Gibson Murphy Lab '58 Junior | First Impression

[@danpritchett5617]

You wasted your money.

[@TheSoundCoop]

Ya, but it was worth it 🤣

[@Joe-mz6dc]

@danpritchett5617 I completely disagree. The instant I heard the first sounds I knew this guitar was killer. The tones are ridiculously good. And I guarantee you the price on that thing is going to soar over the years. That is a fucking mojo machine and he would be a fool to sell it.

[@TheSoundCoop]

@joe-mz6dc if you ever see this thing for sale, send me a nasty letter, will ya? 🤣 I honestly can't let this guitar go. It's a perfect rock machine 🙌🏻 Cheers brother!

[@MrSniganoo]

@@TheSoundCoop With that twin amp setup it sounds amazing!

[@TheSoundCoop]

@@MrSniganoo twin amps is where it's at for high gain stuff in the studio. Even doing a clean/dirty split is a load of fun. Thanks for watching 🙌🏻

[@davepark1827]

I just bought a les paul jr and it's a beast, I hesitated on buying one because of the high price for such a simple guitar but I am now a believer.

[@TheSoundCoop]

Haha! This resonates with my experience SO MUCH! I had been putting off buying one for a long time too. There are so many guys that I respect that play them, and get great sounds from them. But I had a lot of reasons to not make Juniors a priority. It's kind of a kid's guitar, or at least was intended for entry-level musicians. I tend to like bigger body styles. I tend to not like bridge pickups. I tend to like lots of tonal options and variety. I brought this guitar almost entirely on its looks and the reputation Murphy Labs has. Once it showed up and I had about 30 minutes of play time with it, I totally understood what all the fuss was about. Admittedly, I don't quite understand how this guitar sounds so good and is capable of so much. There's nothing I like better than having my intuitions smashed to smithereens. If you've got an Instagram with some pics of your Junior shoot me a link. I've become pretty obsessed lately. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment 🙌🏻

[@Adipsia1]

Absolutely love it. My biggest regret was selling an original 59 Junior a few years back... since then prices have gone crazy. LPJs are a thing of beauty and utility; they're so versatile. They can go from almost acoustic to rock hooligans. I've just invested in a Murphy Labs Burst, and the sound and feel are incredible. If you ever consider selling, let me know.

[@TheSoundCoop]

Thanks so much. And I couldn't agree more. The Junior is my new obsession. It's just so much darn fun. Do you have an Instagram by chance where I can see your '59 and Murphy Burst? I'd love to check them out. If I ever consider selling mine, something has gone terribly wrong in my life 🤣

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Congratulations man, that is stunning! Those close ups…..👌

[@TheSoundCoop]

Thank you Sir! The guitar practically photographs itself

[@Sammywhat]

To get a blessing from Paul is a blessing indeed!! Fun to see you here on The Sound Coop, Mr. Cook!! This Jr. is a glorious sounding thing. And Murphy is a wizard with that relic job! And now I want one all the more!! Fun stuff all around boys!! Cheers

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

@@Sammywhat Hi Sammywhat, nice to see you here 👋

[@pierreg1340]

A month ago, I wrote I was hoping to get one before the end of the year. I was lucky. one week after, I spotted one 50 miles from my home and even though it is not a Murphy lab with the Wildwood specs, it is still a Custom Shop and the sound is great. I have a Fender 59 Custom High Powered Tweed Twin and it sounds very very good. I decided to get one after I saw your video so thanks and keep bringing nice videos like this one with that Junior.

[@TheSoundCoop]

Thanks so much for the kind words and I really appreciate you watching. I'm really glad you found yourself a beautiful Junior. It took me a lot of years to realize this, but everyone needs one in their life 😂 If there's anywhere I can see pictures of your Junior, let me know. I'd love to check it out. I guarantee it's great going into that Tweed. I've got a California tweed by Mesa Boogie and my Junior absolutely screams through that amp 🙌🏻

[@matthewmorgenstern1556]

Dude!!! I can't decide if I like looking at it or listening to it better! Looks super comfortable and sounds superb!

[@christiandude3149]

I own a 59 Double Cut Junior i Red... and buy last year a second but an Murphy 56 Junior Single Cut... the both amazing and the Murohys get close on my original 59 Junior... so i my opinion they are very good guitars and the Money worth!

[@bjdenil]

Guitar is super cool!

