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GibsonLes Paul

Ernie Ball

Power Slinky

11–48Medium-HeavyRhythmDrop TuningRock
4.7· Based on 312 reviews · 6 languages
from $6.99
Brightness6Warmth7Sustain8Durability6Playability5Value9

Character radar

Six-axis profile · scored 1-10 across the catalog

  • Brightness6/10
  • Warmth7/10
  • Sustain8/10
  • Durability6/10
  • Playability5/10
  • Value9/10

Compare with similar

Same type — tap to see side-by-side

String A
Ernie Ball Power Slinky· 11–48
String B

Quick picks

Based on 312 reviews · 6 languages

Tone character

Power Slinky at 11-48 sits between Regular (10-46) and Beefy (11-54) — the 11-gauge plain strings add bend resistance but plain-string snap is preserved, while 48 low-E provides serious rhythm foundation without baritone territory. Classic Slinky balance with more weight behind the attack.

Best for

Rhythm players who find 10-46 too thin for power chords but 11-54 too stiff for bending. Drop-D and Drop-C players needing tight low end. Slash and Kirk Hammett use this gauge on Les Pauls for signature Gibson rhythm tone.

Durability

Standard uncoated Nickel Wound at 3-5 weeks of peak tone. Heavier gauge lasts slightly longer than 10-46 due to more mass. Plain-string breakage is low because 11-gauge plains resist fatigue better than 10s.

Climate notes

Standard uncoated humidity response. Daily wipe-down extends life by a week or two in humid conditions. Heavier gauge is marginally more forgiving than lighter sets in tropical climates.

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Pros

  • Rhythm thickness without 11-52 finger fatigue
  • Tight low end for Drop-D and Drop-C tunings
  • Slash and Kirk Hammett signature gauge
  • Ernie Ball pricing and global availability

Cons

  • Bending 11-gauge plains requires stronger fingers than 10s
  • Uncoated — standard humidity constraints
  • Less lead-friendly than Regular or Hybrid Slinky

Best for these guitars

Picked by community consensus

Gibson
Les Paul

Ernie Ball Power Slinky 11-48 on the Gibson Les Paul is Slash's career-long signature setup — the heavier-than-Super-Slinky gauge that defined every Guns N' Roses record from 'Appetite' through Velvet Revolver and Conspirators. As Slash put it in an Ernie Ball interview: "Ernie Balls have been consistently great sounding. They don't oxidize too fast, and they don't break. They're tremendously reliable." Power Slinky has been an Ernie Ball original since 1987, and Slash has used the 11-48 RPS variant across his entire LP arsenal — from the Appetite Snakepit '59 to his AFD signature reissues. Conventional wisdom: every LP thread defaults to Super Slinky 9-42 (Vai-territory) or Regular Slinky 10-46 — the 'easy bend' upgrade. Mismatch logic: 11-48 on Gibson's 24.75-inch scale gives the precise pick-attack rigidity Slash needs for his thumb-side palm-mute riffing — 'Welcome to the Jungle' / 'November Rain' rhythm work falls apart on lighter strings. The 11s also hold tone longer in humid stadium gigs. Best for serious LP players chasing the Slash arena-rock tone with thumb-rigid palm-mute discipline; skip if you bend constantly or want lighter Super Slinky comfort.

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Gibson
SG Standard

Power Slinky on SG balances neck-heavy aggression with enough tension to keep drop-D tight.

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ESP
LTD EC-1000

Power 11-48 on EC-1000 — drop-D and Drop-C stay tight without going full 12-gauge.

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Fender
Stratocaster

Strat players wanting bigger rhythm sound — 11-48 adds body without 11-52 stiffness.

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Gibson
Explorer

Ernie Ball Power Slinky 11-48 on the Gibson Explorer is James Hetfield's documented Metallica rhythm spec — Hetfield ran Power Slinky 11-48 (.011/.014/.018p/.028/.038/.048, sold as a single packaged set) since the late 1980s on his white '84 Explorer (the 'Eet Fuk' Explorer with sticker tribute) across 'Master of Puppets', '...And Justice for All', the Black Album, and beyond. As Ground Guitar documents: "James Hetfield has favored Ernie Ball Power Slinky strings since the late '80s." In 2024 Ernie Ball launched 'Papa Het's Hardwired Master Cores' 11-50 signature set — a refinement of his decades-old 11-48 spec. Conventional wisdom: every Explorer thread defaults to 10-46 NYXL or 11-49 jazz-blues medium for archtop midrange. Mismatch logic: 11-48 hybrid gauge (the .018p plain G is the secret — most 11-49 sets use wound G) gives the bend articulation Hetfield needs for thrash-rhythm chord-stabs while keeping bottom-end mass for the 'Master of Puppets' palm-mute riff. Best for Explorer players doing thrash-rhythm chord-stab work in the Hetfield vein; skip if you bought the Explorer for shred-lead 9-42 territory.

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Epiphone
Les Paul Standard

Ernie Ball Power Slinky 11-48 on the Epiphone Les Paul Standard is the Frank Iero / My Chemical Romance lineage — Iero's iconic Epiphone Les Paul Custom Elitist 'Pansy' was strung with Ernie Ball Power Slinky 11-48 across the entire 'Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge' era and the Black Parade tours. The Epiphone Les Paul Standard is the production-tier descendant of the Elitist line — same mahogany-body / set-neck / dual-humbucker recipe that Iero used to define the post-hardcore Epiphone-played-loud aesthetic. Conventional wisdom: Epiphone Les Paul Standard threads default to Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 10-46 for the entry-level rock starter pack. Editorial logic: Power Slinky 11-48 (with the .018p plain G hybrid spec) gives the chord-stab tension and palm-mute mass Iero needed for tracks like 'Helena' and 'Famous Last Words' where the Epiphone fights through Gerard Way's vocal. The .011 top is what makes the Epiphone Standard feel less plinky and more Custom — closing the price-tier gap. Best for Epiphone Les Paul Standard owners chasing the Iero / MCR post-hardcore power-chord aesthetic; skip if you want the lighter 10-46 starter feel for casual practice.

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Price history

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