$10.5K For A Guitar - Has Gibson Lost Their Minds 

I'm thrilled that Gibson is charging $10,500 for a LP. PRS can now be known as the working man's guitar :D

2.8k for a standard is crazy too. Can’t see me buying a brand new guitar again anytime soon.

i refuse to pay that much for a guitar unless i can drive it to the gig.

I'm not a fan of relicing, but it's brilliant from a manufacturing standpoint. No B stocks because of a scratch or ding. Normally, an accident during production would result in a markdown of the guitar. Purposely beat the hell out of it though, and folks willingly pay more for it. It's absurd!

In 1986, I paid $350 for my 1973 Deluxe Goldtop. In 1989, I paid $750 for my 1988 Tobacco Burst Standard. I'm all set.

Fantastic playing! Great video.

I have owned many Les Pauls throughout the years and played at least 30 that were 58-60 models. I now own a 2018 limited edition Brazilian rosewood R9 which is lightly aged. It is an absolutely fantastic instrument and i will die with this one. I am sometimes tempted to buy another Les Paul in a different finish but then i think what is the point. It is worth it if the guitar brings you joy.

I used to rip on people that bought them, thought it was hilariously stupid. Until I played a '59 at a local shop just messing around with a friend...and I was completely blown away by it. I absolutely fell in love with it immediately. And then a few days later my Dad passed away 2 weeks before his 50th bday. He had been saving up for many years to buy a truck and a 5th wheel camper, and he never got the chance to even buy it. After that I said screw it, you only have this one incredibly short life to live... go live it. You can always make more money. You cant always connect and fall in love with a guitar or any other hobby. So I bought it and I will never sell it. I couldnt care less how dumb I seem to others anymore.

Thanks for playing clean in the middle position... Rarely hear that, but the difference is what makes a good Les Paul.

All Good but not worth $10500

I picked up an Adam Jones Les Paul Standard as a retirement present to myself. I love it to bits, I got a price match and picked it up for £2299 as opposed to £3000.

It does sound stunning though mate, great playing and video as always. 🎸🔥

Just got my TONEX ONE delivered today, looking forward to trying my Japanese Tokai through your amps cos that sounded unbelievable mate

Good job on the ToneX packs Paul, sounds great! I’m sure the pricey guitar doesn’t hurt.

I played such a model in a shop nearby. The thing is - they are absolutely phenomenally good. And I am talking about the tone and the playing feel. I have no idea how they put out that many of these on that level of quality. I agree to some others here, Les Paul Cistom Shop models have been veeeery inconsistent in the past, but my observation is that changed with the 60‘s anniversary line in 2019, no idea how. At some point I read a comment that they are roasting the woods (pressure/heat drying process), but not sure. One thing on „the relic job costs 5k“: I would expect that they‘re selecting the woods for the premium lines, so not only a 5k expensive finish.

I played one of those in a Guitar Center in Orlando, it was awesome!

Or buy a Maybach or Eastman and get custom shop quality for 80% of the standard

Thank god I've got my 2014 CS R8 VOS lemon burst - it's now worth more than I paid for it. And it's a keeper.

Wow....the effects sound great....I wonder what the guitar sounds like.

With such beautiful sound and tone and look, I say worth it. Great video!

Spend half of that and get a full custom made to your specifications which is hand tooled from Japan…. Not factory overrated, even the Heritage H150 blows the crap out anything from Gibson’s custom shop..

What an intro! Dang. All of your noodlin' is the bomb Paul. From tasteful and sublime, to balls out.

I also have an R9 Heavy aged LP Murphy and loved it so much I ultra light aged my CS 57 LP junior. It turned out really good. Used the can of duster to do the finish checking. I enjoyed the tone thru your Phil X, so I guess I will put that on my wish list. I’m 66 and don’t gig and will never age a guitar naturally so these work for me.

I think i would rather have an EVH wolfgang special, Ibanez rg prestige, Gibson sg standard, Fender american professional ii telecaster, a Marshall JCM 800, a Vox ac30 and a Fender deluxe reverb all for the same money 🤣.

Loving your playing as always Paul.

Wow. That is one juicy guitar tone going on there. Beautiful intonation.

That intro & playing throughout... 🔥

Hi Paul, lovely playing and tone as usual! To my ears every guitar you demo sounds sweet, even the Jet you demoed a few months ago! Off coarse every switched on guitarist knows that reliced guitars always sound better than "new" !!! 😂 Cheers, Stephen from Scotland

Great looking and sounding guitar. You can buy a Standard 50s for 2800 and you are good to go. I've tried several ML and I really dig them. Most of the time they are also really light. People spend tons of money on other stuff. If this one makes you happy, that's more than OK. And I think there are also real players out there who can afford the ML prices.

The pickups sound really balanced, great demo of them!

