Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1954 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue Double Gold Heavy Aged Gibson

Gibson Custom Shop’s new Murphy Lab has one purpose: to take expert aging artist Tom Murphy’s proprietary techniques to the next level. Here, Tom and his personally trained team of artists use cutting-edge technology and Tom’s own processes, developed over years of careful testing, to produce perfect replicas of golden-age Gibsons, each dressed with Tom’s brand of authentic, hand-applied playwear, and scientifically reverse-engineered nitrocellulose lacquer, identical to that which the brand used in the 1950s and 1960s. Each Murphy Lab model corresponds to one of four distinct aging levels and features extra-rolled fingerboard binding for a broken-in feel and true-to-life look. 

From Freddie King to Jeff Beck, many great pickers have been attracted the unique character of the “wraparound” tailpiece of a 1954 Les Paul Goldtop. Some believe its direct link to the body stud screws maximizes sustain while others believe the wraparound bar creates a distinct tonality and vocal quality. Whatever the case, there is certainly something special about this early year in the Les Paul Model’s history and Gibson Custom Shop created this ’54 Reissue to perfectly recapture the look, feel, and tone of the originals. It features Heavy Aging by the skilled artisans of the Murphy Lab. The Murphy Lab Heavy Aged finish treatment, paired with heavily aged hardware, simulates decades of heavy play wear, giving it the unique character, vibe, and feel of an original example from the Gibson Golden Era.

Body Shape: Les Paul
Top: 2-Piece Plain Maple, Hide Glue Fit
Back: 1-Piece Lightweight Mahogany
Binding: 1-Ply Royalite
Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer; Murphy Lab Heavy Aged

Neck Material: Solid Mahogany
Profile: Chunky C-Shape
Scale Length: 24.75″
Fingerboard Material: Indian Rosewood, Hide Glue Fit
Fingerboard Radius: 12″
Number Of Frets: 22
Frets: Historic Gibson Narrow/Tall
Nut Material: Nylon
Nut Width: 1.687″
End of Board Width: 2.24″
Inlays: Aged Cellulose Nitrate Trapezoid
Joint: Long Tenon, Hide Glue Fit

Hardware Finish: Nickel; Murphy Lab Heavy Aged
Tuner Plating: Nickel
Bridge: Wraparound
Tailpiece: Wraparound
Tuning Machines: Kluson Single Line, Single Ring
Pickguard: Laminated Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
TrussRod: Authentic 1950s No-Tube
Truss Rod Cover: Authentic Stepped 2-Ply
Control Knobs: Gold Speed Knobs
Switch Tip: Amber Catalin
Switchwasher: Silkscreened Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Jack Plate Cover: Laminated Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Control Covers: Brown Royalite
Strap Buttons: Aluminum
Pickup Covers: Soapbar Cellulose Acetate Butyrate

Neck Pickup: Custom Soapbar P-90
Bridge Pickup: Custom Soapbar P-90
Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, CTS 500K Audio Taper Potentiometers, Paper-in-Oil Capacitors
Pickup Selector: 3-Way Switchcraft
Output Jack: 1/4″ Switchcraft

Strings Gauge: .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
Case: Aged Brown/Pink Lifton Reissue 5-Latch Case
Accessories: Certificate of Authenticity, Mounted Custom Shop Switch Plate Medallion; Reissue Switch Backplate in Case