Not Another Aged Les Paul...

[journeyman73]

murphy cuts them

 

[Motorcycle]

murphy cuts them

That must be time consuming.

 

[MagPel]

Beautiful guitar! Just stunning...

 

[journeyman73]

That must be time consuming.

i had heard (someplace) how many hours it took him to do one...it may have been something like 3/day or something.

maybe someone else can chime in more accurately.

 

[CustomBucker]

i had heard (someplace) how many hours it took him to do one...it may have been something like 3/day or something.

maybe someone else can chime in more accurately.

See my thread on Who Is Tom Murphy.

Check out the Video's

Explains it all

Cheers

 

[uburoibob]

You know what else is interesting? I was just looking at my dear old Ibanez and I know EXACTLY how every single ding, scratch and abrasion got there (!).

Funny - I had my 69 Les Paul Custom since it was new, too. Over time, I became interested in other guitars so I didn't play it so much. I took it out of the case in 2005 and was amazed at how beat up it was. I couldn't remember a single ding, scratch or abrasion being added to the guitar. But then again, I lived the life of a rock and roller for 25 years - so, memories that I retained were something different entirely.

As far as aged guitars - it's just a different flavor. I didn't get it until I played my aged Bloomfield in the store and it flat out kicked the butt of every other R9 I'd ever played. But it felt like I'd always had it in my hands. No break-in required. Heck, I've broken in more than my share of guitars. I deserved one I didn't need to lead into old age. I did buy more new guitars too. So, I like em all - my potential for happiness is greater.

I know the clothing analogy has been used repeatedly, but it holds up - I don't know how many of you remember what new Levi jeans were like before pre-washed came into being. They were thick and stiff and almost crunchy to wear. They also had a pungent smell to them that's still lodged in my olfactories. And they shrunk, often not properly either. Or how bout shoes before casual shoes came into being? They just about killed you until they got broken in. A used guitar that's been played-in is always nice to find cuz you don't have to go through that ugly tacky neck stage paranoid about the first scratch, waiting for it to develop its voice.

Bottom line, whether you like or don't like the look or concept of how it's done, it feels like a nice, broken-in guitar. Like the best broken in guitar. To me, that was the appeal when I bought it and it still is. But I've learned to love the look of it too. Murphy did a great job on it.

Bob

 

[Blues Rocker]

What value does aging or relicing provide? For one, it cheapens the history of instruments actually aged through use and the sweat from performing a hundred gigs. It is artificial and shallow and purely commercial in nature. It short-circuits what time and the grit of the stage would provide if we didn't buy and sell one guitar after another instead of being satisfied with the one we brought to the dance and use it!
What Tom Murphy and his ilk do to beautiful guitars, works of art, is repulsive, maddening and that he does it to make a profit is revolting to me.
I once thought I'd found my dream Les Paul, the first one I felt truly had my name on it until the description said that it had been aged by Tom Murphy, as if that was something beneficial or desirable. It is one of the first times I wanted to cry over the soured purchase of what appeared to be a gorgeous guitar, until I saw close-up pictures of it. I detest what he does and loathe his name.He has no place in my list of guitar heroes.

 

[uburoibob]

What value does aging or relicing provide? For one, it cheapens the history of instruments actually aged through use and the sweat from performing a hundred gigs. It is artificial and shallow and purely commercial in nature. It short-circuits what time and the grit of the stage would provide if we didn't buy and sell one guitar after another instead of being satisfied with the one we brought to the dance and use it!
What Tom Murphy and his ilk do to beautiful guitars, works of art, is repulsive, maddening and that he does it to make a profit is revolting to me.
I once thought I'd found my dream Les Paul, the first one I felt truly had my name on it until the description said that it had been aged by Tom Murphy, as if that was something beneficial or desirable. It is one of the first times I wanted to cry over the soured purchase of what appeared to be a gorgeous guitar, until I saw close-up pictures of it. I detest what he does and loathe his name.He has no place in my list of guitar heroes.

All I can say is "too bad for you". You missed out on a "gorgeous" "dream" guitar that "had your name on it" - one that would probably feel more comfortable than anything you've ever played as well as sounding better from the way he treats the nitro - all from an opinion you formed before even experiencing something. Oh well. Cest la vie! I've found that preconceptions are not the most beneficial thing to society or to my guitar collection.

