TT Zop
Hardware
The extraneous gold hardware (Guitar Fetish gold connector cables, gold straplocks, gold case latches/hinges) matches the gold hardware on my Gibson Goldtone amplifier. I even prefer Herco Gold nylon picks (although the heavier Herco Silvers are nice for hard picking styles).
The case even has gold (yellow) stitching around the sides of the lid. It's a really nice yet inexpensive Guardian brand. I just kind of feel better in public or at a club with a case that doesn't advertise "Gibson" with a big shiny embossed logo on the side. And the black fur is sexier anyway.
The most popular electric strings have nickel-plated steel wrapping the wound strings. But earlier strings were mostly wound with solid nickel and had a slightly mellower tone. Purely nickel-wound sets like Gibson Les Paul Signature, Rotosound Pure Nickel, or GHS Nickel Rockers still offer vintage tone. (Stainless steel strings have a brighter tone with more bite, but will also take a bite out of your frets more quickly than other strings).
This guitar is outfitted with Hybrid Slinkys. They're custom lights, an industry term for 9's with a 42 top, and a good size for a typical Les Paul. These Ernie Ball hex-core nickel-plated strings are Jimmy Page's choice; why not yours? Hybrid Slinky (9-11-16-26-36-46) are an ideal blend of Super Slinky (9-11-16-24-32-42) and Regular Slinky (10-13-17-26-36-46). Other good sets in the same widths are the round-core nickel plated Dean Markley 1978 Custom Lites, and GHS Boomers Custom Lights.
Some players believe heavier 10s and 11s produce better sound, but there's not necessarily much truth in that. Billy Gibbons, for example, plays 7s. Dunlop sells his 'signature' brand of Rev. Willy's strings, which, besides Extra Light (7-38) also come in Light (8-40) and Medium Light (9-42). I'm still waiting to try a set of those, and a set of nickel-wound 11s, for a heavy blues shootout.
Hardware
The extraneous gold hardware (Guitar Fetish gold connector cables, gold straplocks, gold case latches/hinges) matches the gold hardware on my Gibson Goldtone amplifier. I even prefer Herco Gold nylon picks (although the heavier Herco Silvers are nice for hard picking styles).
The case even has gold (yellow) stitching around the sides of the lid. It's a really nice yet inexpensive Guardian brand. I just kind of feel better in public or at a club with a case that doesn't advertise "Gibson" with a big shiny embossed logo on the side. And the black fur is sexier anyway.
The most popular electric strings have nickel-plated steel wrapping the wound strings. But earlier strings were mostly wound with solid nickel and had a slightly mellower tone. Purely nickel-wound sets like Gibson Les Paul Signature, Rotosound Pure Nickel, or GHS Nickel Rockers still offer vintage tone. (Stainless steel strings have a brighter tone with more bite, but will also take a bite out of your frets more quickly than other strings).
This guitar is outfitted with Hybrid Slinkys. They're custom lights, an industry term for 9's with a 42 top, and a good size for a typical Les Paul. These Ernie Ball hex-core nickel-plated strings are Jimmy Page's choice; why not yours? Hybrid Slinky (9-11-16-26-36-46) are an ideal blend of Super Slinky (9-11-16-24-32-42) and Regular Slinky (10-13-17-26-36-46). Other good sets in the same widths are the round-core nickel plated Dean Markley 1978 Custom Lites, and GHS Boomers Custom Lights.
Some players believe heavier 10s and 11s produce better sound, but there's not necessarily much truth in that. Billy Gibbons, for example, plays 7s. Dunlop sells his 'signature' brand of Rev. Willy's strings, which, besides Extra Light (7-38) also come in Light (8-40) and Medium Light (9-42). I'm still waiting to try a set of those, and a set of nickel-wound 11s, for a heavy blues shootout.