LES PAUL showdown | What's the real difference between Gibson MURPHY LAB and VOS?

[MarcB]

Are he and his followers really discussing the tonal differences between a ML and a VOS ??

Help me understand this utter bullsh*t

 

[jb_abides]

Yeah in the comments someone points out that every Reissue guitar is going to sound a little different; at least he acknowledge that.

He states a preference for Murphy Lab feel, especially neck feel, which is fine: a stated preference. He also discusses the Murphy Lab's rolled binding over the VOS, but hems about modifying the VOS. I understand he might not want to himself but ... since he visits a ton of dealers regularly... he can't find a competent tech or be pointed to one...?

He erroneously states the Murphy Lab finish is 'genuine' [or 'more genuine'] which is a poor choice of words. Yes, it is different than VOS and may have either less or different plasticizers; however, it is also formulated to continued aging more aggressively that VOS, or an original. So, not 'genuine' but different.

He posits the ML finish "opens up the tone" which is a qualitative finding, and one kind of pushed by Tom Murphy, albeit with ample caveats. Jury is out on that one, although many do in fact "feel" that way, and to his credit he wonders if his mind is giving way to games.

Interestingly, he stated he played more than a dozen Murphy Lab in person and thought they were all better than good i.e. fantastic guitars anyone would be happy with, yet picked one with 'sitar-string' via Reverb which means he didn't play it first. Which is an odd way to go given the abundance he's been privy to...

He probably went for top and color and flame over those he played in person. Or a deal in prices. But then realizes that photos are inaccurate in this regard.

And now, is looking to remedy that. I think he wants the top color and flame on the VOS to jump over to his ML, really.

Something about the video also struck me as a pseudo advert for those two guitars, as if his soft-peddling, hoping for trades or buyers, so he can ratchet-up to the Brazilian and make another video, and so... YouTuber gonna YouTube: God Bless.

I mean, I am not immune to all these instincts but hope reason prevails, and I also don't have to feed the algorithm -- nor do I have the revenue stream to enable such dynamic flips.

And as Uncle Larry muses, "And then I'll be happy..."

 

[MarcB]

Thank you @jb_abides you made it make sense .. as I honestly couldn’t watch the whole thing.. also it was very interesting how you deduced it was all an advert to sell the guitars..

and your final quote was quite simply
️️️️️

 

[jb_abides]

His channel isn't all bad, although many a shaky premises make there way into D'YuToob, for clicks.

There's a plethora of channels I ignore because of same.

 

[jb_abides]

I didn't look back through his channel history, but there's definitely a potential for man-bun smell in the air.

 

[MarcB]

I didn't look back through his channel history, but there's definitely a potential for man-bun smell in the air.

I will not view this channel ever again.. (or any like it)
..and,
If I smell any hair products within 3 mins of watching or question their hairstyle at all..

I’m outta there..

 

[gmann]

Money mostly, and a few cosmetics.

 

[MarcB]

Money mostly, and a few cosmetics.

I’m currently more interested in the Standard range than custom shop..that’s for sure.

 

[Blind Lemon Chicken]

2014 VOS Gone. Murphy Lab still here.. Bullshit or not.. I didn't even watch it..

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

Yeah in the comments someone points out that every Reissue guitar is going to sound a little different; at least he acknowledge that.

He states a preference for Murphy Lab feel, especially neck feel, which is fine: a stated preference. He also discusses the Murphy Lab's rolled binding over the VOS, but hems about modifying the VOS. I understand he might not want to himself but ... since he visits a ton of dealers regularly... he can't find a competent tech or be pointed to one...?

He erroneously states the Murphy Lab finish is 'genuine' [or 'more genuine'] which is a poor choice of words. Yes, it is different than VOS and may have either less or different plasticizers; however, it is also formulated to continued aging more aggressively that VOS, or an original. So, not 'genuine' but different.

He posits the ML finish "opens up the tone" which is a qualitative finding, and one kind of pushed by Tom Murphy, albeit with ample caveats. Jury is out on that one, although many do in fact "feel" that way, and to his credit he wonders if his mind is giving way to games.

