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Murphy Lab, Murphy Lab everywhere!

Bulwark

Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2019
Messages
52
Greetings, to all!

I noticed an explosion of Murphy Lab-related content on teh intarwebz today, instruments on sale on Reverb, on Wildwood’s site, hell even Guitar Center. The Gibson website has a smattering of listings (separated out by color instead of grouped by type, so the list now looks quite bloated compared to a day or two ago).

Despite all this, I struggle to find any clear info on exactly what‘s new and different about these beyond a focus on aging realism. There are little hints here and there about the nitro and related to the bridge (whole thing or just saddles, and did I read somewhere about ALUMINUM plated saddles?), but nothing clear and far from definitive.

Anyone out there found more? Let’s pile it all up in this thread!
 

sunking101

Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2020
Messages
102
Just seems like a load of guitars for the relic crowd to me. Light relics right through to heavy distress. It looks tastefully done though.
 

jrgtr42

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2005
Messages
2,308
I saw them on the email blast from CME as well.
From what I gather, there;s something like 50 skus out there, covering the various models in each relic level... starting at about $5k, going up from there.
I won't say that I'm not interested in checking them out, but SWMBO would kill me for spending that kind of dosh...
 

Bulwark

Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2019
Messages
52
From the Wildwood site, in a description blurb for one of the instruments:

”Well, first off, Tom has discovered a brand-new formula for nitrocellulose lacquer that mimics the properties of 1950s and ‘60s finishes to a T. Thanks to this thinner finish, Murphy Lab guitars look like authentic vintage pieces. They don’t just look the part--they are the real McCoy!”

In table below the blurb:
BridgeABR-1 with Aluminum-Plated Brass Saddles
 

Moonday

New member
Joined
Mar 11, 2021
Messages
5
I am new here just to post on these. I received mine today. It is a heavy relic.

Out of the case looks are obviously fantastic. The thing that struck me the most is the neck playability. Feels amazing (I know it sounds weird but a cross between a PRS and Novo not in terms of size or shape but feel).

The details are cool. Switch tip smells like formaldehyde, maple slice in the cutout seems correct and the pickguard is a more sloppy fit than my 2020 Les Paul Standard. For someone like me who loves the idea of vintage guitars but can't get there financially or mentally due to breaking it, these are a great spot in the market IMHO.

If anyone has questions I am happy to answer what I can.
 

muddydunc

New member
Joined
Jan 20, 2021
Messages
18
I am new here just to post on these. I received mine today. It is a heavy relic.

Out of the case looks are obviously fantastic. The thing that struck me the most is the neck playability. Feels amazing (I know it sounds weird but a cross between a PRS and Novo not in terms of size or shape but feel).

The details are cool. Switch tip smells like formaldehyde, maple slice in the cutout seems correct and the pickguard is a more sloppy fit than my 2020 Les Paul Standard. For someone like me who loves the idea of vintage guitars but can't get there financially or mentally due to breaking it, these are a great spot in the market IMHO.

If anyone has questions I am happy to answer what I can.
PIcs! I need pics..... :eek:)
 

sanhozay

Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2003
Messages
165
sans, price and typical holy grail shilling that rolls out with these new launches, they are FUN!
 

Moonday

New member
Joined
Mar 11, 2021
Messages
5
I thought the picture request would come in but I wanted to take some interesting pictures to give people a true feel. Pics and comments below;



1) Murphy Green Lemon Fade- This color is really dynamic under light and can go from light to dark. My much enjoyed understated flame but it is there.
2) This pick shows some of the edge relicing and a checking pattern example from the back. My overall comment on the checking is that it is more Fender like. I have a collectors choice and the checking is improved on this one IMHO.
3) Some more checking detail around the controls
4) Some more checking detail around the switch and the switch tip
5) Some more checking detail around the edge. Notice the bare wood flame
6) M69 Plastic and slight sloppiness around the pickguard fit like historic
7) Neck Rolling and red dots
8) Maple sliver
9) My eyes are always drawn to headstock aging. More checking examples
10) Notice the off colors on the bridge mounting screws. Subtle flame and more checking.

Other comments. From a musical standpoint is this $6500 better than a 2021 Standard. No. Does it elicit feelings which may be worth more than $6500 to some while playing ....yes.

I am happy to provide feedback if people are interested.
 
Last edited:

wstsdr

New member
Joined
Apr 30, 2020
Messages
2
I thought the picture request would come in but I wanted to take some interesting pictures to give people a true feel. Pics and comments below;



1) Murphy Green Lemon Fade- This color is really dynamic under light and can go from light to dark. My much enjoyed understated flame but it is there.
2) This pick shows some of the edge relicing and a checking pattern example from the back. My overall comment on the checking is that it is more Fender like. I have a collectors choice and the checking is improved on this one IMHO.
3) Some more checking detail around the controls
4) Some more checking detail around the switch and the switch tip
5) Some more checking detail around the edge. Notice the bare wood flame
6) M69 Plastic and slight sloppiness around the pickguard fit like historic
7) Neck Rolling and red dots
8) Maple sliver
9) My eyes are always drawn to headstock aging. More checking examples
10) Notice the off colors on the bridge mounting screws. Subtle flame and more checking.

Other comments. From a musical standpoint is this $6500 better than a 2021 Standard. No. Does it elicit feelings which may be worth more than $6500 to some while playing ....yes.

