{"id":40230,"date":"2026-06-13T17:56:22","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T15:56:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.matts-guitar-shop.com\/rock-legends\/tom-murphy\/"},"modified":"2026-06-13T19:23:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T17:23:43","slug":"tom-murphy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.matts-guitar-shop.com\/en\/rock-legends\/tom-murphy\/","title":{"rendered":"Tom Murphy"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ admin_label=”Ligne” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”80%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Open Sans|300|||||||” title_text_color=”#ddab05″ title_font_size=”6rem” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text admin_label=”Texte” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”–et_global_body_font|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font_size=”1.5rem” text_line_height=”1em” header_text_align=”center” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

The master of aging at Gibson<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ admin_label=”Ligne” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”80%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|300|||||||” text_font_size=”16px” header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_font_size=”36px” header_2_font=”–et_global_heading_font|300|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#ddab05″ header_2_font_size=”24px” text_orientation=”justified” background_layout=”dark” width=”100%” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Origins and Career<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Tom Murphy<\/strong> is an American luthier<\/strong> based in Kalamazoo<\/strong>, Michigan, the historic birthplace of Gibson<\/strong>. Originally trained as an automotive painter, he developed a unique expertise in the artificial aging<\/strong> (aging\/relic) of guitars during the 1990s<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|300|||||||” text_font_size=”16px” header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_font_size=”36px” header_2_font=”–et_global_heading_font|300|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#ddab05″ header_2_font_size=”24px” text_orientation=”justified” background_layout=”dark” width=”100%” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Tom Murphy Aged at Gibson<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Gibson recruited him for its Custom Shop<\/strong>, where he created the “Murphy Aged”<\/strong> process, now considered the ultimate benchmark for high-end relic work<\/strong>. His guitars faithfully reproduce the natural wear of decades of playing: finish checking, fret wear, and metal patina<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Murphy Lab<\/strong> program, launched in 2020<\/strong>, standardized his approach into several levels of aging: Light Aged<\/strong>, Aged<\/strong>, and Ultra Heavy Aged<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Tom Murphy’s work is so precise that he can reproduce the exact checking patterns<\/strong> of a 50-year-old nitrocellulose finish, wear marks corresponding to a right- or left-handed player’s technique, and even the specific patina caused by perspiration. Each Murphy Aged<\/strong> instrument is unique and can require several days of meticulous craftsmanship.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.matts-guitar-shop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/tom-murphy-biographie-02.webp” alt=”Biography of Tom Murphy” title_text=”tom-murphy-biographie-02″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|300|||||||” text_font_size=”16px” header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_font_size=”36px” header_2_font=”–et_global_heading_font|300|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#ddab05″ header_2_font_size=”24px” text_orientation=”justified” background_layout=”dark” width=”100%” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Legacy<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Tom Murphy is considered the pioneer and undisputed master<\/strong> of guitar relicing. Instruments personally worked on by him (stamped “Murphy Aged”<\/strong>) are among the most sought-after and valuable guitars on the collectors’ market.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|300|||||||” text_font_size=”16px” header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_font_size=”36px” header_2_font=”–et_global_heading_font|300|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#ddab05″ header_2_font_size=”24px” text_orientation=”justified” background_layout=”dark” width=”100%” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

At Matt’s Guitar Shop<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Guitars available in our shop:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n