Most guitar players wouldn't take a '58 Les Paul Custom out on the road, but Marcus King is not most guitar players. And the Carolina blues-rock and soul firebrand's vintage Gibson guitar isn't even like any other '58 Black Beauty either; it has a '70s neck.
Though he has an ES-345 signature model with Gibson, Marcus added this three-pickup Bigsby-loaded wonder to his touring rig in 2022 after being inspired by using Dan Auerbach's '59 Les Paul Burst for his Young Blood album released that year.
It's the perfect platform for Marcus to demo his go-to string choice: the natural feel and bright tone of Elixir® Strings with OPTIWEB® Coating in Medium 11-49 gauge.
They handle the heat and the cold better than any other string. I recommend them to everyone.
Marcus King
Marcus has now been playing Elixir® Strings for a decade, choosing the smooth feel of its NANOWEB® Phosphor Bronze strings for his acoustic guitars, and the US company's OPTIWEB® Coating for his electrics.
During that time he even converted his father to switch to the advantages of the long-life and superlative feel of Elixir® Strings after using another string brand for many years.
As a relentlessly hard-working touring and recording musician with a collection of treasured vintage instruments, Marcus depends on the long-lasting consistency of Elixir® Strings.
"I like how long Elixir® Strings last," says Marcus. "They handle the heat and the cold better than any other string. I recommend them to everyone."
- Find out more about the full range at Elixir® Strings
