Slash's guitar strings: the Guns N' Roses rig, sourced
Guns N' Roses · reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
Slash uses Ernie Ball strings and has been a documented Cobalt Slinky beta tester since the line launched in January 2012. His primary gauge on a Gibson Les Paul in Eb standard is .011–.048 (Power Slinky Cobalt, SKU 2723). He has publicly endorsed Cobalts: 'Ernie Ball Cobalt Strings sound and feel better than anything I've ever played!' Before Cobalts he ran nickel-plated Ernie Ball sets in the same gauge.
What's on the guitar
Slash's rig is one of the most documented in rock:
- Guitars: Gibson Les Paul (primary). Multiple signature models, most with '59-voiced humbuckers.
- Strings: Ernie Ball Power Slinky Cobalt (.011–.048), SKU 2723. Cobalt-iron wrap, tin-plated hex core, uncoated.
- Tuning: Eb standard (half-step down) as the default. Some material in E standard.
- Amps: Marshall JCM 800 (2203) and Marshall Slash signature heads.
The .011 gauge on a Les Paul's 24.75-inch scale feels comparable to a .010 on a 25.5-inch scale Strat. That's the setup sweet spot, slightly thicker than default, tuned a half-step down, pushing a vintage-voiced humbucker.
See our full review of the Ernie Ball Cobalt Slinky line for what makes the cobalt wrap voicing different from nickel-plated steel.
Endorsed vs. verified use
Slash is a documented Ernie Ball endorser and a verified Cobalt user. Both are on the record, Ernie Ball features his quote in Cobalt marketing, and Guitar World's January 2012 launch video documents him testing the set. This alignment matters because many artist endorsements don't match actual studio use. Slash's does.
Why Cobalts for a Les Paul
The Cobalt voicing adds roughly 2–3 dB of output and a tighter upper midrange through a passive humbucker. On a PAF-voiced Les Paul, which is naturally warm and slightly scooped, that extra presence reads as articulation without needing to push the amp harder. It also tightens the low end on Eb standard tuning, which can otherwise feel slightly slack with .011 gauge.
The takeaway: Cobalt isn't a metal-only string line. It's a voicing choice that pairs especially well with low-output humbuckers and medium tunings. Slash's rig is the best-known example of that pairing.
Sources
- "Slash Discusses Ernie Ball Cobalt Electric Guitar Strings." Guitar World video, January 5, 2012. https://www.guitarworld.com/features/video-slash-discusses-ernie-ball-cobalt-electric-guitar-strings
- Ernie Ball Cobalt product page, featured artist quote. https://www.ernieball.com/guitar-strings/electric-guitar-strings/slinky-cobalt-electric-guitar-strings
- Premier Guitar "Rig Rundown: Slash" coverage (multiple tours).
String brand, gauge, or tuning specifics change across tours and albums. This page is re-dated when Slash's tech publishes a rig update.
If you want this rig
Power Slinky Cobalt (.011–.048)
Why this one: Slash's exact set. Cobalt wrap drives passive humbuckers hotter than nickel at the same gauge; .011 in Eb standard is the Les Paul sweet spot.
Next steps
- Compare the Cobalt line family in our Not Even Slinky Cobalt (.012–.056) review, it's the heaviest sibling of Slash's Power Slinky Cobalt set.
- Set up for Eb standard: see our Eb standard tuning guide.
- More Cobalt users: John Petrucci, Steve Vai, and the Ernie Ball beta-tester roster.