What strings come on a new Gibson Les Paul Special?

[kisschicken]

The strings that came on my Les Paul Special have great intonation for a wraparound bridge. Want to replace them with the exact same strings. Anyone know what gauge and brand they come with from the factory?

 

[SWeAT hOg]

I feel like the answer would be Gibson branded strings.

Gibson | Explore The Electric Strings

www.gibson.com

 

[Slim Chance]

10s came with my Classic.

 

[kisschicken]

So likely the 10-46 vintage reissue?

 

[scrumm21]

Gibson | Les Paul Special

Les Paul Special

www.gibson.com

Gibson website usually lists what gauge is used at the end of the "Specs" listing for each guitar.

10's on this special....
No idea who Actually Makes them....

 

[efstop]

Likely Brite Wires. For a long time Gibson was putting 9-46 on most of their guitars but it seems they've switched to 10s.

 

[SWeAT hOg]

Likely Brite Wires. For a long time Gibson was putting 9-46 on most of their guitars but it seems they've switched to 10s.

Now, what string manufacturer makes the Gibson strings?

 

[integra evan]

Keep in mind - it's always possible the store may have changed the strings when they got it in and did their setup.

 

[gball]

Now, what string manufacturer makes the Gibson strings?

Back when they quit making their own strings and started outsourcing I believe it was confirmed that it is D'Addario making them. All I know is that Gibson made the best strings in the business when they made them themselves and the ones they sell now are utter crap, which leads me to believe they are D'Addario, which are utter crap. I don't even plug a new Gibson into my amp without changing the awful factory strings out.

 

[SWeAT hOg]

Back when they quit making their own strings and started outsourcing I believe it was confirmed that it is D'Addario making them. All I know is that Gibson made the best strings in the business when they made them themselves and the ones they sell now are utter crap, which leads me to believe they are D'Addario, which are utter crap. I don't even plug a new Gibson into my amp without changing the awful factory strings out.

I've never had a problem with D'Addarios. There are counterfeits out there in the market and I've heard those are terrible. However, in a blind test, I couldn't tell the difference between standard Ernie Ball, D'Addario, Dean Markley, Fender-branded, etc. FWIW, I buy strings in bulk from www.juststrings.com and have for years. Perhaps QC has dropped? I dunno, Freddy G installed XLs on a guitar I had setup a year ago; they were fine.

 

[jbash]

Brite Wires on the production stuff, except the Slash models which get Ernie Ball Paradigms.

Custom Shop reissues get the Vintage Reissue strings

And yep Dad making Gibson strings these days and agreed with @gball above- quality is not what it used to be. Same goes for Fender, Dean Markley and others Dad has taken over production for- built to spec or not, in no case has the change resulted in a string that was as good as before.

 

[gball]

I've never had a problem with D'Addarios. There are counterfeits out there in the market and I've heard those are terrible. However, in a blind test, I couldn't tell the difference between standard Ernie Ball, D'Addario, Dean Markley, Fender-branded, etc. FWIW, I buy strings in bulk from www.juststrings.com and have for years. Perhaps QC has dropped? I dunno, Freddy G installed XLs on a guitar I had setup a year ago; they were fine.

I actually find quite a difference between strings. Guess I am too sensitive! But yeah, I really hate D'Addarios - I find them to have uneven tension, be short-lived, and worst of all they have a "zing" to them that I find very unappealing.

I used Gibson strings for many years, I felt they were easily the best available, but when they stopped making their own I had to go on a search and after trying everything (including the niche brands like Snake Oil, etc) I landed on GHS Boomers. They are the closest I ever found to the Gibson ones.

 

[SWeAT hOg]

I actually find quite a difference between strings. Guess I am too sensitive!

I'm a caveman...these nuances are lost on me.

 

[Musha Ring]

I actually find quite a difference between strings. Guess I am too sensitive! But yeah, I really hate D'Addarios - I find them to have uneven tension, be short-lived, and worst of all they have a "zing" to them that I find very unappealing.

I used Gibson strings for many years, I felt they were easily the best available, but when they stopped making their own I had to go on a search and after trying everything (including the niche brands like Snake Oil, etc) I landed on GHS Boomers. They are the closest I ever found to the Gibson ones.

Spot on with the zing you mention. They have very unappealing metallic overtones that dominate over the fundamental tone of the strings.

Gibsons come stock with Brite Wires. If you get one in Canada, 50% of the time it'll come with D'Addarios on it.

 

[Bobby Mahogany]

I haven't been checking that out lately but Gibson used to put 9-42 on Les Paul's,
which many consider too light for that scale.
But Gibbons plays with 8's, so...

 

[SWeAT hOg]

But Gibbons plays with 8's, so...

Iommi uses 8-32 for half-step down, drop C# tuning.

 

[Bobby Mahogany]

Iommi uses 8-32 for half-step down, drop C# tuning.

Yes but he plays the Devil's music, you know.

 

[JMP]

Spot on with the zing you mention. They have very unappealing metallic overtones that dominate over the fundamental tone of the strings.

Gibsons come stock with Brite Wires. If you get one in Canada, 50% of the time it'll come with D'Addarios on it.

I thought I was the only weirdo that thought D’Addario strings had a terrible metallic sound! I’m not a fan of em myself. I dig GHS and Ernie Ball.