The Grail, Reborn and Revered
There’s no electric guitar more iconic than the 1959 Les Paul Standard. It’s the benchmark, the icon, the most coveted guitar in history. And this Gibson Custom Shop ’59 Reissue is as close as it gets to owning a piece of that history—with a crucial, artful twist. The masters at the Murphy Lab have given this instrument an Ultra Light Aged finish, breathing the soul of a gently played, beautifully preserved vintage classic into a brand-new guitar. It’s not just a reproduction; it’s a resurrection.
The Murphy Lab Touch
The magic of the Murphy Lab lies in its subtlety. This isn’t a beat-up relic; it’s a guitar that feels like it’s been cherished and played for decades. The Ultra Light Aged nitrocellulose lacquer finish exhibits fine, graceful lacquer checking and just a hint of softened hardware patina. It’s a broken-in feel that’s instantly comfortable and inspiring—all the vibe of a vintage prize without any of the playing wear.
Authenticity in Every Detail
Gibson Custom Shop went to obsessive lengths to get this ’59 right. The body is crafted from a single piece of lightweight mahogany, capped with a stunning 2-piece figured maple top, all joined with traditional hide glue. The neck features a long tenon joint—another hide-glue affair—for maximum resonance and sustain. Every plastic component, from the butyrate top-hat knobs to the pickguard and M69 pickup rings, is a faithful replica of the originals. Even the truss rod is an authentic 1950s no-tube design. This is dedication.
The Voice of Legends
At the heart of any Les Paul is its voice, and this ’59 sings with the unmistakable tone of unpotted Custombucker Alnico 3 pickups. They have the clarity, complexity, and vocal-like quality of the most sought-after PAFs. From warm, bluesy neck-pickup cries to biting, articulate bridge-pickup roar, the sounds that defined genres are right here. It’s all wired up with CTS audio taper pots and paper-in-oil capacitors for a truly authentic electronic response.
