Music

The Marvels of the Murphy Lab There are 7.764 billion people on this beautiful ball of water and dirt that we call home, and hardly any of them know Gibson guitars better than Tom Murphy. Tom is a legend in the world of guitars, and instruments bearing his name have acquired a deservedly sterling reputation due to their outstanding tone, jaw-dropping looks, and stunning vintage accuracy. But, he wasn't always a rockstar of lutherie. In fact, he worked as a professional touring musician for many years, and during that time he became intimately acquainted with vintage guitars: how they sound, how they feel, and how they look. After deciding to stop touring, Tom got a job as a finish specialist at Gibson and eventually became a project manager in charge of the first reissues of the 1959 Les Paul standard. For a while, Tom also gained valuable experience working as a luthier to the stars, and his client list included luminaries like Jimmy Page, Dickey Betts, Joe Perry, Billy Gibbons, Eric Clapton, Peter Frampton, and Gary Rossington (fun fact: he brought Peter Frampton's iconic Les Paul Custom back from the dead after it had been resting in pieces in the debris of a crashed cargo plane for three decades!). Now, things have come full circle, and our friends at Gibson have handed Tom the keys to a brand-new institution of sonic savagery within the Gibson Custom Shop: the Murphy Lab. Tom and his team of skilled craftspeople have one mission, and one mission only: to create the most ridiculously awesome recreations of vintage Gibson guitars that the world has ever seen. Step Into the Lab Murphy Lab is aptly named because it is basically the musical equivalent of what happens when you give a mad scientist a laboratory fully stocked with warp drives and flux capacitors. With a plethora of resources behind them, Tom and his team have been able to create guitars that are essentially carbon copies of vintage Gibsons. They look, feel, and sound so close to the originals that it's downright scary. Painted by Tom Wildwood has a long and storied history of collaboration with Tom Murphy, and the Wildwood Spec by Tom Murphy series is one of the most popular runs of guitars in Wildwood history. Because Tom is an awesome guy, he is still going to hand-paint some Murphy Lab guitars for us when he can. With his master's touch, Tom puts an absolutely exquisite finish on these guitars, and they are an opportunity to experience the handiwork of a true master craftsman. We are privileged to showcase them. A '60 That Slays This particular Murphy Lab marvel is a reissue of 1960 Les Paul, a highly sought-after guitar that marked the final year of the Les Paul's original production run. Throughout rock and roll history, players have gravitated towards the '60 Les Paul because of its slim, uber-fast neck profile and stylish looks. This model captures the thrill of playing a real '60 LP with its period-correct cosmetic appointments and superb electronics, and it delivers an absolutely marvelous playing experience. Wildwood Spec-Tacular Because our friends at Gibson are the coolest people ever, they were kind enough to allow us to have exclusive Wildwood Spec Murphy Lab guitars. Basically, these guitars receive a little bit of extra fairy dust in the build process that makes them a bit more magical. All tops are hand-picked for exceptional beauty, and they are so beautiful that the cases should probably come with a built-in drool shield! But, they're not just pretty faces: they're also absolute sonic titans thanks to their pickups. Each one of these guitars comes equipped with Wildwood Spec Custombuckers, and they (to use a very scientific term) totally rule. They are brimming with vintage flavor, and they capture the sound of an old PAF beautifully. The fine folks who make Gibson's pickups also added a little bit of extra secret sauce that improves their articulation, dynamism, and clarity, too. As a result, these pickups translate the subtleties and nuances of your playing so well that the guitar almost feels like an extension of your hands. We have no doubt that these Wildwood Spec Murphy Lab guitars will bring you a lifetime of musical delight. They look gorgeous, they sound titanic, and they feel like an old friend you've never met. We hope you love them as much as we do, and we hope they inspire you to make a joyous racket for a long time. Condition Report This Murphy-painted monster is in beautiful shape! It shows extremely light signs of normal use, and it only has two cosmetic imperfections to report: some aniline dye has bled into the binding (most noticeably on the neck), and a tiny finish flaw by the toggle switch cover on the back. It comes with its original hardshell case and a certificate of authenticity, too! Brand: 2022 Gibson Murphy Lab Model: Wildwood Spec by Tom Murphy '60 Les Paul StandardFinish Color: Murphy Burst Hand-Painted By Tom Murphy HimselfFinish Type: VOSWeight: 8.68 lbs.Top Wood: 2-Piece Hand-Picked Figured Maple Attached with Hot Hide GlueBody Wood: 1-Piece Lightweight MahoganyNeck Wood: Solid MahoganyNeck Shape: 1960 SlimTaper V2Neck Dimensions: .790 1st - .930 12thNeck Joint: Long Tenon with Hide Glue FitFingerboard: Indian Rosewood attached with Hot Hide GlueFingerboard Radius: 12"Inlays: Aged Cellulose Nitrate TrapezoidScale Length: 24.75"Width at Nut: 1.687"Frets: 22 Authentic Medium JumboBinding: 1-Ply RoyalitePickups: 2 Wildwood Spec CustombuckersControls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone and 3-way ToggleswitchHardware: Murphy Lab Light-Aged NickelBridge: No-Wire ABR-1 with Aluminum-Plated Brass SaddlesTailpiece: Lightweight Aluminum StopbarTuners: Kluson Double-Ring Single-LinePickguard: Laminated Cellulose Acetate ButyrateCase: Original Gibson Custom Wildwood Spec Brown/Pink Lifton Reissue 5-Latch HardshellCase Candy: Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab COA

The Gibson Les Paul is a solid body electric guitar that was first sold by the Gibson Guitar Corporation in 1952. With its distinctive tone and solid construction, it has become an iconic model in the music world.