Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1960 Les Paul Standard “CME Spec” Heritage Cherry Sunburst Ultra Light 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.  

1960 was the last year for the original Les Paul Standard, nearly identical to a 1959 model except for a few specs. Most notably, it features a fast-playing slim neck profile, beloved by the many famous musicians who played ’60 Bursts including Eric Clapton, Joe Walsh, and Paul McCartney. It also has “reector” Volume & Tone knobs and wider “double-ring” tuner tips. The Custom Shop 1960 Les Paul Standard Reissue is a clone of the originals from the hide-glue construction to the chemically re-engineered plastic parts. Each one is built with extreme care, reverence and attention to detail by expert Custom Shop craftspeople who are committed to providing an authentic vintage ownership experience. It also features Ultra Light Aging by the skilled artisans of the Murphy Lab. The Murphy Lab Light Aged finish treatment, paired with lightly aged hardware, simulates decades of light play wear, giving it the unique character, vibe, and feel of an original example from the Gibson Golden Era.