NGD - Murphy R7 Double Gold

[LCW]

First Gold Top and first Murphy Lab…

Traded in an R9. Played a couple Murphy R9s (Light Aged) and this 57 Gold Top Ultra Light Aged… Clearly it won out. I actually like the thicker neck and it just resonated and sounded better. I cycled through all 3 for almost an hour in the amp room.

I was hesitant on ML guitars before but this has swayed me. Sounds amazing. Nice checking. Not worn enough to have that broken in feel but despite that it felt great in hand.

I’m over the moon and planning what else I can trade in on some other future Murphys. I’m blown away by how good this is!

Here it is… R7 Ultra Light Aged, Double Gold…

 

[LCW]

Few more photos - hit limit in post above…

 

[jb_abides]

Congrats. That looks like a winner indeed.

Any touches of greening in the Ultra Light ML level?

 

[LCW]

Congrats. That looks like a winner indeed.

Any touches of greening in the Ultra Light ML level?

No - it’s got nice checking but that’s as far as the aging goes in the Ultra Lights. A bit of tarnish on the hardware and couple very minor dings but no big wear spots or greening. A good intro to the Murphy world for me at least.

I’d be curious to see a Heavy or Ultra Heavy Aged version. Those would be a lot more beat up and worn in.

 

[Any Name You Wish]

That double gold is nice. Come to think of it, double anything is nice. Except a hernia. A double hernia is not nice. But, double gold is fabulous!

 

[TBurst Std]

Damn
I know what I’m dreaming about tonight

Congrats

 

[clapciadrix]

That double gold is nice. Come to think of it, double anything is nice. Except a hernia. A double hernia is not nice. But, double gold is fabulous!

What does “double gold” mean? Thanks

 

[Blind Lemon Chicken]

No - it’s got nice checking but that’s as far as the aging goes in the Ultra Lights. A bit of tarnish on the hardware and couple very minor dings but no big wear spots or greening. A good intro to the Murphy world for me at least.

I’d be curious to see a Heavy or Ultra Heavy Aged version. Those would be a lot more beat up and worn in.

Heavy Aged R4..

 

[McCarthy]

Really nice, congrats! I love the MLs - heavy aged is generally my favorite…

I have found that a great ML guitar is the best feeling Gibson reissue ever, hands down.

My ‘59 ML…

 

[gmann]

What does “double gold” mean? Thanks

I think it’s a marketing term.

 

[Happy Tree]

It's 1 golder

 

[jb_abides]

It's 1 golder

Gold --




Double Gold --




"I love gold! The look of it! The smell of it! The taste of it! The texture! I love gold so much that I lost my genitalia in an unfortunate smelting accident. Hence the name... Goldmember."

 

[Cliff Gress]

Is the ML finish more akin to gloss or VOS before ageing? Is there a closet clean ML?

 

[jb_abides]

Is the ML finish more akin to gloss or VOS before ageing? Is there a closet clean ML?

VOS is Gloss minus the final buffing stages which that super high gloss result i.e. they are the very same lacquer formulation in different end-stages of the finishing process. And in most cases, the hardware for Gloss is pristing, although I've seen Gloss guitars with some of the aged hardware. Go figure. You can 'Gloss-up' a VOS by cleaning/de-gunking then using polish to achieve the Gloss finish results, but you can't get pristine hardware once it has been tarnished, obviously...

Muphy Lab finish formulation is different; not sure how it looks 'out of the booth' before the freezer and 'Lab process'.

ML 'Ultra Light' would be closest to Closet Classic or Under-The-Bed, but not strictly un touched and unplayed... more like 'well cared for' after every use over years of ownership. Here's what Gibson has to say:

Ultra Light Aging: The Murphy Lab Ultra Light Aged finish treatment, paired with lightly aged hardware, simulates decades of very light play wear, giving it the unique character, vibe, and feel of an original example from the Gibson Golden Era. Expect a weather-checked finish with only the lightest aging touches on the instrument.​

From their official marketing guide to the Murphy Lab Levels:

Which Gibson Murphy Lab aging level is right for you? - Gibson Gazette

Watch our Murphy Lab explainer to see and hear the differences In the debut video on the new Gibson Gear Guide YouTube channel, our in-house gear expert Dinesh Lekhraj walks and plays through the different aging levels of the Gibson Murphy Lab, answering frequently asked questions from Gibson...

gazette.gibson.com

 

[Ed Driscoll]

What does “double gold” mean? Thanks

Here’s a post from 2023 by JB_Abides on what the description means:

'Double Gold' is the finish name for most current gold custom shops, particularly historic reissues.

It's said to be slightly darker, more metallic and a better match to the vintage gold tops. In some light, it seems to have subtle green undertones.

Other Gibson names for gold include 'Bullion Gold' which is brighter, and 'Antique Gold'.

They've used the 'Double Gold' name for a finish formulation before; I am not sure if the recent use is an updated formulation, just reintroduction, etc. Even for the same name, year to year, and perhaps batch to batch of paint mixes, you might see variations.

And you really have to look at the individual guitar or compare using exact conditions, as the look depends on light, obviously, plus photographic characteristics (white balance, etc.).

Some folks can discern differences with ease, to others... gold looks gold... so eye receptors play a role as well.

 

[Tommy Tourbus]

You can 'Gloss-up' a VOS by cleaning/de-gunking then using polish to achieve the Gloss finish results, but you can't get pristine hardware once it has been tarnished, obviously...

I don't think they are gunking them up anymore. I used to de'gunk and polish my VOS's, but the last couple I've gotten made within the last couple years aren't gunky. The finish is actually clean, as in no film of crud on them. Which is great imo. I used to get so pissed and would cuss out gibson as I was stripping all the parts off a brand new guitar and cleaning and polishing it. Absolutely F'ing ridiculous LOL

 

[Cliff Gress]

VOS is Gloss minus the final buffing stages which that super high gloss result i.e. they are the very same lacquer formulation in different end-stages of the finishing process. And in most cases, the hardware for Gloss is pristing, although I've seen Gloss guitars with some of the aged hardware. Go figure. You can 'Gloss-up' a VOS by cleaning/de-gunking then using polish to achieve the Gloss finish results, but you can't get pristine hardware once it has been tarnished, obviously...

Muphy Lab finish formulation is different; not sure how it looks 'out of the booth' before the freezer and 'Lab process'.

ML 'Ultra Light' would be closest to Closet Classic or Under-The-Bed, but not strictly un touched and unplayed... more like 'well cared for' after every use over years of ownership. Here's what Gibson has to say:

Ultra Light Aging: The Murphy Lab Ultra Light Aged finish treatment, paired with lightly aged hardware, simulates decades of very light play wear, giving it the unique character, vibe, and feel of an original example from the Gibson Golden Era. Expect a weather-checked finish with only the lightest aging touches on the instrument.​

From their official marketing guide to the Murphy Lab Levels:

That's what I was wondering about...how they look before the freezer and lab process. It would be fun to have an ML without checking and watch it check as I played it.

 

[jb_abides]

That's what I was wondering about...how they look before the freezer and lab process. It would be fun to have an ML without checking and watch it check as I played it.

Tom Murphy has said something to the effect Gibson would never release a pre-freezer Murphy Lab finished guitar, due to the accelerated crazed characteristics. They need to perform the freeze and then let it stabilize prior to sale. Perhaps other post-freeze processes ensue beyond curing and the 'profesional beatings' aka relic-ing, to help set the finish...?

 

[EdwardR9]

Spark ups that IIC+ and let her rip.