Here is the most beautiful Gibson Les Paul R9 Reissue, returning to us after spending several years in an exceptional guitar collection. Its previous owner, a knowledgeable and meticulous collector, had acquired it from Leadmusic, and I am proud to be able to present this marvel once again. An exceptional, historical, and rare instrument, and I will repeat myself, but what an exceptional Les Paul this is!!

Here is a fantastic Gibson Murphy Painted Les Paul R9 1959 Reissue, finished by Tom Murphy, and part of a batch of approximately 200 instruments released in 1994. Sources agree that until early November ’94, Murphy received a number of the 350 Les Paul R9s from that year to paint, and the time required caused him significant delays. In the end, only the instruments with serial numbers from 9-4000 to 9-4200, with a few exceptions, received the master’s finish. But it seems clear to me, after spending years in front of the 32 computer screens lining the wall of the Leadmusic logistics center, that this is the most beautiful and spectacular of all the Murphy Paint guitars, and probably one of the most incredible maple tops ever seen on a Gibson Les Paul.

Gibson’s Custom Art Historic division had nothing left to prove at the time, and the mid-90s ’59 Reissues are very fine guitars. But when a batch was intended to be painted by Tom Murphy, you can imagine that Gibson doubled its efforts to ensure the series would be the best possible. And here, with our guitar, that is clearly the case. What a bomb!! We’re dealing with the classics: a lightweight, resonant, one-piece solid mahogany body (the guitar weighs only 3.8 kg), a maple top… How should I put it (have I mentioned this maple…?) typical hardware of the era, a top-grade very dark rosewood fingerboard (looks like Brazilian, but isn’t…), and above all, the Painted finish work of the famous Tom Murphy. And having had several of these in my hands, in terms of sound, weight, carve, neck size, and overall feel, Gibson’s Custom Art Historic division clearly succeeded, because this guitar is a killer!! I first acquired it nine years ago from a knowledgeable collector, a renowned guitarist as well, who occasionally allows me to obtain exceptional pieces. Sold immediately at the time, here it is again, in the same condition as when we first had it. This instrument clearly saw a lot of playing before entering a collection, hence the numerous small marks, light dings, scratches, and the impression that it received a Relic treatment back then, with some wood exposed on a small part of the edge and a few heavier buckle-wear marks on the back, but all of that happened naturally through playing. As a result, this guitar has an astonishing look, with a true Relic appearance, and you’ll agree that the figured maple top and the color are absolutely insane and unique!!

It seems obviously pointless and inappropriate to compare this marvel to what the Murphy Lab and Gibson Custom Shop currently produce. Forget the heavy instruments with mediocre woods considering the prices, the hit-or-miss finishes whose lacquer flakes… The golden age of Gibson Reissues is limited to 1994, then the early 2000s, and finally a few years and series between 2009 and 2016. But honestly, since then, it’s a lottery, and although Gibson still releases some beautiful guitars from time to time, one feels that the American brand is chasing the success and dominance of the past…

This guitar was produced in early 1994 and left the Gibson factories in June or July 1994. It is part of the batch of roughly 200 pieces painted by Tom Murphy at Gibson’s request that year. Delivered with its original case and paperwork.