitarists can rely on night after night.

Key Features:

Electric guitar strings
Gauge: .011, .014, .018, .030, .042, .052
Nickel-plated steel wrap wire
Tin-plated, hex-shaped steel core
Enhanced tension for richer tones
Balanced sound profile

Product specs

Guitar Type	Electric Guitar
Number of Strings	6
Coated	No
Gauges	.011, .014, .018p, .030, .042, .052
Core Material	Tin-plated Hexagonal Steel
Winding Material	Nickel Plated Steel
Winding Type	Round Wound

FAQs

What is the gauge range of the Ernie Ball Burly Slinky Guitar Strings?: The Ernie Ball Burly Slinky Guitar Strings have a gauge range of .011 to .052, offering a balanced tension suitable for players seeking a thicker string feel and a fuller tone.
Are Ernie Ball Burly Slinky Strings suitable for drop tuning?: Yes, the Ernie Ball Burly Slinky Strings (.011-.052) are well-suited for drop tunings, providing enhanced stability and a robust tone due to their heavier gauge.
What material are the Ernie Ball Burly Slinky Guitar Strings made from?: The Ernie Ball Burly Slinky Strings are made from nickel-plated steel, which provides a bright, balanced tone and excellent durability.
Are these strings coated?: No, the Ernie Ball Burly Slinky Guitar Strings are not coated, offering a natural feel and traditional tone preferred by many guitarists.
What type of winding is used on Ernie Ball Burly Slinky Strings?: The Ernie Ball Burly Slinky Strings use round wound winding, which delivers a classic, bright sound with excellent sustain and clarity.

Videos

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Ernie Ball

NEW! Ernie Ball Ultra & Burly Slinkys

Ernie Ball

ULTRA & BURLY SLINKY?! New products from Ernie Ball.

Sped Spedding

Ernie Ball: Ultra and Burly Unveil at NAMM 2019

Ernie Ball

Reviews

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PROS

Ideal blend of tension for both rhythm and lead playing
Maintains bright, clear tones over time
Excellent for aggressive and hard playing styles
Versatile for multiple genres and tunings
Durable and resistant to corrosion
Easy and quick installation with labeled packaging
Provides a thick, robust sound for drop-tunings
Perfect balance of heavy low end and bendable top strings
Long-lasting performance even with heavy use
Consistent quality across various setups

CONS

Not suitable for weak-handed players or beginners
May require guitar setup adjustments for optimal performance
Can rust quickly under certain conditions
Tends to lose brightness faster than some competitors

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ernie Ball Burly Slinky Guitar Strings (11-52).

Setup and maintenance

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Transitioning from 11-48 to 11-52 strings may require slight truss rod adjustments to maintain neck relief, typically around a quarter turn.
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The jump from 48 to 52 gauge strings might necessitate widening the nut slots to prevent binding, especially on Les Pauls originally equipped with lighter strings.
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Adjusting the bridge tension may be required to ensure it lays flat, especially transitioning from lighter strings.
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A vibrato bridge will need spring adjustments when switching to 11-52 strings to maintain proper balance and action.
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For truss rod adjustments, start with a 1/8 turn and allow it to settle before re-checking neck relief.
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Professional luthier services are recommended for widening nut slots if moving to larger gauge strings later.
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User experience

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Players report that thicker gauges improve chord feel and rhythm playing, although lead bends require more effort with 11-52 compared to 10-52 strings.
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Use cases and applications

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Heavier gauge strings like 11-52 are preferred for rhythm-focused styles, offering improved tonal richness on shorter scale guitars like Gibsons.
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Some users play 11-52 strings in E flat tuning across all guitars without issue.
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4.5 out of 5

Based on 3 Reviews and 7 Ratings

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asouthiseng1

266

over 1 year ago

reliable

I play in D# standard, which usually freaks people out when I tell I use .11 gauge strings. I am a very aggressive guitar player and I have somehow even managed to break .10 gauge strings before (I have 8+ years experience playing, so it's less of a skill issue more of a matter of how percussive I play). I had to relearn how to string a guitar when I switched to these strings because they are not meant to be played in D# standard, but they add a LOT of natural low end to the guitar sound. now from a technical standpoint, these strings are, to me, better than Ernie Ball's cobalt strings, since these nickelwound strings seem to corrode significantly less; in fact, i've never had a pair of these strings corrode at all, yet every other type of Ernie Ball string could barely last a month on my guitar (I live in the southern USA and the heat corrodes most guitar strings like crazy).

Preferred Settings + Usage:

Genres: Punk Rock, Hard Rock, Blues Rock

Roles:

Singer Guitarist

Genres:

Rock Blues Alternative rock

sonnysoul

1780

over 6 years ago

GREAT!

I used POWER SLINKYs before, but had a tendency to pull the strings out of tune when playing rhythm... These took care of that ;)

ville

168

over 6 years ago

They were decent for a week or so.

Don't get me wrong, Ernie Ball makes great quality strings, but they rust too fast and lose brightness to quickly for my liking. The gauge is great, but the strings in general are very below average in my opinion.

Genres:

Jazz