The CME Collection | Gibson Custom Tom Murphy Aged & Painted GUITARS

Take A Look Back At Some Of Tom Murphy’s Earliest Contributions To The Gibson Custom Shop!

While the guitars from the Murphy Labs at Gibson Custom Shop now showcase Tom Murphy’s work in developing the painting and aging techniques Gibson uses to replicate the finishes on its limited-run historic models, Murphy’s contributions to the Custom Shop started long before the establishment of Murphy Labs, going all the way back to the first years we opened up shop!

Now, in addition to CME’s existing inventory of some of the best guitars Gibson has to offer, The CME Collection gives us a look back at a tradition of excellence that Tom Murphy helped begin at the Custom Shop, including models that have been aged and painted by the man, himself!

The CME Collection The Murphys Group
CME Collection The Murphys

Made to Historic Measurements

Not long after Gibson officially founded the Custom Shop, it was moved to a separate building from the Gibson USA plant in Nashville, becoming its own entity. In 1993, with Rick Gembar at the helm, Gibson hired Tom Murphy hired alongside J.T. Riboloff to spearhead the Gibson Custom, Art, and Historic division within the Custom Shop.

Together, with the Custom Shop’s team of master luthiers, Murphy and Riboloff were granted access to over two dozen historic Les Paul Standard guitars, meticulously measuring and documenting the attributes of each. The Custom Shop team then combined their research to build exacting replicas—all the way down to recreating the same wear-and-tear that was typical on well-played guitars. 

Tom Murphy Painted & Aged Guitars
The CME Collection Tom Murphy Painted & Aged

SHOP CME COLLECTION MURPHY GUITARS

Tom Murphy Painted & Aged Guitars
The CME Collection Tom Murphy Painted & Aged

From the earliest editions onward, Tom Murphy helped lay the foundations for the Custom Shop guitars that Gibson has produced in the three decades since, throughout all these years we’ve been selling them, here, at Chicago Music Exchange! 

Gibson Custom Shop Tom Murphy Painted & Aged Guitars
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Aged

Where Artists and Historic Models Intersect

At the same time that the Custom, Art, and Historic division was creating its first replicas, the Custom Shop at Gibson began creating limited edition replicas of popular artists’ instruments, still based on these initial tried-and-true vintage designs, but also including modifications that particular artists.

The first in this series was the Gibson Custom Joe Perry '59 Les Paul Reissue, and The CME Collection has brought one of these editions—aged by Tom Murphy, himself—within our walls, in addition one of the Ace Frehley ‘59 Les Pauls from the limited Custom Shop run that followed the Joe Perry!

Gibson Custom The Murphys
Gibson Custom Tom Murphy Painted & Aged

CONTACT US TODAY!

Help us, help you! Call us at (773) 525-7773 or chat us on our website and we can help find the perfect gear to add to your own collection!

To see and play some of the earliest, most sought-after editions of guitar to come out of Gibson Custom Shop these past three decades, come to CME and check out the Tom Murphy aged and painted editions and ask about The CME Collection, as well as all our Murphy Labs guitars!

SHOP GIBSON CUSTOM SHOP MURPHY LAB GUITARS

Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1960 Les Paul Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1960 Les Paul Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1960 Les Paul Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1960 Les Paul Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1960 Les Paul Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1960 Les Paul Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1960 Les Paul Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1960 Les Paul Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1960 Les Paul Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1960 Les Paul Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1960 Les Paul Standard

Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1960 Les Paul Standard "CME Spec" Chambered Heritage Cherry Sunburst Ultra Light Aged w/Lightweight Back

$8,399.00
Gibson Custom Shop 1964 SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop 1964 SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop 1964 SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop 1964 SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop 1964 SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop 1964 SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop 1964 SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop 1964 SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop 1964 SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop 1964 SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop 1964 SG Standard

Gibson Custom Shop 1964 SG Standard "CME Spec" True Historic Red Aniline Dye Murphy Lab Ultra Light Aged

$5,099.00
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue

Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue "CME Spec" Antique Ebony Murphy Lab Ultra Light Aged

$6,099.00
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 SG Standard Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 SG Standard Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 SG Standard Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 SG Standard Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 SG Standard Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 SG Standard Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 SG Standard Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 SG Standard Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 SG Standard Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 SG Standard Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 SG Standard Reissue

Gibson Custom Shop 1961 SG Standard Reissue "CME Spec" Heavy Antique Pelham Blue Murphy Lab Ultra Light Aged

$5,399.00
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue

Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue "CME Spec" Heavy Antique Shell Pink Ultra Light Aged

$7,699.00
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue

Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1964 Trini Lopez Reissue "CME Spec" Antique Shell Pink Ultra Light Aged

$7,599.00
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue
Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue

Gibson Custom Shop 1961 ES-335 Reissue "CME Spec" Antique Gold Mist Poly Murphy Lab Ultra Light Aged

$6,399.00
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1961 Les Paul SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1961 Les Paul SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1961 Les Paul SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1961 Les Paul SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1961 Les Paul SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1961 Les Paul SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1961 Les Paul SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1961 Les Paul SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1961 Les Paul SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1961 Les Paul SG Standard
Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1961 Les Paul SG Standard

Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1961 Les Paul SG Standard "CME Spec" Ultra Light Aged Heavy Antique Pelham Blue w/Stop Bar & Grovers

$5,399.00

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