2021 - Gibson Custom Shop Made 2 Measure Murphy Lab '59 Les Paul Standard Murphy Painted Ultra Heavy Aged Royal Tea Burst

The Gibson Custom Shop Made 2 Measure Murphy Lab ’59 Les Paul Standard, presented here in a Murphy Painted Ultra Heavy Aged finish, represents one of the most evocative and historically faithful recreations of a golden-era Burst ever produced. Built with period-correct materials, assembled with traditional methods, and aged with extraordinary attention to detail, this instrument captures the look, feel, and tonal magic of a genuine late-1950s Les Paul. Notably, this guitar is described as one of the final Gibson instruments painted by Tom Murphy himself, before all finish work transitioned entirely to the Murphy Lab team—making it an especially meaningful and collectible piece for enthusiasts who value Murphy’s legendary hand in the process.

The body construction mirrors 1959 specifications in every meaningful way. A lightweight solid mahogany body anchors the instrument with warmth, resonance, and sustain, while a handpicked two-piece figured maple top delivers the iconic visual presence and tonal clarity for which the original Bursts are celebrated. Each major joint, including the body-to-top interface, is assembled using traditional hide-glue fit, enhancing resonance and long-term stability. The guitar is finished in nitrocellulose lacquer, then subjected to the Murphy Lab’s Ultra Heavy Aged treatment—complete with deep lacquer checking, worn edges, simulated playing wear, and the patina of decades of stage life.

The neck is built from solid mahogany and features a long neck tenon, a key factor in the sustain and structural integrity that define a great vintage Les Paul. It sports the coveted Carmelita Fine Carve profile, measuring .879" at the 1st fret and .975" at the 2nd fret, giving it an exceptionally comfortable yet authentically vintage feel. The specification “Do Not Roll” ensures the fingerboard edges maintain the crisp, period-correct profile of an original ’59. The neck is topped with a solid rosewood fingerboard, also hide-glue fitted, and built to Gibson’s classic 24.75" (62.865 cm) scale length for a familiar, expressive hand feel.

Tone is delivered through a pair of unpotted Custombucker pickups—Gibson’s most faithful recreation of late-’50s PAF humbuckers. Their unpotted design allows for the openness, touch sensitivity, harmonic bloom, and dynamic air that define the mythic ’59 tone. The electronics are fully vintage-accurate, including two 500K CTS volume pots, two 500K CTS tone pots, a hand-wired harness with Bumblebee capacitors, and a Switchcraft toggle switch, ensuring both reliability and unmistakably authentic response.

The hardware completes the period-correct approach, featuring a nickel-finished ABR-1 bridge and lightweight aluminum tailpiece, both essential to achieving the resonance and vintage feel that define the model. The guitar ships with Gibson’s traditional .010–.046 string set installed, maintaining a balanced, classic setup from the moment it is unboxed.

Included with this Made 2 Measure instrument is a Brown/Pink Reissue case, faithfully styled after the original Lifton cases of the era, along with a Certificate of Authenticity verifying its Custom Shop provenance. With its historic construction, Murphy Lab artistry, hand-selected materials, and the significance of being among the final guitars personally painted by Tom Murphy, this ’59 Les Paul Standard stands as a remarkable fusion of craftsmanship, tone, collectability, and true vintage spirit.

Other specifications include:

• Neck Material Solid Mahogany, Long Tenon, Hide Glue Fit
• Neck Profile Carmelita Fine Carve-Do Not Roll (.879 1st fret -.975 2nd fret)
• Fingerboard Solid Rosewood, Hide Glue Fit
• Scale Length 24.75”, 62.865cm
• Body Material Lightweight Solid Mahogany Body, Handpicked 2 Piece Figured Maple Top, Hide Glue Fit
• Finish Nitrocellulose Lacquer
• Hardware Finish Nickel
• Bridge ABR-1Tailpiece Lightweight Aluminum
• Neck pickup Custombucker Unpotted
• Bridge pickup Custombucker Unpotted
• Controls 2 500K CTS Volume Pots, 2 500K CTS Tone Pots, Hand-Wired Harness with Bumblebee Capacitors, Switchcraft Toggle Switch
• Strings .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
• Case Brown/Pink Reissue
• Accessories Certificate of Authenticity
• LPR59M2M16117
• 8 lbs 13 oz
• #91507

For more information on the Gibson Custom Shop Instrument, please contact us.

Product Images

Product Videos

Play

Gibson Custom Shop PSL Murphy Lab '68 Les Paul Custom | Graham Curry Demo

Play

Rickenbacker Guitars Factory and Museum Tour