Ernie Ball Silky Slinky Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings 9.5-48

Ernie Ball Silky Slinky Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings in 9.5 to 48 are designed for players who want a touch more substance than a traditional 9 gauge set, without jumping all the way up to a heavier feel. With a carefully graduated gauge spread and premium materials throughout, they deliver a smooth, balanced playing experience that suits everything from expressive bends to chunky rhythm work.

Combining nickel plated steel windings with tin plated steel hex cores and specially tempered plain strings, Silky Slinky sets offer a versatile, musical tone that sits comfortably in almost any genre. The slightly heavier bass strings add authority and definition, while the 9.5 gauge top keeps bends and vibrato feeling easy and controlled.

Balanced 9.5 to 48 Gauge

This intermediate 9.5 to 48 gauge set bridges the gap between standard 9 and 10 gauge strings. You get a little extra resistance and fullness under the fingers compared to a regular 9 set, helping with tuning stability and a more confident feel, while still retaining the ease of play that lighter gauges are known for.

Nickel Plated Steel Wound Strings

The wound strings use nickel plated steel, a classic choice for electric guitar that delivers a balanced, versatile tone. Expect a clear top end, solid mids and a tight low end that works equally well for clean chords, crunchy rhythms and singing lead lines.

Hex Core Construction

Under the winding, a tin plated hex shaped steel core provides a strong, consistent foundation for each wound string. This construction helps the strings hold their shape, improves tuning stability and ensures a reliable, predictable response across the entire set.

Tempered Plain Steel Strings

The plain strings are made from specially tempered, tin plated high carbon steel. This gives them a lively, responsive feel with a well balanced attack, making bends, slides and vibrato feel smooth and controlled while maintaining a bright, articulate tone.

• Intermediate 9.5 to 48 Gauge - Sits perfectly between traditional 9 and 10 gauge sets, offering a touch more tension and body than a 9 without the full step up to a heavier setup, ideal if you want extra stability while keeping an easy playing feel.
• Nickel Plated Steel Winding - The nickel plated steel windings provide a balanced, musical tone that suits a wide range of styles, giving you clear highs, defined mids and a focused low end for both clean and driven sounds.
• Tin Plated Hex Steel Core - A hex shaped tin plated steel core wire inside the wound strings enhances strength and consistency, helping the strings stay in tune and respond evenly across the fretboard.
• Tempered High Carbon Plain Strings - Specially tempered, tin plated high carbon steel plain strings deliver a smooth, even response, so your top strings feel cohesive with the wound strings and offer reliable intonation and clarity.

General

• Brand: Ernie Ball
• Series: Silky Slinky
• Instrument: Electric Guitar
• String Type: Nickel Wound
• Number of Strings: 6
• String Gauge: 9.5 to 48

Individual Gauges

• 1st (High E): 0.0095
• 2nd (B): 0.012
• 3rd (G): 0.0165
• 4th (D): 0.026
• 5th (A): 0.038
• 6th (Low E): 0.048

Construction and Materials

• Wound String Material: Nickel Plated Steel
• Wound String Core: Tin Plated Steel
• Core Shape: Hex
• Plain String Material: Tin Plated High Carbon Steel