Gibson Murphy Lab 1957 SJ-200 Light Aged Vintage Sunburst Gibson Custom Shop

The Murphy Lab is the section specializing in the “Aging” process of the Gibson Custom Shop. Like Lloyd Loar, Les Paul or Ted McCarty, Tom Murphy is an inseparable figure in the history of Gibson. After a brief stint at the Nashville sawmill, which he joined in 1989, he joined the paint department where he acquired fundamental knowledge to become a specialist in finishing and more particularly in nitrocellulose varnish.

In 1994 he established his own company. He will devote several years to analyzing the characteristics of vintage Gibson guitars, and developing exclusive techniques for varnishing and early maturation of instruments. Impressed by this unequaled expertise, Gibson decided to collaborate with the master builder and introduced the “Aged” models in 1999. The plebiscite was unanimous. To meet exponential demand, Gibson is opening the Custom Shop Murphy Lab division in Nashville Tennessee in 2021. Each craftsman on the team is trained in person by Tom Murphy for complete mastery of the sophisticated tools and procedures needed to craft these guitars. exceptional.

The King of the Flat-tops, with the vintage vibe and feel from the era that gave birth to some of the most prized Gibson Acoustic instruments. This new Custom Shop 1957 SJ-200 offers details such as hand-selected maple for the back and sides, a headstock stinger, and our thermally aged top for the full vintage effect.

The mother-of-pearl Graduated Crown inlays on the 1957 SJ-200’s rosewood fingerboard run lengthwise and are affixed using a unique technique that fills gaps without needing fillers. The Four Bar Moustache bridge and handmade floral pickguard are equally magnificent stage-ready additions that give the SJ-200 its own aesthetic appeal and attitude. Genuine bone saddle and nut also improve tone. The vintage headstock “stinger” on the rear of this 1957 SJ-200 finally transports the player to a time in Gibson history when the finest guitars included this characteristic. Collectors and other aficionados will value this functionality.

Gibson’s Super Jumbo guitars were initially designed to compete with the mandolins and banjos that were popular in “pre-amplified” eras by cutting through the loudest acoustic ensembles. Hearing a Super Jumbo’s well-balanced sound resound loud and clearly still gives me a rush. These guitars are popular among guitarists, from rockers to country pickers, for their outstanding sound, projection, build quality, and, let’s be honest, breathtaking looks.

Features

• Classic acoustic with vintage appointments and materials for a one-of-a-kind playing experience
• Thermally Aged Sitka spruce top with hand-selected maple back and sides delivers big, rich tone and incredible volume
• Gorgeous 2-piece maple neck with rosewood fingerboard offers impeccable playability and feel
• Custom floral pickguard and iconic Four Bar Moustache bridge — iconic, stage-ready appointments
• Mother-of-pearl Graduated Crown inlays look amazing
• Genuine bone nut and saddle enhance tone
• Vintage headstock “stinger” dips into the deep history of Gibson’s earliest design
• Super Jumbo body delivers some of the biggest unplugged tone and volume of any acoustic on the market

Specs