The Gibson Custom Shop Made 2 Measure Murphy Lab ’59 Les Paul Standard, finished in the Murphy Painted Ultra Heavy Aged Kentucky Bourbon Fade, is a stunning example of vintage-inspired craftsmanship, tone, and artistry. This guitar is one of the rare instruments personally painted by Tom Murphy, whose legendary finishing skills helped define the Murphy Lab aesthetic; he is no longer painting Gibson instruments, making this guitar especially significant and collectible. The Kentucky Bourbon Fade captures the warm, amber-to-deep-honey gradient of a classic Burst, beautifully enhanced by the Ultra Heavy Aged treatment, which simulates decades of natural wear, checking, and patina from genuine stage use.

Built to the exacting specifications of a 1959 Les Paul, the body features lightweight solid mahogany with a handpicked two-piece figured maple top, carefully joined using hide-glue fit construction to maximize resonance and sustain. The nitrocellulose lacquer finish not only highlights the exquisite flame of the maple top but also provides the historically accurate thin lacquer feel that contributes to the guitar’s organic tone. The Ultra Heavy Aged process imbues the guitar with realistic wear patterns, including lacquer checking, edge wear, and subtle surface patina, giving it the character of a true vintage instrument.

The neck is crafted from solid mahogany with a long neck tenon for exceptional stability and sustain. Its Carmelita Fine Carve profile—specified “Do Not Roll”—offers a perfectly shaped neck with a precise feel at .874" at the 1st fret and .985" at the 2nd fret, preserving the sharp, vintage-style edges favored by collectors and players alike. The solid rosewood fingerboard, also hide-glue fitted, complements the neck, providing a responsive, smooth playing surface. Coupled with the classic 24.75" (62.865 cm) scale length, it delivers the warm, expressive tone that defines a great Les Paul.

Tonally, this Made 2 Measure ’59 Les Paul is equipped with unpotted Custombucker pickups in both the neck and bridge positions. These pickups faithfully reproduce the open, harmonically rich, and dynamic characteristics of late-’50s PAF humbuckers, offering everything from creamy cleans to aggressive overdrive. The electronics are fully period-accurate, featuring two 500K CTS volume pots, two 500K CTS tone pots, a hand-wired harness with Bumblebee capacitors, and a Switchcraft toggle switch, ensuring authentic vintage tone and reliable functionality.

The hardware remains true to the era with a nickel-finished ABR-1 bridge and a lightweight aluminum tailpiece, both contributing to resonance and sustain. The guitar comes strung with Gibson’s standard .010–.046 gauge strings for immediate playability.

Housed in a Brown/Pink Reissue case modeled after original Lifton-style cases, and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, this Murphy Lab ’59 Les Paul Standard combines impeccable construction, historic attention to detail, and the artistry of one of Gibson’s most revered finishers. The Kentucky Bourbon Fade, Ultra Heavy Aged finish, and status as one of the last Tom Murphy-painted instruments make this guitar a truly collectible and heirloom-quality Les Paul, ready to inspire players and collectors alike.

Other specifications include:

• Neck Material Solid Mahogany, Long Tenon, Hide Glue Fit
• Neck Profile Carmelita Fine Carve-Do Not Roll (.874" @ 1st Fret / .985" @ 12th Fret)
• Fingerboard Solid Rosewood, Hide Glue Fit
• Scale Length 24.75”, 62.865cm
• Body Material Lightweight Solid Mahogany Body, Handpicked 2 Piece Figured Maple Top, Hide Glue Fit
• Finish Nitrocellulose Lacquer
• Hardware Finish Nickel
• Bridge ABR-1Tailpiece Lightweight Aluminum
• Neck pickup Custombucker Unpotted
• Bridge pickup Custombucker Unpotted
• Controls 2 500K CTS Volume Pots, 2 500K CTS Tone Pots, Hand-Wired Harness with Bumblebee Capacitors, Switchcraft Toggle Switch
• Strings .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
• Case Brown/Pink Reissue
• Accessories Certificate of Authenticity
• LPR59M2M16121
• 8 lbs 11 oz
• #911179

For more information on the Gibson Custom Shop Instrument, please contact us.