Murphy lab yay or nay?

[Wizard1183]

Look at any famous vintage Les Paul player's guitars (many of which Gibson Custom has cloned for artist releases and/or the Collector's Choice line). They got beat to hell on the road in the 60s-90s, before guys stopped taking them out as much due to the value of the guitars and their worn out condition.

My MLs look and feel like vintage Gibsons to me. In fat, I was shocked by how much my ML 335 resembles my old (regretfully sold) '70 335. Only thing it lacks is the tobacco smell and musty dust balls in the f-holes. I used to pine for that '70 335 but the ML is a much superior guitar, so I no longer hunt for the old one on Reverb.

Worn out or worn in?

 

[CAGinLA]

Worn out or worn in?

If it needs to be taken off the road because of its fragile condition, I would say it's worn out rather than worn in. These 50s (and 1960) LPs were worn in during the 70s and 80s.

 

[Nifty]

So what’s the general consensus of the Murphy labs?
What is really good about them and what is just ok about them?
prices?
Thanks

I personally can't justify purchasing one. Hell, I can barely justify my LP CLassic. And there is just something about making something "look" older or worn that's a bit off to me. You can buy new "worn" furniture now too. Never understood that either.

 

[Wizard1183]

If it needs to be taken off the road because of its fragile condition, I would say it's worn out rather than worn in. These 50s (and 1960) LPs were worn in during the 70s and 80s.

They play the same as they do back in the 70s and 80s. They’re no more fragile than a new guitar. They’ve been taken off the road for security sake only. Because they’re too expensive and rare and in todays age to play out with them you’d have handcuff it to your arm and then? I wouldn’t be surprised to hear “Great guitar player loses arm in struggle over Les Paul.” It’s a guitar. It works perfect I’m sure. No doubt PAFs or pots go out but KH didn’t stop playing Greeny live because it was fragile but because it was a liability to take out to play in front of crowds…

 

[ADP]

Boy oh boy that Murphy Lab Koolaid is strong!

 

[CAGinLA]

They play the same as they do back in the 70s and 80s. They’re no more fragile than a new guitar. They’ve been taken off the road for security sake only. Because they’re too expensive and rare and in todays age to play out with them you’d have handcuff it to your arm and then? I wouldn’t be surprised to hear “Great guitar player loses arm in struggle over Les Paul.” It’s a guitar. It works perfect I’m sure. No doubt PAFs or pots go out but KH didn’t stop playing Greeny live because it was fragile but because it was a liability to take out to play in front of crowds…

I don't know what to tell you other than I have read/heard numerous famous guitarists say in interviews that they have retired certain vintage guitars from the road - not only because of their value, but also because of their current condition.

 

[CAGinLA]

Boy oh boy that Murphy Lab Koolaid is strong!

If you saved your money you'd be able to afford one, two - then you could play it instead of shitposting online.

 

[ADP]

If you saved your money you'd be able to afford one, two - then you could play it instead of shitposting online.

I've got an Aged Beano that Tom Murphy actually "aged". I find it amazing how many people defend the new Murphy Lab as anything new or worth writing home about. Especially with their insultingly high starting prices. It's just not cool. Sucks the fun out of it.

*By the way, if you have $50k you can buy my Aged Beano and have dinner with me.

 

[CAGinLA]

I've got an Aged Beano that Tom Murphy actually "aged". I find it amazing how many people defend the new Murphy Lab as anything new or worth writing home about. Especially with their insultingly high starting prices. It's just not cool. Sucks the fun out of it.

*By the way, if you have $50k you can buy my Aged Beano and have dinner with me.

LOL, another clown!

BTW, I owned an R8 True Historic aged by Tom, himself - my ML R8, not directly aged by Tom, is a way better guitar. More realistic aging, harder finish, better sounding Custombuckers, better neck carve, way more resonant wood. The top was prettier on the TH, I'll give it that. ML is doing the best aging that the Custom Shop had ever produced.

I paid $4.8k for the Murphy aged TH R8 and $5.3k for the ML R8, so nearly the same price. I purchased both used.

 

[ADP]

LOL, another clown!

BTW, I owned an R8 True Historic aged by Tom, himself - my ML R8, not directly aged by Tom, is a way better guitar. More realistic aging, harder finish, better sounding Custombuckers, better neck carve, way more resonant wood. The top was prettier on the TH, I'll give it that. ML is doing the best aging that the Custom Shop had ever produced.

I paid $4.8k for the Murphy aged TH R8 and $5.3k for the ML R8, so nearly the same price. I purchased both used.

Beano has that hard finish you're harping about, as well. It's the last of all my "aged" custom shop's that I've kept as it's a stand-out player. My 2014 R8 (and everybody else's) seems to play and sound better than today's custom shop offerings, I bought it new and have never considered selling it. I'm always ready to pull the trigger on a magic guitar, nothing has impressed me as of recent.
I've also got a 1959 which obviously is in another league altogether.

 

[E.M.]

I don’t know ya’ll - but Wildwood just got this ML in and it’s f-ing stunning.

 

[6L6]

For the money, I'd go VOS any day of the week but the ML finish feels different.
Played a few hanging on the walls, some were yays some were nays.
Just like any other year.

 

[Der_Kaiser]

 

[Any Name You Wish]

On Wildwood Guitars web site, on the "New Arrivals" page, no less than 18 ML Les Pauls. Somebody is buying them. I would say they are extremely popular judging by this huge Gibson dealer. One day the second-hand market will be flooded with them, and that will be interesting.

You know, the only reason I would get a "relic'd" guitar is maybe, just maybe, for stage presence. Sort of a prop. That is assuming I don't already have one, which I don't because all my guitars look really good - even the Telecaster which got most of the gig use, because I never toured. So I might need one just for the look. I might do that. But wait, only a few people in the audience are going to even notice, and they are probably guitar players, and when they come up to me and ask about it I'll have to sheepishly say it is an ML or make something up. Spending all that extra money would not be very smart. May as well just have a glossy one. Boy, I need a drink.

 

[GimmeGibson]

Ney, nope, nien, nyet, etc…

 

[charliechitlins]

*By the way, if you have $50k you can buy my Aged Beano and have dinner with me.

Red Lobster?

 

[renderit]

Olive Garden

 

[charliechitlins]

Olive Garden

Daaaaaaang!

 

[Wizard1183]

Olive Garden

Movin on up! To the east side….

 

[Wizard1183]

On Wildwood Guitars web site, on the "New Arrivals" page, no less than 18 ML Les Pauls. Somebody is buying them. I would say they are extremely popular judging by this huge Gibson dealer. One day the second-hand market will be flooded with them, and that will be interesting.

You know, the only reason I would get a "relic'd" guitar is maybe, just maybe, for stage presence. Sort of a prop. That is assuming I don't already have one, which I don't because all my guitars look really good - even the Telecaster which got most of the gig use, because I never toured. So I might need one just for the look. I might do that. But wait, only a few people in the audience are going to even notice, and they are probably guitar players, and when they come up to me and ask about it I'll have to sheepishly say it is an ML or make something up. Spending all that extra money would not be very smart. May as well just have a glossy one. Boy, I need a drink.

With so many reissues out there? It’s hard to believe value will go up tremendously. It’ll definitely depend on a model for it go up. Murphy Labs? Too many built. It’s just another guitar. Unless you have a braz board MUrphy lab? You just have another reissue with his name attached and when he passes it doesn’t make those guitars more sought after but some might think so