D'Addario EXL110 XL Nickel Wound Electric
Regular Light .010-.046, three sets
The electric string most guitars leave the factory wearing
$15 - $30
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The short version
The .010-.046 nickel-wound set is the closest thing the electric guitar has to a standard, and the EXL110 is the version most factories fit and most players never think to change. Nickel-plated steel is the middle path between pure nickel, which is warmer and softer, and stainless, which is brighter and harder on frets. The hexagonal core is the part that matters mechanically: it bites into the wrap wire so the winding cannot slip, which is why these hold tuning through bends and why the intonation stays where you set it.
How we rate it
Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.
- Brightness
- 8.0
- Sustain
- 7.0
- Durability
- 6.0
- Feel
- 8.0
- Tuning stability
- 8.0
- Value
- 9.0
Specifications
| Brand | D'Addario |
|---|---|
| Model | EXL110 XL Nickel Wound ElectricRegular Light .010-.046, three sets |
| Category | Strings |
| What it is | |
| Strings in the set | 6 |
| Materials | |
| Alloy | Nickel-plated steel |
| Winding | Roundwound |
| Core | Hexagonal high-carbon steel |
| Coating | Uncoated |
| Measurements | |
| Gauges | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 |
| In the box | |
| Sets included | 3 |
10 verified fields, taken from the manufacturer first and the Amazon listing second. Fields the manufacturer does not publish are omitted rather than estimated.
What it gets right
- The de facto standard gauge, so it matches almost any factory setup exactly
- Hexagonal core is why they survive aggressive bending without slipping
- Nickel-plated steel is the balanced choice between warm pure nickel and harsh stainless
- Three sets per box makes changing them a routine rather than a purchase
Where it gives ground
- Uncoated: expect two or three weeks of best tone with daily playing
- Nothing distinctive about the tone - that is rather the point
- Not a drop-tuning set; .010s go slack quickly below standard
Who it is for
What owners report
Patterns drawn from published owner reviews. Summarised, never quoted.
What comes up most
- Owners cite reliability and consistency far more often than tone
- Frequently described as the string people return to after trying others
Frequent complaints
- Tone life is the recurring complaint, as with any uncoated set
- A few reports of plain strings breaking at the ball end
Recognised strengths
- Fifty years of use mean there are no surprises left in this product
Recognised weaknesses
- Bright when new, dull quickly, exactly as an uncoated nickel string behaves
The verdict
If your guitar came with .010s and you have no reason to change, buy these three at a time and stop thinking about it. The gauge is a genuine sweet spot on a 25.5-inch scale: light enough to bend comfortably, heavy enough not to go slack or rattle under a heavy pick. Drop to .009s if you bend constantly or the guitar is set up very low; go to .011s if you tune down. The limitation is the same as every uncoated string - a few weeks of regular playing and the top end is gone.
We do not publish prices, because Amazon prices change constantly and a stale figure helps nobody. Follow the link for the current price and availability.
Sources
Compared with
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