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Hey it's Mat from Gibson Product Development - AMA

6L6

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Joined
Mar 30, 2002
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1,978
Hi Mat and thanks for all the info!
When a guitar is advertised as being "hand painted by Tom Murphy," is he using the new lacquer formula that is used by his Lab or the regular formula that is used on regular Custom Shop models? Thanks again!
 

GreenBurst

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Mar 5, 2004
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748
Guys, let's keep the questions about the guitars. It's great having this opportunity to gain insight from Mat who is sharing some of his time.

We don't need to know operational business practices or input on rumours and myths.
 

Phoenician

Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2020
Messages
88
Hey Mat! Just curious… Has Gibson ever offered a solid rosewood neck as a custom option for Les Pauls or an ES series model?
 

matkoehler

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Sep 12, 2014
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482
View attachment 15416It seems perfect for a first post but can I suggest a “Ponty” Gonzalez signature Futura? When you dig into what happened with the original Modernistic series, you always hear his name. Futura has never been reissued with the mahogany neck and korina body. So what I want to know is am I crazy?
The whole guitar was painted at one point and in the Linhof photos, it's hard to tell for sure whether it's a Mahogany neck IMO. But it makes sense if so. In any case, yes I would like to see a reissue and I *think* I could get my hands on the original to scan. Using Ponty's name would be amazing but not sure on the feasibility of securing that. You're not crazy and thanks for the question!
 

matkoehler

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Sep 12, 2014
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482
The whole guitar was painted at one point and in the Linhof photos, it's hard to tell for sure whether it's a Mahogany neck IMO. But it makes sense if so. In any case, yes I would like to see a reissue and I *think* I could get my hands on the original to scan. Using Ponty's name would be amazing but not sure on the feasibility of securing that. You're not crazy and thanks for the question!
Update: the neck was also Korina. Confirmed.
 

matkoehler

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Sep 12, 2014
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482
Hey Mat! I tried to DM but the 420 character limitation is so severe that I can’t encompass the message…

Here’s most of the e-mail I sent to service@gibson.com on 9/15…
I will rattle some cages. Should not be hard to come up with this! Although our legacy website info does not go back that far currently. Thanks for your patience. -Mat
 

matkoehler

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Sep 12, 2014
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482
Sorry to have a bee in my bonnet about WIldwood spec stuff, but the WW P90’s have AIII magnets, and are underwound, correct?
I knew about underwound but Alnico III is a surprise to me. Doesn't mean we didn't make them...just was not aware.
 

matkoehler

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Sep 12, 2014
Messages
482
Hello Mat

When will the new ABR-1 be ready? Regarding my question about the thumbwheel post being brass, I have to say that I dont think you are right. Changing the post on my M2M 59 to correct brass made a difference that you wouldn't believe. Try cutting through one of your post. I think you are in for a surprise ( no brass at all) ;)
They *might* be ready in time for the 2022 serialized guitars, but I still haven't seen the complete assembly so no promises. As for thumbwheels, as soon as I get a chance I will cut one in half. I had confirmed with our supplier that they are brass. :)
 

matkoehler

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Sep 12, 2014
Messages
482
Dave Stephens is at it with a correct spec ABR-1 made from the "correct alloy's" and correct brass saddles. He's got a 30 minutes YT video with the bridges being made by some company named "Four Uncles". They run about $400. each. No doubt that they sound like the originals, but the price is pretty optimistic. Personally I'd wanna try one on my ML before forking out $400. bucks.
An original no-wire nickel ABR-1 in its original box just sold on eBay for about that same price! Anyway I'm sure they are a nice aftermarket offering, but the one we use currently and the one in the works use the documented historic ratios for the alloy.
 

matkoehler

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Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Messages
482
Hi Mat and thanks for all the info!
When a guitar is advertised as being "hand painted by Tom Murphy," is he using the new lacquer formula that is used by his Lab or the regular formula that is used on regular Custom Shop models? Thanks again!
Great question! The paint is the paint, so that's the same whether VOS or Murphy Lab. The difference is the lacquer (top coat). Hopefully that makes sense. Thanks! -Mat
 
