D'Addario NYXL1046 Nickel Wound Electric
Light .010-.046
The same gauge as an EXL110, with the tuning problem actually solved
Under $15
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The short version
NYXL is a reformulated steel: the wire is drawn through a different process at a different temperature, which makes it harder to stretch permanently. In practice that shows up in one specific, noticeable way - a new set settles to pitch far faster and then stays there, including after heavy bending. That is the entire pitch, and it is a real one, because the twenty minutes of retuning that follow a string change is the most annoying part of owning an electric guitar. There is also a claimed midrange lift, which is far more arguable.
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
- 8.0
- Durability
- 7.0
- Feel
- 8.0
- Tuning stability
- 9.0
- Value
- 7.0
Specifications
| Brand | D'Addario |
|---|---|
| Model | NYXL1046 Nickel Wound ElectricLight .010-.046 |
| Category | Strings |
| What it is | |
| Strings in the set | 6 |
| Materials | |
| Alloy | Nickel-plated steel |
| Winding | Roundwound |
| Core | High-carbon steel, drawn by a reformulated process |
| Coating | Uncoated |
| Measurements | |
| Gauges | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 |
| In the box | |
| Sets included | 1 |
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
- Settles to pitch dramatically faster than a standard nickel-wound set
- Holds tuning through bends and vibrato use noticeably better
- Higher breaking strength, which matters if you snap plain strings
- Same gauge and feel as the EXL110, so nothing about the setup changes
Where it gives ground
- Roughly twice the price of the standard set for a benefit some players will not notice
- Not coated, so tone life is unchanged from an ordinary set
- The claimed midrange lift is far more debatable than the stability claim
Who it is for
What owners report
Patterns drawn from published owner reviews. Summarised, never quoted.
What comes up most
- How fast they stop going flat after fitting is the single most repeated point
- Players who bend hard report far fewer breakages
Frequent complaints
- Price relative to the standard XL set is the dominant complaint
- A number of owners say they cannot hear the tonal difference claimed
Recognised strengths
- The tuning-stability claim is unusually well supported by owner reports
Recognised weaknesses
- Tone life is no better than a normal uncoated string, which surprises buyers
The verdict
Worth the premium over an EXL110 if you play live, record, or use a vibrato arm, because the stability is not marketing: a NYXL set is playable minutes after fitting rather than after an evening of stretching. Worth much less if the guitar sits on a stand and gets played gently, where you are paying roughly double for a difference you will not notice. Note that these are not coated - they resist breaking better than a standard set, but they go dull on exactly the same schedule.
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
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