Murphy Lab Artist Series: Joe Bonamassa

In this episode of the Murphy Lab Artist Series, world-renown guitarist and guitar collector Joe Bonamassa talks about why he likes old guitars, plays several of the new Murphy Lab-aged Gibson Custom Shop guitars, and offers viewers his thoughts about them. Joe tells viewers about the first time he ever handled a 1959 Les Paul, which was in 1993. He also talks about vintage Les Pauls that he has seen that have been converted and heavily modified in various ways, mainly because the owners never thought they would become so valuable. As he plays the guitars from the Gibson Custom Shop’s Murphy Lab, Joe comments about various aspects and features of each model. He emphasizes the “played-in” feel of the Murphy Lab instruments. “The binding makes all the difference. It doesn’t feel new.” He adds, “The fact that you’ve been able to capture the played-in feel on a new guitar is something that, in the history of aging, hasn’t been done.” He also comments about the checking on the body on a Murphy Lab-aged ES-335 and how they got that right, too. Joe also recalls his first guitar and what it was like to crack open the case. “It represents a dream - that anybody can pick one of these things up and go, you know, if I just believe in myself, I can do this.” And he leaves us with this statement about the Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab guitars: “What’s not to like? It’s that attention to detail … the hard work pays off, and this really shows.” For more information about Joe Bonamassa, visit his website at https://jbonamassa.com/. For more information about the Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab, visit https://hello.gibson.com/murphy-lab/.