The Gibson Murphy Lab is a new division of the Gibson Custom Shop and is dedicated to crafting historically-accurate guitars of Gibson’s most legendary and sought-after instruments. The team of experts is led by Tom Murphy, known for being one of the original pioneers of guitar ageing, who for 25 years has been faithfully recreating the sound, feel, and character of vintage guitars. The attention to detail in the Murphy Lab is second to none, from laser-scanning the dimensions to get the exact size and shape of the originals to reverse-engineering the original lacquer to create ultra-realistic ageing, every detail has been thought of. This guitar is the closest you can get to the real thing.

The 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Darkback has a lightweight mahogany body with a 2-piece plain maple top, a classic tonewood combination, delivering a rich and resonant sound. The neck is made from solid mahogany with a chunky C-shape profile making it comfortable to play, and is topped with a smooth Indian rosewood fretboard with 22 historic Gibson Narrow/Tall sized frets for historical accuracy. There is also a No-Wire ABR-1 bridge and lightweight aluminium stop bar to increased tuning stability, as well as Kluson tuners.

For pickups, it has a pair of unpotted Custombucker Alnico 3 magnets which deliver a clear, articulate sound without sounding harsh, and smooth, rounded tones - recreating the PAF pickups from the past. There is a 3-way Switchcraft pickup selector and two volume and two controls, giving you full control over your sound.

To complete the 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Darkback is 1-ply Royalite binding, nickel Murphy Lab Light Aged hardware, gold top hat control knobs, trapezoid inlays and a classic vintage-accurate Double Gold finish with nitrocellulose lacquer.

It comes with .010 - .046 strings, a Brown/Pink Lifton Reissue 5-Latch Case, a Certificate of Authenticity, Mounted Custom Shop Switch Plate Medallion, and Reissue Switch Backplate in Case.

Weight - 8.72lbs

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Gibson Custom Shop is the pinnacle of craftsmanship, quality, and sound excellence. Each instrument celebrates Gibson’s legacy through accuracy, authenticity and attention to detail.

The iconic '57 Goldtop has been the tool of choice for countless guitar heroes. Its elegant gold finish, classic solid mahogany/maple construction and versatile humbucking pickups represent everything one could possibly need in a Les Paul™ model. This authentic recreation exemplifies Gibson Custom Shop’s tireless quest for accuracy to the original year of production, from the woods to the construction to the parts and precise contours throughout. Each Custom Shop Reissue is every bit the instrument and statement piece as the priceless vintage examples, providing an ownership experience that is endlessly fun. 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 char