How many guitar strings are there?

Most standard guitars have six strings. However, some guitars have 7, 8, or even 12 strings for extended range or special styles. For beginners and most players, the six-string setup is the norm and offers all the range needed for most genres

What are the Names of Guitar Strings?

The strings are named based on pitch: E, A, D, G, B, and high E. Starting from the thickest (lowest pitch) to the thinnest (highest pitch), the names go: E, A, D, G, B, E. A common acronym to remember the order of strings from thickest to thinnest is: Eddie Ate Dynamite; Good Bye Eddie.

What is the order of guitar strings?

From the thickest (top when holding the guitar) to the thinnest (bottom), the order is: 6th (Low E), 5th (A), 4th (D), 3rd (G), 2nd (B), 1st (High E). Knowing the order helps with tuning, learning chords, and following guitar tabs.

What are some common materials for guitar strings?

Strings can be made from stainless steel, nickel, nylon, phosphor bronze, flat wound

How to Choose Guitar Strings?

If you play electric guitar, nickel-plated steel strings are the most common and work well for most genres, If you’re into blues or vintage rock, pure nickel gives a warmer tone, Stainless steel is a good pick if you want a sharp, bright sound with less corrosion, For acoustic guitars, phosphor bronze strings offer a rich tone with warmth and brightness, 80/20 bronze strings are another option, giving a brighter, punchier sound, Nylon strings are only for classical guitars or beginner nylon-string acoustics; never use them on a steel-string guitar.

What are winding types for guitar strings?

Roundwound strings, flatwound strings, half-round strings

What are roundwound guitar stirngs?

These are the most common type of winding type for guitar strings. They’re bright and have a textured feel, but can be noisy when fingers slide across.

What are flatwound guitar strings?

Smoother and darker sounding, flatwounds are popular in jazz and blues. They produce less finger noise but feel stiffer. They have a very smooth feel and produce a mellow, warm, and dark tone with less sustain and a more percussive attack.

What are half-wound guitar strings?

These are a middle ground between roundwound and flatwound strings. They offer a smoother feel than roundwounds with more brightness than flatwounds, but can be more expensive.

What type of strings are bass guitar strings?

These are thick, low-tuned strings made for bass guitars. They’re available in roundwound, flatwound, or tapewound.

What type of strings are classical guitar strings?

Classical guitar strings should only be made from nylon, as steel strings can damage a classical guitar’s neck and body.

What type of guitar strings to use on acoustic guitars?

Use bronze or phosphor bronze strings, usually with steel cores. Never use nylon or electric strings on an acoustic.

What type of strings should I use on an electric guitar?

Use nickel or stainless steel strings for an electric guitar. Acoustic-specific strings won’t work properly with magnetic pickups.

What are guitar string sizes or gauges?

String gauge refers to how thick the strings are. Thinner strings are easier to play; thicker ones are louder and more durable. Guitar strings come in extra light or super light (0.008-0.038), light (0.009-0.042), medium (0.01-0.046), and heavy (0.011-0.052)

How do I care for guitar strings?

Keep your strings clean by wiping them down after each use. Oils and sweat can make them corrode faster. Store your guitar in a case to protect strings from humidity and dust.

How Often Should I Replace My Guitar Strings?

If you play daily, change strings every 2–4 weeks. Occasional players can wait 1–2 months. Replace them when they sound dull, feel rough, or are hard to tune.

Can I Boil Guitar Strings to Clean Them?

Yes, boiling can temporarily remove grime and restore brightness, especially on bass strings. But it weakens the metal, so it’s not a long-term solution and we recommend just buying new strings instead.

Why Do My Guitar Strings Keep Breaking?

Common causes include sharp bridge edges, worn frets, over-tightening, or old strings. Make sure your guitar is properly set up and check for sharp spots.

What are some popular brands of guitar string?

D'Addario, NYXL (by D'Addario), Ernie Ball, Elixir, GHS Strings, Stringjoy, Fender

Steel vs nylon strings – which is better?

Neither is “better”; just better for you and your needs as a guitarist. Steel is for acoustic and electric guitars with bright, strong tones; nylon is for classical guitars and gives a soft, mellow sound.

How much are guitar strings?

Most sets cost between $5 and $20, depending on quality, type, and coating.

What are guitar strings made of?

Guitar strings are made from a variety of materials depending on the type of guitar. Electric guitar strings are usually made of steel, nickel, or stainless steel. Acoustic strings are often made from bronze, phosphor bronze, or brass. Classical guitar strings use nylon or a combination of nylon and silver-plated copper. Each material affects the tone, feel, and durability of the strings.