[@TheSoundCoop]

Thank you Sir! I feel really lucky to have gotten my hands on this one. Cheers 🙌

[@lukelandis8129]

Picked up a Murphy '57 Junior last year, for a screaming deal as well. Amazing guitar for sure. The neck is amazing and plays better than any Gibson I have ever owned. No sticky nitro. Clean to Scream with that pickup. Congrats!

[@TheSoundCoop]

Where can I see pics of this beauty?!? Do you by chance have an IG? I'm definitely a massive fan of this neck. Does the '57 have a thick neck like this '58?

[@lukelandis8129]

@@TheSoundCoop Don't do IG and such. Yea the neck is big, but not crazy like a 2000 VOS I had. More like the original 58' Jr I owned. It's just a great feeling neck and very stable. Not sure if it's a Murphy thing or what, but mine is a home run.

[@s.ri.1020]

Wow love the tone.

[@TheSoundCoop]

It really sounds amazing cranked up. Still can't exactly understand why. Thanks for watching 🙌

[@ChristopherBeanMusic]

That guitar RIPS dude 🤘 getting to play it the other day has sold me on one pick up guitars!

[@TheSoundCoop]

Thanks man. I'm so glad you got to take her for a spin. This definitely sold me on 1 pup guitars too. Sometimes simple IS better 🙌

[@joeduffin5344]

Awesome guitar. I have Lukas Nelson 56 junior. I would love to have a TV yellow dc j

[@TheSoundCoop]

Thanks dude. Oh man, I bet that '56 is beautiful!! Cheers!

[@AlexanderGhezzo]

What a guitar! Wow

[@TheSoundCoop]

It's taken its hold, that's for sure. I never thought the 1 pickup thing would be this much fun. Thanks for watching 🙌🏻

[@donnix1192]

Awesome video, great playing and congrats on that wonderful piece of craftsmanship you acquired!! I agree about Greg Koch, a phenomenal player and funny guy. He was doing a livestream for Wildwood on his signature Reverend and kindly answered whatever questions or comments I had, a sweet guy. Great content, killing it!

[@TheSoundCoop]

Greg is the MAN! I hope to meet him one day. And thanks for the kind words

[@The-Rickster-29]

@@TheSoundCoop I am seeing Greg in Costa Mesa CA on Jan 26th 2024! I can't wait! Nothing wrong with owning a killer Les Paul that lost it's virginity to Greg Koch!

[@TheSoundCoop]

@@The-Rickster-29 thanks so much for pointing this out. He's playing near me a few days later. Getting tickets. What a legend!!!

[@digbyranford6657]

I recently got one, I was shocked how big the neck was and wasn’t sure but now I love it and my thinner neck guitars feel weird 😂 great score 🎸

[@TheSoundCoop]

I pretty much had the same experience. I always believed that thinner necks were faster. Reluctantly got a Chucky C on my Novo and that was it. I haven't looked back. I've played two CS LP Specials that were 59' and they had way thinner necks. I think 58' and under gets the thicker shapes. Do you by chance have an Instagram where I can see pics of your Junior? I'd love to check it out. Regardless, thanks for giving the video a watch 🙌🏻

[@digbyranford6657]

@@TheSoundCoop I sent you a pic on insta 👍

[@paulhunter3247]

Sweet demo... sweet guitar! I see another Lukas Nelson Junior fan in the comments already. Would love to make his signature Junior my next guitar. Really enjoyed your demo!!

[@TheSoundCoop]

Thanks so very much! I really appreciate it, and I'm so stoked on this guitar. That Lukas Nelson has such a lovely vintage burst tho. Might be my favorite look for the non DC Juniors. 🙌

[@Wileylikethehawk]

Awesome guitar. I got one of the mega rare Collector’s Choice 19 Les Paul Jrs and it rules. This is clearly a very similar guitar, just TV.

[@TheSoundCoop]

Thanks so much! And thanks for watching 🙌🏻 Any chance you have an IG where I can see some pics of your Junior?

[@sergeyv4908]

Frankly speaking it is very controversial instrument. I've got much simplier version of Gibson DC Junior too. And it design is so challenging - when you are sitting it lies very uncomfortable and partly uncontrollable, your right hand is too low and close to your knee. P-90 has its own very specific tone I wouldn't say it suits well in most genres - too fat mids, too noisy with high gain but too muddy with fuzz. As result I swapped it with SD P-rails for real humbucker tone. Also Gibson Deluxe machineheads is ok but not more than that. And the biggest flaw - this bridge. You just can't play something like Mr Brightside with this thing. Your pitch will always be little bit out of tune in higher position. Also swapped it with nice Graphtech adjustable wrap-around bridge like on PRS. Way better for miles. But this thing sings like angel and can do everything. Amazing guitar for gigs - light, small and has a tone ) But for now i would prefer it singlecut version with 2 PAF humbuckers.

