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Factory Strings

BurstFan

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Feb 11, 2013
Messages
128
The post was about the factory strings and the awareness that not all Custom Shop guitars are shipped with Vintage Reissues strings.

So if someone liked a guitar in the store and thought he can replicate the sound by using VR strings, it might not work out. Just check the ball ends if it's VRs or not.

I do appreciate all the comments about the strings. I stick with my D'addarios!
 
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Les Paulette

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Apr 3, 2021
Messages
94
How aggravating..buy a murphy..then cant buy replacement strings..i feel like /!!/**$÷!!÷!!**! $$..somebody!!...lol
 

corpse

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Jun 9, 2007
Messages
4,876
I bought a few sets of Nickel D'addarios this weekend to try. They make the GVR as has been said- and it is not BS when someone has something "private labelled" for them with a particular process.
I know I will recognize the "slinky" feel the GVR had. I really like that.
Will advise.
 

DANELECTRO

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Joined
Feb 24, 2003
Messages
6,318
So final answer from Gibson Custom Shop:

'Custom Shop has unbranded factory strings, and we use them also for the Murphy Lab guitars. These strings are made by D’Addario according to Custom Shop’s exclusive and proprietary specs, and you cannot buy them. If you try D’Addario strings .010- .046 you might find them to resemble the strings on your Murphy Lab.'

Well that's a really bizarre reply. Why in the hell would they ship the guitar with proprietary strings that you cannot replace if you like them? Incentive to purchase a new guitar when the factory strings wear out? 🤔
 

NotJeffBeck

New member
Joined
Mar 31, 2019
Messages
24
I will say what is already known here - pure nickel wrap will sound warmer and mellower right out of the pack, and they will stay right about there for a long time. The nickel plated steel ones will sound much brighter and steelier right out of the pack but will go downhill within hours of playing and continue getting duller over time well below the brightness of the pure nickel wrap. I have been taking notice of this since the 1970s when my goal was brighter and brighter, ending at stainless steel wrap which certainly delivered but chewed up my frets. Then I came back around to wanting more consistent sound over the life of the strings and came back to pure nickel wrap.
Pure nickel wrap was what you got back in the day, no need to specify it then. So if you want the vintage sound, head toward pure nickel wrap. You may not get Gibson's magic secret formula Custom Shop recipe, but you'll be a lot closer than with nickel plated steel wrap.
I went down the same road you are on now - I got a 2019 60th Anniversary CS '59 Burst and it's a great guitar. I noticed that same half brass/half nickel color on the ball ends. I also tried to buy those strings and found only those same Gibson Vintage Reissue strings. They're OK, but I agree, not the same. And yup, all the ball ends are the same color.
Since committing to pure nickel wrap strings, I have bought many dozens of Ernie Ball, Fender, GHS and D'Addario; to be honest, I haven't heard much of any difference between them. So long as they are PNW, they all sound like they belong in the family. Having come to that conclusion, I have lately just been buying Fender 150s because they are consistently the cheapest; probably made at their plant down in Mexico.
 

corpse

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Jun 9, 2007
Messages
4,876
I put a set of the D'Addario Pure Nickel 10-46 XL on the Reissue and they have "that" feel. Just right there. There are a ton of good strings out there- I like these. NOW- I will see how long they last.
 

Dr. Green

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Dec 12, 2018
Messages
683
Maybe you should try a set of Pyramid Nickel Classics or Monel Classics...
If you’re looking for warmth..

I just switched over to the Pyramid round wound nickel classics and will not go back to other strings again - try a " TUSQ " yellow pick with them
 
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El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
Anytime I have ever purchased a brand new Gibson Custom R series Les Paul it has always gone to my tech first for a set up and ThroBak's and Ernie Balls .
 

Dr. Green

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Dec 12, 2018
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683
Mr Gingo

Have you ever tried pyramid round wound nickel .... if so what did you think of them ??????
 

corpse

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Jun 9, 2007
Messages
4,876
I have used them several times and found them "tight' feeling- I prefer a slippery, loose feel. They sound good and last a long time- those are my three criteria.
 

renderit

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Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
I uses tendon of armored dillos wrapped with silver pounded oot of pre-80's nickels.