Paul's playing/tone is top notch as per usual and Studio Rats ToneX pack tones are freaking awesome sounding.

Paul, would you mind telling me what brand of strings you use and what gauge they are?

Think the construction and neck glue used on Murphy labs are different. Possibly the custom buckets too ?

Lovely playing Paul.

that was probably the most well intonated Les Paul ive ever heard. im always trying to get mine dialled in and always end up with a subtle compromise, For anyone reading in the future with the same issue - I HAVE found the Peterson sweetened tunings help!

Do you have a video were you discuss your audio/recording set up? Me and my friends always talk about how your channel has the best audio recording ( how amps, modelers, etc. sound). Thank you!

Am I right in thinking you can buy these pickups ? So I could slam a set in a prs s2 594 ?

There yer go again Paul, I always get that deep feeling when I hear you play. Have you got any albums or tracks? Beautiful guitar, way out of my league pocket wise, I've got a LP finally a few years ago, I couldn't believe that it had those 'School Buss' frets, another way of saying 'We didn't crown them' so I had to do it myself after paying £2200, I was gob smacked. It's a nice guitar but I expected a lot better for the price. That's life, it's a shame that only bankers will be able to afford this one. Thanks as usual Paul, great playing.

The craziest thing IMO is the fact it's nearly impossible to go anywhere in person these days and try out a selection of such instruments before plunking down an outrageous amount of money. I've been buying/selling/trading guitars for 40+ years and never would have imagined how ridiculous the industry has become...

Can y'all please do a Kemper pack along with the Tonex ones?

It looks cool. I have a Gibson USA Les Paul in that same color but it doesn’t nearly look as cool as that one. The cloudy nickel pickup covers look so much better than the shiny chrome ones

Hiring a voodoo priestess to work in the extra magic into each Murphy Lab CS LP ‘59 ain’t cheap.

Could I ask, out of curiosity, how do you get these guitars you play on your channel? You buy them and after the review you send them back? Or you have a store that lends these guitars for your reviews? Thanks. Nice video.

Amazing guitar & sounds incredible even with RU-vid compression and own many guitars over the decades and custom shop but not for the asking price. I could get 2 customs decked out and still save money depending and I love music and my collection but Gibson… what are you doing? I will stick with my 60s standard. Thanks for the video🤘🎸🤘

The harmonic overtones are astounding!

These products are primarily vanity projects. While they may appeal to some individuals, it is important to recognize that their value proposition is largely based on aesthetics rather than tangible improvements in performance or quality. When comparing these products to standard offerings, the price difference cannot be justified solely on the basis of superior craftsmanship, if any.

It for sure sounded good. I personally would go with a standard. Let my luthier dial it all in perfectly with the setup and put in the pickups and electronics I prefer and save a ton of money. Still though it sounded great and looked great none the less. Enjoyed it.

Sounds absolutely fantastic. Incredible tone. Brilliant playing as always. However, at 4 times the price of a 50s Standard model, I don't believe its 4 times better. I've got a 50s Standard Les Paul, and its amazing. Definitely the best Les Paul I've played in 35 years of playing the guitar. Probably the best guitar I've ever, or will ever own....

Crunch tone on the intro was great!

the reason they can charge that much is illustrated in the first few seconds of this video. Somehow it makes your fingers go twice as fast as I've ever seen you play!! Worth it. (and you make better faces when you play it 😁

sounds lovely and beautifully played mate. £10k is out out reach for most...I've bough cars for less money! I love a relic'd guitar, like you say takes the worry out of scratching it....doesn't take the worry of having it stolen at a gig and let's face it you are not going to gig that one....I certainly wouldn't.

I would love to have a high end Gibson Les Paul but I don’t like the idea of relic work. I’d rather have a secondhand VOS Custom Shop if I had that kind of money. I have been lucky enough to play a few high end relic Les Pauls and those were wonderful guitars - but the idea of paying extra for rusty screws does my head in. That guitar looks and sounds superb - but I couldn’t afford the Murphy Lab or Custom Shop guitars anyway.

Prefer your 594? Great channel, btw 👊

I mean, the tone you are getting out of that thing is amazing. You can get a PRS Private Stock for 10K as well. Those are beautiful, clean, brand new guitars. And yet, I would pay this for the Gibson because the tone is amazing and the look has character, like a friend who has been by your side forever. If money were no object, yes, I would buy.

