Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1968 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony Ultra Light Aged

Gibson Custom Shop's new Murphy Lab has one purpose: to take expert aging artist Tom Murphy's proprietary techniques to the next level. Here, Tom and his personally trained team of artists use cutting-edge technology and Tom's own processes, developed over years of careful testing, to produce perfect replicas of golden-age Gibsons, each dressed with Tom's brand of authentic, hand-applied playwear, and scientifically reverse-engineered nitrocellulose lacquer, identical to that which the brand used in the 1950s and 1960s. Each Murphy Lab model corresponds to one of four distinct aging levels and features extra-rolled fingerboard binding for a broken-in feel and true-to-life look. 

The 1968 Les Paul Custom stood apart from its 1950s predecessors in a few significant ways. Instead of a solid mahogany body, it now had a solid maple top on a mahogany back - adding the clarity and bite that many rock guitarists sought. It also came standard with two humbuckers as opposed to three, providing additional picking clearance. And lastly it had a 14-degree peghead angle for reduced string tension. This set of features instantly became the new standard for the Les Paul Custom model, which has been produced continuously by Gibson ever since. This 1968 Les Paul Custom Reissue was designed to be the final say in historical accuracy, tone and feel. Every detail and spec was meticulously revived by the skilled artisans at Gibson Custom Shop to provide an amazing, life-long vintage ownership experience. It features Ultra Light Aging by the skilled artisans of the Murphy Lab. The Murphy Lab Ultra Light Aged finish treatment, paired with lightly aged hardware, simulates decades of light play wear, giving it the unique character, vibe, and feel of an original example from the Gibson Golden Era.

Serial #: 001028
Weight: 9lbs 8oz

Body Shape: Les Paul
Back: 1-Piece Mahogany
Top: 2-Piece Plain Maple
Weight Relief: None
Binding: Multi-ply

Neck: Solid Mahogany
Profile: Authentic '68 Medium C-Shape
Nut width: 1.687" / 42.85mm
Fingerboard: Solid Ebony
Scale length: 24.75" / 628.65mm
Number of frets: 22
Nut: Nylon
Inlay: Mother of Pearl Block

Bridge: ABR-1 (Wired)
Tailpiece: Stop Bar
Knobs: Black Witch Hats with Gold Inserts
Tuners: Kluson Waeback
Plating: Gold; Murphy Lab Light Aged

Neck pickup: 68 Custom Humbucker
Bridge pickup: 68 Custom Humbucker
Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, 500K CTS Potentiometers, Hand-Wired Harness with Black Beauty Capacitors

Case: Custom Shop Hardshell