Ernie Ball 2222 Hybrid Slinky Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings - .009-.046 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!
Highest Rated Reviews
Ernie Ball says it all!
You can't go wrong with Ernie Ball strings. I have been using them since 1967. The quality is incredible and so is the tone.
The Hybrid vibe
For many years I had to buy 2 different set of strings to make a hybrid set. Since I found the Hybrid Slinky my tone and sustain increased substancially. And in the process saved time and money.
Thanks everyone at Coachella.
My go to string set
The Hybrid set is all I use. Tried them once and I was hooked. If your are a string bender...these are great. You get the playability of 9's on your wound strings....with G...B...and E being a little beefier... still easy to bend up a half or whole step ...and they they don't break as often as the lighter gauged strings. Try a set....you will love them.
Super lively tone!
I've been using these strings on my electrics for 2 years and they're awesome. They do seem to suffer a bit on longevity and life but it has less of an impact on electric tone so I can live with it. They definitely sound, feel, and look amazing with a fresh set. ...it's not a big deal to replace them a bit more often, they sound so lively!
Best of both worlds
First and foremost, Ernie Ball makes the best strings. When you factor in cost and quality, they're just the best.
I used to play nothing but 10s and that worked great for me. Then one day I decided to try 9s out and I liked how the bottom strings were way easier to bend (which makes me play more confidently and thus better) but I was missing some of that "chunk" that the 10s gave me. Then I tried out these hybrids and they meet right in the middle to give me just what I need. The bottom 3 strings are where I do most of my bending shenanigans, so we're good there, but now the top 3 strings are thicker and give me back some of that "chunk" I was missing out on; like when I'm playing chords and stuff.
The great thing about Ernie Ball is that they're so inexpensive, you can literally try out multiple guages to see what you really like and you'll never be out of that much money. Only playing 9s? Try 10s. Only ever playing 10s? Try 9s. Or try the hybrids. Or try 11s or 12s if you want. Go for it.
Growls & squeals & screams
These strings turn your guitar into a beast. From low growls to squeaks and screams. From clear soft tones to hard driving chords. I've used them for years.
Great Strings
Years ago I used regular Slinky's and felt like I was breaking them too often, but loved the tone. I tried and gigged with GHS for a long time because of their durability. You can probably pull your truck out of the ditch with the GHS strings. They were good, but lacking something, so...
I tried the Hybrid Slinky .009's and wow. Great tone, great bendability (yes that's a word if you are a lead player) and so far quite acceptable longevity. I did pop a brand new .009 stringing up an SG a couple weeks back, but for now I'm writing that off as a fluke. I've been through a lot of these Hybrids at this point and can recommend them highly. I like the way the Hybrids kill two birds with one stone. The low strings are thin enough to do deep bends easily and the uppers are heavy enough to grind out a heavier tone vs. standard string sizing, whether it be barre chords or putting a deep bend twang on an A string. Literally the best of both worlds.
Been playing/recording a strat (Classic Player 60's) a lot lately and it really shines with these strings.
For Me, Number 1
For a couple years now I've been experimenting with different guitar strings. Different brands, materials, gauges, etc. I've tried just about everything I can think of. Dunlop, D'addario, DR, GHS, Dean Markley, you name it. After not having touched any Ernie Ball strings in so long, on a whim, picked a pack of these up and to put it simply, my search is over. I've been looking for the most open, bright, twangy sounding string with a nice snappy response and once I swapped from the GHS strings that I had JUST put on a couple hours before to these, the difference was night and day. My search for the 'perfect' string is over. The sound of these at least for what I'm looking for are 100% spot on and nothing has gotten close. I don't know why or what it is, but everything else I've tried is just ..missing something.
Ernie Ball strings are no secret. Everyone and their grandma plays or has played them but thought I'd give my two cents anyway. :)
My go to string
Just switched from a set of regular 9's to these and I love it. The heavier strings for the bottom 3 are great for metal, especially playing drop D tuning. These are now my go to strings.
Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky Set
Have been using these strings since 1980. I use a whammy bar a lot of the time, and these strings resist breakage better than others I've tried. Used to use Fender Super Bullets, but they broke many times using the whammy bar. Uber-fast shipping!
Electric Guitar Strings
My friend suggested these strings who swears by them so I bought a box and will be using these from now on,
Trouble free
I experimented with various gauges and came across these years ago. I like the 9 on the high e and the heavier bottom 3 that come with the set. You really only bend the top 3 strings for most rock and blues so this hybrid set is a good combination. Never had a string break yet and I usually leave a set on for a year or longer anyway. Strings are one of the parts of the guitar that I rarely have ever had an issue with as long as I've had my guitars strung with these. I have four. I've got about five or six packages set aside and will probably order more in case there is a bad harvest of strings this coming year, or there is an infestation of string borers from overseas.
Ernie Ball #2222 Hybrid Slinky Nickel Wound strings
I have used these strings for years. A big part of my tone on my 58 AVS Telecaster. I gig out almost every weekend with my band. Light strings for bends, with out losing tone on lower/thicker gauge strings. Thanks for the sweets !!! lol
Bestest
Dude. I've been playing since 1985 when I was whee tweenager. I wanna make sweet you know what to these strings. These are the strings I order time and time again. F the Cobalt version, they suck and break upon playing, I play with the real deal, nickel-wound non cobalt mothers. Sweet flexible 9ers playing along with phat bassy 46ers. Order the 5 pack for 20 bucks while you can MFers. These strings are the shizzesims!
Best Strings
These are the best strings i have used. I used to use D'Darrio strings and they were great, but these are the best. Better feel, better tone, longer lasting and just so perfect. use these.
Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky
These are my electric strings of choice and have been for years. Great tone and love the gauge
Balanced
The first guitar I ever played had Ernie ball strings on them and they felt great at the time, and still do. I highly recommend these strings for anyone who's looking for great sounding strings that can bend easily.
Nothing Else Compares.
I've been a long time Ernie Ball user, I've tried different strings along the way but I've always gone back to the hybrids for my tele. Recently I ran out of hybrids and had to cheat on Ernie Ball and put what I had laying around on to get through the next gig. Never again will I run out of hybrids, I will make sure I will always have a stock of them from now on.
Great as always!
While the Cobalt's sound better, if you go through strings like I do these are all you need. You get the beefy low end of 10's when power chording and the ease 9's when playing a solo. Enough said!
Simply the Best.
I've been playing since 1976 and I've been using Ernie Ball nickel wound strings as long as I can remember. What I also remember, are the times I tried other strings, for whatever reason. I remember they were all inferior. Ernie Ball is the best. I consider EB strings to be a major element of my sound. Over the years, I've tried .008's and .009's. Currently using Skinny Top/ Heavy Bottom on a '76 Les Paul Deluxe & '84 Strat w/ Floyd Rose. .010- .052. Bombs away. A brand new set just rips. I can get some tremendous dynamics out of the heavier, low strings. If you use EB strings and your sound lacks something, trust me, you can rule out the strings as the problem.
Bend it!
Great sound, but what I love most is that you still get the great slinky bending but with a slightly heavier and clear bottom end. My new favorite set!