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Based on price data from 4 merchants for "Ernie Ball Power Slinky Guitar Strings (11-48)". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Unleash your musical prowess with the Ernie Ball Power Slinky Guitar Strings (11-48). These strings are the secret sauce to the chunky rhythms and potent tones that have graced legendary rock and blues performances by artists like Slash, Metallica and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
Crafted with precision and exacting standards, these strings are designed to offer substantial, rich tones that resonate with the raw power of rock and blues. The strings are made of nickel-plated steel wires wrapped around a hex-shaped steel core, providing a warm, articulate tone that makes each note sing. The heavy bottom end provided by the .011-.048 gauge range allows for a full, robust tone, ideal for those hard rock riffs and soulful blues solos.
The Power Slinkys are made from tin-plated, high-carbon steel, known for its pitch stability. This unique feature ensures that your strings hold their tuning, providing a quick, responsive feel with solid intonation.
Ernie Ball's commitment to quality and consistency is apparent in these strings, which are precision manufactured in California to meet the highest standards. Whether you're a rhythm player or a lead guitarist, the Power Slinkys offer a balanced set that sounds full and muscular, yet still plays with precision.
Key Features:
- Nickel-plated steel wires for warm, articulate tone
- .011-.048 gauge range for a heavy, robust sound
- Tin-plated, high-carbon steel cores for pitch stability
- Precision manufactured for consistency and quality
- Ideal for rock and blues music styles
Product specs
| Guitar Type | Electric Guitar |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Coated | No |
| Gauges | .011, .014, .018p, .028, .038, .048 |
| Core Material | Tin-plated Hexagonal Steel |
| Winding Material | Nickel Plated Steel |
| Winding Type | Round Wound |
FAQs
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What genres are Ernie Ball Power Slinky Guitar Strings (11-48) best suited for?
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These strings are ideal for rock and blues genres, offering a thicker gauge for robust tones and powerful rhythms, favored by artists like Slash and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
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How do Ernie Ball Power Slinky Guitar Strings (11-48) affect playability?
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With a medium gauge of 11-48, these strings provide increased tension, offering more resistance which can enhance volume and sustain, making them suitable for players seeking a fuller sound.
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Are Ernie Ball Power Slinky Guitar Strings (11-48) coated?
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No, these strings are not coated, which allows for a more natural feel and traditional tone.
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What materials are used in Ernie Ball Power Slinky Guitar Strings (11-48)?
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These strings are made with a tin-plated hexagonal steel core and nickel-plated steel winding, offering durability and a bright, balanced tone.
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Are Ernie Ball Power Slinky Guitar Strings (11-48) suitable for beginners?
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While they provide excellent tone and durability, the increased tension of 11-48 gauge strings may be challenging for beginners who are not yet accustomed to thicker strings.
Videos
Rick Beato
You’re Probably Using The WRONG Guitar Strings
You’re Probably Using The WRONG Guitar Strings
Rick Beato
Ernie Ball Paradigm: Stronger Than Slash
Ernie Ball
What Guitar Strings Are Right For You? | Ernie Ball
GAK
Ernie Ball Electric Guitar Strings Comparison - The Ultimate Strings Demo!
Guitar World
Do Big Strings Make A Difference? - 8 Gauge VS 11 Gauge Guitar Strings
Mike Bradley
Ernie Ball 101: Electric Strings
Ernie Ball
Ernie Ball Power Slinky Guitar Strings * Unbox, Install & Testing * Frayed Ends of Sanity Metallica
Chug Galipo
Reviews
PROS
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Excellent for heavy sounds, ideal for grunge and metal music
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Highly durable, rarely break prematurely
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Consistent, long-lasting tone
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Great for power chords and distortion, adds punch to sound
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Perfect for drop-tuning, maintains clarity and punch
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Smooth, comfortable feel with nickel-wound construction
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Versatile for multiple genres, from rock to blues
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Provides a fuller tone without losing clarity
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Easy to install with well-packaged, labeled strings
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Enhanced low-end for a thicker, beefy sound
CONS
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Stiff for soloing and bending, not ideal for intricate lead work
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Requires setup adjustments when switching from lighter gauges
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Perceived as overly stiff, lacking feel for some players
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ernie Ball Power Slinky Guitar Strings (11-48).
Setup and maintenance
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Adjusting the truss rod in small increments (quarter turns) ensures neck relief; check string height over the 9th fret using a capo at the 1st and fretting the 14th.
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Les Pauls typically come with 10s now; moving to heavier strings like 11-52s may require nut widening to avoid binding and tuning instability.
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The nut may need adjustment when moving to thicker strings; watch for tuning instability or jumping pitch, indicating binding.
