I am offering here a Gibson CS Murphy Lab ’64 SG Standard Reissue Maestro Vibrola ULA from 2020, a handcrafted at the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville, Tennessee (USA), 1964 reissue model of the SG featuring a lightweight mahogany body (3.28kg total weight!), set mahogany neck with medium C neck profile and 42.9mm nylon nut, bound rosewood fingerboard with trapezoidal cellulose nitrate inlays, two sonically versatile and powerful Gibson Custom Alnico 3 (unpotted) pickups, classic Maestro Vibrola tailpiece, and Kluson Single Line Double Ring tuners with Keystone knobs in an authentically aged Murphy Lab Ultra Light Aged cherry nitrocellulose finish with elegant nickel hardware in very good condition, including black Gibson luxury hardshell case, manufacturer’s paperwork, and professional setup with 10-46 Elixir Optiweb strings.

Regardless of the fact that George Harrison and Eric Clapton played a 1964 Gibson SG Standard, this model year was an absolute milestone for the SG. The bulky Sideway vibrato was replaced by a reliable Maestro Vibrola, and the neck profiles became wider, now resembling those of the 1959 Les Pauls. And overall, the SG’s tonal balance, playability, and appearance now seemed to truly come into their own!

The Gibson SG Standard ’64 Reissue Murphy Lab ULA from the Custom Shop, featured here, successfully captures this magic. Under the direction of Tom Murphy, the finish, hardware, and all signs of aging are meticulously handcrafted, giving each instrument its own unique character. The result combines the charm of a vintage guitar that’s been well-maintained over decades with the reliability and precision of a modern Custom Shop instrument.

Sonically, the SG Standard Reissue is exceptionally dynamic and open. The lightweight, solid mahogany body delivers a direct response, long sustain, and the characteristic, overtone-rich Gibson midrange. The two Gibson Custom Alnico III humbuckers in an unpotted configuration deliver the coveted open vintage sound with exceptional transparency, warm response, and a tendency toward harmonic feedback. The neck pickup produces a full, creamy tone ideal for blues, jazz, or classic rock, while the bridge pickup impresses with a biting attack, clearly defined mids, and high dynamics. Thanks to the hand-wired electronics featuring CTS 500K Audio Taper potentiometers and Black Beauty capacitors, both pickups respond with exceptional sensitivity to the volume and tone controls, enabling an enormous range of classic Gibson sounds.

A sound sample of the model can be found above at the end of the photo gallery.

The chunkier medium “C” neck closely follows the profile of the original 1964 instruments and, together with the bound rosewood fingerboard featuring cellulose nitrate trapezoid inlays, offers an exceptionally comfortable playing experience. The nylon nut further contributes to the soft attack and excellent tuning stability—even with intensive use of the Maestro Vibrola tremolo.

Technical Specifications:

• Origin: Nashville, TN, USA (Gibson Custom Shop)
• Year of manufacture: 2020
• Body: Solid mahogany
• Neck: Mahogany, set-in
• Neck Profile: Medium “C”
• Fingerboard: Rosewood with trapezoidal cellulose nitrate inlays, bound
• Fingerboard Radius: 12”
• Frets: 22 Authentic Medium Jumbo
• Nut: 42.9mm, nylon
• Pickups: 2x Gibson USA Custom Alnico 3 Humbuckers (unpotted)
• Electronics: 3-way switch, 2x volume and 2x tone controls; hand-wired electronics with CTS 500K Audio Taper pots and Black Beauty capacitors
• Tuners: Kluson Single Line Double Ring with Keystone buttons
• Bridge: Gibson ABR-1 Tune-o-Matic
• Tailpiece: Maestro Vibrola
• Hardware: Nickel, Aged
• Pickguard: Black, 4-ply
• Finish: Cherry, Murphy Lab Ultra Light Aged (ULA), nitrocellulose
• Scale length: 628.6mm
• Weight: 3.28kg
• Serial No.: 002462
• Includes a black Gibson deluxe hardshell case, manufacturer’s paperwork (including C.o.A.)

This Gibson SG is in very good condition and is technically flawless. Visually, the guitar shows some superficial wear which is barely distinguishable from the intentional Murphy Lab factory aging (see photos). The frets are flawless.

The instrument has been professionally set up with 10-46 Elixir Optiweb strings, and I (a long-time guitar teacher) will ship it fully insured with DHL for €49.99 within Germany or for 119.99€ within the EU. World wide shipping possible - individual shipping quote on request.

All photos shown are of the actual instrument for sale.