Can you put electric guitar strings on an acoustic?

Technically yes, but it’s not recommended. Electric guitar strings are made for magnetic pickups and won’t sound right on an acoustic. They also have lower tension, which can affect the guitar’s tone and feel. For the best sound and playability, use acoustic strings on acoustic guitars.

Does acoustic string gauge make a difference?

Yes, it makes a major difference. Lighter gauges are easier to play and better for fingerpicking, but they can sound thinner and break more easily. Heavier gauges produce a fuller, louder sound and are better for strumming, but they’re harder on the fingers and may require a stronger setup.

How do I choose electric strings?

Start by considering your playing style and tone preference. If you want a bright tone and long life, stainless steel is great. For a warmer sound, try pure nickel. Light gauges are easier to play and bend, while heavier gauges offer more sustain and volume. Also, match your string type to your guitar’s scale length and setup.

Gibson Custom Shop 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue Dark Back VOS Electric Guitar in Double Gold

COA for Gibson Custom Shop 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue Dark Back VOS Electric Guitar in Double Gold

Case for Gibson Custom Shop 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue Dark Back VOS Electric Guitar in Double Gold

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The Gibson Custom Shop 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue is a painstaking recreation of one of the most revered solidbody electrics ever produced by Gibson. Built in the spirit of the original 1957 model, this Custom Shop reissue captures the tone, feel, and visual authority of a true Golden Era instrument, elevated with historically accurate construction methods and premium materials.

True to its heritage, this instrument features the iconic Les Paul body style and shape, constructed with a 2-piece plain maple top fitted using traditional hide glue, paired with a 1-piece lightweight mahogany back with no weight relief. This solid construction ensures maximum resonance, sustain, and harmonic complexity. The maple cap provides clarity and articulation, while the mahogany body delivers warmth, depth, and midrange richness. Finished in Nitrocellulose VOS (Vintage Patina), the Double Gold top and Dark Back treatment radiate understated elegance, subtly aged to evoke decades of careful preservation. A 1-ply Royalite binding frames the body with period-correct detail.

The solid mahogany neck is carved to a comfortable ’50s Rounded Medium C profile, offering a substantial yet inviting grip that reflects the feel of original late-’50s examples. Joined to the body with a long tenon, hide glue fit, the neck maximizes tonal transfer and sustain. The classic 24.75-inch (628.65 mm) scale length contributes to the signature Les Paul warmth and effortless string tension. The Indian rosewood fingerboard, shaped to a 12-inch radius, is adorned with aged cellulose nitrate trapezoid inlays and fitted with 22 Historic Gibson narrow/tall frets, delivering smooth bends and articulate note definition. A nylon nut measuring 1.687 inches (42.85 mm) in width ensures vintage-accurate tone and feel.

Hardware appointments reflect meticulous historical accuracy. The guitar features a No-Wire ABR-1 bridge with nickel-plated brass saddles, paired with a lightweight aluminum stop bar tailpiece for enhanced resonance and sustain. Kluson Single Line, Single Ring tuning machines provide stable tuning with vintage-correct aesthetics, all finished in period-appropriate nickel. From the laminated cellulose acetate butyrate pickguard and M69 mounting rings to the authentic stepped 2-ply truss rod cover, every detail is faithfully recreated. The butyrate gold top hat knobs, amber Catalin switch tip, silkscreened switch washer, brown Royalite control covers, aluminum strap buttons, and laminated jack plate cover further reinforce the instrument’s historic integrity.

At the heart of its voice are a pair of Custombucker Alnico III (unpotted) pickups in both the neck and bridge positions. These pickups are engineered to reproduce the airy highs, woody mids, and blooming low-end response of original late-’50s PAF-style humbuckers. Unpotted for maximum harmonic openness, they deliver exceptional dynamic sensitivity and touch responsiveness. The electronics feature CTS 500K audio taper potentiometers and paper-in-oil capacitors, wired through a 3-way Switchcraft selector and Switchcraft output jack, ensuring authentic tonal sweep and reliability.

Strung with gauges .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046, the guitar arrives housed in a Brown/Pink Lifton Reissue 5-Latch case, accompanied by a Gibson Custom Switchplate Medallion (with historic brown plastic cover in the case), Certificate of Authenticity booklet, and Historic Reissue hang tags.

The Gibson Custom Shop 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue Dark Back VOS Double Gold stands as a masterfully executed tribute to a pivotal year in electric guitar history—offering uncompromising vintage accuracy, inspiring tone, and heirloom-level craftsmanship for players and collectors alike.

