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. 

With its elegant lines and ebony/pearl/gold aesthetic, the 1957 Les Paul Custom is easily one of the most iconic and beautiful guitars ever made. It features a body carved out of a single large piece of solid mahogany, unique among Les Paul models. The resulting dark mid-range tone from the body pairs perfectly with its bright-sounding solid ebony fingerboard. Altogether, it's the pinnacle of guitar craftsmanship, design, and tone. Gibson Custom Shop is proud to revive every last detail of the original "Black Beauty" for this '57 Les Paul Custom Reissue, from the dimensions and contours to the precise inlay patterns, to the entire ownership experience. It also features Light Aging by the skilled artisans of the Murphy Lab. The Murphy Lab Light Aged finish treatment, paired with lightly aged hardware, simulates decades of natural play wear, giving it the unique character, vibe, and feel of an original example from the Gibson Golden Era.

Body Shape: Les Paul
Body: 1-Piece Solid Mahogany
Weight Relief: None
Binding: Multi-ply
Neck: Solid Mahogany
Profile: Chunky C-Shape
Nut width: 1.687" / 42.85mm
Fingerboard: Solid Ebony
Scale length: 24.75" / 628.65mm
Number of frets: 22
Nut: Nylon
Inlay: 1950s Pattern Mother of Pearl
Bridge: No-Wire ABR-1
Tailpiece: Bigsby
Knobs: Butyrate Black Top Hats
Tuners: Kluson Waeback with Pearloid Tips
Plating: Gold; Murphy Lab Light Aged
Neck pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3 (Unpotted)
Middle pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3 (Unpotted)
Bridge pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3 (Unpotted)
Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, CTS 500K Audio Taper Potentiometers, Paper-in-Oil Capacitors
Case: Brown/Pink Lifton Reissue 5-Latch