Topic: JBLP's why were they not Tom Murphy aged???

is there any reason why the JBLP's were not aged by Tom Murphy.........given that you can buy a TM aged reissue for roughly the same money

Re: JBLP's why were they not Tom Murphy aged???

I think the ageing on the JBLPs are nice.  Subtle enough and not overdone.  I've seen some Tom Murphy guitars that look as if they've been aged by a chain flail... No way I would treat my guitars that badly over the course of time.  I like the look of an old guitar that has been played a lot, yet cared for.

JBLP Gold Top #129 - redubbed "#1 in Oz"

Re: JBLP's why were they not Tom Murphy aged???

Having Murphy do it drives the price up too.  CS guitars are expensive enough.  Of course, I don't get the whole aged thing anyway . . .

Gibson 60th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Reissue, Gibson LP Standard Faded CSB, Gibson Gary Moore LP Standard, Epi Joe Bonamassa GT LP, Epi Zakk Wylde LP, Dean Michael Schenker Flying V, Jackson Randy Rhoads V, ESP/LTD George Lynch Kamikaze, EVH Striped Series R/B/W, Fender/Squire John 5 Telecaster, Fender Joe Strummer Relic Telecaster

Re: JBLP's why were they not Tom Murphy aged???

Devan, I agree that it should look played but not like it fell out of the truck. I like your comparison with a chain Flail.

Anthony

Re: JBLP's why were they not Tom Murphy aged???

Personally have never seen the point. Get  new one, play it continuously for a number of years, let it mature and age along with you. Get your ageing naturally. I still clean mine down after every use. I probably wear it faster due to the cloth.. big_smile

Come on the Blades (sorry Idolbone just had to borrow your line)

Re: JBLP's why were they not Tom Murphy aged???

Tom Murphy doesn't work cheap. His name carries a serious reputation and he's earned it. Guitars that are "aged" by T.M. demand a premium. Joe wanted his guitars to be more affordable in comparison to other custom shop Murphy aged Gibsons. In the beginning I was not enthused about getting a aged guitar but I think with the JBLP it was done right and done very nicely. As with any guitar there are standouts, but with the original Gibson Custom Shop JB-LP series, they're all really great guitars! If your lucky enough to own one, play it and enjoy it. They're not meant to be wall hangers!!!!

Re: JBLP's why were they not Tom Murphy aged???

I got my JBLP for just over $3k (U.S.) new, which I thought was a great price.  I don't know what Murphy aged guitars are going for but I'm thinking more?  This is the only guitar I play anymore, and I have an embarrassing # to choose from.  The aging was a little off on mine, with obvious razor cuts off the top into the wood, but I had that fixed by a local tech and it looks great now. 

I also have one of the Bonamassa Bursts which cost around a grand more and it sadly sits in the case.  Can't get a relationship going with that one yet.....

Re: JBLP's why were they not Tom Murphy aged???

xcorporate wrote:

I got my JBLP for just over $3k (U.S.) new, which I thought was a great price.  I don't know what Murphy aged guitars are going for but I'm thinking more?  This is the only guitar I play anymore, and I have an embarrassing # to choose from.  The aging was a little off on mine, with obvious razor cuts off the top into the wood, but I had that fixed by a local tech and it looks great now. 

I also have one of the Bonamassa Bursts which cost around a grand more and it sadly sits in the case.  Can't get a relationship going with that one yet.....

If you want to lend it to me I can age it for you if you give me a long enough period of time. 20 yrs perhaps????  big_smile

Come on the Blades (sorry Idolbone just had to borrow your line)

Re: JBLP's why were they not Tom Murphy aged???

PSmith1946 wrote:

If you want to lend it to me I can age it for you if you give me a long enough period of time. 20 yrs perhaps????  big_smile

ROFL!! I can see new business opportunities here... 'Realistic' ageing for guitar collectors.  Turnaround time approx. 20 years. lol

I'm with you in that I think that my 'love' for the guitar with cloths, polishes etc. probably causes more wear on the finish than my playing.  I've got a 38 year old Les Paul Deluxe that looks nowhere near as beat up as some relics.  It doesn't look brand new either, but at least it doesn't look like it was dragged behind a car at a demolition derby.

My JBLP Gold Top was my first 'relic' guitar I've ever bought.  I never really cared for the concept before, but now I can see that it's a bit like buying a brand new guitar that feels like a second hand guitar - broken in, and plus I am now no t really worried about putting another small ding in a guitar that I paid $4K for... wink

JBLP Gold Top #129 - redubbed "#1 in Oz"

Re: JBLP's why were they not Tom Murphy aged???

You come to the states and it's yours to play as long you want! hahahhahahhah   

PSmith1946 wrote:
xcorporate wrote:

I got my JBLP for just over $3k (U.S.) new, which I thought was a great price.  I don't know what Murphy aged guitars are going for but I'm thinking more?  This is the only guitar I play anymore, and I have an embarrassing # to choose from.  The aging was a little off on mine, with obvious razor cuts off the top into the wood, but I had that fixed by a local tech and it looks great now. 

