Meticulously handcrafted in Bozeman, new models revive rare and game-changing acoustic guitars from Gibson history
The Gibson Custom Murphy Lab Light Aged acoustic collection has grown with the addition of five new guitars inspired by well-worn favorites. Built brand new with the look, tone, and played-in feel of cherished vintage originals, these acoustic reissues have each been handcrafted in Bozeman, Montana, by expert Gibson artisans.
The Murphy Lab Light Aged models all feature either red spruce or Sitka spruce tops that have been thermally aged to equip them with authentic vintage sound. Each of these new guitars features light lacquer checking, light dings, pick trails, and rounded fretboard edges, with all five encapsulating the tone, look, and played-in feel of a vintage original. Each guitar also comes with an era-correct hardshell case. Let’s take a closer look at each model.
Pre-War SJ-200 Rosewood Light Aged
Originally introduced in 1937, the Gibson SJ-200™ was revered as “the King of the Flat-Tops.” Early models featured rosewood back and sides, but due to limited demand during the post-Depression era, production numbers remained low, making these early rosewood-bodied SJ-200s highly sought-after by collectors today.
The Pre-War SJ-200 Rosewood Light Aged recreation features a thermally aged red spruce top with traditional scalloped X-bracing, rosewood back and sides with a three-rope marquetry strip, and multi-ply binding throughout. It has an AAA maple neck including a walnut stringer and stinger detail, while an ebony fretboard and bridge are adorned with mother-of-pearl inlays. Gold Grover® Imperial™ tuners and a tortoise pickguard with multi-colored dots complete this treasured guitar.
1957 SJ-200 Light Aged
By 1947, maple replaced rosewood on the back and sides of the SJ-200. Vintage 1950s models are prized by collectors today, and this 1957 SJ-200 Light Aged model is a faithful recreation of this celebrated era. It features a thermally aged Sitka spruce top with scalloped X-bracing installed using hide glue, AAA flamed maple back and sides with a checkerboard marquetry strip, and ornate multi-ply binding. The AAA maple neck includes a walnut stringer and stinger detail, while the rosewood fretboard and Moustache™ bridge are adorned with mother-of-pearl inlays. It’s completed by Gold Gotoh® tuners, a tortoise pickguard, and Murphy Lab’s Light Aging treatment paired with lightly aged hardware.
1963 Dove Light Aged
The Gibson Dove™ first landed in 1962 and became an icon of the square-shoulder acoustic family, following the Hummingbird™. It’s been played by legends like Elvis Presley, Tom Petty, and Alex Lifeson. This 1963 Dove Light Aged guitar features a thermally aged Sitka spruce top with traditional scalloped X-bracing, flamed maple back and sides in a Cherry finish, a mahogany neck with a comfortable Round profile, plus an Indian rosewood fretboard and mother-of-pearl parallelogram inlays.
A longer 25.5” scale length and maple body give it a bright, full voice that sets it apart from the Hummingbird. Further aesthetic details include a rosewood Dove bridge with stunning inlaid doves, an engraved pickguard, and Kluson® Waffleback tuners.
1955 J-45 Light Aged
Known as “The Workhorse,” the J-45™ was introduced in 1942 with a straightforward design for player versatility and a cozy, warm tone. By 1955, key updates, including a longer fretboard with 20 frets and a larger pickguard, helped define its enduring legacy. Still beloved today, it remains one of the most recorded and best-selling acoustic guitars of all time.
The 1955 J-45 Light Aged acoustic recreates this pivotal model, featuring a round-shoulder mahogany body with a thermally aged Sitka spruce top, and traditional X-bracing installed with hide glue for vintage tone and resonance. It also has a mahogany neck with a Round profile, which is joined with a compound dovetail neck joint. A rosewood fretboard with mother-of-pearl dot inlays, bone nut and saddle, and vintage-style Grover® strap tuners complete this important and historic guitar.
1929 Nick Lucas Special Light Aged
Nick Lucas, known as “The Crooning Troubadour,” was a pioneering entertainer of the 1920s, and one of the first artists to record guitar solos and perform with a guitar on the radio. In 1926, Gibson honored Lucas’ request for a custom design, resulting in the Nick Lucas Special—the company’s first artist signature model—featuring a deeper body for enhanced bass response and tonal richness.
Gibson Custom’s recreation of this historic model is also built with a deeper mahogany body, shaped like the L-00, and features a thermally aged red spruce top, gold sparkle multi-ply binding, and a matching L-2 style rosette. The C-shaped mahogany neck joins the body at the 12th fret and hosts a rosewood fretboard equipped with 20 frets and mother-of-pearl Nick Lucas inlays with engraved details. Gold Waverly tuners with ivoroid oval buttons are installed on the headstock, which also features a vintage-style “The Gibson” logo in mother-of-pearl. It’s finished in Argentine Grey with Murphy Lab Light Aging.
Shop the Gibson Custom Murphy Lab acoustic collection and find out more.