Cool review. Well I’m a “blues psychologist” I guess ha. I don’t make lawyer money but I do okay for myself and I actually play and don’t hang guitars on walls for ornaments. I am a long time LP player (have a 1990 LP classic I have had since 91 and two other more recent standards). I actually sold a couple of nice guitars to put toward a custom shop Murphy lab “light aged” which retails for 8200 in the US. I was able to get mine for 6500 with no sales tax so relatively speaking a “good deal”. Up until my custom shop experience I had never had a bad LP but the first Murphy I got from one dealer arrived and it did not play well. I even had it set up by my local tech and I ultimately ended up returning for full refund minus shipping. I later got another from a different dealer and it was much better but still has had some issues (was not intonated well, string buzzing, action too high. I actually contacted Gibson and have sent it to them to review and determine what the issues might be. I’m hoping it’s a set up issue but we shall see. What I do love about the guitar is that it’s beautiful and looks way better than my standards and the aging looks legit (not heavy aged), looks and feels like a vintage instrument. The neck feel (including the aging aspect) and profile is perfect and the pickups are really special (lots of honk and bite and clarity). But I have been disappointed overall as compared to my experience with all the standards I have had (5 in total over the years). 6500 was kind of insane for me to spend but I justified by selling some redundant standards I had had for a long time which basically covered most of the price. In summary, if you’re gonna buy one of these it’s most ideal if you can play it before purchase and if you can’t make sure these is a generous return policy.

What kind of pickups ???

Does the Murphy Lab get first choice of the custom shop runs?

That is truly a Beautiful looking and sounding guitar.

As long as they have collectors like Troglys guitar show channel, who are all jumping over one another to buy outrageously expensive Gibson guitars, why wouldn't they charge that much?

I would like to know for sure if the only difference is finishing or Murphy Lab can freely pick the best sounding ones in the shop to apply their cosmetic job, because it seems like every single Murphy wins when compared to a non Murphy. The more I want to find a standard or even a custom shop that beats the Murphy, sadly can't find yet.

Sounds AMAZING!!!!

Sounds awesome, and beautiful guitar. But, I didn’t hear anything that I can’t get out of my 20-year old LP Studio and my Mesa.

I just want to know what you are playing through. The pair sounds simply stunning together!

Beautiful playing, you probably make anything sound fabulous but that guitar sounds above and beyond delicious. Im sold but like many, too poor to even consider.

I played this weekend for the first time in a Fender Stratocaster Custom Shop. It was priced on €5.890,00. I play a Fender Stratocaster USA with a lot of improvements. This guitar was the best guitar I have ever played. By far. This is the same sort of setting. Where I’m interested in are the specs. What material is the bridge? the ABR1? what electronics are inside the guitar?etc. Does it have a long neck tennant? This is what I miss in the video. The Stratocaster CS I played last Saturday, I heard while playing that Fender did something special with the pickups. They say Texas Special. They were not standard!

For a guitar in this price range I find the color of the rosewood fretboard too light. Makes it look somewhat cheap.

I’m just off to immediately order 2!

Wow , I saw that video title and thought, No way. They are defo becoming a guitar for those who earn a lot of money. For me, I will have to stick to a mid budget single cut with a pro setup (fret dress if needed) and get some decent pickups in it.

Hi Paul, is this guitar on loan from a store? If so which store for anyone interested in trying it out? Cheers

I'm not a fan of the relics, but I understand that some people love it. I own a Gibson CS R8 and its gloss finish is shiny and still new-looking. I am careful with my guitars, not even a dent or scratch and I play it every day. The bleeding on the binding naturally came about but I'm okay with that. I wonder if the Murphy Lab Custombuckers are different than the regular custom shops. Every guitar is going to sound different. I think your R9 Murphy Lab is a fantastic-sounding guitar. I can't argue whether it's worth it or not the real ones sell for over 250k on a bad day lol. I can't afford either one but I'm more than happy with my #1 and I paid $4800 brand new. I can ding it up myself but not my baby lol. I look at it this way, it's an investment, and if you don't dig the Murphy Lab just by a regular CS and play it. No right or wrong here, you have to make the decision on what comes out of your pocket.

Bonkers price! Sounds fab, but you are playing it, so it will. (ps - do you still have the PRS Studio?)

I would suggest trying out the Heritage Les Pauls made in the original Gibson factory using the original equipment and employees in Kalamazoo MI. They cost about the same as an LP standard, but I am sure you can get a deal on a used one. The Gibson name tag isn't worth the extra cost.

10 years ago or more Gibson CS, Fender CS, Suhr etc were still 2 to 3k in GuitarGuitar Epsom so Murphy Lab would have been in the 5k range at a guess had it existed!

ive got an old heritage h150 thats not scared of that murphy lab les paul,although that gibson is undeniabley a great guitar...i would love to have one..after i rewired my heritage and put new picups in im happy with my heritage though! to each thier own,i always say...

If you think that one is not be worth $10500, you should try the $20000 one with brazilian Rosewood Fretboard. I'm sure it will be worth the money!

I bet my 92 Korean Epi can do the same or enough close 😀 Of course pickups changed, bridge, pots and wiring.

