Choosing the Best Strings for Your Les Paul

The Gibson Les Paul is more than just a guitar; it's an icon. Born of its namesake's desire for a reliable solid-body that could do it all, the Les Paul went on to define rock as we now know it. If you close your eyes and think "epic rock music," there's a pretty solid chance the guitarist you're envisioning is holding a Les Paul.

From the hands of legends like Jimmy Page and Slash to countless players worldwide, the Les Paul's rich, warm tones and sustain (cc: Nigel Tufnel) have captivated audiences for decades. 

But to make sure your Les Paul sings, selecting the right Les Paul strings is crucial. Let's dive into the world of Les Paul strings and find the perfect match for your playing style.

A Brief History of the Les Paul

Introduced in 1952, the Gibson Les Paul was designed in collaboration with guitarist Les Paul himself. Its solid mahogany body, carved maple top, and set neck construction contributed to its signature sustain and resonance. Over the years, the Les Paul has undergone various modifications, but its core design remains a testament to quality craftsmanship and timeless appeal.

Original String Gauges: A Look Back

In its early production runs, Gibson equipped Les Paul guitars with heavier string gauges, commonly .012"-.052". This choice complemented the guitar's solid build, enhancing its warm, full-bodied tone. However, as playing styles evolved and the demand for easier bending and faster playability increased, lighter gauges became more prevalent. By the late 1960s and 1970s, it was common to see Les Pauls strung with .010"-.046" sets. Today, many Les Pauls come factory-fitted with .009"-.046" strings, offering a balance between playability and tonal richness.

Which Strings for Your Lester?

Choosing the right string gauge depends on your playing style, desired tone, and comfort. It's one of the most fun - and effective ways to explore all the tones your Les Paul has to offer. Here are three different playing styles and the best string options for each.

1. For the Les Paul of All Trades: Light Gauge

If you’re a player who dabbles in multiple genres—rock, blues, jazz, pop—you’ll want a set that provides balanced tension, clear articulation, and easy playability. A balanced light gauge offers a great middle ground between ease of play and full-bodied tone. Notable players who seek this middle ground include Slash and Zakk Wylde, two icons who need to lean into bends while getting maximum projection for their riffs.

Stringjoy 10-48 Balanced Light Gauge Signatures – Our flagship set of nickel-wound electric strings, Balanced Light has been a tried and true favorite of Les Paul players who enjoy a smidge of extra tension to account for that 24.75" Gibson scale length. If you've never tried a truly balanced set of strings, you're in for a treat.

Stringjoy 10-52 Heavy Bottom Light Orbiters – This sets edges on medium, particularly with the wound strings, but if you're moving between rhythm and lead it's basically a cheat code. And if you're skeptical of coated strings, consider that Stringjoy has a unique approach. We apply a thin, enamel coating to the wrap wire before it is wound onto the core, providing a bright, shimmering, familiar tone that separates our Orbiters from other, flubbier coated strings.

Stringjoy 10.5-50 Balanced Light Plus Signatures – The perfect set if you want a little more tension across the strings, we often recommend Balanced Light Plus to Les Paul players thanks to the aforementioned Gibson shorter scale-length. Want a bit more fight from your strings but not ready to commit to medium tension sets? This set is for you.

2. For the Blues Enthusiast: Medium Gauge

Blues and blues rock players have flocked to the Les Paul because of its warm, expressive, vocal tone. To maximize that inherent richness, a heavier gauge of string can help to achieve longer sustain, enhanced resonance, and deeper (if not a bit tougher!) bends for soulful licks. Keep in mind that due to a Les Paul's slightly-shorter-than-Fender scale length of 24.75", a heavier set will not feel quite as heavy as it would on your Strat, Tele, et al. Noted Les Paul enthusiast Joe Bonamassa is a great example of a player who relies on 11s to get the most out of his Bursts.

Stringjoy 11-50 Balanced Medium Gauge Signatures – The go-to standard for fans of a heavier gauge. Our balanced set of 11-50 has been formulated to provide the benefits of a robust set - without being a total bear under your fingers.

Stringjoy 11-48 Classic Medium Pure Nickel Broadways - Pure nickel, round core Broadways are a throwback to the way strings used to be made - in fact, Les Paul himself was probably playing a very similar string. Our compression-wound Broadways help ensure tuning stability while offering the rich warmth that pairs beautifully with a Les Paul's maple top. Jazz licks, anyone?

Stringjoy Custom Signatures – This isn't a copout - if you're looking to dabble in heavier gauges, our custom sets allow for fine tuning that will ensure your comfort. Need help choosing gauges? Check in with one of our string specialists who can help prescribe you your very own signature set.

3. For the Speed Demons: Super Light Gauge

Whether we're talking classic rock, metal, fusion, or something the world's never heard of before, sometimes you need strings that will allow for lightning quick runs, precision bends, and effortless vibrato. Enter super light gauge strings that'll make intricate fretwork a breeze. Concerned that these extra light sets won't deliver on tone? Jimmy Page, Ace Frehley, and plenty of other rock Gods would like a word.

Stringjoy 9-42 Balanced Super Light Gauge Signatures – The go-to Stringjoy set for players who prioritize speed and flexibility. We formulated these gauges based on feedback we received from thousands of players who designed their own custom sets of super lights. Consider it a crowd-sourced set for shredders of all stripes.

Stringjoy 9-40 Classic Super Light Pure Nickel Broadways – If you want to lean into a light set with a vintage heart, pure nickel is the answer. This super light set has even greater flexibility due to Broadways' round core. Just be mindful that these require a little bit of extra love on install!

Stringjoy 9-46 Husky Super Light Orbiters – Now we're talkin'. These gauges bridge the gap between super light and light, allowing for chugging riffs and undemanding licks. Even better, coated Orbiters will last a stupid long time no matter how much you wail on 'em. 

Final Thoughts

The Les Paul has a long history of taking whatever guitarists' throw at it and sounding amazing, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't stop to consider the best strings for yours. While there's no be-all-end-all string for every Les Paul, Stringjoy comes pretty darn close to covering all the bases, whether you're a blues purist, rock God, or a genre-hopping dabbler. So consider what you're hoping to achieve, grab some really good strings, and get ready to connect with your Les Paul like never before.

The Best Strings for Your Les Paul

The strings that'll help your LP reach its FP (full potential).

Stringjoy 10-48 Balanced Light Gauge Signatures - Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 10-52 Heavy Bottom Light Gauge Orbiters - Coated Nickel Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 10.5-50 Balanced Light Plus Gauge Orbiters - Coated Nickel Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 11-50 Balanced Medium Gauge Signatures - Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 11-48 Classic Medium Gauge Broadways - Pure Nickel Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy Custom 6 String Signatures - Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 9-42 Balanced Super Light Gauge Signatures - Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 9-40 Classic Super Light Gauge Broadways - Pure Nickel Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 9-46 Husky Super Light Gauge Orbiters - Coated Nickel Electric Guitar Strings