Gibson | Custom Shop Murphy Lab Acoustic Collection
The Murphy Lab Collection Has Expanded to Include Historic Flat-Top Acoustic Models!
Not only has Gibson expanded its Murphy Lab Collection to include five new Gibson Montana acoustic guitars—but, it has now also officially established a brand new Custom Shop Murphy Lab Division within the Gibson Montana factory, staffed by a specialized crew of builders and artisans all personally trained by the man himself!
Combining traditional instrument-making techniques, innovative methods, and meticulous attention to detail, the Gibson Custom Shop has continued crafting instruments worthy of the brand’s Banner-era slogan, “Only a Gibson is Good Enough,” since 1993. Having established the Murphy Lab Division within the Nashville Custom Shop in 2017, now—over 30 years after Tom Murphy first embarked upon decades of research and experimentation for the brand's Custom, Art, and Historic Division—Gibson has expanded the Murphy Lab Division with the foundation of a whole new facility!
All of the acoustic guitar models added to the Gibson Custom Murphy Lab Collection for 2023 feature the Light Aging treatment applied by Murphy Lab’s skilled artisans, carefully paired with lightly aged hardware to simulate decades of light play wear, giving it the unique character, vibe, and feel of an original example from the Gibson Golden Era.
1933 L-00 Ebony Light Aged
The Ideal Small Bodied Acoustic
Developed in the early 30s, the L-00’s unparalleled projection not found in comparable small-bodied guitars and balanced tonality made it an industry standard for many years after its release, and vintage models still remain popular among guitar collectors today. The Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1933 L-00 Ebony model achieves all the advantages of an acoustic that is comfortable to play in your home while still producing Gibson’s characteristic rich, full sound that made it one of Gibson’s most iconic models.
1942 Banner Southern Jumbo Vintage Sunburst Light Aged
The Look, Feel, and Sound of a Lightly Played Vintage SJ
Boasting a thermally aged Adirondack red spruce top and rosewood back and sides, the Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1942 Banner Southern Jumbo delivers outstanding tonal response and superior playability. Proudly displaying the "Only a Gibson is Good Enough" banner on the headstock, these versatile custom instruments also include an open slot bridge, a bone saddle and nut, and the classic 1.77" nut width.
1942 Banner J-45 Vintage Sunburst Light Aged
The Original Slope-Shouldered Gibson Dreadnought
Inspired by the holy grail of vintage acoustic instruments, Gibson luthiers in Montana meticulously crafted the new 1942 Banner J-45 models to look, feel, and sound just like the most popular and celebrated version, both in structure and components used. Featuring a Thermally Aged Adirondack red spruce top hand-sprayed with a historic-style burst, hot hide glue top bracing for better tonal response, and a bone nut and saddle, the allure and legend of the Gibson J-45 continues to live on in the new Murphy Lab 1942 Banner J-45 models.
All of the acoustic guitar models added to the Gibson Custom Murphy Lab Collection for 2023 feature the Light Aging treatment applied by Murphy Lab’s skilled artisans, carefully paired with lightly aged hardware to simulate decades of light play wear, giving it the unique character, vibe, and feel of an original example from the Gibson Golden Era.
1957 SJ-200 Vintage Sunburst Light Aged
The Famous “King of the Flat-tops” Fifties Jumbo
Built using hand-selected maple for the back and sides, era-correct appointments, including a headstock stinger, plus a thermally aged top for the full vintage tonal effect, the new Custom Shop 1957 SJ-200 offers the vibe and feel of the era in which some of the most prized vintage Gibson acoustic guitars were born.
1960 Hummingbird Heritage Cherry Sunburst Light Aged
The Original Square-Shouldered Gibson Dreadnought
Introduced in 1960 as Gibson's first square-shouldered acoustic guitar model, the Hummingbird came at the dawn of a new musical era and was rapidly embraced by some of the prime movers in the early ‘60s music scene. Built with a thermally aged Sitka spruce top, the 1960 Hummingbird reflects the appearance and performance of those early, now-iconic vintage Hummingbird guitars.
Call CME chat us online (or in the CME mobile app), or visit CME’s Acoustic Room today for a chance to get your hands on any of these new acoustic additions to the Gibson Custom Murphy Lab Collection guitars at Chicago Music Exchange!
SHOP GIBSON ARRIVALSSHOP GIBSON
Related Posts
CME Sessions | Baroness
We’re used to seeing live touring acts stop into CME—but, it’s not often that we get our own private concert! No matter what descriptors one might use to describe Baroness’s music, the way they use classic guitar models equipped with single-coil pickups to paint lush sonic landscapes is a reminder to musical artists of any genre that, often, the best surface upon which to paint—whether recording or in live performances—is a colorless canvas. Check out what we mean, here, in the Baroness CME Session!
Read more
Gibson USA | CME Exclusive Les Paul Standards
Both CME Exclusive Les Paul Standard ’50s and Les Paul Standard ’60s come equipped with a pair of Gibson T-Type humbuckers, to provide a well-rounded top-end chime! Developed in collaboration with Chicago Music Exchange for an exclusive 2019-2021 run of CME Exclusive SG Standards, “T-Type” pickups are a replica of Gibson’s T-Top humbucker pickups used from 1968-1980—the same model pickup Jimmy Page installed in the bridge his own 1959 Gibson Les Paul Sunburst, affectionately dubbed his “No. 1,” which helped to forever define the sound of ‘70s hard rock.
Read more
Guild Guitars | Surfliner Series
Grab the surfboard this summer with the new Guild Guitars Surfliner Series in 3 blazing hot finishes! Shop the White Sage, Catalina Blue, or Sunset Orange electrics at Chicago Music Exchange to ride the wave today! Learn more on our Soundboard Blog or contact us today!
Read more