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EXPLAINED: Murphy lab | Vintage Vibes

Gibson brings back the legendary pickup used by Angus Young, BB King, Pete Townshend and more – and it just might suit your guitar down to a T

The signs were there that the T-Top was making a return when Michael Schenker's Murphy Lab Flying V shipped with a pair. Now it's officially available from the Gibson Pickup Shop

MusicRadar

“It sounded perfect, man… like a gift from on high”: Is Slash's no. 1 Les Paul – which isn’t a Gibson – set for a Gibson reboot?

Slash’s Kris Derrig ’59 Les Paul has been his go-to recording guitar since Appetite for Destruction. And it sure looks like a Murphy Lab replica is on the cards

Guitar World

“Developed with Kirk Hammett’s guidance and built from specifications taken directly from the actual PAF humbuckers on that world-renowned guitar”: Gibson unveils the $449 Custom Shop humbucker set that will make your Les Paul sound like ‘Greeny’

Limited to 100 units worldwide, exclusive to Gibson, these are aged by the Murphy Lab to look just like the real thing

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“I knew relic’ing was coming. I did it myself, to my own guitar, very crude and primitive. I put it on a stand at a guitar show, with no strategy. And it changed everything”: How relic’ing conquered the guitar world

The not-so-gentle art of relic’ing has enjoyed arenaissance since its maligned roots in the mid-’90s. We asked scene godfather and Gibson Custom Shop guru Tom Murphy how the tide turned

Guitar World

“Every metal component – from the silver-nickel covers and baseplates to the screws and springs – has been expertly aged”: Gibson cooks up “holy grail” PAF mojo with the 1959 Humbucker Collector’s Edition Series 3 – the ultimate Les Paul tone hack?

Limited to 1,000 units, available exclusively direct from Gibson, this PAF humbucker set has been reverse engineered to give you golden era tone – and they even ship in a brown Lifton case

MusicRadar

“This guitar is simply too iconic and cool not to be released more widely”: Gibson celebrates the 30th anniversary of Oasis’ Wonderwall by releasing the most talked-about electric guitar of 2025 – finally, Noel's Les Paul is now available for all

Following that super-limited run of 25 Murphy Lab replicas, the Ebony P-90-equipped Les Paul Standard Noel Gallagher played on the Oasis reunion tour has been added to the Gibson lineup

MusicRadar

“This guitar is simply too cool to not be released”: Noel Gallagher’s internet-breaking Oasis reunion Les Paul has been brought to the masses with a Standard launch

Months after the Custom Shop Murphy Lab reissue sold out, Gibson has brought back one of 2025's most talked about guitars

Guitar World

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“Light lacquer checking, light dings, pick trails, and rounded fretboard edges, with all five encapsulating the tone, look, and played-in feel of a vintage original”: Gibson expands acoustic Murphy Lab collection with five Light Aged classics

Gibson's newest Murphy Lab arrivals include a 1963 Dove, a 1955 J-45, pre and post-war SJ-200s, and a Nick Lucas Special from 1929 in Argentine Grey

MusicRadar

“The most talked-about guitar of the summer is coming to the Gibson Garage London”: P-90s, Light Aging from the Murphy Lab, handwritten Oasis lyrics, signed… The Gibson Custom Noel Gallagher Les Paul Standard has been unveiled

Limited to 25, each hand-signed, replicas of Noel Gallagher's super-cool black Les Paul Standard will be available on August 21 at the Gibson Garage London

MusicRadar

“It has become the talk of the town every time it is used”: Noel Gallagher’s mystery Oasis Les Paul looks set for a signature release

The uniquely spec’d guitar caused a stir when it first emerged on Oasis’ stages last month – and now Gibson is teasing a signature drop

Guitar World

“I say to people: ‘I’m sorry to tell you, but in 20 years, your finish will crack because it’s gonna get thinner. But it’ll sound better – so look forward to it!’” How Gibson brought relic’d finishes to its iconic acoustic guitars with the Murphy Lab

Senior product development manager, Robi Johns, tells us why playing Gibson’s new Heavy Aged Acoustic Collection is like stepping into a time machine

Guitar World

“Peter Frampton messaged me, ‘I don’t understand, this sounds better than my ’39!’” How Gibson’s Murphy Lab acoustics fooled a seasoned guitar connoisseur

The relic’ing masters, led by Tom Murphy, entered the acoustic guitar space in 2023 – and have since gained fans among even the top guitar players

