Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1959 ES-355 Reissue Stop Bar Watermelon Red Light Aged Gibson

Gibson Custom Shop’s new Murphy Lab has one purpose: to take expert aging artist Tom Murphy’s proprietary techniques to the next level. Here, Tom and his personally trained team of artists use cutting-edge technology and Tom’s own processes, developed over years of careful testing, to produce perfect replicas of golden-age Gibsons, each dressed with Tom’s brand of authentic, hand-applied playwear, and scientifically reverse-engineered nitrocellulose lacquer, identical to that which the brand used in the 1950s and 1960s. Each Murphy Lab model corresponds to one of four distinct aging levels and features extra-rolled fingerboard binding for a broken-in feel and true-to-life look. 

What could be better than the legendary ES-335? The ES-355! The ES-355 starts with all the features that make the ES-335 iconic – the feedback-resistant semi-hollowbody construction, the two humbucking pickups with individual volume and tone controls, the legendary sonic versatility and exceptional playability – and kicks it into overdrive with an ebony fretboard that’s adorned with 50s pattern mother of pearl block inlays and 22 authentic medium jumbo frets. A split diamond headstock inlay, multi-ply binding, and gold hardware further reinforce the fact that the ES-355 is the top of the line ES model. This expertly crafted Custom Shop rendition’s attention to detail makes it an outstanding recreation of the legendary and highly prized 1959 ES-355. A five latch Lifton case is also included. It also features Light Aging by the skilled artisans of the Murphy Lab. The Murphy Lab Light Aged finish treatment, paired with lightly aged hardware, simulates decades of natural play wear, giving it the unique character, vibe, and feel of an original example from the Gibson Golden Era.

Body Shape: ES-335
Body: 3-Ply Maple/Poplar/Maple
Weight Relief: None
Binding: Multi-ply

Neck: Solid Mahogany
Profile: Authentic ’59 Medium C-Shape
Nut width: 1.687″ / 42.85mm
Fingerboard: Solid Ebony
Scale length: 24.75″ / 628.65mm
Number of frets: 22
Nut: Nylon
Inlay: 1950s Pattern Mother of Pearl

Bridge: ABR-1
Tailpiece: Lightweight Aluminum Stop Bar
Knobs: Black Butyrate Top Hats with Dial Pointers
Tuners: Kluson Waeback with Pearloid Tips
Plating: Gold; Murphy Lab Light Aged

Neck pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3 (Unpotted)
Bridge pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3 (Unpotted)
Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, CTS 500K Audio Taper Potentiometers, Paper-inOil Capacitors

Case: Brown/Pink Lifton Reissue 5-Latch