Gibson's New Murphy Lab

designerseye88 · December 2019

This popped up on my news feed.....

https://guitar.com/news/industry-news/gibson-murphy-lab-new-custom-shop-head/

BeardyAndy · December 2019

Let me get my popcorn... the relic haters will be here soon!

guitars4you · December 2019

I'm a fan of TM's work on many of the Gibson Guitars I've seen - I own a 57 TM Gold Top

but this paragraph Gibson has announced that renowned guitar-ageing specialist Tom Murphy will join the company as ‘Master Artisan’ of the newly-created Murphy Lab, a division of the Custom Shop focused on delivering historically accurate recreations of the company’s most legendary instruments. makes me think a) another load of marketing 'crap' and b) does that mean all the previous 'replicas' were or are not accurate - What was 'true historic' ????

p90fool · December 2019

guitars4you said:

I'm a fan of TM's work on many of the Gibson Guitars I've seen - I own a 57 TM Gold Top

but this paragraph Gibson has announced that renowned guitar-ageing specialist Tom Murphy will join the company as ‘Master Artisan’ of the newly-created Murphy Lab, a division of the Custom Shop focused on delivering historically accurate recreations of the company’s most legendary instruments. makes me think a) another load of marketing 'crap' and b) does that mean all the previous 'replicas' were or are not accurate - What was 'true historic' ????

I took it to mean that they'll be replicas of specific individual vintage guitars rather than just another "even more accurate" '59 Les Paul.

Whitecat · December 2019

guitars4you said:

b) does that mean all the previous 'replicas' were or are not accurate - What was 'true historic' ????

Tbf that’s been Gibson’s entire business model for years. Guess old habits die hard...

danny_777 · December 2019

The price is going to be eye-watering on these. And if he's still using the scalpel method for creating lacquer checking, I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole - looks awful close-up and nothing like the real thing.

designerseye88 · December 2019

Hard to know what this actually means whether its specific guitars or just an even more Truer historic. My take is that it will be aimed at competing with he small luthiers who are making replicas.

RonnieHotdogs · December 2019

Saw you coming

IvisonGuitars · December 2019

designerseye88 said:

Hard to know what this actually means whether its specific guitars or just an even more Truer historic. My take is that it will be aimed at competing with he small luthiers who are making replicas.

This is what I took from it too and I have to say it’s long overdue. Good luck to them and I genuinely hope it’s a roaring success, I’ve said for a long time, a ‘proper’ Gibson replica would be a money spinner. But if they thought the fallout from ‘Play Authentic’ was bad, just wait till the replica corksniffers get hold of one, start pulling it apart and start the ‘How Authentic’ backlash...

Danielsguitars · December 2019

Untill they use the original fret scale it's all nonsense anyway, what about fading it properly plus all the other bits they seem to gloss over, gotta laugh really, they're just a Les Paul not an historic recreation imo

Plus I bloody hate that straight tailpiece, it's never been right and looks wrong, hope Mr Murphy can at least sort that out

guitars4you · December 2019

IvisonGuitars said:

designerseye88 said:

Hard to know what this actually means whether its specific guitars or just an even more Truer historic. My take is that it will be aimed at competing with he small luthiers who are making replicas.

This is what I took from it too and I have to say it’s long overdue. Good luck to them and I genuinely hope it’s a roaring success, I’ve said for a long time, a ‘proper’ Gibson replica would be a money spinner. But if they thought the fallout from ‘Play Authentic’ was bad, just wait till the replica corksniffers get hold of one, start pulling it apart and start the ‘How Authentic’ backlash...

Does TM actually build guitars - Or his he an expert on the refin and ageing ?

Litterick · December 2019

Why oh why?

Danielsguitars · December 2019

Litterick said:

Why oh why?

This ^

RandallFlagg · December 2019

Will they use hide glue?

rossi · December 2019

I own a 2002 Tom Murphy VW Golf SE .It even has updates like the rear wheel arch dent. Done in multi story after a blues jam .

Danielsguitars · December 2019

guitars4you said:

Does TM actually build guitars - Or his he an expert on the refin and ageing ?

He'd make a great carpet fitter as he's an expert with a razor blade that's all I know

IvisonGuitars · December 2019

guitars4you said:

IvisonGuitars said:

designerseye88 said:

Hard to know what this actually means whether its specific guitars or just an even more Truer historic. My take is that it will be aimed at competing with he small luthiers who are making replicas.

This is what I took from it too and I have to say it’s long overdue. Good luck to them and I genuinely hope it’s a roaring success, I’ve said for a long time, a ‘proper’ Gibson replica would be a money spinner. But if they thought the fallout from ‘Play Authentic’ was bad, just wait till the replica corksniffers get hold of one, start pulling it apart and start the ‘How Authentic’ backlash...

Does TM actually build guitars - Or his he an expert on the refin and ageing ?

I don’t think he builds or ever has, he’s the Gibson go to guy for razor checking on the bodies, luckily he doesn’t go near the fretboards with it though.

grappagreen · December 2019

From a business perspective I think it's a good move. They'll be f'kin expensive but if they get it right they'll sell. Murphy is just a 'branding exercise' in my view but hey that's pretty much 99% of the guitar marketing world so...

Let's just say I won't be interested personally

Si

dindude · December 2019

May as well cash in on those who care about such historical accuracy before they die. I do wonder about Gibson’s long term strategy - middle-aged men in leather jackets is about as young as their target gets. At least Fender are actively targeting the young, and females, in their strategy.

JD50 · December 2019

Still do get why they don't just reduce the headstock angle and make a guitar that stays in tune.

Whitecat · December 2019

JD50 said:

Still do get why they don't just reduce the headstock angle and make a guitar that stays in tune.

68 reissues have shallower headstock angles. Otherwise we’re talking about replicas which is why they don’t...

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

Gibson's New Murphy Lab

Comments