Pricing and availability

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Sweetwater
4.5 (5)
$12.66
Guitar Center
4.5 (50)
$8.90
Reverb
5.0 (7)
$6.21 New
$13.95 Used
Musician's Friend
4.0 (98)
$8.90
Thomann
4.7 (822)
$6.30
Gear4Music
Ā£5.87

Price History

Based on price data from 4 merchants for "Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56)". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

Indulge in the world of lower tunings with the Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56). Crafted by the string virtuosos at Ernie Ball, these strings are meticulously engineered to cater to the lower tunings often preferred by metal musicians, while maintaining a harmonious tone and slinky feel. These strings are not only about the sound; they provide the perfect tension for drop D, drop C, and other detuned tunings.

The Not Even Slinky set encapsulates an optimal balance of tonal brightness and darkness when detuned, thanks to the nickel-plated steel wrap wire and tin-plated hex core wire. These strings ensure that your notes ring out clearly with minimal fret buzz, making them the perfect companion for your drop tuning adventures.

Maintaining the signature slinky feel Ernie Ball is renowned for, these strings provide a familiar and fast feel, offering nimble fretting and bending. Whether you're accustomed to standard or lighter gauge sets, the playability of these detuned-focused strings will make you feel right at home.

With Ernie Ball's strict manufacturing standards and precision, these strings promise consistency, long life, and corrosion resistance. Restringing is kept to a minimum, so you can focus on what matters most - playing your music.

Key Features:

  • Ideal string tension for drop D, drop C and other detuned tunings
  • Nickel-plated steel wrap wire and tin-plated hex core wire for balanced tone
  • Signature 'Slinky' feel for nimble fretting and bending
  • Precision manufactured for consistency and long life
  • Gauges: .012, .016, .024, .032, .044, .056

Product specs

Guitar Type Electric Guitar
Coated No
Gauges .012, .016, .024p, .032w, .044, .056
Core Material Tin-plated Hexagonal Steel
Winding Material Nickel Plated Steel
Winding Type Round Wound

FAQs

What tunings are suitable for Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings?

Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings are ideal for lower tunings like Drop D and Drop C, providing optimal tension and tone for these setups, especially favored by metal guitarists.

What is the gauge of Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky strings?

The gauge for Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky strings is .012, .016, .024p, .032w, .044, .056, offering a heavier set perfect for down-tuned playing.

Are Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky strings coated?

No, Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky strings are not coated, which allows for a natural feel and traditional string tone.

What material are Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky strings made from?

These strings feature a tin-plated hexagonal steel core with nickel-plated steel winding, delivering durability and a bright, balanced tone.

How do Not Even Slinky strings compare to Regular Slinky strings?

Not Even Slinky strings are heavier than Regular Slinky strings, providing more tension and a thicker tone, which is ideal for players using lower tunings.

Science of Loud

Science of Loud

String Gauges: What is Right For You?

Video thumbnail for String Gauges: What is Right For You? by Science of Loud

String Gauges: What is Right For You?

Science of Loud

Science of Loud

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 Strings comparison - Ernie Ball 12-56 Not Even Slinky vs. Cobalt by Alex S

Strings comparison - Ernie Ball 12-56 Not Even Slinky vs. Cobalt

Alex S

Alex S

Video thumbnail for Best Strings for Drop C (and Why!) by Conor Rocks

Best Strings for Drop C (and Why!)

Conor Rocks

Conor Rocks

Video thumbnail for Ernie Ball 12-56 guitar strings on LTD-EC256 | How its sounds. by Patrick Pigi

Ernie Ball 12-56 guitar strings on LTD-EC256 | How its sounds.

Patrick Pigi

Patrick Pigi

Reviews

PROS

  • Ideal for drop tunings like Drop C and Drop B, with great sustain

  • Excellent tension and clarity for heavy riffs in low tunings

  • Versatile sound, suitable for metal, hard rock, country, and jazz

  • Stays in tune well even with heavy playing

  • Provides a rich, full tone without rattling in lower tunings

  • Enhances heavy guitar tones, great for down-tuning

  • Useful for slide guitar setups due to thickness and tension

  • Supports diverse playing styles and tunings

CONS

  • The plain 3rd string can cause tuning stability issues

  • Requires modifications for fitting on some guitars

  • High tension may cause player fatigue, especially on the "G" string

  • Strings may rust quickly under certain conditions

  • Significant tension can alter guitar neck relief, especially in standard tuning

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56).

Setup and maintenance

  • Transitioning from 9-42 to 12-56 strings on a Squier Stratocaster may require nut filing, especially for the D, A, and E slots.

    Source
  • Moving to 12-56 gauge strings could cause neck bowing and intonation issues unless the guitar is properly set up for the heavier gauge.

    Source
  • Using 12-56 gauge strings may result in poor tuning stability if the nut is tight, particularly with tremolo systems.

    Source

User experience

  • Some owners have successfully used 12 gauge strings without nut modifications, but experiences vary based on the initial nut cut.

    Source
  • Some players find the 56 gauge string may be too large for the nut, potentially requiring adjustments.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • These strings are often used for lower tunings like drop C, drop B, and drop A#.

