Ernie Ball 2212 Primo Slinky Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings - .0095-.044 Reviews
Ernie Ball strings have been a top choice for players of all types since the early 1960s, when guitarists came into Ernie Ball's music store, customizing their string gauges to make their axes easier to play. After fruitless attempts to interest major guitar manufacturers in a lighter set of strings, Ernie Ball decided to start making his own. When you open a pack of his strings today, you know you're getting a quality set of strings designed to give you great tone, reliable performance, and long life. You can't go wrong when you string up with Ernie Ball strings!
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Highest Rated Reviews
Durable, great sounding strings!
I generally play telecaster style guitars but have an older American Standard strat that was feeling left out of the rotation. I generally use 10's on my telecasters but on my strat, 10's just felt a little stiff. Enter the Primo Slinkys and now everybody is happy! I've waited a year or so to review these and I've got to say these strings, for me, are just what I needed to give the same string tension as I have on the teles with 10gauge strings. Now everybody gets to play and we are all happy! These strings are durable, stay in-tune and yea, I've noticed a little black residue on my fingers INITIALLY before break-in but it's certainly not a deal breaker. Thanks, EB, you may not have all my business for strings but my strat is glad you make these! BTW, Kurt Martin at Sweetwater turned me onto these. I always can count on him!
Nice Compromise
9's sounded too light and "tinny" on my Epiphone Les Paul '59. These strings have a much fuller sound and are still easily bendable by my 72 year old fingers.
The only strings I use
Primos feel just slinky enough to get loose vibrato on chords and that springy feeling when playing. It's hard to describe, but these snap. I like them a lot.
Great for 25.75
I use these on my Gibson scale length guitars and there great just the right amount of bending ability and there not super unstable like 9s they stay in tune great and they don't were down to easily I change mine once a month and they never feel old or sound bad.
Amazing strings
I have for most of my musical life been a Power Slinky guy. When they first came out with these, I tried them. Turns out I love them. As for the black fingers... considering how strings are made, its a miracle our fingers don't turn black no matter what strings we touch. Just keep some hand sanitizer on you or wash your hands which you should probably do anyways after playing any guitar. JMO
Ernie Ball Primo Slinky 9.5s
My new favorute strings
Favorite Strings for a Strat
Much easier to bend than 10s, but not as delicate as 9s. Perfect strings for your strat!
Absolutely Amazing!
Great string gauge set for tremolo style guitars or without. I am really amazed how a certain string gauge can make you play on a different level. The stability, sound, & feel is a true delight. Old habits are hard to break, but trying the Primo’s and the Mega’s have convinced me to change my ways. I have found two new friends that have brought the best out in me. Mega’s for Tele’s and Primo’s for PRS’s. Just saying...
Not Too Heavy, but Not Too Light. Just About Right.
These are almost perfect! I've always kept switching from 9's and 10's a lot from Ernie Ball. I feel that this pack has been a great middle ground for me. I think that the 9's are something I favor the most, but these 9.5's are so convenient to have when you have multiple guitars of different scale lengths. Making the switch to this pack on my Fender and Gibson guitars has just made it easier for me with intonation and set up. I don't have to think twice for setting up my guitars because of switching between 9's and 10's constantly.
As for the black residue I've read in other reviews; I personally have not experienced that at all. But it is something to consider seeing how many people have experienced this. However, every time I have put new strings on I almost always put on Dunlop String Cleaner & Conditioner on them, but the rag has never looked dirty after wiping the strings down.
Just right, good tone.
These feel a little less stiff than the D'Addario strings of the same gauge. Good tone. They do leave your fingers and hand black, but only with the first couple of uses. I presume that it is some coating or oxidation...it goes away and the strings are good to go.
Weird residue
Like the string as far as feel/tone. But there's something with these that turns your fingertips black. Ordered 4 sets, changed after a day or two thinking it was a bad batch, same thing with the other set I tried. Shame, but won't be buying this model again. Never had that problem with other Ernie Ball strings. Will be going back to .09-.42
Leaves your hands covered in black residue!
I have had very mixed experiences with these strings. I love the feel of them, however, some sets of them have left my hands clean after playing and other sets have left my hands covered in black residue. I am not sure what this is, because upon inspection of the strings, they appear to be clean. I would be weary of purchasing these until Ernie Ball works out the kinks.
They'll turn your fingers black.
I was stoked to see EB finally decided to make these. I tried em. No bueno. They feel be higher tension than other 9.5s out there and they'll leave your fingers black. After reaching out the EB Customer service, they denied that this is a result of their manufacturing/QC. I haven't had this experience with other 9.5 manufactures such as D'addario/PRS/Curt Mangan. I just ordered 10 sets of the PRS Classics. Those won't leave your fingers black.
