This is a normal characteristic of the aniline dye that is used. The dye is a powder, initially, that is had rubbed into the mahogany back which makes the mahognay grain patter "pop." As the guitar ozidises with the air the dye "bleeds" in to the creme binding turning it pink.
Hello Everyone, I can answer all of your questions and the mystique that surrounds a Tom Murphy guitar. I worked at the Gibson Custom Shop for 21 years. I ran the Pro Shop for 5, then continued doing Artist Relations for the Custom Shop and I was also in charge of the selection of woods for both...
During my tenure at the Gibson Custom Shop for 20 + years the only two brands we used for straplocks were Schaller and Dunlop. Those were the recommended brands.
In regards to Tom Murphy, Tom was primarily a consultant for the last 10 + years. I worked at the Custom Shop for over 20 years and know Tom very well. When Tom was involved in aging we would provide him with so many finished instruments (but not built out) and he would come and pick them up...
In my 20 years working at the Gibson Custom Shop the main factors in choosing a reissue Les Paul were the weight, the figured top (if the instrument is not a plain top) and the neck profile. Each neck is hand-rolled and is unique in it's own way but is suppose to be within a certain spec...
Good afternoon. You can make the finish glossier. The Custom Authentic or "hazy, aged and dull finish" is just a liquid compound that is applied to the finish in the Buffing stage (right before the instrument goes to Final Assembly to be built out) by a white cloth. It is rubbed over the finish...
This figured maple top is Eastern Maple. I worked at the Gibson Custom Shop for over 20 years and at one point was in charge of wood selection for all models. It is quarter sawn Eastern Maple. It has a fe dark "flecks" in the top (around the control knobs etc.) which is a characteristic of...
Hello. I worked at the Gibson Custom Shop for over 20 years and was in charge of wood selection for the last three years. Quilt Maple is not very desirable on a Reissue Les Paul , other than for the personal aesthetic, because it was not historically correct. Quilt Maple is softer, and is...
Thank you for providing some beautiful photos of your "axe." I am new to the forum; however, I worked for Gibson Guitar and the Gibson Custom Shop for over 20 years. The last 3 years of my tenure I was in charge of selecting the woods for all Custom Shop models including Signature, and...