I tend to leave Ernies privates alone and I ain't goin' ta Egypt fer any damned strings...
 

corpse

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Jun 9, 2007
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There's no silver in a nickel- they're made from depleted plutonium
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
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I uses tendon of armored dillos wrapped with silver pounded oot of pre-80's nickels.

I tend to leave Ernies privates alone and I ain't goin' ta Egypt fer any damned strings...
You are such a clever wordsmith and have such a wonderful command of the Kings English . My compliments (y)
 
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TM1

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Jun 27, 2003
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8,349
I don’t know what the Murphy Lab’s come with, but you may want to try out the Pyramid Monel Classis. Gibson use to sell sets of “Mona Steel” strings. Those are Monel! I think they discontinued those in the early 70’s when they went to Hex core and NPS wrapped strings like most U.S. String makers
 

demundo

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Joined
Sep 12, 2001
Messages
712
i went thru the same thing. try brite wires. someone posted here a few years ago that brite wires come on custom shop les pauls i tend to agree. this solved the problem for me.
 

DutchRay

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Mar 15, 2015
Messages
872
Mr Gingo

Have you ever tried pyramid round wound nickel .... if so what did you think of them ??????
I have, at your and TM1's advice. I bought 10 packs from Thomann and thus far all sets (5) I've used had dead A-strings, some had a dead D-string as well. Maybe bad luck but I'm not buying them again.
 

Dr. Green

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Dec 12, 2018
Messages
683
I have, at your and TM1's advice. I bought 10 packs from Thomann and thus far all sets (5) I've used had dead A-strings, some had a dead D-string as well. Maybe bad luck but I'm not buying them again.

Dutchray -

the round wounds must be kinked and not cut until they are under full tension because they are round wound - not hex - or they will immediately go flat from the pure nickel wrap loosing its grip on the central core ..... so in other words pre cut them before stringing or when they are under low tension and they are immediately toast

I am using these strings now as we speak and they sound wonderful

I first used these strings over 10 years ago and they were great back then

maybe you got a bad batch ...... you should contact Pyramid and ask for a refund
 

DutchRay

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Mar 15, 2015
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872
Dutchray -

the round wounds must be kinked and not cut until they are under full tension because they are round wound - not hex - or they will immediately go flat from the pure nickel wrap loosing its grip on the central core ..... so in other words pre cut them before stringing or when they are under low tension and they are immediately toast

I am using these strings now as we speak and they sound wonderful

I first used these strings over 10 years ago and they were great back then

maybe you got a bad batch ...... you should contact Pyramid and ask for a refund
I have never heard of that and I cut string string ends when the guitar is in tune so this doesn't apply. I have worked as tech at major guitar stores for over 25 years and must have serviced/restrung at least 25.000 guitars (probably closer to 40.000), occasionally you get a bad set, but I have never had 5 in a row, not even with super cheap Darco's or 20 year old Electro Harmonix's I found in my basement. They do appear to stay fresh for a long time, or maybe they stay fresh because I only play them for a minute and then grab a guitar which doesn't have dead strings :)
 

Dr. Green

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I have never heard of that and I cut string string ends when the guitar is in tune so this doesn't apply. I have worked as tech at major guitar stores for over 25 years and must have serviced/restrung at least 25.000 guitars (probably closer to 40.000), occasionally you get a bad set, but I have never had 5 in a row, not even with super cheap Darco's or 20 year old Electro Harmonix's I found in my basement. They do appear to stay fresh for a long time, or maybe they stay fresh because I only play them for a minute and then grab a guitar which doesn't have dead strings :)
well then that's what I call bad luck ..... you got a bad batch

you can look on the internet and over a decade ago folks were raving about them this being a typical post :

" I use 'em...they're fantastic strings. My guitar is kind of bright and the Pyramids really helped to warm the guitar up. They have a wonderful feel and tone "
 
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