Interestingly, he stated he played more than a dozen Murphy Lab in person and thought they were all better than good i.e. fantastic guitars anyone would be happy with, yet picked one with 'sitar-string' via Reverb which means he didn't play it first. Which is an odd way to go given the abundance he's been privy to...

He probably went for top and color and flame over those he played in person. Or a deal in prices. But then realizes that photos are inaccurate in this regard.

And now, is looking to remedy that. I think he wants the top color and flame on the VOS to jump over to his ML, really.

Something about the video also struck me as a pseudo advert for those two guitars, as if his soft-peddling, hoping for trades or buyers, so he can ratchet-up to the Brazilian and make another video, and so... YouTuber gonna YouTube: God Bless.

I mean, I am not immune to all these instincts but hope reason prevails, and I also don't have to feed the algorithm -- nor do I have the revenue stream to enable such dynamic flips.

And as Uncle Larry muses, "And then I'll be happy..."

Very good insights. Well said.

 

[Any Name You Wish]

If I were blindfolded, and someone handed me two Custom Shop LPs of any stripe, I'm going to prefer one over the other even if they all have the same neck profile. I'm not alone on this right? So what is the point? The point is there isn't a point. Also known as BS.

 

[MarcB]

GUITAR YOUTUBERS ARE ANNOYING - Starblaster, Vintage Timeline delay, Hellraiser Signed Guitar

Podcast Episode · 60 Cycle Hum: The Guitar Podcast! · 22/10/2024 · 1h 21m

podcasts.apple.com

 

[Blind Lemon Chicken]

Pickups and amps , never mentioned in these type of threads. ML and VOS have different pick ups ? yes? Some guitar / amp combinations work better than others. Some ML have better tone woods IMO.

 

[MarcB]

Pickups and amps , never mentioned in these type of threads. ML and VOS have different pick ups ? yes? Some guitar / amp combinations work better than others. Some ML have better tone woods IMO.

Both ML and VOS use alnico 3 un-potted pickups..
they are effectively the same guitar.. but one has been Murphy’d

 

[jb_abides]

Pickups and amps , never mentioned in these type of threads. ML and VOS have different pick ups ? yes? Some guitar / amp combinations work better than others. Some ML have better tone woods IMO.

He mentioned his rig(s) in the video.

ML and VOS have the same tone woods, CustomBuckers, etc. per Mat K. Unless they are limited/specific models like the TM Brazilian, Red Eye, or a dealer/customer-spec M2M, all guitars are the same through white wood and the spray booth, all CustomBuckers come from the same 'bin', etc.

The difference is the finish formulation and the ML process of aging: hardware tarnish, crazing and dinging per ML level.

 

[Blind Lemon Chicken]

Seems to be a million different answers to that one as well. from the factory VOS pick ups are?

 

[jb_abides]

Seems to be a million different answers to that one as well. from the factory VOS pick ups are?

No, there is one answer, when comparing current JC/Cesar-era Reissues... As @MarcB states, A3 un-potted CustomBuckers are the same throughout the line, unless there's a specific model wind.

Older HJ-era R have different CustomBucker flavors through some different years, but that's another comparison and ML wasn't around then.

 

[Any Name You Wish]

No, there is one answer, when comparing current JC/Cesar-era Reissues... As @MarcB states, A3 un-potted CustomBuckers are the same throughout the line, unless there's a specific model wind.

Older HJ-era R have different CustomBucker flavors through some different years, but that's another comparison and ML wasn't around then.

An example of a "specific model wind" would be Wildwood underwound custombuckers, like the ones I have. These are in the Wildwood Gloss, VOS and Murphy.

 

[jb_abides]

An example of a "specific model wind" would be Wildwood underwound custombuckers, like the ones I have. These are in the Wildwood Gloss, VOS and Murphy.

Yes, thanks and I have a CME-spec R9, another example.

 

[Tim Plains]

He mentioned the 2019 is Wildwood spec, those have lower wind pickups, but at least his comparison wasn't based on tone. It more compared the overall feel of both guitars.