Specimen 809

2221 Regular Slinky Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings (.010-.046)

The 10-46 Regular Slinky set — the nickel-wound electric strings most players have tried at some point, in a colour-coded pack.

Watch

Everything Guitar sets Regular Slinky against D'Addario NYXL, Hunnitap argues the case for Super Slinkys on cost, and guitarguitar's clip has John Mayer comparing the Silver Slinky with regular strings.

Why it matters

The Slinky family has been sold since 1962 and now covers 17-plus gauges. The build is a hex-shaped steel core with a nickel-plated steel wrap, which Sweetwater describes as balanced and easy to play, and Guitar World places it first among electric strings. A set is $8 (September 2026), and the Element Shield packaging is there to keep strings fresh in storage.

Note

The best-selling electric guitar string family in the world, with 17-plus gauges in the range. Sweetwater describes the hex-core, nickel-plated build as balanced and easy to play, and Guitar World ranks Slinky its number-one electric string.

Specifications

• nickel-plated steel wrap
• hex-shaped steel core
• 10-46
• color-coded ball ends
• Element Shield packaging

Before you buy

• 10-46 is the standard light gauge — the family covers 17-plus gauges if you want lighter or heavier
• nickel-plated steel wrap and uncoated, so they age like any plain string
• colour-coded ball ends make string changes quicker

Sources

• sweetwater.com
• guitarworld.com