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.
Gibson Custom Shop’s 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue is not just a tribute to the priceless original models — it’s a clone of them. From laser-scanned dimensions to chemically-recreated plastics to color-matched shades of sunburst, every element has been rendered in unbelievable detail. It represents the culmination of decades of work by Custom Shop’s expert team — a tireless quest to bring accuracy and authenticity to the hands of fans. It’s the definition of cool, and it’s the best representation of the 1959 Les Paul Standard since the Gibson Custom Shop began making Historic Reissues over twenty-five years ago. 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.
Serial #: 911184
Weight: 8lbs 14.1oz
Body Shape: Les Paul
Top: 2-Piece Figured 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: Authentic ’59 Medium C-Shape
Scale Length: 24.75″
Fingerboard Material: Indian Rosewood, Hide Glue Fit
Fingerboard Radius: 12″
Number Of Frets: 22
Frets: Authentic Medium-Jumbo
Nut Material: Nylon
Nut Width: 1.687″
End of Board Width: 2.24″
Inlays: Cellulose Nitrate Trapezoid
Joint: Long Tenon, Hide Glue Fit
Hardware Finish: Nickel; Murphy Lab Heavy Aged
Tuner Plating: Nickel
Bridge: ABR-1
Saddle Material: Nickel-plated Brass
Tailpiece: Lightweight Aluminum Stop Bar
Tuning Machines: Kluson Single Line, Single Ring
Pickguard: Laminated Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Truss Rod: Authentic 1950s No-Tube
Truss Rod Cover: Authentic Stepped 2-Ply
Control Knobs: Gold Butyrate Top Hats
Switch Tip: Amber Catalin
Switchwasher: Replica Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Jack Plate Cover: Laminated Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Control Covers: Black Royalite
Strap Buttons: Aluminum
Mounting Rings: M69 Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Pickup Covers: Authentic Profile Nickel Silver
Neck Pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3 (Unpotted)
Bridge Pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3 (Unpotted)
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 Reissue 5-Latch
Accessories: Certificate of Authenticity, Mounted Custom Shop Switch Plate Medallion; Reissue Switch Backplate in Case