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matkoehler

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Sep 12, 2014
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482
Hi Mat--I am hoping that you can help me. Two weeks ago I ordered from Guitar Center`s website one of the new Gibson Custom Shop `58 Korina Explore Reissues which I paid $10,000.00 for. It was delivered on Tuesday & the guitar itself is great! However somewhere between Nashville & Kansas City & my location, the Custom Shop guitar case for it was damaged, specifically the inside 'case compartment' was totally ripped & separated from the case & therefore is not secure. I contacted my rep there at GC via email but he seems like nothing can be done in regards to Gibson sending me a replacement case for this guitar which just doesn`t seem right at all. Both the guitar & it`s matching case should be delivered to any Gibson customer in perfect condition in the same way it left Gibson`s Custom Shop but I am here with a damaged case for a guitar that I have paid $10,000.00 for, with what looks like no hope in Gibson or Guitar Center sending me a replacement Custom Shop case. Is there any way you can please help with this problem? I would greatly appreciate any help you can give me! Unfortunately the LPF format is set up to where you can`t recive any 'private messages' thru the LPF otherwise I would have done this privately with you. Thank you for all you do for Gibson`s Custom Shop & I hope to hear back from you. Sincerely, KL PS: I do have pictures that I can send either post here or send to you of the damaged 'case compartment'. Also there is also the possibility that the case was not assembled correctly which cause the case compartment to 'rip apart' from the case but I not sure how it happened.
PS: that`s a picture of the Explorer that I bought in my LPF 'profile picture'
Congratulations on what is, in my opinion, the crown jewel of all the Historic Reissues...they are so good. Very sorry to hear about the case damage. Absolutely something can be done but I will say with GC there is sometimes additional bureaucracy to cut through. I would recommend going to Customer Service with this. We will get your case replaced for sure.

PS: Remember my job is Product Development (for all Gibson/Epiphone/Kramer/Tobias/Steinberger/etc) and I simply can't take up the charge to help with Customer Service...gotta leave that to them or it will become my new full time job! Hope you understand. Thanks for your message. -Mat
 

Dr. Green

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Joined
Dec 12, 2018
Messages
683
Mat -

how about this one .... the subject is the "Neck heel stop "
so if we look at the bottom photo notice the lower guitar - which I found on the web we see what appears to me to be a cross section thru a Historic neck and body assembly .

Notice that the bottom surface of the neck which is at a approx 15 degree angle is not completely flat but instead has a very small indexing stop which butts up against the body right near the heel . so in other words the neck can no longer move forward toward the rear of the body because it hits this small stop.

correct me if I am wrong but I believe that this is not a feature on an original 50s LP which had a completely flat bottom angled surface with no "step" cut toward the heel

could you tell me more about this feature ?

gibson+necks.png
 
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maccaferri

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May 19, 2020
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1
IMHO I owned a Jimi Hendrix Murphy Lab SG.. it seemed to have the 'old finish' on it. Very durable, slightly rubbery. I was lucky enough to see and play a new Murphy Lab 2021 Flying V... COMPLETELY different finish... more like and old 1950's guitar. It appears it would go on aging over the following years and most hope attractively and not anything resulting in anything being returned for refinishing... this is new territory now. I agree with other posts on other threads.. the different nitro doesn't seem to affect tone but the old rubbery one refuses to age. I own a 1995 Les Paul.. they have indestructible finish on them and really only get scuffed. Also it does seem some razor blading now still (where artist models dictate exact relicing) and then also temperature shocking (on the Flying V Murphy Labs...and nice job by the way). I ignored and refused relic guitars for years as a player but finally just decided to enjoy the guitar ride. Also the Brazilian rosewood on the Muprhy Flying V is immaculate... dense, dark and solid.. great feel and tone, I assume they got enough of it from an old piece of furniture or something. Of course no traveling with these Brazilian guitars except in person overseas due to the baffling and confusing but well-meaning though a bit misguided CITES. Indian rosewood seems to sound the same but sometimes with the appearance is not so attractive (to me).. if no trees at risk of extinction were at risk I would say Brazilian is the best fretboard material ever.
 
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akstrat61

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Feb 16, 2004
Messages
1,845
Hey Matt, just wanted to complement Gibson on the Gibson Garage in Nashville. I stopped in a couple of weeks ago and was thoroughly impressed! I was lucky enough to have a chance to meet James Curleigh while there. It would have been nice to see a few more of the CS guitars, maybe all the finishes, and a larger display of vintage guitars? Just a thougfht, still a great stop for sure.

I was hoping to have a chance to see the new protector case that Gibson is offerring. I'm wondering about the size difference between a regulard CS case and the newer protector. I have owned both the Gen 1 and Gen 2 cases. I'm hoping it's closer in size to the Gen 1 case? Any chance you could get a couple of pictures of the current CS case and the new protector side by side? I currently gig my Skinnerburst and would like a bit better case. Maybe someone here also has bought one of these protectors and could shoot some pictures? Thanks!
 
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