Murphy Labs finish defects

GoldenEraGuitars · June 2021

Anyone who has sprayed single pack lacquer for a duration of time will have come across de-lamination issues. But as we all know, mass manufacturers tend to rush them, spray em thick and charge a bloody fortune for it.

The lacquer on those guitars looks far too thick. They do this so that the finish survives the cut and buff process. But, in order to get the look they’re going for and meet the demand of sales numbers they’re rushing the process.

I think there might be a lot of compressed air involved which will speed up the delaminating problems we’re seeing here. It’s also entirely possible that there is a compatibility issue between the filler and sealer. These things happen, but on this scale it can be extremely costly.

matone · June 2021

terada said:

tomajoha said:

@terada ;I am indeed

Fingers crossed that will bring it to a close. Got to feel for those that have bought their dream guitar only to either have this happen or be concerned about it.

Let's hope that Gibson do the right thing and officially let people know which serials are potentially effected and then (I suppose with the retailers) give people the choice to refund or refinish.

A premium product should really have premium after sales when something goes this wrong :

Looks like a bad refin from the 70`s.......

TrentGuitars · June 2021

ICBM said:

TrentGuitars said:

Are you referring to the look of the surface finish?

No, what looks like a thick matt brown layer completely covering the wood.

I presume that’s just the tinted grain filler or a colour tint from the lacquer?

GoldenEraGuitars · June 2021

TrentGuitars said:

ICBM said:

TrentGuitars said:

Are you referring to the look of the surface finish?

No, what looks like a thick matt brown layer completely covering the wood.

I presume that’s just the tinted grain filler or a colour tint from the lacquer?

Raw mahogany end grain?

TrentGuitars · June 2021

GoldenEraGuitars said:

TrentGuitars said:

ICBM said:

TrentGuitars said:

Are you referring to the look of the surface finish?

No, what looks like a thick matt brown layer completely covering the wood.

I presume that’s just the tinted grain filler or a colour tint from the lacquer?

Raw mahogany end grain?

Looks to be - can’t see anything overly alarming

ThePrettyDamned · June 2021

terada said:

tomajoha said:

@terada ;I am indeed

Fingers crossed that will bring it to a close. Got to feel for those that have bought their dream guitar only to either have this happen or be concerned about it.

Let's hope that Gibson do the right thing and officially let people know which serials are potentially effected and then (I suppose with the retailers) give people the choice to refund or refinish.

A premium product should really have premium after sales when something goes this wrong :

Why is the wood poo brown?

Seziertisch · June 2021

ThePrettyDamned said:

terada said:

tomajoha said:

@terada ;I am indeed

Fingers crossed that will bring it to a close. Got to feel for those that have bought their dream guitar only to either have this happen or be concerned about it.

Let's hope that Gibson do the right thing and officially let people know which serials are potentially effected and then (I suppose with the retailers) give people the choice to refund or refinish.

A premium product should really have premium after sales when something goes this wrong :

Why is the wood poo brown?

Might be just the log it came from ..,

Strat54 · June 2021

Man wanted by police bears uncanny resemblance to Beaker from The Muppets - Mirror Online

normula1 · June 2021

I think we need an "ouch" button

chris78 · June 2021

What amazes me still is that people are still prepared to pay 5-11k for a Gibson. You know there’s a high chance you’ll get one poorly built, sloppily finished etc and for all the lengths they go to, the pickups are muddy and woolly and sound nothing like a great vintage example.
For less than half the top end price, Patrick Eggle, for example, can make you a Macon which fixes some of the Les Paul flaws and is perfectly built or for top end, you’re in PRS Private Stock 594 realm which will have showier woods and build quality that Gibson can only dream of. If you want something closer to the original and way cheaper, I’ll stick my Eastman up against any Gibson and that cost £1750.
It might be harsh, but if after all this time you’re dumb enough to buy something because it says “Gibson” on the headstock, it’s your own fault.

mbe · June 2021

Perhaps this phenomenon was intentional, going for a Rory/SRV look.

