Gibson Custom Es-335 1959 Reissue Ultra Heavy Aged Vintage Natural Cs Mlc

The Essentials to Know About the Gibson Custom Shop "Murphy Lab" Guitar

• Ultra-realistic aging developed by Tom Murphy, a key figure at the Gibson Custom Shop, to recreate the soul of vintage instruments on a new guitar.


• Nitrocellulose finish with a formula reproduced from the 1950s and 1960s Gibson lacquers, then worked to achieve authentic cracking.


• Multiple relic levels (Ultra Light, Light, Heavy, Ultra Heavy) to choose the intensity of wear, from "fresh out of the case" to "tour guitar."


• Meticulous details down to the hardware: patina, dings, play marks, and consistent finishes, all while maintaining the functionality of a new instrument.

Murphy Lab: Vintage Expertise at the Heart of the Gibson Custom Shop

The Murphy Lab highlights the craftsmanship of Tom Murphy, a recognized artisan who helped define the "aged" approach within the Gibson Custom Shop. The goal is not just to create an aesthetic patina but to reproduce the atmosphere of an old instrument with great precision: micro-cracks in the lacquer, targeted wear in contact areas, and consistency between the body, neck, and hardware. Each guitar thus retains a unique identity, with marks and crack patterns that do not repeat identically.

Who Is a Gibson Murphy Lab For?

A "Murphy Lab" guitar is aimed at intermediate to expert guitarists, collectors, and stage musicians seeking the look, feel, and inspiration of a vintage instrument without the constraints of a fragile old piece. Depending on the chosen aging level, you get a more "played-in" feel (marked neck, softened edges, wear zones), particularly appreciated in blues, rock, classic rock, and all styles where a guitar with a strong character is desired.

Sound

The Murphy Lab focuses primarily on finish, feel, and visual realism: the guitar sounds first and foremost like the Custom Shop model it is based on (woods, pickups, electronics, and craftsmanship remain the foundation of the tonal character). The nitrocellulose finish, deliberately fragile and worked to crack beneath the surface, mainly provides a "vintage" tactile experience: a more organic sensation, an instrument that already feels "lived-in," and immediate playability.

Technical specifications

Lacquer	nitrocellulose, formula reproduced from Gibson lacquers of the 1950s and 1960s	Heavy	significant wear like a "tour guitar," scratches, arm wear, neck and top wear, visible scratches, heavily aged hardware, hand-applied binding
Effect	cracked finish achieved through specific aging techniques	Ultra Heavy	extreme wear with exposed wood areas, heavy pick marks and pronounced wear (neck, top, contact zones), heavily aged hardware, hand-applied binding
Approach	aging carried out with great attention to detail (marks, dings, wear zones)	Treatment	hardware patinated and aged to match the wear level of the body
Ultra Light	very light cracking, "carefully preserved" look, Vintage Original Sheen (VOS) hardware, hand-applied binding	Goal	reproduce the look of a heavily used instrument while maintaining the functionality of a new guitar
Light	moderate wear like a "house guitar," more pronounced cracking, slight dings and pick marks, worn edges, VOS hardware, hand-applied binding	"Murphy Mileage"	targeted wear on the neck in playing zones, body back exposed in typical contact areas (e.g., belt rub) for a "family heirloom" feel right out of the case