Bob

 

[Motorcycle]

What value does aging or relicing provide? For one, it cheapens the history of instruments actually aged through use and the sweat from performing a hundred gigs. It is artificial and shallow and purely commercial in nature. It short-circuits what time and the grit of the stage would provide if we didn't buy and sell one guitar after another instead of being satisfied with the one we brought to the dance and use it!
What Tom Murphy and his ilk do to beautiful guitars, works of art, is repulsive, maddening and that he does it to make a profit is revolting to me.
I once thought I'd found my dream Les Paul, the first one I felt truly had my name on it until the description said that it had been aged by Tom Murphy, as if that was something beneficial or desirable. It is one of the first times I wanted to cry over the soured purchase of what appeared to be a gorgeous guitar, until I saw close-up pictures of it. I detest what he does and loathe his name.He has no place in my list of guitar heroes.

I couldn't disagree with you more on just about every point you make.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and is of course subjective. I personally found the Moore and the Rossington beautiful to behold - but that's just me.

I own a 1955 Les Paul Jr that I bought in 1977 and it is great playing, beautiful old war horse - so I know what real ageing looks, feels and plays like. That being said, however, I still like these new "aged" instruments - I think they feel and play pretty damn good too.

I'm 56 years old, and I've had quadruple bypass surgery and I would love to own an authentic 57 ~ 60 Les Paul with all the natural & beautiful golden glow of an old finely made instrument. But guess what ? I don't have $200,000.00 and the option of buying a new one and having it age naturally with me for the next 30 - 40 years isn't feasable either. If I had $8,000.00 disposable dollars to buy a Gary Moore (Greeny) I would do it and not have one regret. Is it the real deal ? Nope. Is it close enough for my cataract tinged eyes ? Yup. And I don't care that it's a Moore/Greeny imitation, I just like the guitar.

 

[journeyman73]

What value does aging or relicing provide? For one, it cheapens the history of instruments actually aged through use and the sweat from performing a hundred gigs. It is artificial and shallow and purely commercial in nature. It short-circuits what time and the grit of the stage would provide if we didn't buy and sell one guitar after another instead of being satisfied with the one we brought to the dance and use it!
What Tom Murphy and his ilk do to beautiful guitars, works of art, is repulsive, maddening and that he does it to make a profit is revolting to me.
I once thought I'd found my dream Les Paul, the first one I felt truly had my name on it until the description said that it had been aged by Tom Murphy, as if that was something beneficial or desirable. It is one of the first times I wanted to cry over the soured purchase of what appeared to be a gorgeous guitar, until I saw close-up pictures of it. I detest what he does and loathe his name.He has no place in my list of guitar heroes.

you seem to be some sort of gigging musician - but it is stange to me, as such, that you would have found your 'dream' LP with your name on it...without every having played it?

so, i will assume that aesthetics are the most important thing to you - the fact is, some like aged guitars precisely for their aesthetics and others like them because they actually give a different feel when playing.

detesting and loathing...just how strongly do you feel about relicing?

 

[nicolasrivera]

What value does aging or relicing provide? For one, it cheapens the history of instruments actually aged through use and the sweat from performing a hundred gigs. It is artificial and shallow and purely commercial in nature. It short-circuits what time and the grit of the stage would provide if we didn't buy and sell one guitar after another instead of being satisfied with the one we brought to the dance and use it!
What Tom Murphy and his ilk do to beautiful guitars, works of art, is repulsive, maddening and that he does it to make a profit is revolting to me.
I once thought I'd found my dream Les Paul, the first one I felt truly had my name on it until the description said that it had been aged by Tom Murphy, as if that was something beneficial or desirable. It is one of the first times I wanted to cry over the soured purchase of what appeared to be a gorgeous guitar, until I saw close-up pictures of it. I detest what he does and loathe his name.He has no place in my list of guitar heroes.

Hey, Gibson did the Jonas LP for profit too...

I disagree with you on everything too.

I just hope you have age to play 100 gigs a year for 20 years to make a beautiful worthy aged guitar of your liking.

Good Luck.

 

[closed_PaulSlack]

Next time somebody smacks the side of my brand new car with a shopping trolley, I hope they don't try to convince me they are "relicing" it for me and I should appreciate the beauty of the aesthetics they just added. Or how much better it will feel to drive now I don't have to worry about little "dings".

Just off to bash my new Rolex with a hammer and rub grit on the glass.



Bonkers.

 

[nicolasrivera]

It is always funny how aged guitars get compared with cars!!! Hey why not compare them with humans too???


The nonsense.......

 

[Eggy]

Oh no, not this again.

