Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom RPS Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings 10-52

Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom RPS Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings bring together a familiar, slinky feel on the treble side with a tight, powerful low end. With a 10 to 52 gauge and reinforced plain strings, this set is ideal for players who want easy bending and articulate leads on top, with extra tension and weight on the bass strings for chunky rhythms, drop tunings and rock solid tuning stability.

Built around Ernie Ball’s RPS (Reinforced Plain String) technology, these strings are designed to tackle two of the biggest gigging headaches: broken top strings and tuning drift. A patented brass wire wrap at the ball end locks the plain strings in place, helping to minimise slippage and extend string life. Paired with nickel plated steel wound strings on tin plated hex cores, you get a balanced, versatile tone that works across rock, metal, blues and beyond.

If you love the playability of a classic 10 set but find the low strings too loose, Skinny Top Heavy Bottom RPS is a smart upgrade. The heavier bass strings give your riffs more authority and definition, while the reinforced construction keeps you in tune for longer and reduces the risk of breakage at the ball end, whether you are rehearsing, recording or out on the road.

Balanced Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Feel

This 10 to 52 set combines lighter 10 to 17 treble strings with heavier 30 to 52 bass strings, giving you effortless bends and fluid lead work on top, with a firmer, more substantial feel on the low strings. It is a great choice if you want familiar playability under the fingers but need extra tension and punch for rhythm parts or lower tunings.

RPS Reinforced Plain Strings

The plain strings feature Ernie Ball’s RPS design, where a patented brass wire is tightly wrapped around the lock twist at the ball end. This reinforcement helps prevent the string from slipping or unravelling at its most vulnerable point, improving durability and making breakages at the ball end far less likely.

Improved Tuning Stability and Longevity

By locking the plain strings more securely at the ball end, the RPS construction helps them hold pitch more consistently compared with conventional plain strings. The result is better tuning stability, especially under heavy bending or aggressive playing, along with a longer usable life before the strings start to feel tired.

Nickel Plated Steel on Hex Cores

The wound strings use nickel plated steel wrapped around tin plated, hex shaped steel cores. This classic construction delivers a balanced electric guitar tone with clear highs, solid mids and a tight low end, making the set versatile enough for a wide range of styles while still cutting through a mix.

• Skinny Top Heavy Bottom 10 to 52 Gauge - Lighter treble strings paired with heavier bass strings give you easy bending and fast lead playing on top, with added tension and weight on the low strings for tighter riffs and a more authoritative low end.
• RPS Reinforced Plain Strings - A patented brass wire is tightly wrapped around the lock twist at the ball end of each plain string, helping to minimise slippage and significantly reduce the chance of breakage where strings most often fail.
• Enhanced Tuning Stability - The reinforced ball end construction helps the plain strings stay securely anchored, improving tuning stability under bends, vibrato and heavy picking compared with standard plain strings.
• Nickel Plated Steel Wound Strings on Hex Cores - Nickel plated steel wraps on tin plated, hex shaped steel cores provide a balanced, versatile tone that suits many genres, with reliable intonation and a consistent feel across the set.

General

• Brand: Ernie Ball
• Series: RPS
• Instrument: Electric Guitar
• Number of Strings: 6
• String Type: Nickel Wound
• String Gauge: 10 to 52
• Premium Product: No

Gauges

• 1st (Plain): 0.010
• 2nd (Plain): 0.013
• 3rd (Plain): 0.017
• 4th (Wound): 0.030
• 5th (Wound): 0.042
• 6th (Wound): 0.052

Construction

• Wound String Material: Nickel Plated Steel
• Wound String Core: Tin Plated Steel
• Core Shape: Hex
• Plain String Reinforcement: Brass Wire at Ball End