Gibson Custom Announces Murphy Lab Heavy Aged Acoustic Collection

February 13, 2025

Introducing the Murphy Lab Heavy Aged Acoustic Collection from Gibson Custom, which features five recreations of Gibson’s most celebrated and highly collectible acoustic guitars, including the storied 1939 SJ-100, 1942 Banner J-45, 1936 Advanced Jumbo, 1960 Hummingbird, and 1963 Country Western. Available for the first time in Murphy Lab Heavy Aging and handcrafted by the expert luthiers of the Gibson acoustic craftory in Bozeman, Montana, the new collection showcases Gibson’s most coveted vintage acoustic guitar models with all the tone, vibe, playability, and appearance of a beloved vintage original, without the vintage price tag. The Gibson Custom Murphy Lab Heavy Aged Acoustic Collection is available on Gibson.com, the Gibson Garage Nashville and London, and via authorized Gibson dealers.

In Bozeman, Montana, Gibson carries on a tradition of acoustic instruments that dates back to the 1890s. The world has changed, but this art has stayed much the same: Gibson acoustic guitars deliver a clear, rich sound from carefully chosen tonewoods crafted to improve with age, and the luthiers in Montana fit each dovetail neck joint by hand.

For the first time, acoustic guitar enthusiasts can now own one of Gibson’s most coveted vintage acoustic guitar models, with all the tone, vibe, playability, and appearance of a well-seasoned vintage original without the vintage price tag and potential issues that can accompany a sixty-year-old guitar. Gibson is proud to expand the Murphy Lab Collection with the addition of these legendary Gibson acoustic models, which feature Murphy Lab Heavy Aging. They’re the same inspiring-to-play vintage recreations, now with remarkably realistic Heavy Aging from the artisans of the Murphy Lab.

“By applying our Murphy Lab finish, Gibson has fully mastered the artistic science of recreating the vintage sound, guitar feel, and appearance of Gibson’s distinctive array of historic acoustic guitars.”

Robi Johns, Sr. Product Development Manager at Gibson Acoustic Guitars

Explore the new Gibson Custom Murphy Lab Heavy Aged Acoustic Collection: HERE

Above: Close-up of the Gibson Custom Murphy Lab Heavy Aged Hummingbird and Country Western.

Above; Close-up of the SJ-100 and Advanced Jumbo Heavy Aged.

An expertly crafted and artfully aged recreation of an exceptionally rare and highly coveted Super Jumbo model

The 1939 SJ-100 Heavy Aged is a replica of the rare and very distinctive mahogany-backed Super Jumbo 100 that was built for only a few years (circa 1939-1942). The 1939 SJ-100 Heavy Aged fully replicates the original and exceptionally rare 1939 SJ-100 guitars that are coveted by collectors and vintageGibson experts around the world. It features a thermally aged red spruce top with Gibson’s hand-scalloped X bracing that helps give it the tone of a long-cherished heirloom, solid mahogany back and sides, and the top and back are both bound. The 2-piece maple neck has a rounded profile, 25.5” (647.7 mm) scale length, and a bound ebony fretboard with 20 standard frets, mother-of-pearl dot inlays, and an easy-playing 12” fretboard radius. The neck features Gibson’s compound dovetail neck-to-body joint and is set using hot hide glue. Other notable features include a vintage SJ-100 style firestripe pickguard, ebony moustache bridge, bone bridge pins, nut and saddle, the rare, vintage “stair step” headstock design, the Gibson script style headstock logo inlaid in mother of pearl, and Waverly tuners with ivoroid knobs. Crafted by the expert luthiers and craftspeople at the Gibson Custom Shop in Bozeman, Montana, it has been artfully aged by the artisans of the Murphy Lab to give it the look and feel of a long-cherished musical companion. Here’s your chance to own one of Gibson’s rarest acoustic guitar models, with all the tone, vibe, playability, and appearance of a vintage original without the vintage price tag and potential issues that can accompany an eighty-year-old guitar. A Gibson Custom hardshell case is also included.

1942 Banner J-45 Heavy Aged:

The original Workhorse, heavily aged to vintage perfection

The allure and legend of the Gibson J-45 live on in the new Murphy Lab 1942 Banner J-45 Heavy Aged. Inspired by the holy grail of vintage acoustic instruments, luthiers in Bozeman, Montana meticulously crafted a J-45 just like the most popular and celebrated version in structure and components. The new 1942 Banner J-45 includes a thermally aged red spruce top that helps give it the tone of a long-cherished heirloom. It is hand-sprayed with a historic-style burst using nitrocellulose lacquer. The hand-scalloped top X bracing is also made from red spruce, and the braces are fitted with hot hide glue for better tonal response. The 1942 Banner J-45 Heavy Aged is crafted using solid mahogany for the back and sides, and the top and back are both bound with single-ply binding. The nut, saddle, and bridge pins are bone. The rosewood open slot bridge features the rectangular shape found on the earliest J-45 models. The tuning machines are strap-style, open-back units with cream buttons. The tortoise shell-colored pickguard features the original teardrop shape. The 1942 Banner J-45 Heavy Aged features Heavy Aging by the skilled artisans of the Murphy Lab. TheMurphy Lab Heavy Aged finish treatment, paired with heavily aged nickel hardware, simulates decades of heavy play wear, giving it the unique character, vibe, and feel of an original example from the Gibson Golden Era.Expect a heavy weather-checked finish, heavy belt buckle wear, light arm wear, and light neckwear. A period-correct Gibson Custom hardshell case is also included to keep this beautiful guitar safe when not in use, and a certificate of authenticity is also included.

