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.
With its elegant lines and ebony/pearl/gold aesthetic, the 1957 Les Paul Custom is easily one of the most iconic and beautiful guitars ever made. It features a body carved out of a single large piece of solid mahogany, unique among Les Paul models. The resulting dark mid-range tone from the body pairs perfectly with its bright-sounding solid ebony fingerboard. Altogether, it's the pinnacle of guitar craftsmanship, design, and tone. Gibson Custom Shop is proud to revive every last detail of the original "Black Beauty" for this '57 Les Paul Custom Reissue, from the dimensions and contours to the precise inlay patterns, to the entire ownership experience. It also features 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 natural play wear, giving it the unique character, vibe, and feel of an original example from the Gibson Golden Era.
Body Shape: Les Paul Body: 1-Piece Solid Mahogany Weight Relief: None Binding: Multi-ply
Neck: Solid Mahogany Profile: Chunky C-Shape Nut width: 1.687" / 42.85mm Fingerboard: Solid Ebony Scale length: 24.75" / 628.65mm Number of frets: 22 Nut: Nylon Inlay: 1950s Pattern Mother of Pearl
Bridge: No-Wire ABR-1 Tailpiece: Bigsby Knobs: Butyrate Black Top Hats Tuners: Kluson Waeback with Pearloid Tips Plating: Gold; Murphy Lab Light Aged
