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Historic Murphy lab or Vintage .... try to guess

El Gringo

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Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
if guitar B is a Murphy Lab I'll eat my hat, the fretboard looks light years more authentic than the current ML crop .. if it is a ML then count me in. I'm a believer
I choose A as the vintage because for the life of me I can not see a Murphy Lab having a wonky looking bridge that it has on it . I mean I wouldn't ever think a Murphy Lab would use a non ABR-1 ? Also the finish checks on A look real to me , along with the aged/vintage look overall . A to me looks to real , along with the speed barrel knobs and the black selector switch tip ( to clarify I meant that is a replacement ) and the gouges on the top . Also B fingerboard does look seriously vintage , so that stands out . Guitar F looks like a typical razor blade aged instrument .
 
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amorrow

Active member
Joined
Oct 24, 2005
Messages
217
To me, guitar E looks like Gibson’s pre-Murphy Lab typical razor checking, guitar F looks like the Murphy Lab’s new freezer checking...looking at the concentration of checking around what I imagine are punch marks.
 
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Dr. Green

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Joined
Dec 12, 2018
Messages
683
Murphy or Vintage ?

guitar "G"

6c50b8a0fe5d8d9364e43e0123d6778c.jpg
 

el84ster

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Joined
Sep 10, 2001
Messages
1,420
I think the knobs are the big giveaway. Modern knobs still don’t look right, too shiny. Older knobs are a little more subdued in color.
 

Dr. Green

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Dec 12, 2018
Messages
683
I am getting tricky here
just a close up shot

Murphy or Vintage ?

detail "H"

Les-Paul-Bible-26.jpg
 

amorrow

Active member
Joined
Oct 24, 2005
Messages
217
I think G is definitely modern Gibson, but can’t tell if Murphy Lab or prior to.

Would be VERY surprised if H isn’t vintage. I’m really impressed with my two MLs, but they’re not that good!
 

Dr. Green

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Joined
Dec 12, 2018
Messages
683
I think G is definitely modern Gibson, but can’t tell if Murphy Lab or prior to.

Would be VERY surprised if H isn’t vintage. I’m really impressed with my two MLs, but they’re not that good!

yes - Bingo

you nailed it to perfection

you even picked up on the screw ball I threw by showing a pre " lab" murphy painted aged lester - it was a trick - its an aged but not a lab

the bottom neck heel is vintage
 

Drayve85

Active member
Joined
Jan 30, 2019
Messages
195
G. Murphy
H. Vintage
J. Vintage
K. Vintage
L. Murphy
M. Murphy
N. Vintage

I truly did this without reading the comments in between.
 
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El Gringo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
murph or vintage

guitar "J"

original.jpg
Murphy,because of the white switch tip . By the way I have seen Gibson Custom using white switch tips instead of the amber color . What is up with that ? Supply disruption issue from the Pandemic ? Anyone know why ? I hate the white as it is not historically correct !
 
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