Jason Richardson's guitar strings: the 7-string prog rig, sourced

What's on the guitar

Jason Richardson's rig is built around his Music Man Cutlass Richardson signature:

Guitars: Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Richardson 7 (primary). 25.5-inch scale, HSS configuration, fixed bridge.
Strings: 7-string Regular Slinky Cobalt (.010–.056) and Paradigm Power Slinky in rotation.
Tuning: 7-string E standard (B-E-A-D-G-B-E). 6-string material in E standard and Drop D. Historical Born of Osiris work in 7-string Drop A.
Pickups: DiMarzio Titan humbuckers.
Amps: Friedman BE-100 and Fractal Audio Axe-Fx III in live use.

The 7-string Cobalt line is one of the clearest success stories of the Cobalt launch. Ernie Ball's 2730 (.010–.062 Regular Slinky 7-string Cobalt) is specifically marketed through Richardson, MacAlpine, and Merrow, three players whose rigs each define a different corner of the 7-string prog landscape.

Endorsed vs. verified use

Richardson is a documented Ernie Ball Music Man signature artist. Cobalt use is directly verified through Guitar.com's interview coverage, where he is quoted endorsing the set. Music Man ships his signature guitar factory-strung with Ernie Ball.

Why Cobalts for 7-string prog

The 7-string low B on a 25.5-inch scale is the single most context-sensitive string in a prog rhythm rig. Too-loose and it smears in high-gain rhythm. Too-tight and bends and articulation suffer. Richardson's .056 low B (instead of the stock .062) tightens the feel slightly while the Cobalt wrap gives the note more magnetic read through a passive pickup, the combined effect is more articulation per note in his signature fast rhythm passages.

For lead work, the .010 plain high E still bends like a conventional Cobalt 6-string set. The same-gauge pair between his 7-string and 6-string Cobalt sets keeps his muscle memory consistent across guitars.

Sources

"Jason Richardson offers his tracks so you can finish the tune." Ernie Ball Blog. https://blog.ernieball.com/interesting/jason-richardson-offers-his-tracks-so-you-can-finish-the-tune-and-stay-in-and-play/
"Jason Richardson on his new Cutlass signature and the joys of working with Ernie Ball Music Man." Guitar.com. https://guitar.com/features/interviews/jason-richardson-on-his-new-cutlass-signature-and-the-joys-of-working-with-ernie-ball-music-man/
Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Richardson 7 product spec page.

Re-dated whenever Music Man refreshes the Cutlass Richardson spec.

If you want this rig

Ernie Ball

Regular Slinky 7-String Cobalt (.010–.062)

Price tier: $$

Why this one: The 7-string Cobalt set Music Man ships with Richardson's Cutlass signature. Cobalt wrap defines the low B better than nickel at the same gauge.

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Next steps

Full Cobalt Slinky breakdown: Cobalt Slinky review.
Adjacent 7-string rigs: Mark Holcomb (Periphery), Keith Merrow, Wes Hauch.
Drop C tuning guide for 6-string context.

Frequently asked questions

What strings does Jason Richardson use?

Ernie Ball 7-string Regular Slinky Cobalt (.010–.056) for most material, with Paradigm Power Slinky sets when he wants coated-string durability. Cobalt-iron wrap over a tin-plated hex core on the Cobalt sets.

What gauge does Richardson play on 7-string?

.010–.056 Cobalt for 7-string E standard. Exact gauge of the low B has varied, the stock Ernie Ball 2730 ships at .062 for the low B; Richardson's custom runs closer to .056.

What tuning does he use?

7-string E standard (B-E-A-D-G-B-E) is the default for his Cutlass signature. 6-string material is in E standard or Drop D depending on the song. Born of Osiris-era material used Drop A on 7-string.

Is Jason Richardson endorsed by Ernie Ball?

Yes. He's an Ernie Ball Music Man signature artist, his Cutlass Richardson signature is an active product line. He has publicly endorsed both Cobalt and Paradigm sets in EB marketing.

What pickups does he use with Cobalts?

DiMarzio Titan humbuckers in the Cutlass Richardson signature. Voiced for the tight, articulate rhythm sound Richardson's solo material is known for.

What's the difference between his Cobalt set and his Paradigm set?

Cobalt gives him the output and upper-mid presence for passive pickup work and tracking sessions where tone life is less of an issue. Paradigm gives coated-string durability for long tours where strings need to hold tone for weeks. He swaps based on context.