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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
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What tunings are suitable for Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings?
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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.
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What is the gauge of Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky strings?
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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.
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Are Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky strings coated?
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No, Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky strings are not coated, which allows for a natural feel and traditional string tone.
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What material are Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky strings made from?
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These strings feature a tin-plated hexagonal steel core with nickel-plated steel winding, delivering durability and a bright, balanced tone.
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How do Not Even Slinky strings compare to Regular Slinky strings?
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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.
Videos
Science of Loud
String Gauges: What is Right For You?
Reviews
PROS
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Ideal for drop tunings like Drop C and Drop B, with great sustain
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Excellent tension and clarity for heavy riffs in low tunings
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Versatile sound, suitable for metal, hard rock, country, and jazz
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Stays in tune well even with heavy playing
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Provides a rich, full tone without rattling in lower tunings
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Enhances heavy guitar tones, great for down-tuning
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Useful for slide guitar setups due to thickness and tension
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Supports diverse playing styles and tunings
CONS
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The plain 3rd string can cause tuning stability issues
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Requires modifications for fitting on some guitars
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High tension may cause player fatigue, especially on the "G" string
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Strings may rust quickly under certain conditions
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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
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Transitioning from 9-42 to 12-56 strings on a Squier Stratocaster may require nut filing, especially for the D, A, and E slots.
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Moving to 12-56 gauge strings could cause neck bowing and intonation issues unless the guitar is properly set up for the heavier gauge.
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Using 12-56 gauge strings may result in poor tuning stability if the nut is tight, particularly with tremolo systems.
Source
User experience
5.0 out of 5
Based on 13 Reviews and 55 Ratings
173
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.
2423
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.
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.
1871
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.
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.
129
Slide guitar strings
I use these strings for playing slide guitar on a slide-dedicated Stratocaster.
Artist usage
Add artist
In this video, at around 2:40, John is talking about using Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky (.12-.56) for C standard tuning.
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"
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.
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
In an Instagram post titled "String Guide 2021 š„," Ryan Bruce discusses his use of Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56), providing insight into his string preferences.
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.
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
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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
Show yoursSimilar
Add recommendation2 alternative and related items for Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Guitar Strings (12-56), curated by the Equipboard community.
$6.52 - $9.49
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.
$6.49 - $7.20
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