1936 Advanced Jumbo Heavy Aged:

Legendary style and sound with Murphy Lab Heavy Aging

During a time when cultural optimism was low, Gibson dreamed up a new line of “advanced” instruments; included in those models was the Advanced Jumbo. Due to low production numbers from 1936-1939, this model largely flew under the radar even though it was a supreme-sounding and performing instrument. Gibson Custom is pleased to once again offer the Gibson 1936 Advanced Jumbo Heavy Aged, outfitted with a thermally aged red spruce top and hide glue-fitted hand-scalloped X-bracing that help to give it the tone of a long-treasured musical companion, solid rosewood back and sides, and a mahogany neck with a 25.5” (647.7 mm) scale length, vintage Advanced Jumbo profile, a rosewood fretboard with a 12” fretboard radius, 19 standard frets, and mother-of-pearl diamonds and arrows inlays. The bridge is the original open slot rectangular style, and the firestripe pickguard features the original Advanced Jumbo shape. The nut, saddle, and bridge pins are all bone, and the tuning machines are premium Waverly tuners. The 1936 Advanced Jumbo Heavy Aged brings back all the tone and prestige that made these such sought after instruments by artists and collectors. It features Heavy Aging by the skilled artisans of the Murphy Lab. The Murphy Lab Heavy Aged finish treatment, paired with heavily aged nickel hardware, simulates decades of heavy play wear, giving it the unique character, vibe, and feel of an original example from the Gibson Golden Era. Expect a heavy weather-checked finish, heavy belt buckle wear, light arm wear, and light neck wear.Here’s your chance to own one of Gibson’s most coveted vintage acoustic guitar models, with all the tone, vibe, playability, and appearance of a vintage original without the vintage price tag and potential issues that can accompany an eighty-year-old guitar. A period-correct hardshell case from Gibson Custom is included, along with a certificate of authenticity.

1960 Hummingbird Heavy Aged:

The look and feel of a well loved vintage icon

Introduced in 1960 as Gibson’s first square-shoulder acoustic guitar, the Hummingbird arrived at the dawn of a new era in music and was rapidly embraced by the prime movers on the scene. The 1960 Hummingbird Heavy Aged from Gibson Custom brings back the magic of those very first Hummingbird models for today’s players to enjoy. Built with a thermally aged Sitka spruce top that is supported with Gibson’s traditional hand-scalloped X-bracing for vintage-inspired tone, the 1960 Hummingbird Heavy Aged reflects the appearance and performance of those early icons. It features a mahogany neck with a round profile and a compound dovetail neck-to-body joint that is set using hot hide glue, a bound Indian rosewood fretboard with a 24.75” (628.65 mm) scale length, 12” fretboard radius, mother of pearl Parallelogram inlays, and 20 standard frets. The solid mahogany back and sides feature multi-ply top and back binding. The1960 Hummingbird Heavy Aged is equipped with a fixed bone bridge, bone nut, and bone bridge pins, the instantly-identifiable casted Hummingbird pickguard with its famous Hummingbird graphics, and smooth-turning, gold Gotoh® tuners with Keystone buttons for great vintage-style looks and solid tuning stability. It has been masterfully aged by the artisans of the Murphy Lab to give it the look and feel of a long-cherished musical companion. Expect a heavy weather-checked finish, heavy belt buckle wear, light arm wear, and light neck wear. Here’s your chance to own one of Gibson’s most coveted vintage acoustic guitar models, with all the tone, vibe, playability, and appearance of a well-seasoned vintage original without the vintage price tag and potential issues that can accompany a sixty-year-old guitar. A period-correct black with goldenrod interior hardshell case from Gibson Custom is included, along with a certificate of authenticity.

1963 Country Western Heavy Aged:

One of our most beloved acoustic models makes its triumphant return

First introduced in a square shoulder configuration in 1962, the Country Westernwas originally created as a variation of Gibson’s popular Southern Jumbo model. With the body shape of a Hummingbird but in a Natural finish and having an unadorned tortoise pickguard instead of the Hummingbird’s casted, graphics-enhanced pickguard, the Country Western delivers wonderful tonal quality and a unique look that has been a resounding hit with players from the moment it was first released, all the way up to the present day; it has been one of Gibson’s most requested acoustic models for reissue since the 1990s.

This 1963 Country Western Heavy Aged features a thermally aged Sitka spruce top that is supported with Gibson’s traditional hand-scalloped X-bracing for vintage-inspired tone, solid mahogany back and sides with multi-ply top and back binding, a mahogany neck with a 24.75” (628.65 mm) scale length, round profile, and a bound Indian rosewood fretboard with a 12” fretboard radius, 20 standard frets, and mother-of-pearl parallelogram inlays. The neck’s compound dovetail neck-to-body joint is fitted using hot hide glue. The rosewood bridge is a traditional belly-up design, and the bridge saddle, nut, and bridge pins are all bone, and the classic Country Western tortoise pickguard is aged. The tuning machines are smooth-turning, aged nickel Gotoh® tuners with white buttons for solid tuning stability. The1963 Country Western features heavy aging by the artisans of the Murphy Labto give it the vibe, look, and playing feel of a well-loved, longtime musical companion. Expect a heavy weather-checked finish, heavy belt buckle wear, light arm wear, and light neck wear. Here’s your chance to own one of Gibson’s most requested vintage acoustic guitar models, with all the tone, vibe, playability, and appearance of a well-seasoned vintage original without the vintage price tag and potential issues that can accompany a sixty-year-old guitar. A period-correct black with goldenrod interior hardshell case from Gibson Custom is included, along with a certificate of authenticity.

Watch/share as Gibson Spotlight Artist Kapali Long demos the Gibson Custom Murphy Lab Heavy Aged Acoustic Collection with Premier Guitarduring NAMM 2025 HERE, and take a deep dive into the new models on the Gibson Gazette HERE.