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Factory Strings

BurstFan

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
128
So I recently purchased a great looking and fine sounding Murphy Lab Goldtop.
I noticed that the strings on the guitar felt really good and the sound was just stellar.
I asked the seller if these were the originally factory strings. He said yes and confirmed these are the Vintage Reissue strings. The case candy also claims that the guitar is shipped with Vintage Reissue strings.
So I got myself some Gibson Vintage Reissue strings (the new ones) and noticed immediately these are not the ones on my guitar.
The ball ends on the guitar strings were all nickel. The Vintage Reissue strings have nickel and brass ball ends. I changed the strings without changing the guitar setup and it's not the same sound.
It's still a great sound and the feel is also very good, but it's not "the" sound I had before.

So can anybody tell me please what strings are on the Custom Shop / Murphy Lab guitars when shipped?

Thanks for your help and replies!
 

Les Paulette

Member
Joined
Apr 3, 2021
Messages
94
theres lots of flavors of the vintage strings..did you get these?

  • Pure nickel wound for true vintage tone
  • Historically accurate specifications
  • Developed and approved by Gibson Master Luthiers
  • Ultra-Light Gauge: .09 .011 .016 .024 .032 .042
  • Light Gauge: .010 .013 .017 .026 .036 .046
  • Medium Gauge: .011 .014 .018 .028 .038 .050
 

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BurstFan

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
128
Thanks for your reply.
Yes these are the ones. These strings have 3 nickel (silver) and 3 brass (gold) ball ends.
The ball ends of the guitar strings were all nickel (silver).

Could these be the strings from the older packaging? Did they change the specs of the strings with the new packaging?
 

corpse

Well-known member
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Jun 9, 2007
Messages
4,876
I buy the for the same reason- great sound and feel. Right now the old VR ar very expensive- up from the $7 price. Like $13 or higher IF you can find them.
 

BurstFan

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
128
Thanks for your reply.
Do you know if the "old' VR strings have all nickel ball ends?

The guitar sounds still great and awesome but the sound when I got it is not there anymore.

That's a short clip of the guitar with factory setup straight into a Fender 57 Tweed:
Gibson ML 57
 

BurstFan

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
128
Here are pictures from a european guitar store. Two Murphy Lab guitars. One is strung with the Vintage Reissue strings (brass and nickel ball ends) and one had the all nickel ball end strings.
After the change I noticed less output and a more mellow tone, so I think the all nickel ball end strings are not pure nickel wound.

Very strange but I would really like to get "my" tone back.

image (1).jpg

image.jpg
 

corpse

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 9, 2007
Messages
4,876
My ‘18 r9 has VR strings and they are all nickel ends. Played with the band yesterday and it sounded great.
 

Les Paulette

Member
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Apr 3, 2021
Messages
94
So how are we to solve this paradox I wonder..hmmm...where is the part# sku thingy for the nickle balls..
 

BurstFan

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
128
I contacted Gibson. Waiting for reply, but I guess it will be the standard answer, which will be Vintage Reissues.

I found several threads on the internet asking the same question, as I did. And nobody got a useful answer, but they all said the strings on the guitar were different.
 

lubra65

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Joined
Feb 23, 2008
Messages
281
Hope can help....

 

TM1

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
Messages
8,349
All Gibson Strings are made by D’Addario. They have been for the last 15+ years(whenever they closed the Elgin, Il. facility) .
Gibson back in the 50’s installed Flatwounds Strings on almost All Les Paul’s, either #40 or #41 sets. A lot of those boxes say “Made in Germany”... made by Pyramid Strings!
 

TM1

Well-known member
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Jun 27, 2003
Messages
8,349
Maybe you should try a set of Pyramid Nickel Classics or Monel Classics...
If you’re looking for warmth..
 

corpse

Well-known member
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Jun 9, 2007
Messages
4,876
I liked the feel of the GVR strings- played six or so sets of Pyramid Nickel on my LP's and they have a stiff feel to them- but you can't get the Gibson strings anywhere. The DR's have the same feel, but I am not convinced of the quality.
 

axeman565758

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 23, 2007
Messages
1,204
I've been using Gibson Reissue Pure Nickel strings since 2002. Packaging has changed, but the quality and tone I get has been consistent. Have they sourced another supplier/manufacturer? I have no idea. I've tried all the other brands over the years and I always come back to the GVR strings.
They sound the best.
 

BurstFan

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
128
Hey guys,

thanks so far for your feedback.
I know there are plenty of good strings out there.

I got a first feedback from Gibson today. It says they don't stop production when running out of Vintage Reissue strings and they put what's available on the guitars. Also on the Custom Shop / ML ones. They try to find out what strings were on my guitar and will come back to me.

I'm really looking forward to their next reply.
 

BurstFan

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
128
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.'

First of all I already tried the D'addario strings on the guitar. Not pure nickel ones, because I'm sure the factory ones were also nickel wound and not pure nickel. D'addario strings are my go to strings and the sound was what I expected. Like I said this guitar sounds great no matter what strings I use.

BUT these factory strings were special on this guitar.
 

BurstFan

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
128
I could have really lived with the answer from Gibson. But now I've received a second E-Mail:

'Thank you for your feedback. You could also try Di Marzio once if you have not done that already. At some point Custom Shop got tailor made strings from them as well.'

🤔
 
Last edited:

jrgtr42

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2005
Messages
2,308
I'm not a fan of the VR strings - but |I do like the Gibson Les Paul ones, though they're tough to find. I find the |VRs too bright sounding. The Les Pauls are much mellower, to my ears anyway.
My usual go-to when I can't get the LPs are DR Pure Blues, occasionally if there;s no other option the EB Slinky's, all in 10 - 46.
 
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