Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s

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Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s

Post by JHorner »

50% off at rockshop so I gave them a shot

Packaging:
Opened them to find dark spots on the unwound strings

Putting them on:
These things feel weird. Light and rubbery.

Playing them:
These strings sound UTTERLY SHIT.

Conclusion:
Abortion. Within 15 minutes I cut them off and put on regular slinkys. I have another unopened set which I can't even give away in good conscience knowing how shitty they are.

Rating:
0/10

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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s

Post by Molly »

That sucks. Were they old stock?

I've all but given up on D'Addario too. Had been wondering what to go with after decades on that brand. Lately they just sound dull as shit.

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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s

Post by JHorner »

Molly wrote:Were they old stock?
Don't know but I guess so.
Molly wrote:Had been wondering what to go with after decades on that brand
Regular Slinkys.

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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s

Post by JHorner »

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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s

Post by Zaulkin »

50% off + dark spots - possibly old stock? That would contribute to the rubbery feel/crappy sound.

To be perfectly honest I can't really tell the difference between fresh sets of the common string brands (although to be fair I haven't done a proper test). I used GHS for a while until I realised those dark/rust spots would appear after a year or two, even though I stored them properly. Gone back to d'addarios because they are super cheap, and the sealed plastic packaging seems to preserve them well. Haven't broken a string on my sunburst Ash Custom ever!

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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s

Post by Slowy »

Molly wrote: I've all but given up on D'Addario too. Had been wondering what to go with after decades on that brand. Lately they just sound dull as shit.
Just put a set of J16s on my new acoustic; first time I've used D'Addarios in years. Maybe I've become conditioned to the lack of zing from Elixirs but they sound fine to me.
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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s

Post by Molly »

Zaulkin wrote:Haven't broken a string on my sunburst Ash Custom ever!
Can't remember the last time I broke a string. Just bought a set of D'Addario 12 to something or other with a plain third. Have the Strat down a semitone and the usual 11s feel like elastic bands (grrr - man strings blah blah blah). Anyway, suspect it'd take a lot to snap them.

Just a thought but I wonder if having to cut the string prior to inserting it inside the vintage-style Fender tuner post could loosen the winding at all? Wonder if that'd explain the dull-from-new thing.

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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s

Post by Zaulkin »

Molly wrote: Can't remember the last time I broke a string.
The guitar would have a new owner before that happens haha

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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s

Post by Kiwiaxe »

I use elixirs on anything with a floyd, and NYXLs on all others. I used to use DRs but kept finding them with rust spots straight out the packet.

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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s

Post by LucyTheSpud »

Elixirs on everything. 10-46 on electrics (Strat + Pro Jet) and 12-53 on acoustic. I basically rust straight through plain strings. I sweat a lot. Gigging twice a week i was going through a set a night. Switched to Elixir and i can go a month or two before changing. But i do snap them on the Gretsch, always at the bridge. Must be the break angle from bridge-bigsby.

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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s

Post by Reg18 »

I switched to Elixirs once they came down to $20 or less and haven't bothered with anything else since. Can go for a couple of months without changing stings,maybe even longer sometimes. I found any brand that doesn't use a sealed bag was prone to rust spots, and can sound lifeless from new, not just the brand in descussion.

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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s

Post by Delayman »

I'm a bit of an elixir fan for the same reasons as above, I corrode strings pretty quicky, but recently a friend restrung one of my guitars for me with non-elixirs and the brightness was definitely a surprise.
They keep telling me tone is in the fingers, but I have yet to see a "look at my fingers" thread.
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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s

Post by MattH »

Horses for courses.

Always used Ernies on my electrics and Elixirs on acoustic.

I put a set of Elixirs on one guitar and they sounded tosh. Put them on another and they were mint. They do sound great on most things and that lack of zing normally means that the guitar sits back a bit against a voice.

Bloody expensive working your way through different strings to find out what you like.
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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s

Post by LucyTheSpud »

MattH wrote: Bloody expensive working your way through different strings to find out what you like.
Bloody expensive rusting through 2 sets a week too xD

Also i find elixirs to be a bit less bright, but they stay that way for a lot longer. Most strings i find lose the brightness after only 20 minutes of play or so. Elixirs stay the same for weeks.

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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s

Post by MattH »

LucyTheSpud wrote:
MattH wrote: Bloody expensive working your way through different strings to find out what you like.
Bloody expensive rusting through 2 sets a week too xD

Also i find elixirs to be a bit less bright, but they stay that way for a lot longer. Most strings i find lose the brightness after only 20 minutes of play or so. Elixirs stay the same for weeks.
Yeah - they're a doozy. Saved me a fortune. Not to mention time!
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