Withdrawn. Gibson Les Paul custom shop R6 (1956) Murphy’s Lab - light relic

TheMarlin

Thanks very much to the moderators for letting me break this guitar out into its own separate thread. 

I will donate some of the sale towards upkeep of this amazing forum. 

Guitar is a Gibson Les Paul R6 Murphy’s Lab - light relic 

I’ve had it about a year, and it genuinely is my favourite guitar.  It reached me in great shape, but luthier went over it with a fine toothed comb, and typical of Gibson finishing, it needed 12 high frets levelling and crowning. 

It plays beautifully, with fantastic action, and sounds spectacular.  The neck pickup is especially woody and glorious.  

Neck has a nice bit of girth on it without being huge. It’s supremely comfortable to play. 

Comes with paperwork and hard case, and a Bigsby B7 bolted to it.  The Bigsby is mounted on a vibramate, so is fully reversible.  If you’re not a fan of Bigsbys (crazy fool!), then it can be removed and there would be no evidence it was ever there. 

I REALLY REALLY don’t want to sell this, but tax man is being awfully needy, and nothing else is selling.

As of the end of the month, I’ll be working in Manchester regularly, so I can personally deliver between London and the north for free. 

Thanks to @dazzajl for kindly taking photos for me. What an absolute legend. 

SALE WITHDRAWN

Thanks for looking, but withdrawn from sale

Marlin

McToot

You have to put this up on a day that I have decided I 'need' a 2xP90 guitar, ideally in gold top livery. You are a cruel cruel Marlin. Given half a chance I'd do this to you...

TheMarlin

McToot said:

You have to put this up on a day that I have decided I 'need' a 2xP90 guitar, ideally in gold top livery. You are a cruel cruel Marlin. Given half a chance I'd do this to you...

Can I stuff and mount the tax man?  He’s the cruel
bugger forcing my hand. 

It’s honestly the best guitar I’ve ever had.  And, i’m
no Gibson fanboy. If you look through my history, you’ll find posts saying how much I dislike Les Paul’s. But I got into P90’s (not a fan of humbuckers) and it eventually lead me to this  paradigm shattering guitar.  

I’ve never spent anything like that on a guitar before, and it’s honestly worth every single penny.  When the good times role, I WILL have another exactly the same. 

Sobs into hanky…. 

dazzajl

Yeee’up. Have to grudgingly admit that this is the best guitar I’ve played. Full stop. 

designerseye88

Change of pants needed over here

octatonic

What neck profile does this have?

TheMarlin

It’s based on a 1956 neck, so got a bit of a chunk, but by no means massive.  It’s not baseball bat, it’s actually super comfortable. 

Round profile, no big shoulders on it, just a bit of extra thickness in the neck. 

It’s the best neck on any of my guitars. 

octatonic

I don't know the '56 neck.
Is it bigger or smaller than a '59?

TheMarlin

I’m not a Les Paul expert. I don’t like Gibson PAFs at all, I’ve never played a 59.

I’ve owned a 58 Maybach Lester which was a fab guitar, but PAFS are just not for me.  I’d say the neck was the same, maybe very slightly thicker on the 56, but doesn’t have the 58’s shoulders (on the neck), so it fits in the hand much more comfortably. 

It does have some depth, it’s not a slim neck, but it is very very comfortable. Probably the best neck on any guitar I’ve owned. 

I wish Gretsch would put a neck like that on a few of their guitars. 

octatonic

I'm interested but I don't want to waste your time.
I've not played a Maybach.

I'm super picky with LP necks, 50's, 57, 58 are all too big for me.
I can deal with a '59 neck. 60's neck is too slim.

Do you have calipers at all?

dcg

I have a 2019 goldtop R4 VOS: also about the finest instrument I've owned (and the most expensive).  Please buy this splendid R6 from @TheMarlin without further delay; I know what it feels like to have HMRC in hot pursuit... 

TheMarlin

octatonic said:

I'm interested but I don't want to waste your time.
I've not played a Maybach.

I'm super picky with LP necks, 50's, 57, 58 are all too big for me.
I can deal with a '59 neck. 60's neck is too slim.

Do you have calipers at all?

I do. Let me know the measurements you need, will do it shortly. 

TheMarlin

dcg said:

I have a 2019 goldtop R4 VOS: also about the finest instrument I've owned (and the most expensive).  Please buy this splendid R6 from @TheMarlin without further delay; I know what it feels like to have HMRC in hot pursuit... 

they’re not quite in pursuit, but they are shopping for running spikes

octatonic

Cheers, around the 1st and 12th fret would be great.

markj

octatonic said:

I don't know the '56 neck.
Is it bigger or smaller than a '59?

I picked up a 2023 Custom shop 56 like this but without a Bigsby and not a Murphy lab late last year.
The neck is definitely bigger than on the 56 compared to the 2021 R9 that I sold to fund the 56.
I found the  R9 to be quite slim.
The necks on these 56 are absolutely wonderful.
 I changed the stock pickups for a set of ThroBak and the guitar absolutely blows me away every time I play it.

TheMarlin

Bump

TheMarlin

Bump for spectacular guitar

dazzajl

Someone please buy this and show off the value of upping your marketing. 

My professional reputation is slightly on the line here 

Dominic

markj said:

octatonic said:

I don't know the '56 neck.
Is it bigger or smaller than a '59?

I picked up a 2023 Custom shop 56 like this but without a Bigsby and not a Murphy lab late last year.
The neck is definitely bigger than on the 56 compared to the 2021 R9 that I sold to fund the 56.
I found the  R9 to be quite slim.
The necks on these 56 are absolutely wonderful.
 I changed the stock pickups for a set of ThroBak and the guitar absolutely blows me away every time I play it.

You say that but having spent a few weeks with this guitar on loan from Marlin I have to say that the neck P90 is just the sweetest loveliest pick-up sound I have ever heard .If I had spare money at the moment I would buy the guitar for that sound alone

octatonic

octatonic said:

Cheers, around the 1st and 12th fret would be great.

Marlin?

dazzajl

Dominic said:

markj said:

octatonic said:

I don't know the '56 neck.
Is it bigger or smaller than a '59?

I picked up a 2023 Custom shop 56 like this but without a Bigsby and not a Murphy lab late last year.
The neck is definitely bigger than on the 56 compared to the 2021 R9 that I sold to fund the 56.
I found the  R9 to be quite slim.
The necks on these 56 are absolutely wonderful.
 I changed the stock pickups for a set of ThroBak and the guitar absolutely blows me away every time I play it.

You say that but having spent a few weeks with this guitar on loan from Marlin I have to say that the neck P90 is just the sweetest loveliest pick-up sound I have ever heard .If I had spare money at the moment I would buy the guitar for that sound alone

As someone who’s always found the whole Murphy Lab ‘thing’ pretty hard to swallow and would have loved my stunning hand built Goldtop to have shown this guitar a clean pair of heels, I have to completely agree. There is something very special about this guitar. If you might be in the market, you really should go and see it for yourself. Marlin is super lovely and makes and excellent espresso.