Past Murphy Lab finish flaking issue?

[CS Murphy 'R9]

A few years back some of the Murphy lab guitars had a issue where the nitro was falling off in sections, How is ML's finish post 2022? Have any newer ML's been reported to have any
finish issues? I have a 2023 heavy aged and so far do not see any flaking at all but still am slightly concerned.

 

[BCB]

I have two from 2022, a 57 Gold Top and 59 Burst. No issues and they're gigged several times a month and daily players. Both play and sound exceptionally well.

 

[Tim Plains]

I don't think it's fully resolved.

 

[CS Murphy 'R9]

I have two from 2022, a 57 Gold Top and 59 Burst. No issues and they're gigged several times a month and daily players. Both play and sound exceptionally well.

Thanks that is reassuring to hear!

 

[CS Murphy 'R9]

I don't think it's fully resolved.

What year was that SG?

 

[Tim Plains]

What year was that SG?

My bad. It was a Facebook post where a guy bought it this month and returned it within a week. I assumed it was new, posted this pic, then clued in to look at the serial number. It's not a 2024 but also not the only blue SG I've seen like this. I'm not buying a ML any time soon.

This TGP guitar is a 2024. I didn't read the whole thread.

Murphy Lab problems are back

Maybe others have reported this, but it was news to me. Two weeks ago I bought a 1954 Les Paul Heavy Aged. It left the factory 2 months ago. The guitar play and feels great, but it came out of the case smelling like noxious fumes, unlike the vanilla smell of my Wildwood Light Aged R9. I picked...

www.thegearpage.net

 

[CS Murphy 'R9]

My bad. It was a Facebook post where a guy bought it this month and returned it within a week. I assumed it was new, posted this pic, then clued in to look at the serial number. It's not a 2024 but also not the only blue SG I've seen like this. I'm not buying a ML any time soon.

This TGP guitar is a 2024. I didn't read the whole thread.

Murphy Lab problems are back

Maybe others have reported this, but it was news to me. Two weeks ago I bought a 1954 Les Paul Heavy Aged. It left the factory 2 months ago. The guitar play and feels great, but it came out of the case smelling like noxious fumes, unlike the vanilla smell of my Wildwood Light Aged R9. I picked...

www.thegearpage.net

View attachment 26689

Thanks for the info. I will be looking further into this because I was under the impression it was only early ML's when it first opened shop in 2019 but I am not liking seeing any recent ML's
having issues! I paid a LOT of money like others that own them and this is unacceptable!

 

[CS Murphy 'R9]

I just looked at the R4 on TGP and his checking looks abysmal no matter what! If my ML R9 looked like that I would have never even bought it.
I do not know what they did but that is NOT vintage correct checking at all! They are not even close on that example!.
My ML R9 looks much closer to HM's version.
This is the right way from Historic makeovers,

https://historicmakeovers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/DSC_00052.jpg

 

[jb_abides]

Not a big relic fan although I do own a Nash Strat more for being an excellent Partscaster with Lollars at the right price than for Nash's relic-ing...

Hats off to Tom and Gibson for innovation in this regard, but for relic jobs, I prefer what I've seen from Historic Makeovers having handled a whole bunch of Murphy Labs in the shops. You also get a measure of control (choice) from HM. [Further, check out the recent Florian Jaeger makeover thread from @Revolver1 if you want full customization and have the means...]

The larger issue remains: if problems arise, a resolution process where Gibson repairs your existing guitar and returns it is NOT an option.

So... if you've searched and chosen a particular guitar because you appreciate the tone, weight, wood, etc. of your guitar and then bonded, you will not get it back; instead, you'll get a TBD guitar which may or may not meet your acceptable requirements and expectations.

And you'll wait many months to boot.

Given that Risk/Reward equation I am remaining with VOS, which I prefer anyway. I certainly hope the VOS options remains as I've got some future M2M orders in mind.

 

[CS Murphy 'R9]

if you've searched and chosen a particular guitar because you appreciate the tone, weight, wood, etc. of your guitar and then bonded, you will not get it back; instead, you'll get a TBD guitar which may or may not meet your acceptable requirements and expectations.

