Gibson previews first Murphy Lab models with sneak peek at new artificially aged Les Pauls

Gibson Murphy Lab Les Pauls
(Image credit: Gueikian/Instagram)

At the tail end of 2019, Gibson announced the Murphy Lab, a new division of the Gibson Custom Shop that focuses on building historically accurate guitars – and now we’ve been offered our first glimpse at these Tom Murphy-masterminded models.

In a new Instagram post, Gibson CMO Cesar Gueikian shared shots of three new aged Les Pauls with the caption, “We’re working on some #epic stuff #prototype at the Murphy Lab - Gibson Custom Shop Historic Collection”.

The trio of LPs – two ’bursts and one goldtop – feature comprehensive checking and finish wear. And as you’d expect from Murphy – one of the original pioneers of guitar aging – the results are impressively authentic.

There’s no word on when we can expect the first of these models to be officially announced, but we’ll keep you posted.

Until then, you can admire this delectable trio…

A post shared by Cesar (Gibson) (@gueikian)

A photo posted by on on Aug 24, 2020 at 2:17pm PDT

Michael Astley-Brown
Editor-in-Chief, GuitarWorld.com

Mike has been Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com since 2019, and an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict for far longer. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and 15 years' experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Radiohead's Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. His writing also appears in the The Cambridge Companion to the Electric Guitar. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock as Maebe.