No matter what kind of guitar you own know only this....
If you're please with your guitar, then that's all that matters.

 

[Motorcycle]

Next time somebody smacks the side of my brand new car with a shopping trolley, I hope they don't try to convince me they are "relicing" it for me and I should appreciate the beauty of the aesthetics they just added. Or how much better it will feel to drive now I don't have to worry about little "dings".

Just off to bash my new Rolex with a hammer and rub grit on the glass.



Bonkers.

You got a new Rolex ? Hmmm... Might be a good idea for a business. Vintage Rolex's that have aquired the yellowed patina of age are valued higher and sell for more than those that don't.

 

[Boppy]

Next time somebody smacks the side of my brand new car with a shopping trolley, I hope they don't try to convince me they are "relicing" it for me and I should appreciate the beauty of the aesthetics they just added. Or how much better it will feel to drive now I don't have to worry about little "dings".

Just off to bash my new Rolex with a hammer and rub grit on the glass.



Bonkers.

Thanks for the laughs, bro.

I think there's two kinds of relics. Ones that are designed as detailed replicas like the Greenie subject of this thread (and by the way, I'd like to see a pic of the flipside of that instrument), and the other is wear that is added randomly for a type of aesthetic effect. I think the latter is what a lot of people have trouble getting their heads around.
Just curious though, what method is used to give an artificially aged instrument a comfortable broken-in feel which is often cited as a benefit of this process? Isn't that something that's very subjective and acquired through years of personal use and familiarity with the instrument? How can that quality be added artificially?

 

[Guitardad47]

I agree with Boppy. My 1972 ES- 335 has been played regularly and many times played hard but it has now where near the wear on some of the relics I have seen. I always wondered even with minimal care a guitar can be so battered. It seems like guitar abuse rather than guitar use.

 

[nicolasrivera]

I agree with Boppy. My 1972 ES- 335 has been played regularly and many times played hard but it has now where near the wear on some of the relics I have seen. I always wondered even with minimal care a guitar can be so battered. It seems like guitar abuse rather than guitar use.

Many people have guitars from the 50, 60 etc that look almost like new.

But it all has to do with the different environments the guitars is exposed to over the years, the way the player treats her, the acid and salt present in his/her body,s sweat and how much moister and humidity is present.

 

[Motorcycle]

My 1955 Les Paul Jr would probably classify as a heavy relic. The head stock was cracked when my bass player dropped it while carrying it up a flight of stairs with out a case. It's checked extensively, paint is worn off all the edges as well as the back of neck. It's got bumps, nicks, and gauges all over the body (and back of the neck) and it has small finger shaped depressions in the fingerboard. I played it in a punk band, then a road house blues rock band. I never had a case for it and at first wrapped it in a towel, then I said the hell with that and carried either over my shoulder like a baseball bat or by the neck where it joins the body. I threw it anywhere, loaned it out to my friends and paid absolutely no attention to weather, or any enviromental concerns whatsoever and I should mention that I live now and lived then in Upstate NY where the weather is either freezing, rainey, or hot as hell.
For the first ten or so years of it's life with me it was kept in a carefully smoked filled enviroment - this lends a beautiful golden patina. I find Marlboro in the original red & white pack is best for this. I fail to mention that the previous owner had tried and failed to install a neck pick-up, so I covered the resultant hole with duct tape - the same stuff I used to mend my warn-out converse Chucky T's. You can still see traces of the glue peaking out from under the new pick-guard. I would also put stickers on it ocaisionally about things I felt strongly about like F**K IRAN or Eat Sh*T and Die. Someone long before me also cut-out the upper bout to make it a DC - why - I have no idea, but according to my luthier they did a decent job.

Anyway - that's how my guitar became a heavy relic. Take no care of it at all, treat it with rough abandon, and stick cigarettes between the strings.

See if you can pick out which one it is from my extensive collection of three guitars:

 

[uburoibob]

Next time somebody smacks the side of my brand new car with a shopping trolley, I hope they don't try to convince me they are "relicing" it for me and I should appreciate the beauty of the aesthetics they just added. Or how much better it will feel to drive now I don't have to worry about little "dings".

Just off to bash my new Rolex with a hammer and rub grit on the glass.



Bonkers.

WOW! I certainly don't interact with my car or watch the same way I do with my guitar or bluejeans.

I like to PLAY my guitar - as such, I like it comfortable.

If you are using these as metaphors, it's no wonder you don't get it!

Bob