[@TheSoundCoop]

You bring up a lot of good points here. I do find the shape sits much lower than other guitars I have. But so far it's not really bothering me a whole lot. It does seem like the weight is better setup for straps. You can hang it low and it balances really nice. But I don't gig much so I'm mostly playing this in a sitting position. But P90s are really a favorite of mine. 10 years ago I just wanted typical Strat and Tele setups. But I got my first P90 guitar 3 years ago, and haven't gotten over it. I'm 100% with you on the noise. I changed my first Fralin P90 to a noiseless version and just love it. Same tone and output but totally noise free. To my ear, the P90 is a nice balance of tone. It's bright AND fat. You can get Strat like tones, or stuff closer to a PAF. Best of both worlds. But speaking as a studio guy, the real magic of a P90 is the dynamics. It has the right amount of control. It has enough dynamic range to express well, but not enough that it gets away from ya. YMMV The bridge is another oddity. I don't have any issues with intonation on this Junior. It's as perfect as a guitar can get despite not having adjustable saddles for each string. I had a 2015 LP Special that had the typical intonation issues and had to swap the bridge out for a wraparound with adjustable saddles. If you're having issues with yours, there's a bunch of aftermarket version. Also Joe Glaser makes a wraparound Junior bridge that doesn't have adjustable saddles but seems to have fixed the intonation issues. I haven't used on myself but I've seen a few dozen Nashville sessions guys swear by them so they gotta be legit. I don't know why this Murphy Junior of mine is so dialed in. One thing that's different compared to my Special is the bass side post is set further back from the pickup on the Murphy. The poles on the Special are equidistant from the pickup. I had to use the move the base side of the bridge way back from the pole on my special and it's still never got quite right. On this Murphy lab it sits further back then I was able to move the one on my special with the compensating nut. Definitely not trying to talk you out of your concerns regarding juniors. Before buying this guitar I had pretty much all the same concerns you did and they've almost all but evaporated. Still not sure I even want to change this pick up out for a noiseless one. I have tons of guitars that do the clean thing really well. This one does cranked up in a way that none of my other guitars do. I'm pretty reluctant to mess around with it, despite being generally irritated by single coil home.

[@sergeyv4908]

@@TheSoundCoop I'm agree - no one guitar has that musculine early rock'n'roll roar as Jr/Specials with p-90s. Very spectacular tone for some 60-70s songs and something like Oasis or riff machine stuff. For me they sound in those styles better than LP standard - have more... ehhm... teen power :))) I do not know how to describe it in a properly way. After 3 years owning and playing many gigs with covers from The Cure till Metallica i would not sell it. Too many things were done with "she". But it is not that comfortable as i was espect before buying it and not as a strat f.e.

[@seanzinger]

I totally agree about how it sits in my lap. Pretty uncomfortable when you’re used to a Telecaster. I was expecting it to sound more like a Tele than it does. It’s a bit too beefy for me. But wow does it play well. Just effortless.

[@seanzinger]

I got one of the VOS ones for a good deal in 2022 and at first I was in love but after about a year I just couldn’t get over how uncomfortable it was in my lap. The headstock always falls down. Maybe I’m just too used to a Tele. I also like the beefy neck and the frets are perfect. It plays like absolute butter. Unfortunately I like playing it unplugged better than plugged in because the P90 is just too much of a beefy mid-monster for me. I love the checking on yours though and the color also looks right. Mine is kind of a dingy mustard. I thought tv yellow would be brighter. Overall I’m pretty disappointed with it considering what you get for how much it is. Been trying to sell it for about a year with no luck. Would love to hear how you’re getting along with it these days.

