2225 Extra Slinky Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings - .008-.038 Review

"Boy, why you workin' so hard?"

After some carpal tunnel flareups that surfaced earlier this year, I was looking to go down in gauges to give my hands a bit of a break when doing some wild bends during solos (think EVH, Dimebag, Gilmour). It was either sacrifice playing how I play or go down a gauge. Enter these. The slight adjustment to your playing technique is well worth the reward of playing 8s. I got used… read more to them very quickly & they take all the abuse I can throw at them. No breaks at all, even with repeated 2.5 step bends. They last quite a while during a string of indoor shows. It's a different story with outdoor shows in the Texas summer heat. But at this price, it's manageable. My rep cut me a deal because I bought in bulk (25 sets). I'm sold.

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Since 1974

Been using them a long time. There are no other guitar strings.

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Easy on the fingers

Years ago (like thirty or so) I often played lead guitar in several churches in the Atlanta area. Back then I used what was called, Super Slinkies (I don't remember the brand name.) They had a .0008 E string, and I believe it was possible to get a .0007 E string, but not advisable (they tended to break about every song you'd play.) Over the years I guess the .0007 fell out of fashion.… read more But these Earnie Ball extra slinky strings fit the bill. One of the things that happened, I became a more skillful keyboard player than guitarist, and keyboard instruments improved, and so I kind of got away from the guitar, as playing the organ/piano/synth was in higher demand, I neglected the guitar. But the years have given me arthritis in my left hand (I am right handed) and has had a bad effect on my guitar playing. The Earnie Ball Extra Slinky strings make a big difference, I can play my Telecastor for a couple of hours without it becoming too painful on my left hand. They do require a lighter touch (mustn't squeeze your chords and notes very hard to keep a clean sound) and using the tuner between songs (they tend to slip, and when they get out of tune they sound a lot worse than other strings. So keep a tuner attached where you can use it often.) I am still a church organist, but sometimes I'm asked to play the guitar. Now if only they made strings this light for an acoustic, then I could play some blue grass gospel.But I'd probably break the E string about every song.

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2225 and 2255 is all i use

the best sounding, best playing ex lite string there is. 2225 on my es 339 and 2255 on my sg, for older players you cant beat ernie balls. (SW please start carrying the 2255 also) SW is heads above everyone else for this reason; when i need a small item i can almost always get it here and with free shipping. and i have it in 1-2 days, always. customer service sets SW apart from… read more all others.

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Aahhh !

Been using .008's since the beginning of time , since man oozed from the swamp and grabbed his electric guitar . Recently started with the 9's on my Les Paul they Feel as though I could grab them a little bit better , but these old banged up hands ( work with metal all my life for a real job ) still love those 8's on my other guitars there a Lighter touch chording them but I use… read more the Dunlap .38mm picks so it ain't a thing . By the way I'm 6'8" tall with huge hands so you'd think I'd go with thicker strings . But easier is easier ! They last a good long while too . Just wipe em when your done . Sound isn't that much different with thicker strings amplified until you go to much thicker strings . Toni Iommi used 7's ( yes 7's ) so did Zappa and some others , listen to their sounds especially Iommi's . Need I say more !

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