Hey it's Mat from Gibson Product Development - AMA

[p19978]

Matt: I'll respectfully complain one last time that its INSANE for you folks not to offer some fat necked Explorers (other than the $4k and up Custom Shop/Historic/M2M stuff). Why not "rebrand" the antique natural mahogany model as a "50's Explorer" and sell it with a fat neck?

This is the 3rd time I've searched for a reasonably priced ($2k ish) Gibson model (SG and Firebird previously)... and it looks like it will be the 3rd time I'll be headed to a private builder.

Slim taper sucks lol.

 

[mdubya]

I love the neck on my Original Collection Explorer, personally.

But I am no size queen. And I do have guitars with fat 50s necks and a few '64 Custom Shop sized necks (which are just shy of fat 50s), too.

The OC Explorer neck in significant for a 60s style neck. It is not a thin blade of a neck (I have a few of those, too, which I also love - viva la difference!).

JMHO.

 

[83Custom]

I wish I had more news about arch tops...I've give you the honest truth. I have a whole lineup of Historic Reissues envisioned, releases spanning years and starting with a 1957 L-5CES Reisse (two different pickup styles possible that year).

335s? Byrdlands?

 

[dieselweasel]

@matkoehler
Is the new version of plastics and hardware on the ‘59 Brazilian LP available as an option for Murphy Lab guitars? Or will it be n the future?

 

[matkoehler]

Matt: I'll respectfully complain one last time that its INSANE for you folks not to offer some fat necked Explorers (other than the $4k and up Custom Shop/Historic/M2M stuff). Why not "rebrand" the antique natural mahogany model as a "50's Explorer" and sell it with a fat neck?

This is the 3rd time I've searched for a reasonably priced ($2k ish) Gibson model (SG and Firebird previously)... and it looks like it will be the 3rd time I'll be headed to a private builder.

Slim taper sucks lol.

Patience my friend. We have had an Explorer 50s in our back pocket -- but to give you a peek behind the curtain, we rely on forecasting and if it does poorly there we reserve it as a dealer exclusive possibility. That said it is being pitched as such. The fact is that slim necks outsell fat necks by a mile...and we are at the mercy of forecasting to add new core models to the portfolio while trying to limit total SKU count.

 

[matkoehler]

335s? Byrdlands?

335s? Where have you been?

And Byrdland is the next logical model after the L-5. Then Super 400. The idea is to roll these out incrementally.

 

[matkoehler]

@matkoehler
Is the new version of plastics and hardware on the ‘59 Brazilian LP available as an option for Murphy Lab guitars? Or will it be n the future?

The aging of those hardware and plastics was specifically chosen by Tom for this run and it is therefore exclusive. However Tom intends on continuous improvement of the heavy aged hardware that comes with on Heavy and Ultra Heavy level instruments. I'm happy to hear you dig it!

 

[jb_abides]

335s?

Huh?

Historic Reissue 335s already exist [...and are ES, not Archtops].

 

[jb_abides]

The aging of those hardware and plastics was specifically chosen by Tom for this run and it is therefore exclusive. However Tom intends on continuous improvement of the heavy aged hardware that comes with on Heavy and Ultra Heavy level instruments. I'm happy to hear you dig it!

FWIW, I have seen in other posts/forums the perception that there's a difference in formulation / spec for the new 1959s, not just aging. Even though if you look at the specs per model [across the Historic line], they show as the same.

You may want to clarify (yet again?) and broadcast (or not, ha-ha) that the plastics remain the same, it's the aging treatment only that's different...

 

[83Custom]

335s? Where have you been?

And Byrdland is the next logical model after the L-5. Then Super 400. The idea is to roll these out incrementally.

Yeah, mentioning the 335 was my bad. Lol.

 

[El Gringo]

Thanks, that was sprung on me last minute so didn't feel like I could keep up with Lee & Pete's energy! And it was one of the shorter tours I've given so eager to go even more in depth in the future.

Well of course we would welcome an even more deep dive into all the fine doings at Gibson Custom . Bravo and Thank You Very Kindly Good Sir

 

[Cliff Gress]

The tour with Andertons was cool and informative Mat. Great to see young people so knowledgeable about our beloved subject.

 

[p19978]

Patience my friend. We have had an Explorer 50s in our back pocket -- but to give you a peek behind the curtain, we rely on forecasting and if it does poorly there we reserve it as a dealer exclusive possibility. That said it is being pitched as such. The fact is that slim necks outsell fat necks by a mile...and we are at the mercy of forecasting to add new core models to the portfolio while trying to limit total SKU count.

Fair enough... you do run a for-profit business after all.

Having said that... patience isnt a virtue for me anymore at age 60... I dont even buy green bananas lol.

 

[Wizard1183]

@matkoehler
Is the new version of plastics and hardware on the ‘59 Brazilian LP available as an option for Murphy Lab guitars? Or will it be n the future?

