Gibson Murphy Lab 1963 Dove Light Aged Dark Natural 4.8 #22045028

The Gibson Murphy Lab 1963 Dove Light Aged Dark Natural is a masterfully crafted acoustic guitar that pays tribute to one of Gibson’s most iconic square-shouldered models from the early '60s. Painstakingly aged by the experts at the Murphy Lab, this Dove exudes vintage character, with the visual and tonal hallmarks of a well-loved and played instrument—without sacrificing modern performance and reliability.

At its core, the Dove features a thermally aged Sitka spruce top, a treatment that enhances resonance and imparts the sonic maturity of a decades-old guitar. The top is paired with stunning flamed maple back and sides, delivering a bright, articulate tone with excellent projection and a shimmering high end. The body is built with traditional scalloped X-bracing, fitted with hide glue, an old-school construction technique known for its tonal transparency and strength. Together, these elements produce the bold, chiming voice the Dove is known for—ideal for everything from rhythmic strumming to nuanced fingerstyle.

Elegance meets utility in the guitar’s aesthetics and appointments. The body is adorned with multi-ply binding on the top and back, while the Indian rosewood fingerboard features single-ply binding and classic mother-of-pearl parallelogram inlays, adding both visual refinement and a nod to vintage Gibson style. The 25.5" scale length provides a taut feel and increased string tension, enhancing clarity and responsiveness across all registers. The 20-fret mahogany neck, shaped for comfort and capped with a bone nut (1.687" width), ensures smooth playability and a warm midrange presence.

The guitar’s iconic Dove bridge, carved from rosewood and inlaid with two exquisite mother-of-pearl dove inlays, adds not only tonal resonance but a striking visual focal point. Kluson Waffle Back tuners with nickel plating complete the look, ensuring reliable tuning stability while reinforcing its vintage appeal.

To protect this heirloom-grade instrument, the Murphy Lab 1963 Dove comes housed in a period-correct hardshell case, featuring a sleek black exterior and plush gold interior, capturing the essence of Gibson’s golden era. Every detail of this instrument—tonal, visual, and tactile—has been meticulously recreated and lightly aged to feel and sound like a guitar that has aged gracefully through decades of music. A true modern vintage masterpiece, the Murphy Lab Dove is a standout choice for collectors and players alike.

Other specifications include:

• Body Shape Dove
• Top Thermally Aged Sitka Spruce
• Back Flamed Maple
• Bracing Traditional Scalloped X-bracing; Hide Glue Fit
• Binding Multi-ply Top, Multi-ply Back, Single-ply Fretboard
• Neck Mahogany
• Nut width 1.687”/42.8498mm
• Fingerboard Indian Rosewood
• Scale length 25.5”/647.7mm
• Number of frets 20
• Nut Bone
• Inlay Mother-of-Pearl Parallelogram
• Bridge Dove;Rosewood with Two Mother-of-Pearl Dove Inlays
• Tuners Kluson Waffle Back
• Plating Nickel
• Case Period Correct Hardshell with Black Exterior and Gold Interior
• CSSSDV63DNLA
• 4 lbs 8 oz
• #22045028

For more information on the Gibson acoustic, please contact us.

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