And you'll wait many months to boot.

Given that Risk/Reward equation I am remaining with VOS, which I prefer anyway. I certainly hope the VOS options remains as I've got some future M2M orders in mind.

Yeah when looked at from that point of view the VOS is clearly the better option. At the time of getting my ML R9 i was under the impression the finish flaking issue
was a done deal. Had I known it was still happening I would have just kept my 2016 R9 VOS I traded towards the ML and not took the chance.
As of right now the ML's finish is fine but I would be lying if I said I was not concerned about the future of it's finish.

 

[The Guitar Hunter]

I was thinking about getting a ML at some point this year, but I may hold off. The flaking issue was a concern then and still is now. I didn't know it was still a possibility.

 

[tonyfrancis]

I have a 2022 and a 2023 that have no problems and they both get played every day.

 

[latestarter]

I have a ML 335 with none of those problems. However, there is a local R7 ML that has serious flakey aging, lifted and 3d like, especially on the back of the neck. Which is less than ideal.

Having aged a number of nitro finished guitars, I wonder if ML have the process a little loose? Moisture can get trapped under the lacquer if they bring them out of the freezer into a more humid environment (moisture is unavoidable to certain degrees). I bring mine out in a bone dry dehumidified environment - they still crack really nicely but have less droplets form.

Either that, or they're not prepping the wood right. Either way, not a finish they're probably trying to achieve.

 

[S. Weiger]

A few years back some of the Murphy lab guitars had a issue where the nitro was falling off in sections, How is ML's finish post 2022? Have any newer ML's been reported to have any
finish issues? I have a 2023 heavy aged and so far do not see any flaking at all but still am slightly concerned.

My 2022 ML '59 light aged has no flaking issues.
Only issue was the price, and some moron had hammered on the top & back with a railroad spike. Oh hi there, Tom & crew.
But otherwise it plays & sounds great, and looks great too

 

[CS Murphy 'R9]

I was thinking about getting a ML at some point this year, but I may hold off. The flaking issue was a concern then and still is now. I didn't know it was still a possibility.

I really cannot blame you. Even though I already own my R9 i am going to just keep playing it and hope for the best. Not only does this possibility of the finish flaking have me a bit
pissed off but I also am not very happy about some of the parts being brand new looking? Mine is a heavy aged and the back plates, truss rod cover,pickguard were brand new looking with zero aging?
For a $9K guitar you would think it would be pretty much dead on perfection at least in looks to a old 59. It can be done like what I see come out of Historic makeovers.
I also had to replace a few small parts that were not accurate to a real 59. some may have not been bothered by these parts but it was a eye sore every time I looked at it.

 

[CS Murphy 'R9]

My 2022 ML '59 light aged has no flaking issues.

Yeah it seems to be limited to only a few ML's this has happened to? I would think IF it was going to flake it would happen within the first few months of having the guitar?

 

[GastonG]

My 2020 (issued in 2021) Murphy Lab '59 Heavy Aged Green Lemon Fade has no flaking issues after more than 3 years.
The back is red (like a 59), not the brownish color seen on recent years on the Green Lemon Fade finish

has the same serial number as my ex-59 burst 9 0910
Gaston

 

[CS Murphy 'R9]

My 2020 (issued in 2021) Murphy Lab '59 Heavy Aged Green Lemon Fade has no flaking issues after more than 3 years.
The back is red (like a 59), not the brownish color seen on recent years on the Green Lemon Fade finishView attachment 26700View attachment 26701View attachment 26702View attachment 26703View attachment 26704

has the same serial number as my ex-59 burst 9 0910
Gaston

Looks to me like you lucked out going by the pics. I noticed your ML is not heavily checked on the sides? The ones that are having issues and deeply and heavily checked like shattered glass.
In this instance I would be glad if I were you that Gibson did not overdo the checking! My 2023 ML is like yours the checking is not as heavy as most and the back finish color is more brown than red.