I’d like to see the difference in them you’re talking about

 

[dieselweasel]

I’d like to see the difference in them you’re talking about

Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab Limited Edition '59 Les Paul Standard Reissue with Brazilian Rosewood Fretboard | Reverb

Reverb is a marketplace bringing together a wide-spanning community to buy, sell, and discuss all things music gear.

reverb.com

This listing has some good shots.
Looks like they incorporated discoloration on the pickguard and pickup rings, green “oxidation” on the knobs, chewed up tailpiece studs, a different style of pickup covers.. There may be other differences if compared side-by-side to a typical Murphy Lab.

 

[Wizard1183]

Well the tail piece studs are easily doable to put a couple screwdriver gashes on it. The pick guard and pickup ring discoloration you can build a box with vent holes and throw them in there with a cigar burning. The nicotine will discolor that no problem. The knobs is? They may have painted more green at the bottom unless they used copper in the gold and made the copper turn green. But you can always just spend $20k to buy it like that lol

 

[dieselweasel]

Well the tail piece studs are easily doable to put a couple screwdriver gashes on it. The pick guard and pickup ring discoloration you can build a box with vent holes and throw them in there with a cigar burning. The nicotine will discolor that no problem. The knobs is? They may have painted more green at the bottom unless they used copper in the gold and made the copper turn green. But you can always just spend $20k to buy it like that lol

DIY is fun, but Gibson Custom is showing signs of having elevated their efforts towards making the parts look much more excellent, imo. This Brazilian batch is the best example of that I’ve seen in person so far, and I hope that they apply this treatment to more models in the future. I imagine the methods used aren’t as rinky-dink as a box with cigar smoke.. (maybe Mat could confirm). Tom Murphy may use caveman techniques on the finish, but I’ve had a dealer confirm that he doesn’t touch the hardware.

 

[Wizard1183]

DIY is fun, but Gibson Custom is showing signs of having elevated their efforts towards making the parts look much more excellent, imo. This Brazilian batch is the best example of that I’ve seen in person so far, and I hope that they apply this treatment to more models in the future. I imagine the methods used aren’t as rinky-dink as a box with cigar smoke.. (maybe Mat could confirm). Tom Murphy may use caveman techniques on the finish, but I’ve had a dealer confirm that he doesn’t touch the hardware.

Rinky dink? Isn’t that how White plastics aged yellow naturally was from smoky bars? At least in the picture shown on reverb, 50-60 yrs of being an home wouldnt yellow it like urine color. UV helps yellow as well. Just not to that extent. Even the MUrphy lab plastics you could remove the yellowing with peroxide I’m sure. And if he doesn’t touch hardware, how exactly are the studs having a “used” approach? They certainly weren’t casted that way with overly tightened stud indentions at the grooves.

 

[dieselweasel]

Rinky dink? Isn’t that how White plastics aged yellow naturally was from smoky bars? At least in the picture shown on reverb, 50-60 yrs of being an home wouldnt yellow it like urine color. UV helps yellow as well. Just not to that extent. Even the MUrphy lab plastics you could remove the yellowing with peroxide I’m sure. And if he doesn’t touch hardware, how exactly are the studs having a “used” approach? They certainly weren’t casted that way with overly tightened stud indentions at the grooves.

Certainly that’s one cause, and likely the source of the even more urine-y effect like you would see on Slash’s “First Burst” for example.. nearly brownish-yellow staining on the pickup rings.. or any vintage Stratocaster pickguard. Aniline dye contamination stains plastics very effectively as well. vintage guitars with missing sections of finish can expose the whole guitar (plastics included) to the aniline-dyed wood, especially while it rests in the case.

To clarify, my note was that Tom Murphy doesn’t personally do any of the hardware from what I’ve been told (nor does he do every aging job on the finishes, there’s a Murphy Lab “team” involved).

 

[JASIII]

I think debate is healthy and I respect that everyone has opinions but this is more of a place to come with questions for me, agreed!

Yet why do people continue to engage the troll? Just ignore him, it's never anything constructive, only negative contrarian BS. Here Mat clearly is asking for this thread to be for questions addressed to him, yet Wizard1183 continues his usual non-productive garbage, ignoring the purpose of this thread when there clearly is another active thread on this very topic he could be using for his trolling. He contributes nothing to the community here, only trying to pick fights. I wouldn't shed a tear if the mods just blocked him entirely and I doubt anyone else would either. Mat is trying to do a service to the members here by offering honest and truthful insight into Gibson and Wizard1183 just continues to disrespect anything he chooses to try to spread negativity and snarky comments that are never helpful to anyone or advance any discussion. 100% trolling. Can we just be done with him, please?

Well the tail piece studs are easily doable to put a couple screwdriver gashes on it. The pick guard and pickup ring discoloration you can build a box with vent holes and throw them in there with a cigar burning. The nicotine will discolor that no problem. The knobs is? They may have painted more green at the bottom unless they used copper in the gold and made the copper turn green. But you can always just spend $20k to buy it like that lol