Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Gibson Gear Guide visits the Gibson Custom Shop to see the new hardware aging process at the Gibson Custom Murphy Lab.
In this clip from our Gibson Custom Murphy Lab tour, Dinesh meetsteh legend that is Tom Murphy!
So what’s new for 2026 on the Gibson Custom Murphy Lab guitars? Previously, aged plastics were available only in very special runs, but now the Murphy Lab offers the complete aging package, including the hardware. Every single component gets aged by hand, from the yellowing of tuner buttons to the subtle warping of pickguards, and hand-aging on all metal parts—this is a first for Gibson Custom.
In the full video you can watch how the Murphy Lab’s completely reimagined approach to hardware aging on your Gibson Custom guitar happens. Previously, hardware aging was not widely available on all Gibson Custom Murphy Lab guitars. Now, every visible component—from pickup covers and bridges to screws, plastics, and jack plates—is individually aged by hand to match the guitar’s specific aging level. Sean and his team study real vintage guitars and recreate the subtle details that naturally develop over decades of playing, using a combination of tools, dyes, chemicals, and hand-aging techniques to build up layers of wear.
ABOUT GIBSON GEAR GUIDE:
Welcome to Gibson Gear Guide – the official YouTube channel made by gearheads, for gearheads. Get first access to our latest guitars, basses, amps, pedals, and pro-audio gear. Watch equipment reviews, exclusive artist interviews and performances, deep dives into the history of the world’s most iconic guitars, and more.
Video Production by Bolo Brothers Creative
Gibson Gear Guide visits the Gibson Custom Shop to see the new hardware aging process at the Gibson Custom Murphy Lab.
In this clip from our Gibson Custom Murphy Lab tour, Dinesh meetsteh legend that is Tom Murphy!
So what’s new for 2026 on the Gibson Custom Murphy Lab guitars? Previously, aged plastics were available only in very special runs, but now the Murphy Lab offers the complete aging package, including the hardware. Every single component gets aged by hand, from the yellowing of tuner buttons to the subtle warping of pickguards, and hand-aging on all metal parts—this is a first for Gibson Custom.
In the full video you can watch how the Murphy Lab’s completely reimagined approach to hardware aging on your Gibson Custom guitar happens. Previously, hardware aging was not widely available on all Gibson Custom Murphy Lab guitars. Now, every visible component—from pickup covers and bridges to screws, plastics, and jack plates—is individually aged by hand to match the guitar’s specific aging level. Sean and his team study real vintage guitars and recreate the subtle details that naturally develop over decades of playing, using a combination of tools, dyes, chemicals, and hand-aging techniques to build up layers of wear.
ABOUT GIBSON GEAR GUIDE:
Welcome to Gibson Gear Guide – the official YouTube channel made by gearheads, for gearheads. Get first access to our latest guitars, basses, amps, pedals, and pro-audio gear. Watch equipment reviews, exclusive artist interviews and performances, deep dives into the history of the world’s most iconic guitars, and more.
Video Production by Bolo Brothers Creative