Guitar World

“This is a beautiful, well-executed Les Paul, and that’s the sort of guitar you tend to hold onto for life. That’s as sound an investment as there is”: Gibson Les Paul Standard ‘50s Double Trouble review

Looking for a collectible Gibson electric without the Murphy Lab price tag? This limited edition model is a compelling twist on the current Les Paul Standard with the subtle whiff of vintage mojo

MusicRadar

“Your opportunity to own a piece of music history that is directly tied to two of the world’s foremost guitarists”: Gibson unveils Murphy Lab replica of Eric Clapton’s “Disraeli Gears” 1958 Les Paul Custom that he later gifted to Albert Lee

The Cream of the crop for collectors, this forensic reproduction ships with a second pickguard signed by Slowhand and Lee, a custom Duck Brothers case and a lot of mojo

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Guitar World

“I said, ‘I used to have a Les Paul Custom and I sold it like an idiot.’ Eric said, ‘Oh, I have one of those at home somewhere…’” Gibson unveils the Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom – a recreation of the Disraeli Gears LP that now belongs to Albert Lee

The Murphy Lab-aged LP faithfully recreates the original model, but Clapton has added a few personal modifications to the reissue

MusicRadar

“Expect a heavy weather-checked finish, heavy belt buckle wear, light arm wear, and light neckwear”: The Gibson Custom Shop unveils its first Heavy Aged Murphy Lab acoustic guitars

These stunners from Gibson's Bozeman, Montana facility go heavy on the mojo for that thoroughly played-in vintage vibe

MusicRadar

“I just took it out and I could see all the flame coming out on the side of it and I went, ‘Oh my goodness gracious.’ It’s just so beautiful”: Gibson unveils stunning $19,999 replica of Jimmy Page’s 1964 SJ-200 acoustic

The Murphy Lab has been turned loose on a limited run of two super-collectible acoustics inspired by the SJ-200 that Page played on Led Zeppelin’s debut album

Guitar World

“It's every bit as good as a Flying V of old, except you don't have the liability of bringing out a unicorn guitar”: Joe Bonamassa's 1958 “Amos” Flying V was owned by Norm Harris and featured in Spinal Tap – now it's been recreated by Gibson's Murphy Lab

A year and a half in the making, the Collector's Edition “Amos” is limited to just 50 examples, and replicates in molecular detail all of the storied original guitar's quirks

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“BB King’s performance alongside James Brown and more set the tone for one of the most iconic sporting events of all time”: Gibson unveils the BB King Rumble In The Jungle 1974 ES-355, and it’s a heavyweight knockout

This limited edition semi-hollow is a Murphy Lab replica of the Walnut 355 that King used when playing at the legendary Muhammed Ali and George Foreman showdown in 1974

Guitar World

“It was a half-hearted effort. I knew he would clock it”: Foo Fighters' Chris Shiflett once tried (and failed) to trick Joe Bonamassa into believing he had bought a genuine '59 Les Paul Burst

Chris Shiflett defied country guitar expectations and used the Les Paul on his latest country-tinged EP

MusicRadar

A Murphy Lab Red Special from the Gibson Custom Shop? “It’s not out of the question,” says Brian May

The Queen guitarist reveals he is talking to Gibson and says it would be “wonderful” to have a US-made version of his iconic Red Special

Guitar World

“We have spoken about such things, and it would be lovely to have an edition of the Brian May guitar based in the States”: Brian May confirms Gibson-built Red Specials are on the cards

The Queen guitar icon was announced as a new member of the Gibson family earlier this year, and it sounds like the new partnership will lead to a meticulous Murphy Lab Red Special recreation

MusicRadar

"I know people are going to get mad at me": Why would anyone mod a $20,000 guitar? Mythos Pedals' Zach explains why he changed his Murphy Lab Les Paul

Inside the mind of a guitar tinkerer

Guitar World

“Striking limited-edition reissues of the very first ES-335”: Gibson revives the flagship ES-335 design for a line of ‘58 Murphy Lab models – complete with a rare spec you won't find on any other 335

Three models have been introduced with various degrees of meticulous Murphy Lab relic'ing – but all three faithfully subscribe to the 1958-inspired design

MusicRadar

“Striking limited edition reissues of the very first ES-335”: Gibson celebrates its 130th Anniversary with the Custom Shop, Murphy Lab-aged 1958 ES-335 Reissue

Fat '58 neck profiles, unbound fingerboards, tons of mojo, and just 130 units of each, this is a bona-fide call to action for guitar collectors with a soft spot for Gibson's legendary semi-hollow

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