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Users report that thicker strings like the Power Slinkys can help prevent the out-of-tune sound that occurs when picking hard on lighter strings.
Source
User experience
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Switching from 10-52 to 11-52 gauges has minimal sonic impact; notable change is in bendability of the G-B-e strings for lead play.
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Owners note that Power Slinkys are ideal for playing power chords and open chords, delivering a rich and full sound, but they're harder to bend for solos.
Source
Use cases and applications
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Heavier gauge strings like 11-52s are preferred for rhythm playing, enhancing chord feel, while requiring adjustment for leads due to increased tension.
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Power Slinky strings, when used on short-scale guitars or in drop-D tuning, provide enhanced tuning stability and a fuller sound for hard rock styles.
Source
5.0 out of 5
Based on 29 Reviews and 137 Ratings
305
alright
you just got to know when to use em, drop c or c standard all day for me, standard though, not so much
324
1562
Feel nice
They feel great and are basically exl 115 strings without the annoying top bit with the only difference being the 6th string is a 49 on the exl115
296
Nice chunky strings for seasoned players.
Upgraded to these when I played in a jazz band, while also being in and out of studio and writing sessions for my other projects. I needed something a little more sturdy under my hands and these fit the job perfectly and I used them on all my guitars until recently when I found myself playing less frequently.
These work perfectly fine in everything from Drop C to regular Standard E without feeling overly tense to play, I'd recommend them if you're looking to downtune a step or are a frequent player who finds .9s or .10s too slack.
41029
11s, the 'regular' gauge string
When you want more tension on Gibson scale or just a stonger fundamental, Ernie's Power Skinlies get the job done. I am also really fond of doing a heavy top, light bottom set with Regular Slinkies for wound strings and these for plain strings. Ernie does heavy bottom with light top, for loads of chunk but easy bending, don't know why they don't sell a set that ahs the opposite. It'd be easier on your guitar neck and on a Gibson scale the extra tension doesn't bother me on the plain strings and the tone is so good up top. anyway. I like Ernies in any gauge. They're 'just okay' in a consistent way.
557
These are the best, they just don't have the longest shelf life. If you practice eight hours a day, they're super dull sounding by the end of the week.
41029
when I was in a serious band I ran through 2 to 3 packs of ernies a week per guitar... wore them out every 2 days and fresh strings for a gig were dead by the end of the set. Still like them.
5339
I used these forever but now use D'addario 12s
41029
I switched to elixir nanowebs after they sent me a bunch of them
342
Very good strings
They possess all the qualities I look for in a set of guitar strings, they play just fine. Not too thick, not too thin, not too extreme sounding in either side of the spectrum, it's just very well-rounded.
Artist usage
Add artist
In the Premier Guitar "Rig Rundown" video featuring Kurt Vile & the Violators, Kurt Vile is seen using Ernie Ball Power Slinky Guitar Strings (11-48) alongside other types like Beefy Slinkys and Not Even Slinkys.
2015 Premier Guitar interview mentions that Courtney Barnett uses Ernie Ball Power Slinky (11-48) strings. Barnett also mentions the use of "purple or yellow" Ernie Ball strings in Musician's Friend interview in 2018; the Power Slinkys are shown afterwards.
According to this Guitar Geek rig diagram, Billy Duffy uses Ernie Ball Power Slinky strings.
As shown in Ernie Ball's Instagram account.
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He posted a picture on his instagram of his string packs with his yamaha .
In the Premier Guitar interview titled "Don Felder - Airborne Again," Don Felder mentions using Ernie Ball Power Slinky Guitar Strings (11-48).
At 3:58 he says he puts 11-48 Ernie Ball Power Slinkys on anything with Humbuckers.
Faulkner's main axe is his signature Epiphone Flying V that has a mahogany body and neck with an ebony fretboard. This sig features EMG 57 and 66 pickups along with a licensed Floyd Rose 1000 tremolo. The V is strung with Ernie Ball Nickel Wound .011–.048 strings and tuned down a half step.
Jim Adkins is confirmed to use Ernie Ball Power Slinky Guitar Strings (11-48), as evidenced by a box of these strings featured in the "Ernie Ball: String Theory" video. In this video, Jim discusses his creative process and mentions his preference for Ernie Ball strings, alongside other strings like his custom 13-56 gauge and acoustic guitar strings. The video is produced by Ernie Ball and provides an in-depth look into the musical choices of Jim Adkins.
According to Premier Guitar, Moothart uses the Ernie Ball Power Slinkys.
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As listed and seen in John's flight case from his Blue Murder era.
Album Usage
The Ernie Ball Power Slinky Guitar Strings (11-48) has been featured on the following albums:
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 Power Slinky Guitar Strings (11-48), it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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Community setups
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