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2003 Gibson '59 Les Paul Music Machine Stinger Murphy Aged

jazznostress

New member
Joined
Jun 10, 2019
Messages
1
Hey Guys,

I have a question for you guys.

I'm just offered a 2003 Gibson '59 Les Paul Music Machine Stinger Murphy Aged it was offered last year on Reverb.
So a rare Customshop aged by Tom Murphy and with a Brazilian fretboard. Can you guys help me out with the value of this guitar?

Thx!
Jazz

Screenshot 2020-02-04_16-44-35-030.jpg
 

El Gringo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
I cant tell by looking at the certificate , but if it all checks out and she sure looks delicious to me including all the case candy and what a flame/figure and color , she certainly looks like a winner to my eyes . I would start at 5 -6 and go up in increments from there .Beautiful looking Les Paul . Will you be able to check this out in person ? If so play her and see how she sounds and plays . Best Wishes , and once again she looks beautiful to me !
 

ghost driver

Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2009
Messages
88
To my knowledge there was only one MM Stinger aged by Murphy and thats not it. A forum member here owns (from what I'm told) the one and only. How well do you know the seller? I don't see the MM certificate. Nice looking guitar.<style></style>
 

solsurfr

Active member
Joined
Apr 11, 2003
Messages
2,299
I owned one of the 2003 R9's Brazilians aged by TM. Mine wasn't a Stinger. There were less than 12 or so aged by Tom in that run so the prices for those were pretty high. I sold mine a few years ago. If my memory serves me correct, it sold for around $11K.
 

jb_abides

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,280
OP -

Not sure if you pulled the trigger on this, as the Reverb listing has ended...
https://reverb.com/item/12265627-gibson-59-les-paul-music-machine-stinger-murphy-aged-2003

FWIW - I own several from the Music Machine Stinger series, and haven't seen anything from MM without an additional MM stamp under the Gibson serial stamp. Please reference picture below -

Perhaps, someone included Stinger case candy from elsewhere... wish there was a picture of what's inside the envelope, please :spabout

This could also just be a Custom Shop Murphy aged, sold by Music Machine that's not an official Stinger, but MM used the Stinger paperwork to include receipt, etc.

Least likely, it's some sort of prototype for an Official Stinger, prior to the establishment of the MM serial stamping system.

Dave Carpenter would be the one to know, not sure if he's easily reachable...


onfemfhxgjblovhl26pl.jpg
 

J.D.

Well-known member
Joined
May 24, 2006
Messages
10,030
That serial number is well outside of the confirmed BRW range. Without strong documentation, I would be very skeptical on that one. YMMV.
 

pinefd

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 22, 2004
Messages
3,060
To my knowledge there was only one MM Stinger aged by Murphy and thats not it. A forum member here owns (from what I'm told) the one and only. How well do you know the seller? I don't see the MM certificate. Nice looking guitar.<style></style>

According to Dave Carpenter, there was only one Murphy aged Stinger produced in '03, and it was an R8. It's the guitar shown here on the left (the one on the right is just a plain old Murphy aged non-Stinger Brazilian from '03...one of only 12 made):

full


...and here's the serial number, with some numbers blacked out, but I can't remember why now...LOL:

full



Frank
 

jb_abides

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,280
According to Dave Carpenter, there was only one Murphy aged Stinger produced in '03, and it was an R8. It's the guitar shown here on the left (the one on the right is just a plain old Murphy aged non-Stinger Brazilian from '03...one of only 12 made):

full


Frank

Yowza, those tops! :3zone
just a plain old Murphy aged non-Stinger Brazilian from '03 :laugh2::jim:laugh2::jim

Thanks, Frank :salude
 

Ragnar

New member
Joined
Feb 19, 2021
Messages
9
Hey guys!

My name is Rick van Heel, I worked for Dave Carpenter for 20 years and later bought Music Machine from him. I helped Dave conceive this run and was at the factory with him when we pulled all the wood for these guitars. There is a lot of wrong information about these guitars online, including in this forum. There were actually 2 Stinger Murphy aged 59's built. I still have all the original invoices and records for these guitars, if anybody wants accurate information, please hit me up! I also have original Stinger brochures and original COA's that I can replace, as I have the blanks and I hand filled out most of the originals. Thanks!
 

goldtop0

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,931
Hey guys!

My name is Rick van Heel, I worked for Dave Carpenter for 20 years and later bought Music Machine from him. I helped Dave conceive this run and was at the factory with him when we pulled all the wood for these guitars. There is a lot of wrong information about these guitars online, including in this forum. There were actually 2 Stinger Murphy aged 59's built. I still have all the original invoices and records for these guitars, if anybody wants accurate information, please hit me up! I also have original Stinger brochures and original COA's that I can replace, as I have the blanks and I hand filled out most of the originals. Thanks!

Great to see you here Rick and kind regards.
Steve from NZ ;)
 

Ed Driscoll

Les Paul Forum Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
4,691
Hey guys!

My name is Rick van Heel, I worked for Dave Carpenter for 20 years and later bought Music Machine from him. I helped Dave conceive this run and was at the factory with him when we pulled all the wood for these guitars. There is a lot of wrong information about these guitars online, including in this forum. There were actually 2 Stinger Murphy aged 59's built. I still have all the original invoices and records for these guitars, if anybody wants accurate information, please hit me up! I also have original Stinger brochures and original COA's that I can replace, as I have the blanks and I hand filled out most of the originals. Thanks!

Hi Rick -- please check your DMs for a question from me.
 

DanLi

New member
Joined
Jan 12, 2023
Messages
1
Hey guys!

My name is Rick van Heel, I worked for Dave Carpenter for 20 years and later bought Music Machine from him. I helped Dave conceive this run and was at the factory with him when we pulled all the wood for these guitars. There is a lot of wrong information about these guitars online, including in this forum. There were actually 2 Stinger Murphy aged 59's built. I still have all the original invoices and records for these guitars, if anybody wants accurate information, please hit me up! I also have original Stinger brochures and original COA's that I can replace, as I have the blanks and I hand filled out most of the originals. Thanks!
Hi Rick,
I have just bought a 2003 1957 reissue MM stinger, can I order a COA from you as the original Gibson custom COA has gone missing, I will DM you with the guitar information and serial number.
Thank you
Dan
 
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