HandwrittenHero · June 2021

chris78 said:

What amazes me still is that people are still prepared to pay 5-11k for a Gibson. You know there’s a high chance you’ll get one poorly built, sloppily finished etc and for all the lengths they go to, the pickups are muddy and woolly and sound nothing like a great vintage example.
For less than half the top end price, Patrick Eggle, for example, can make you a Macon which fixes some of the Les Paul flaws and is perfectly built or for top end, you’re in PRS Private Stock 594 realm which will have showier woods and build quality that Gibson can only dream of. If you want something closer to the original and way cheaper, I’ll stick my Eastman up against any Gibson and that cost £1750.
It might be harsh, but if after all this time you’re dumb enough to buy something because it says “Gibson” on the headstock, it’s your own fault.

I’m as happy to stick the boot into Gibson for this as anyone, however I’ve not found the custombuckers muddy or woolly. I don’t go in expecting them to have the clarity of a single coil and I’ve no objection to installing 50s wiring if not present, setting the controls at different points and adjusting pickup height (my R9 wanted neck pickup lowering and pole pieces then raising).

I’ve not found a single guitar yet where I just want to roll everything up to 10 and feel like I’m good moving between the different pickups, it’s not exclusively Gibson.

thermionic · June 2021

mbe said:

Perhaps this phenomenon was intentional, going for a Rory/SRV look.

What, it’s going to eventually melt into a Strat?

markj · June 2021

chris78 said:

What amazes me still is that people are still prepared to pay 5-11k for a Gibson. You know there’s a high chance you’ll get one poorly built, sloppily finished etc and for all the lengths they go to, the pickups are muddy and woolly and sound nothing like a great vintage example.
For less than half the top end price, Patrick Eggle, for example, can make you a Macon which fixes some of the Les Paul flaws and is perfectly built or for top end, you’re in PRS Private Stock 594 realm which will have showier woods and build quality that Gibson can only dream of. If you want something closer to the original and way cheaper, I’ll stick my Eastman up against any Gibson and that cost £1750.
It might be harsh, but if after all this time you’re dumb enough to buy something because it says “Gibson” on the headstock, it’s your own fault.

Absolutely totally disagree. I’ve got a es335 Custom shop and a Junior Custom shop and they’re superb guitars. I’ve had many PRS’s including DGT Custom 24 and an SC 58. Yes the build quality might be better on the PRS guitars but much prefer my Gibson’s.

CloudNine · June 2021

Agree with markj . I am not sure why it is, but I find that Gibson style guitars made by other manufactures are never quite there, and I mean that right from lower priced (Eastman et al), right up to top end. I have had numerous Collings versions of LP, ES, Jr etc., but always missing something to me. My current 59 reissue 335 is in a different league to those guitars entirely. Maybe it's the terrible build quality and poor tolerances, but whatever it is, I want and need it.

.

On the other hand, I can think of many many many Fender style guitar copies, that give me the exact feel, tone etc. that I expect, and don't feel like I am missing out on anything at all.

Having said all that, this whole finish thing is appalling, and really embarrassing for Gibson. I wouldn't want it fixed, I would just want my money back.

HandwrittenHero · June 2021

Also same boat, I love my 2 Gibson CS. I can point a few quibbles on each. But I wouldn’t trade either for a more perfectly finished model that didn’t sound and feel the same.

This finishing issue is completely different ballpark though. When it’s the one big new thing they had to get it right. It really is embarrassing and for what’s supposed to be their top of the shop doubly so.

Brize · June 2021

HandwrittenHero said:

Also same boat, I love my 2 Gibson CS. I can point a few quibbles on each. But I wouldn’t trade either for a more perfectly finished model that didn’t sound and feel the same.

In my experience, when Gibsons are good they're really good. You need to kiss some frogs, though.

Fifty9 · June 2021

They’re going to have to kill the Murphy lab after this. There’re no marketing tricks that will overcome this total disaster and leave the Murphy lab brand seen to be the best gibson has to offer.

Collings · June 2021

There are still a fair few Murphy Lab guitars listed on UK dealers websites. I pity someone that buys one of these with potential problems without any warning as they have not read about the problem on the various forums where it's being discussed.

Philly_Q · June 2021

I don't know if this will be the end of the Murphy Lab or not, but it's enough to put me off buying one for the foreseeable future.

Not that I was considering it anyway, they cost too much and I haven't liked the look of any of those I've seen (in pictures) except perhaps some of the ultra light aged ones. Had there been something particularly amazing (perhaps a '64 SG in a nice colour and without a vibrola) then I might have been tempted to part with the cash.

But the thought that the paint could all fall off is the last nail in the coffin.

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Murphy Labs finish defects

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