The wound strings are made of nickel-plated steel wrapped around a hexagonal steel core. The plain strings are crafted from specially hardened, tin-coated high-strength carbon steel. The Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 10 - 46 set is the all-around string set and is considered the rock 'n' roll standard. Like all Ernie Ball strings, these are produced under the highest manufacturing standards and strict quality control to ensure consistently high quality, durability, and maximum performance. The raw materials delivered to the factory are processed immediately, and the strings are vacuum-sealed. This, along with the dry climate in California's Coachella Valley, ensures that the strings remain fresh for a long time even in the packaging. The strings have the following gauges: .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046.