D'Addario have announced a new gauge set of popular XL electric guitar strings designed specially for guitarists who use Drop D Tuning.

The new EXL117's are designated "Medium Top / Extra Heavy Bottom" and range from 11 - 56 gauge. (11, 14, 19, 32, 44, 56).

Drop D Tuning is popular with many guitarists - particularly in the Heavy Metal and Grunge genres - as it makes playing driving power chords dead easy!

D'Addario XL Nickel Wound Electric Guitar strings are world-renowned as "The Player's Choice" amongst players of all genres and styles. XL's are precision wound with nickelplated steel on a hex-shaped core, giving the strings a distinctive bright tone and excellent intonation. The EXL117 set is optimized for Drop D Tuning.

- - - - - Diameter // Tension
Note/inches/mm // lbs / kg
D / 0.011 / 0.28 // 15.6 / 7.07
A / 0.014 / 0.36 // 14.2 / 6.43
F / 0.019 / 0.48 // 16.4 / 7.46
C / 0.032 / 0.81 // 23.9 / 10.85
G / 0.044 / 1.12 // 24.3 / 11.07
D / 0.056 / 1.42 // 22.3 / 10.15

The D'Addario "Medium Top / Extra Heavy Bottom" strings are a direct competitor to the Ernie Ball's popular Beefy Slinky sets.