Gibson USA Custom Shop Murphy Lab '58 Les Paul Standard Reissue Ultra Light Aged "Heritage Cherry + Rosewood" (2020)

Specifications

• Model: '58 Les Paul Standard Reissue (Murphy Lab Ultra Light Aged)
• Year: 2020 (1st Year Murphy Lab)
• Finish: Heritage Cherry (Ultra Light Aged Nitrocellulose)
• Top: Plain Maple
• Body: Lightweight Solid Mahogany (Hide Glue Fit)
• Neck: Mahogany (Long Tenon, Hide Glue Fit)
• Fingerboard: Rosewood with Trapezoid Inlays
• Neck Profile: Chunky '58 C
• Scale Length: 24.75"
• Radius: 12"
• Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo
• Nut: Nylon
• Truss Rod: '50s Tubeless

Hardware & Electronics

• Bridge: ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
• Tailpiece: Lightweight Aluminum Stopbar
• Hardware Finish: Nickel (Aged)
• Pickups:
• • Neck: Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted)
  • Bridge: Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted)
• Electronics:
• • 2x 500K Volume Pots
  • 2x 500K Tone Pots
  • Hand-Wired with Bumblebee Capacitors
  • Switchcraft Toggle Switch

Personal Thoughts

This 2020 Murphy Lab '58 Les Paul Reissue is from the first year of the Murphy Lab, and in my opinion, these early runs had some of the best relicing. The Heritage Cherry finish has developed some gorgeous checking, and the overall aging work looks a lot more natural than some of the later 2023/2024 Ultra Light Aged models, which tend to be a bit more subtle.

The '58 neck carve is full and chunky, exactly as it should be—a proper handful but still incredibly playable. The Custombucker Alnico III pickups sound fantastic, offering all the warmth, bite, and vintage PAF tone you’d expect from a high-end '50s Les Paul reissue.

As with any reliced guitar, condition is always a little tricky to appraise, but this one appears exceptionally clean, with no additional playwear beyond the factory aging. The frets are spotless, and everything is well preserved, making it a great value considering the higher price tags of newer models with arguably less intensive relic work.

Condition Report

This Les Paul is in excellent condition, with no additional wear beyond the factory-applied Murphy Lab aging. The finish checking is beautifully done, and the frets, hardware, and electronics are all in top shape.

Final Thoughts

If you're looking for a '58 Les Paul with a killer relic job, this early Murphy Lab example is one of the best options out there. The checking and aging work set it apart from newer models, and considering how the relicing process has evolved, this one offers fantastic value. A properly aged, great-sounding '58 that plays just as good as it looks.