I also have one of the Bonamassa Bursts which cost around a grand more and it sadly sits in the case.  Can't get a relationship going with that one yet.....

If you want to lend it to me I can age it for you if you give me a long enough period of time. 20 yrs perhaps????  big_smile

Re: JBLP's why were they not Tom Murphy aged???

Here's a shot of my headstock on my 2007 R9 aged by Tom Murphy.  It impossible to see Tom's work on the body but it's very nicely done.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc4 … /R9-07.jpg

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc4 … /R9-09.jpg

Tom Murphy's Custom Shop work will for the most part fetch anywhere north of $5K.

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

Re: JBLP's why were they not Tom Murphy aged???

xcorporate wrote:

You come to the states and it's yours to play as long you want! hahahhahahhah   

PSmith1946 wrote:
xcorporate wrote:

I got my JBLP for just over $3k (U.S.) new, which I thought was a great price.  I don't know what Murphy aged guitars are going for but I'm thinking more?  This is the only guitar I play anymore, and I have an embarrassing # to choose from.  The aging was a little off on mine, with obvious razor cuts off the top into the wood, but I had that fixed by a local tech and it looks great now. 

I also have one of the Bonamassa Bursts which cost around a grand more and it sadly sits in the case.  Can't get a relationship going with that one yet.....

If you want to lend it to me I can age it for you if you give me a long enough period of time. 20 yrs perhaps????  big_smile

Be careful, I come for at least two and a half months a year I may take you up on it. big_smile

Come on the Blades (sorry Idolbone just had to borrow your line)

Re: JBLP's why were they not Tom Murphy aged???

Devan wrote:
PSmith1946 wrote:

If you want to lend it to me I can age it for you if you give me a long enough period of time. 20 yrs perhaps????  big_smile

ROFL!! I can see new business opportunities here... 'Realistic' ageing for guitar collectors.  Turnaround time approx. 20 years. lol

I'm with you in that I think that my 'love' for the guitar with cloths, polishes etc. probably causes more wear on the finish than my playing.  I've got a 38 year old Les Paul Deluxe that looks nowhere near as beat up as some relics.  It doesn't look brand new either, but at least it doesn't look like it was dragged behind a car at a demolition derby.

My JBLP Gold Top was my first 'relic' guitar I've ever bought.  I never really cared for the concept before, but now I can see that it's a bit like buying a brand new guitar that feels like a second hand guitar - broken in, and plus I am now no t really worried about putting another small ding in a guitar that I paid $4K for... wink

Hey I like this aging concept...count me in I will gladly use a guitar for 20 years then give it back. Cheers Ron

"Joe B saved my soul, forever grateful Ron"
"Some people dream of worthy accomplishments while others stay awake and do them"
Skinner #1,JBLP 145(aged),252, (unaged),#285HM, Bburst #026, Joes 052 BCC black LP, Strat> RT,EC Gilmour,Beck,Lenny LP> PK 83,CC#2,3,4,9,Amps>Carol Ann RAH JB-100 SN 001,JB100 Red SN02,OD2, OD3,Tucana 2&3 Triptix,Twinkle land, Plexi ,JB Jub, Jubs,Plexi,Satch,Two Rock>others

Re: JBLP's why were they not Tom Murphy aged???

One problem with modern Les Pauls (with regard to aging) is the lacquer finish that is now used. Because of environmental/safety concerns, the modern lacquer is formulated differently and has plasticizers and other compounds in it that tend to make for a thicker, rubbery finish. One of the features that allows the 50's guitars to age so beautifully is the thin, hard lacquer coat that, with time, shrinks and becomes worn thinner. The shrinking and expanding of the underlying wood causes the lacquer to check (crack) in interesting patterns, adding to the character of the guitar. It remains to be seen how modern Pauls will age naturally, but I am not sure that they will ever look like the GTs and Bursts from the 50's. Maybe they will, but perhaps it will take longer for the added compounds/solvents to evaporate out of the finish (prolonging/delaying the aging process).

Re: JBLP's why were they not Tom Murphy aged???

We can work this out, I get to age your JB-100 though!


cindyron wrote:
Devan wrote:
PSmith1946 wrote:

If you want to lend it to me I can age it for you if you give me a long enough period of time. 20 yrs perhaps????  big_smile

ROFL!! I can see new business opportunities here... 'Realistic' ageing for guitar collectors.  Turnaround time approx. 20 years. lol

I'm with you in that I think that my 'love' for the guitar with cloths, polishes etc. probably causes more wear on the finish than my playing.  I've got a 38 year old Les Paul Deluxe that looks nowhere near as beat up as some relics.  It doesn't look brand new either, but at least it doesn't look like it was dragged behind a car at a demolition derby.

My JBLP Gold Top was my first 'relic' guitar I've ever bought.  I never really cared for the concept before, but now I can see that it's a bit like buying a brand new guitar that feels like a second hand guitar - broken in, and plus I am now no t really worried about putting another small ding in a guitar that I paid $4K for... wink

Hey I like this aging concept...count me in I will gladly use a guitar for 20 years then give it back. Cheers Ron