Gibson Murphy Lab 1960 Hummingbird Light Aged
The Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1960 Hummingbird in detail
The Hummingbird was introduced in 1960 as Gibson's first guitar with a Square Shoulder body. It arrived at the dawn of a new era of music and was quickly discovered and prized by the scene's leading musicians. The Hummingbird model is world‑famous and has been played by bona fide music greats such as Keith Richards, Taylor Swift and Chris Cornell. Inspired by this true vintage guitar icon, Gibson's luthiers in Bozeman, Montana, in collaboration with Tom Murphy's ageing gurus, have crafted a Hummingbird that matches one of the most popular 1960 design versions in design and components down to the smallest detail, convincing both visually and sonically.
Vintage features
The Gibson Murphy Lab Hummingbird Light Aged in the 1960 style was built with a top of thermally aged Sitka spruce and reflects the look and performance of an early Gibson icon. The instrument was finished by the experienced luthiers of the Murphy Lab in Light Aged nitrocellulose lacquer. The Murphy Lab Light Aged finish, paired with lightly aged hardware, simulates decades of gentle playing wear and gives the guitar the unique character, presence and feel of an original from the golden era of Gibson acoustic guitars. Naturally, the look is completed by the Vintage Cherry Sunburst finish, the Belly‑Up Bridge and the historic Hummingbird pickguard.
Murphy Lab Ageing
For 25 years Tom Murphy has been reproducing the vibe and character of vintage guitars. In collaboration with the master luthier, Gibson scientifically analysed and chemically recreated the original brittle, crack‑prone Gibson lacquer from the 1950s/60s that caused cracks beneath the finish. Every Murphy Lab‑aged creation goes its own way through the Custom Shop and receives the Murphy Lab nitrocellulose lacquer applied by hand. Each Murphy Lab craftsman has been trained by Tom Murphy to become an ageing expert.
Case and accessories
The Gibson Custom Shop 1960 Hummingbird Lab Light Aged is delivered in a historically correct black leather hardshell case with yellow interior, including a Certificate of Authenticity and plenty of case candy in the form of a Gibson accessory pack.
Product information "Gibson Murphy Lab 1960 Hummingbird Light Aged"
- Aging: Murphy Lab Light Aged
- Back / Sides: Mahogany
- Binding: Aged White Multi-ply Top, Multi-ply Back, Single-ply Fretboard
- Body Shape: Dreadnought
- Body Shape: Dreadnought
- Body finish: High Gloss
- Bridge: Rosewood
- Bridge-Pins: White Plastic
- Color/ Finish: Aged Heritage Cherry Sunburst
- Colour: Sunburst
- Construction / Acoustic: Solid
- Country of Origin: USA
- Cutaway: no
- Finish: High Gloss
- Finish: Nitrocellulose
- Fretboard: Rosewood
- Fretboard Inlays: Mother of Pearl Parallelogram
- Fretboard radius: 16" (406.4 mm)
- Fret material: Nickel silver
- Frets: 20
- Headstock: Open Book Headstock with Gibson Logo
- Includes: Hardcase
- Neck: Mahogany
- Neck Mount: Dovetail
- Neck Profile: 1960 Hummingbird
- Neck finish: High Gloss
- Nut Width: 43,81 mm (1,724")
- Pickguard: Historisches Hummingbird-Schlagbrett
- Rosette: 2-Ring Aged White
- Saddle/Cross piece inlay: Bone
- Scale Length: 24.75" (628,65 mm)
- Serial number: 22754008
- Strings: 6 string
- Strings thickness ex factory: .012 - .053
- Top: Thermo Aged Sitka Spruce
- Tuning Machines: Gotoh Vintage Aged Gold with Keystone buttons
- Traditional Belly Up bridge
- Murphy Lab Aged Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Murphy Lab Aged
The American Gibson Guitar Corporation, founded in 1902 by Orville Gibson in Kalamazoo, Michigan, first became known for the production of mandolins and banjos. Today the company’s headquarters are in Nashville, Tennessee, and Gibson is one of the world’s most renowned and respected manufacturers of electric guitars.
The model Les Paul, named after its creator Lester William Polsfuss, is one of the most famous and best‑selling electric guitar shapes of all time and established the single‑cut guitar form, which has been copied, adopted and reinterpreted by numerous other manufacturers. The Les Paul is mainly prized for its sound, characterised as warm and full. The humbucker pickup largely responsible for that sound, in its now common design, was developed by Seth Lover at Gibson.
In the early 1960s the Gibson SG appeared as another solid‑body electric from Gibson. Originally intended as the successor to the Les Paul, it became — helped by Angus Young of AC/DC — another rock‑history icon and is the basis for the double‑cutaway guitar type.
With the Flying V and the Explorer Gibson is responsible for two body shapes that, although they were far ahead of their time when introduced in the late 1950s, have over the years also achieved legendary status. They still serve as the foundation for a host of heavy guitars today, for example from makers such as Jackson or ESP.
The Gibson Custom Shop produces custom orders, high‑quality one‑offs and precise replicas of famous models and legendary instrument years. These are often subjected to an artificial ageing process called relicing.
Almost as long as the company has existed, acoustic guitars have also been produced. The J‑45, the Hummingbird, the L‑00 and the SJ‑200 are among the world’s most beloved steel‑string acoustics and were the instruments of choice for Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and John Lennon.
Besides the instruments already mentioned, you can of course also buy picks, bags and cases or merchandise from Gibson with us.
We are particularly proud to host a Gibson Flagship Store in our Frankfurt branch. There you’ll find not only a large selection and exclusive models to try out in person, but you’ll also benefit from the expertise of our Gibson‑trained and certified staff when choosing the perfect guitar.
