2016 Gibson Les Paul Std. LPR7S Billy Gibbons "Prototype"

Check out this really cool 1 of a kind 2016 Gibson Les Paul LPR7S made specifically for Billy Gibbons to make another small run of Tom Murphy aged type guitars. Designed after 1 of his personal faves, his beautiful Les Paul Std. from 1957, the Custom Shop knocked it out of the park. Its Gold Top finish looks dead original having tons of weather checking & a perfect greenish patina. This Les Paul represents the peak of Gibson craftsmanship: from chemically-recreated plastics to double carved deep dish tops with thinner lacquer finishes, wet-sanded by hand, every element of a 1957 Gibson Les Paul Standard has been rendered in unbelievable detail. Extremely well created w/the most perfect tonewoods include a two-piece carved maple top, a one-piece mahogany body & a mahogany neck with a large profile carve and long neck tenon, capped w/a bound Indian rosewood fingerboard. Gibson decided to make this as special as possible, so they even copied Billy’s actual hard case sporting about a dozen + concert stickers all over its top & back. This is 1 very special Les Paul signed by Billy in yellow marker & expected to go up in value every year. What a special Custom Shop aged Gold Top like no others ever.

This Les Paul has a lively and pronounced voice when strummed unplugged, with great bark in the low end, and sparkling, round-sounding plain strings that deliver plenty of zing and also a richness that makes lead lines cut through with great clarity and body. The CustomBucker pickups are Gibson’s latest highly praised PAF iteration. Featuring Alnico III magnets, these low-medium output pickups have all the chirp, honk, and bloom a player could want. The set in this particular guitar is dynamic, highly detailed, balanced, and comfortably versatile with any playing style. The bridge has plenty of bite and growl, while the neck pickup has the buttery girth and power one expects.

This Les Paul Prototype example was sent to Billy Gibbons for his authorization & approval to make this a limited run. Unfortunately he did not like it, so he signed it on the back of its headstock & then Gibson put up for sale when it found its way to its 1st & only owner. This guitar was hand aged by the Master himself, Tom Murphy ! With Tom taking a step back from doing the hands-on aging these days, we expect his guitars to hold their value and appreciate more in the future, compared to the run of the mill Murphy Lab guitars. It’s now 10 years old exactly & its ready for its next caretaker. She plays and feels amazing with incredible tone for days !