Some guitars follow a tour. Others follow an artist. The 2009 Gibson Les Paul Standard Tom Murphy Aged that belonged to Gary Moore clearly belongs to the latter category. More than a stage instrument, it was a true travelling companion. A guitar chosen, played, lived with, and now welcomed at Matt’s Guitar Shop with all the respect its history deserves.
Purchased by Gary Moore in Tokyo in April 2010 while he was touring Japan, this Les Paul was far from an impulsive buy. It immediately became a central part of his arsenal. Used during concerts in Japan and then in South Korea, it later accompanied him on the European dates of the “Summer of Rock”, a period during which Gary powerfully revisited his rock repertoire from the 1980s, before continuing on to Ukraine and Russia in the autumn of 2010.
What makes this guitar particularly moving is its double life. Yes, it was used on stage. Yes, it carried the fiery riffs and soaring solos that built Gary Moore’s reputation. But it was also his hotel guitar. The one he kept with him in quieter moments, away from the spotlight. The guitar used to explore an idea, search for a nuance, and let the fingers speak without an audience. That alone says a lot about the attachment he had to it.
Technically, this is an exceptional instrument. Mahogany body, two-piece carved maple top, a faded burst finish subtly marked by natural checking on the top and headstock, two humbuckers, transparent gold bonnet knobs, a three-way selector switch, a mahogany neck with an Indian rosewood fingerboard inlaid with trapezoids… All enhanced by the signature aging work of Tom Murphy, the absolute reference when it comes to aged Gibson instruments.
Every detail breathes the DNA of the great 1958 Les Pauls that inspired it. Generous sustain, precise attack, organic warmth: it is all there. A guitar capable of delivering blazing blues as well as cutting rock—exactly in the image of Gary Moore himself.
It comes with its original Gibson Custom case. But beyond the paperwork, it is the invisible traces that truly matter. This guitar has vibrated in packed European venues. It has travelled across Asia. It has rested in hotel rooms after concerts. It was chosen by a musician whose tone was instantly recognisable among thousands.
At Matt’s Guitar Shop, we always feel a special emotion when a Gary Moore guitar arrives in our hands. Because his legacy goes beyond genres. Because he was both a bluesman and a rock hero. Because he chose his instruments for their soul. And this guitar, which is part of a larger group of instruments from his collection, is truly an honour.