Used Custom Shop is what I picked up. $4500. Best Les Paul I’ve ever played. BTW, how much does that $10.5k Murphy Lab weigh? I would hope that the wood would be the lightest possible as well as really lovely.

You should really check out a Frank Brothers!! These are in a league of they're own...for a lot less money! Cheers

That sounds utterly awesome! But I think you would be a bit daft to pay an EXTRA £5,000 or more for a slightly beat up finish and rubbish parts fit. Wicked playing from Paul..that guy would make a chair leg with a string and a pickup sound great.

In my avatar pic to the left. I have a mint 89 Les Paul that is amazing. I paid £1350 for it. Then I have a Hamer Sunburst mint 78, ex Jethro Tull. I won't say what I paid, but it was less than the Les Paul. Both better than a Custom shop.

It would have been nice to have a comparison with a standard 59 custom shop.

I always suggest to put next to the price label the estimated amount of money which went in to production and the estimated amount the company will earn from your purchase. I think this is fair.

Absolutely fantastic have a wonderful day also a fantastic weekend ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊

I think that is crazy pricing. I have an original 1960 ES355TDSV that my father bought for $600 and the pickup is straight with the neck.

Guitar sounds amazing. Personally, I wouldn't, even if I could afford it spend that amount of money on a guitar I wouldn't even consider taking something like that to a gig. I have a 2000 Les Paul Standard which I have had for years now and that will do for me. Wonderful playing as always by the way :)

A Les Paul is one guitar I’d love to own, 10k uk pricing is a bit out of reach for me, not to mention a step in the direction of divorce, sounds lovely all the same Paul. How truly different is the guitar vs the Standard? Btw some nice new chops in there, and your new ToneX packs sound awesome

You should A/B that guitar with the new Epi 59 Les Paul that comes with Custombuckers/etc.

Spot on assessment.. What you didn't say came through louder to me than what you did say. In what world is a chunk of wood and electronics worth that much money? Obviously the upshift in vintage instruments is driving the price on new instruments these days. Bloody shame!! P.S. I love Gibson

Paul, I've come to the realisation that you can make any guitar sound good! That's down to talent and a knack of capturing the tone. Personally, I would not buy a relic'd guitar because it will do nothing to enhance my playing.

I'm a sub $500 guitar guy, totally happy w my awesome inexpensive guitars. If I'm happy paying what I pay for a guitar that inspires me, I won't criticize someone else who pays 10.5. My buddy just paid 12 grand for rims and rubber for his new Bronco, he has the money, and he's happy. I paid $1,200 for my tires and I'm good. Great looking and dounding guitar, no denying it.

I liked your 6/8 opener lick it made me wanna go get on the drums and get to kicking.

Totally agree, ridiculous prices for the $10K and even $5K! It’s all about what they can charge if people are buying them and it seems rich folks from Asia and elsewhere are doing just that. For the rest of us, it’s absurd. I got a custom shop 57 GT reissue for about $2100 before the prices went up, up, then up more a while back. Then a Warren Haynes 58 custom shop model for under $3K. I should have bought a 56 GT reissue back then but not it’s over $5K which I can’t/won’t buy. I love Les Pauls but too expensive for that model, not sure how the $2700 standards play and sound?

It sounds great

My Orville by Gibson Les Paul made in Japan in 1990 with Bill Lawrence pickups will do me just nicely thanks and the price....approx 1,000 British Pounds.

I played a CC#24 Les Paul once. This guitar was sooo good and even more expensive than this Murphy Lab. Did I had the money? No not at this time. I never had spend more than 3K for a guitar. Would I spend the money now? Yes.

i don't know anyone that would buy a LP after '96 or even 2000. especially a 10k one. SO many custom builders picked up their slack over 20 years ago.

Hi Paul. It’s very peculiar how the top E string very sharp and shrill sounds like it has no equilibrium across the other strings when played. The top E just jumps out and slaps you across the face. Almost like a Strat bridge pickup with ceramic magnets. I hope you borrowed it to review.

Way back.. in 1999, I ordered a Tom Murphy painted and aged 1959 reissue LPR9FA ( figured top aged reissue) 40th Anniversary … phew!! ( and it was a lefty) This was the Vintage World RI ( Ronn David shop) The list on this was stupid money…. I got a “ deal” at $8500, luckily the £/$ was favourable and it cost me about £5300. So even then… Gibson charged top dollar. But mine is a Murphy… not a laboratory experiment !! 😀

I will never be able to own an original '58, but i am fortunate to be able to afford a murphy lab. I consider it a piece of art that i can play and enjoy. The value lies in what it is worth to you personally. There is no dispute you can get a great guitar for much less, but to me, it is special.

Got my 2014 used R8 for £3100. Seems like a steal now!