    Source
Add

5.0 out of 5

Based on 13 Reviews and 55 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
cellar_dwellar

Down Tuning Like A Pro

I used these on my Epi Les Paul Gothic and Squier Telecaster for down tuning to Drop C - B. Great sustain, great tone.

noshiro

Fat Strings

You will need these if you intend to play drop C or lower. They are very fat and will not rattle in low tunings. If you can bend well on these you can bend on anything. They also sound fine in standard tuning.

peasinafookinpod420

best 12 string set

I string my 12 strings with (except the Stella Harmony because the strings on it are original to when I bought it) this set as there are thick and nice and I love them. 1000% recommend.

kyle
kyle

114

For optimal detuning

So these strings are strings I use for my Ibanez. For a much heavier tone, and a much richer tone. If you want to drop-tune your guitar to anything, these are the strings to get. Because if you use a lighter gauge, the strings will get really f**ked up and the tension will be weird and it'll ultimately screw up your neck to the point where you would need a professional to fix it.

dannfeltrin

The best for DropC tuning

I love Drop-C tuning, and this strings set have been always my choice. From 1 step down to Drop-C, never had problems using it, and it always sound great! Nice feel, good response and never going out of tune.

From Gear Setup
skylinerr

detune? no way

I use these for a fair different tunings I tend to change gauges for playing rhythm or lead 11s/12s rhythm 9s/10s for leads seem to be rhythm and sing at the moment

Genres:
mizrahy

Definitely best for detune

Strings should only be used if the player is planning on playing on Eb tuning or lower. These are not to be fiddled with at all. Great for a very deep (almost baritone) sound for a guitar, but not something I would consider strumming.

celsinho

Good Strings

The Ernie Ball not even slinky is a great guitar strings, its comfortable, heavy, but my strings got rusty in a short time so that's kinda makes me sad about this strings, but they're still good and and its nice to play it.

fromhereonout_band

Good for downtuning

Leanne Trachy prefers to downtune a whole and half step down for a lot applications. She overall also prefers the thickness and and tensity of thicker strings.

H

Amazing!

I switch out the 12 gauge string for a 13 gauge string and the 56 to a 60 (Personal Preference)

john_mccants

Slide guitar strings

I use these strings for playing slide guitar on a slide-dedicated Stratocaster.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how John Petrucci uses Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56)

John Petrucci

Guitarist, Composer

Dream Theater

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video, at around 2:40, John is talking about using Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky (.12-.56) for C standard tuning.

See how Billy Corgan uses Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56)

Billy Corgan

Singer, Guitarist

The Smashing Pumpkins

...
Verified via YouTube

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

See how Lee Malia uses Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56)

Lee Malia

Guitarist

Bring Me The Horizon

...
Verified via YouTube

At around 14:30 in the video, Lee's guitar tech shows the strings used on his guitar, showing a pack of 12-56 strings and that he "gets rid of the 56 and then we replace it with an 80 custom gauge set"

See how James Iha uses Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56)

James Iha

Guitarist, Bassist

The Smashing Pumpkins

...
Verified via Premier Guitar

James Iha used Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56) during his time with A Perfect Circle for C# tuning, as confirmed by Premier Guitar's "Rig Rundown: A Perfect Circle" by Chris Kies.

See how Kurt Vile uses Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56)

Kurt Vile

Singer, Guitarist

The War on Drugs

...
Verified via YouTube

Kurt mentions at a rig rundown with premier guitar that his number to 64 Fender jaguar was having some tuning issues so he uses other strings along with not even slinkys instead of the beefy slinkys on that guitar

See how Vic Fuentes uses Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56)

Vic Fuentes

Singer, Guitarist

Pierce the Veil

...
Verified via Twitter

I asked him what strings he used and that was his answer

See how Ryan "Fluff" Bruce uses Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56)

Ryan "Fluff" Bruce

Guitarist, Music Producer

Dragged Under

...
Verified via Photo

In an Instagram post titled "String Guide 2021 šŸŽ„," Ryan Bruce discusses his use of Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56), providing insight into his string preferences.

See how Ricardo Mollo uses Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56)

Ricardo Mollo

Guitarist

Sumo

...
Verified via YouTube

In a 2008 video, Ricardo Mollo stated that he used Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56) with a plain 22 for songs tuned to D, as evidenced by other videos showcasing his gear. However, he later switched to 11-48 for D standard and 9-46 for E standard due to tendinitis from heavy use when bending. This information is sourced from "El Musiquiatra presenta: Ricardo Mollo parte 3" by Ariel Pozzo on YouTube.

See how Reba Meyers uses Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56)

Reba Meyers

Guitarist

Marilyn Manson

...
Verified via YouTube

According to Reba, she uses Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky strings.

See how Ryan Sitkowski uses Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56)

Ryan Sitkowski

Guitarist

Motionless In White

...
Verified via Twitch.tv

When asked on his stream, he said these are the strings he used (July 2021)

See how Ricky Olson uses Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56)

Ricky Olson

Singer, Guitarist

Motionless In White

...
Verified via Kit

"I use these strings for drop A tuning"- Ricky Olson

See how Neil Westfall uses Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56)

Neil Westfall

Guitarist

A Day to Remember

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video for Premier Guitar Neil talks about strings. He states that he uses the not even slinkys on his guitars. Neil claims these strings are great for drop tunings. He likes these strings because ADTR tends to tune to drop c or lower. These srring guages are the perfect tension for his style and tone of playing

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 Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56), it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Community setups

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dannfeltrin

dannfeltrin

Gear IQ 1871

2 alternative and related items for Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56), curated by the Equipboard community.

Ernie Ball Magnum Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56)

$6.52 - $9.49

similar sound mod

If you do not like the feeling of the plain .24 gauge g string of the not even slinkys. Get the magnum slinkys which feature a wound .22 gauge g string. Night and day difference for some.

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Gear Guides

  • Added to Equipboard on by

    j_strange
    j_strange

    Gear IQ 128