The Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab '59 Les Paul Standard in Purple Tiger Heavy Aged is a breathtakingly bold reissue of one of the most legendary electric guitars ever made. Meticulously handcrafted and aged by the renowned Murphy Lab team, this guitar not only replicates the tone and feel of a true 1959 Les Paul Standard—it enhances it with the visual drama of the stunning Purple Tiger finish and an authentic heavy aging process that delivers the soul and swagger of a lifetime on the road.

At the heart of this reissue is the classic Les Paul body shape, constructed with a 2-piece figured maple top, expertly hand-fit using hide glue, and a 1-piece lightweight mahogany back. This combination is key to the Les Paul’s legendary sustain and harmonic richness. There’s no weight relief, staying true to the vintage specs and resulting in a solid, resonant feel. The nitrocellulose lacquer finish, aged through the Murphy Lab’s Heavy Aged process, adds dramatic checking, wear patterns, and patina that perfectly replicate decades of use, right down to the tactile feel of worn lacquer under your hands.

The neck is crafted from solid mahogany and shaped to the coveted authentic '59 medium C-profile, which strikes a perfect balance between comfortable grip and vintage authenticity. Like the body, the neck is joined with long-tenon construction and secured with hide glue, maximizing resonance and sustain. The Indian rosewood fingerboard features a 12” radius, 22 historic medium-jumbo frets, and is adorned with vintage-correct cellulose nitrate trapezoid inlays, giving it the look, feel, and response of a true golden-era Les Paul. A nylon nut, 1.69" nut width, and vintage-accurate Kluson single-line, single-ring tuners complete the period-correct neck detail.

Sonically, this '59 Reissue is powered by a set of un-potted Custombucker Alnico III pickups—one in the neck and one in the bridge position. These pickups are voiced for the warmth, clarity, and bite that made late-'50s Les Pauls legendary. They're wired through CTS 500K audio taper pots, paper-in-oil capacitors, and premium Switchcraft hardware, faithfully replicating the original circuit for wide dynamic range and nuanced tonal control.

All the classic Les Paul appointments are present, executed with vintage-correct precision. This includes nickel hardware, an ABR-1 bridge with nickel-plated brass saddles, and a lightweight aluminum stop bar tailpiece, all contributing to the guitar’s resonance and sustain. The details are extraordinary—gold butyrate top hat knobs, a period-accurate amber Catalin switch tip, and M69 mounting rings made from cellulose acetate butyrate—all carefully aged to match the overall wear of the instrument. Even the jack plate cover and control cavity covers are crafted from historically accurate materials, reflecting Gibson’s dedication to authenticity.

Wrapped in .010–.046 gauge strings and delivered in a Gibson Custom Shop hardshell case, the Murphy Lab '59 Les Paul Standard Purple Tiger Heavy Aged is more than just a vintage reissue—it's an heirloom-grade instrument that blends historic accuracy, dramatic aesthetics, and world-class craftsmanship. This guitar is for the serious player or collector who wants the feel of a battle-worn ’59, with the searing tone and iconic styling that only a Les Paul can deliver.