Image Hero

GIBSON CUSTOM
MURPHY LAB

Well-worn favorites, built brand new.

EXPERTLY AGED, DOWN TO THE LAST DETAIL. EACH INSTRUMENT IS A UNIQUE, HANDCRAFTED WORK OF ART, WITH THE CHARACTER, VIBE, AND FEEL OF AN ORIGINAL.

EXPERTLY AGED, DOWN TO THE LAST DETAIL. EACH INSTRUMENT IS A UNIQUE, HANDCRAFTED WORK OF ART, WITH THE CHARACTER, VIBE, AND FEEL OF AN ORIGINAL.

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Checked Finish

We reverse-engineered the original formula of nitrocellulose lacquer used in the 1950s and 1960s. With Tom Murphy’s proprietary aging techniques, this brittle lacquer checks beneath the surface for a vintage look and feel.

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Hardware Patina

Murphy Lab artisans gently age each knob and component to simulate years of play wear, matching the worn body to create the look and feel of a well-traveled instrument — that works like new.

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Murphy Mileage

Wear on the neck, where the neck would be worn. The back of the body scraped bare where a belt buckle would bump. Your Murphy Lab Gibson will look like an heirloom from the moment you open the case.

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Tone and Feel

Gibson Custom Shop’s exclusive Murphy Lab lacquer and thermally aged tops enhance the resonance and tone of our acoustic models while Murphy Lab Light Aging treatment provides the played-in feel and look of a vintage guitar, with softened edges throughout.

SEE OUR AGING OPTIONS IN ACTION

Gibson’s Dinesh Lekhraj walks us through the different aging levels of the Gibson Murphy Lab. Master Artisan and Luthier Tom Murphy and his team at the Nashville and Bozeman Custom Shops put these Gibson guitars through an intense, yet loving, process of hand-aging and distressing to simulate years of playwear unique to each instrument. No two guitars ever look exactly the same.

SEE OUR AGING OPTIONS IN ACTION

Gibson’s Dinesh Lekhraj walks us through the different aging levels of the Gibson Murphy Lab. Master Artisan and Luthier Tom Murphy and his team at the Nashville and Bozeman Custom Shops put these Gibson guitars through an intense, yet loving, process of hand-aging and distressing to simulate years of playwear unique to each instrument. No two guitars ever look exactly the same.

FOUR AGING OPTIONS FOR ELECTRIC MODELS

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Ultra Light

Like a prized possession that has spent most of its long life stored carefully in its case. Murphy Lab artisans apply the most subtle touches such as minimal lacquer checking, Vintage Original Sheen (VOS) hardware, and hand-rolled fingerboard binding.

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Light

Simulates fifty years of average play wear, a favorite guitar that rarely left the comforts of home. More intense lacquer checking patterns, unique to each instrument, are accompanied by light dings, pick trails, finish flaking, and softened edges throughout. Paired with Vintage Original Sheen (VOS) hardware and hand-rolled fingerboard binding.

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Heavy

This baby’s been out on the road — for decades, it seems. Significant wear and tear, lots of buckle rash, light arm wear, neck wear, peghead face wear, and prominent checking patterns throughout. Paired with Murphy Lab Heavy Aged hardware and hand-rolled fingerboard binding.

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Ultra Heavy

Like the old favorite your hero has performed with for decades. Our artisans evoke half a century of touring mileage, with major buckle rash, heavy arm wear, visible pick, neck, and peghead face wear, and areas of exposed wood.
 Paired with Murphy Lab Heavy Aged hardware and hand-rolled fingerboard binding.

INTRODUCING MURPHY LAB ACOUSTIC MODELS

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Acoustic Models with Light Aging

Luthiers at our Gibson Acoustic craftory in Bozeman, Montana, applied Murphy Lab Light Aging to five classic models. With thermally aged tonewood tops and lightly aged hardware, these beautifully simulate decades of light play wear, giving them the unique character, vibe, and feel of vintage originals.

MURPHY LAB ACOUSTIC GUITARS

Now available from our expanded Acoustic craftory in Bozeman, Montana, five models with Murphy Lab Light Aging:

  • 1933 L-00 Light Aged - Ebony
  • 1942 Banner J-45 Light Aged - Vintage Sunburst
  • 1942 Banner Southern Jumbo Light Aged - Vintage Sunburst
  • 1960 Hummingbird Light Aged - Heritage Cherry Sunburst
  • 1957 SJ-200 Light Aged - Vintage Sunburst

MEET THE MASTER

Tom Murphy, the Master Artisan and namesake of the newly created Murphy Lab, was central to the creation of the Gibson Custom Shop and personally developed the process of aging guitars. For 25 years, he has been replicating the vibe and character of vintage instruments on the canvas of newly-created guitars.

With a deep knowledge of authentic instruments, passion for his work, and visionary creativity, Tom has developed the tools and techniques to age guitars with more accuracy and attention to detail than ever before.

MEET THE MASTER

Tom Murphy, the Master Artisan and namesake of the newly created Murphy Lab, was central to the creation of the Gibson Custom Shop and personally developed the process of aging guitars. For 25 years, he has been replicating the vibe and character of vintage instruments on the canvas of newly-created guitars.

With a deep knowledge of authentic instruments, passion for his work, and visionary creativity, Tom has developed the tools and techniques to age guitars with more accuracy and attention to detail than ever before.

MURPHY LAB VIDEOS

Gibson Custom Shop | Introducing the Murphy Lab

Master artisan Tom Murphy and his team create each Murphy Lab guitar inside our Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville, Tennessee. Each instrument is a unique, handcrafted work of art, with the character, vibe, and feel of an original.

Murphy Lab Artist Series: Joe Bonamassa

FIND A DEALER

Check with your local retailer about the availability of Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab guitars.

FIND A DEALER

Check with your local retailer about the availability of Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab guitars.