I am happy to provide feedback if people are interested.
Thanks for posting this Moonday!

Initially I was a bit skeptical when I saw the prices jump substantially from other "relic" versions of the LP. I don't know much so I appreciate all the information I can get to wrap my head around the new pricing/value proposition. Would love to hear more about your experience and enjoy that beauty!
 

Play

New member
Joined
May 29, 2020
Messages
7
Testing uploading photos of my new Murphy Labs painted and heavy aged by Tom Murphy along with my Gil Yaron Burst.

I own a 2003 Brazilian painted and aged by TM and a 1996 Historic. I also own many vintage Les Pauls.

I have never played a recent modern historic. So, take this as me having no post true historic / collectors choice / hide glue era experience before today. I haven’t played a historic newer than 2005 till today.

I can say that Gibson has come a long way since the first half of the first decade of the century. But, I’m sure most of you know that and this isn’t new information. This Murphy Lab guitar’s aging is very realistic. It is way more realistic than any I’ve seen before although being a “heavy aged” spec it is more aged than my real burst. It feels old and I love that. It’s by far the most impressive modern Gibson I’ve played from both a quality / accuracy perspective and the finish is very cool (if like me you’re into that sort of thing).

I photo’d it next to my Yaron cause it has more in common with that than the 2003 Historic. Most of my other LP’s are not at this address. This guitar plays like the Yaron but with more aging so it feels a little better in that regard. The Yaron sounds better but I think that’s mainly due to the pickups. These custom buckets sound better than Burstbuckers to my ears (not as dark) but I plan the change the PU’s in the ML guitar. Overall, I’m massively impressed. It looks and feels like an old Les Paul. They definitely have gotten these guitars into the zone of the old ones.

I also want to thank Wildwood Guitars for a great experience. They are really top flight in customer service and everything that goes into delivering a dream guitar like this.

If anyone has any specific questions I’ll do my best to answer but I’m not much of a forum person. Thanks!










 
Last edited:

Moonday

New member
Joined
Mar 11, 2021
Messages
5
Thanks for posting this Moonday!

Initially I was a bit skeptical when I saw the prices jump substantially from other "relic" versions of the LP. I don't know much so I appreciate all the information I can get to wrap my head around the new pricing/value proposition. Would love to hear more about your experience and enjoy that beauty!
Thx man I will enjoy it. I know people are talking about the price jump and I get it. To me I put these in with the Collectors Choice. They were 8-10k new 10 years ago. I nearly pulled the trigger on a 12k CC#2 Goldie a few times myself. In the end I feel like this scratches that itch for me. One of the reasons I moved on this one is that I was extremely impressed by a 2020 standard 60s I bought. Gibson is producing high quality right now. I work in finance and I know if you give private equity guys a 10% return they are going to want to get 15% so I made a play on the quality as I see it right now. This guitar's quality is within my expectations for the price of similar guitars YMMV.

I follow the market fairly well and you can get VOS or Gloss R8s/R9s for high2s/low3ks respectively. The higher end relics and collectors choice are not coming down. They sit in that 6-8k range. Boutique builders like Bartlett or Huber are 6-8k (I have had these and would rather have this r9). To play up and get the color and flame pattern I want for a small amount more is another way I honed in.

If you are purely interested in playability and music. Go get a standard for 2.5K get it pleked and you are right there with this one. Some of us are suckers for the vibe of these and I am one of those suckers.
 

Play

New member
Joined
May 29, 2020
Messages
7
I thought the picture request would come in but I wanted to take some interesting pictures to give people a true feel. Pics and comments below;



1) Murphy Green Lemon Fade- This color is really dynamic under light and can go from light to dark. My much enjoyed understated flame but it is there.
2) This pick shows some of the edge relicing and a checking pattern example from the back. My overall comment on the checking is that it is more Fender like. I have a collectors choice and the checking is improved on this one IMHO.
3) Some more checking detail around the controls
4) Some more checking detail around the switch and the switch tip
5) Some more checking detail around the edge. Notice the bare wood flame
6) M69 Plastic and slight sloppiness around the pickguard fit like historic
7) Neck Rolling and red dots
8) Maple sliver
9) My eyes are always drawn to headstock aging. More checking examples
10) Notice the off colors on the bridge mounting screws. Subtle flame and more checking.

Other comments. From a musical standpoint is this $6500 better than a 2021 Standard. No. Does it elicit feelings which may be worth more than $6500 to some while playing ....yes.

I am happy to provide feedback if people are interested.

That is a beautiful guitar! Congratulations!!
 

sanhozay

Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2003
Messages
165
I follow the market fairly well and you can get VOS or Gloss R8s/R9s for high2s/low3ks respectively.

almost never from a dealer or on reverb. and any private sale listing a R9 in the low 3k range is almost always selling a story. my findings would add a grand to both of those figures to empower a healthy consumer with a reasonable expectation.
 

Moonday

New member
Joined
Mar 11, 2021
Messages
5
almost never from a dealer or on reverb. and any private sale listing a R9 in the low 3k range is almost always selling a story. my findings would add a grand to both of those figures to empower a healthy consumer with a reasonable expectation.
I do not disagree. I was probably a little aggressive with the word "can".
 
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