Other specifications include:

Body Style Les Paul
Body Shape Les Paul
Top 2-Piece Plain Maple, Hide Glue Fit
Back 1-Piece Lightweight Mahogany
Binding 1-Ply Royalite
Body Finish Nitrocellulose VOS (Vintage Patina)
Weight Relief None
Profile 50s Rounded Medium C
Scale Length 628.65 mm / 24.75 in
Fingerboard Material Indian Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius 304.8 mm / 12 in
Neck Material Solid Mahogany
Fret Count 22
Frets Historic Gibson Narrow/Tall
Nut Material Nylon
Nut Width 42.85 mm / 1.687 in
End Of Board Width 56.89 mm / 2.239 in
Inlays Aged Cellulose Nitrate Trapezoid
Joint Long Tenon, Hide Glue Fit
Finish Nickel
Bridge No-Wire ABR-1
Saddle Material Nickel-plated Brass
Tailpiece Lightweight Aluminum Stop Bar
Tuning Machines Kluson Single Line, Single Ring
Pickguard Laminated Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Truss Rod Cover Authentic Stepped 2-Ply
Control Knobs Butyrate Gold Top Hats
Switch Tip Amber Catalin
Switch washer Silkscreened Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Jack Plate Cover Laminated Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Control Covers Brown Royalite
Strap Buttons Aluminum
Mounting Rings M69 Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Pickup Covers Authentic Profile Nickel Silver
Neck Pickup Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted)
Bridge Pickup Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted)
Controls CTS 500K Audio Taper Potentiometers, Paper-in-Oil Capacitors
Pickup Selector 3-Way Switchcraft
Output Jack Switchcraft
Strings Gauge .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
Case Brown/Pink Lifton Reissue 5-Latch
Accessories Gibson Custom Switchplate Medallion (w/ Historic Brown Plastic Cover in Case), Certificate of Authenticity Booklet, Historic Reissue Hang Tags
LPR57VODBDGNH1
8 lbs 5 oz
76204

For more information on this Gibson Custom Shop instrument, please contact us.

Manufacturer: Gibson
Series: Custom Shop
Body Style: Les Paul
Actual Weight: 8.3
Color: Double Gold
Condition: Brand New
Model: 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue Dark Back VOS

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New 1 in stock

SKU: 76204

Weight: 8 lbs 3 oz

Gibson Custom Shop 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue Dark Back VOS Double Gold 8.5 #76204

$4,999.00

Condition:: New
UPC:: 711106926476

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Current Stock: 1

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Description

Other specifications include:

Body Style Les Paul
Body Shape Les Paul
Top 2-Piece Plain Maple, Hide Glue Fit
Back 1-Piece Lightweight Mahogany
Binding 1-Ply Royalite
Body Finish Nitrocellulose VOS (Vintage Patina)
Weight Relief None
Profile 50s Rounded Medium C
Scale Length 628.65 mm / 24.75 in
Fingerboard Material Indian Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius 304.8 mm / 12 in
Neck Material Solid Mahogany
Fret Count 22
Frets Historic Gibson Narrow/Tall
Nut Material Nylon
Nut Width 42.85 mm / 1.687 in
End Of Board Width 56.89 mm / 2.239 in
Inlays Aged Cellulose Nitrate Trapezoid
Joint Long Tenon, Hide Glue Fit
Finish Nickel
Bridge No-Wire ABR-1
Saddle Material Nickel-plated Brass
Tailpiece Lightweight Aluminum Stop Bar
Tuning Machines Kluson Single Line, Single Ring
Pickguard Laminated Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Truss Rod Cover Authentic Stepped 2-Ply
Control Knobs Butyrate Gold Top Hats
Switch Tip Amber Catalin
Switch washer Silkscreened Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Jack Plate Cover Laminated Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Control Covers Brown Royalite
Strap Buttons Aluminum
Mounting Rings M69 Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Pickup Covers Authentic Profile Nickel Silver
Neck Pickup Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted)
Bridge Pickup Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted)
Controls CTS 500K Audio Taper Potentiometers, Paper-in-Oil Capacitors
Pickup Selector 3-Way Switchcraft
Output Jack Switchcraft
Strings Gauge .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
Case Brown/Pink Lifton Reissue 5-Latch
Accessories Gibson Custom Switchplate Medallion (w/ Historic Brown Plastic Cover in Case), Certificate of Authenticity Booklet, Historic Reissue Hang Tags
LPR57VODBDGNH1
8 lbs 5 oz
76204