Electric Guitar Strings

These are the electric sets a guitar tech keeps in the drawer: D’Addario XL Nickel in the gauges players most often ask for, plus NYXL for those who request it by name. Everything here is a multi-pack, from 3 Sets through 10 Sets to 25 Sets bulk packs of the EXL120 and EXL110.

The XL Nickel line-up covers the EXL120 09-42, EXL125 09-46, EXL110 10-46, EXL140 10-52 and EXL115 11-49. The NYXL0942 and NYXL1046 share their gauges with the EXL120 and EXL110, so a player can try NYXL without changing the feel of the guitar.

The two numbers are the gauges of the high E and low E strings, in thousandths of an inch. 09-42 is the lightest and easiest to bend. 10-46 is the middle ground and a sensible default for house and hire guitars where you do not know who will play them. The two hybrid sets keep a light top with a heavier bottom: 09-46 for players who want easy bends with a firmer low end, and 10-52 for drop tunings and heavy riffing, where a light low string goes floppy. 11-49 suits players with a heavy picking hand, or anyone after more tension and a fuller tone across all six strings.

Moving between 09 and 10 gauge, or into 10-52 for a lower tuning, changes the pull on the neck, so check intonation and action once the new set has settled. Guitar String Gauges Explained goes into the numbers in more detail, and D’Addario String Ranges Explained covers how XL Nickel and NYXL differ.

Electric Guitar Strings FAQs

What do the numbers on a string set mean? They are the gauges of the thinnest and thickest strings in thousandths of an inch, so a 10-46 set runs from a 10 gauge high E to a 46 gauge low E.

Is the 25 Sets pack the same string as the 3 Sets pack? Yes. The EXL110-B25 and EXL120-B25 are the same EXL110 and EXL120 sets in a larger quantity, aimed at venues, teachers and hire companies.

Which set should I use for drop tuning? The EXL140 10-52 is the set in this range made for it, keeping a standard top end with heavier bass strings that hold their tension when tuned down.