[@TheSoundCoop]

Thanks for watching and commenting! This guitar has become a real problem for me. It's just amazing for writing songs and riffs. And I still don't exactly understand why. Maybe it's the single plank of wood. Or the set neck. Or the headstock break angle. Or the wrap tail. Or the scale length. Or maybe it's all these things. Being a lifelong Fender addict, I just love the differences. This guitar feels loose and slinky. It's a joy to play. It's everything from blues to country twang, AC/DC to Greenday. I just can't get enough. Which is the problem. I've just been writing and recording. Lost in dozens of new riffs. It's hard to escape. I'm trying to ride the wave. I don't really have any comfort issues with it. I love lap playing. Sure it's not contoured. But neither is a Telecaster. I truly love this harder edge vibe though. Been in strat land for a long time and don't really miss the softer edges. But everyone is different. Even though I got an amazing deal, the Murphy Lab isn't cheap. But 0 regrets. I could have maybe saved $500 on a new VOS. But for me, the relic work sealed the deal. Not only do I love to play it, when I see it... all the cracking and wear... it just screams at me to be played. I always just wanted a Junior for the novelty. But now I'm a true believer. As Grey Koch says "One P90... all you need and sometimes more than you deserve" 🤣

[@seanzinger]

@@TheSoundCoop Thanks for the detailed update! Glad to hear you’re still digging it. I do like the slinky feel as well. It just plays itself. And I also get your point about songwriting. For me it’s almost like I’m playing acoustic when I strum mine.

[@roughcutguitars]

You drove it home for me with this. Can't touch a Murphy Lab but I'm amazingly lucky enough to finally be weeks away from a new 58 RI. Was stuck between the gorgeous tobacco burst finish on the single cut and the tv yellow dc, but if it can only be one (and it can definitely only be) this is the one. Now if they just made the dc in the t burst...

[@TheSoundCoop]

Thanks so much brother! If you have an IG, link me. I'd really love to see some pics of that 58 RI. Congratulations 🙌

[@roughcutguitars]

@The Sound Coop @The Sound Coop Thanks and will do. Better yet, completely forgot I have an original Gibson p90 that I pulled off a vintage 1958 es125 to convert it into a Charlie Christian model, so this is gonna get a lot closer to '58 than reissue!

[@cam70980]

I got one of these... IN LOVE

[@TheSoundCoop]

Welcome to the club Sir. It's a real obsession. Anywhere I can see pics of yours? What color did you get? Level of relic? Regardless, enjoy 🙌🏻

[@bjdenil]

Greg is a giant literally and figeratively. He was really nice when I met him at wildwood. He is also really tall.

[@TheSoundCoop]

He's a MASSIVE man! And such a monster player! How tall is he actually? I'm 6'5" and I kinda feel like he's got a couple on me. It's hilarious when he stands next to Toby Lee Marshall. Also Greg's son Dylan is pretty tall too. It's in the 🧬

[@jabberwocky7927]

The P90 is the mostly beastly pickup there is.

[@TheSoundCoop]

This is straight facts. It really can do it all 🙌🏻

[@pierreg1340]

Your guitar sounds absolutely beautiful and your playing is impressive. . Congrats. Would you know what year is your guitar? Thanks.

[@TheSoundCoop]

You're really too kind. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment 🙌🏻 This is an absolute gem of a guitar. I don't know if I just lucked out or if all the Murphy Labs are this good. But I'm still in constant awe a year later. I'm usually good for writing about 10 songs a year. I've probably written 25 on this guitar alone in the last year. It's inspiring in a really unique way and I hope this never lets up. This Murphy Junior was made in 2022, replicating a 1958. There's a bunch available on Reverb right now. Some of the Wildwood ones were listed a few months back for 7k and they've been slowly moving closer to 6k. It's a lot of money. I don't think I could justify this type of money. I got this one used a few months after it was bought new and I paid $4500. This is still a lot of money but I have 0 regrets. Worth every red cent.

[@ckelly5141]

The relic job is an absolute work of art! 🎨🎸

[@TheSoundCoop]

I really lucked out with this one. I was on the lookout for something else and saw this beauty. Game over. Take my money 🤣

[@ckelly5141]

@The Sound Coop 😝yes....Murphy Lab definitely delivers!🎸

[@edwardwood6127]

thats a beautiful guitar!

[@TheSoundCoop]

Thanks so very much. I truly feel like I lucked out. It's soooo much fun to play 🙌🏻

[@thomasharris7881]

Man Johnny Thunders played a TV yellow DC Junior. That thing is sexy AF. You still enjoying that thing all these months later? Gotta learn Born to Lose and Chinese Rocks with that thing!!!

[@TheSoundCoop]

I'm still in love. It's a killer guitar for writing parts. Every time I pick it up I'd better have a few hours, to get lost in riffs. I'll totally check out those songs right now. New video featuring this guitar is dropping in 2 weeks. Stay tuned 🙌🏻

[@thomasharris7881]

@@TheSoundCoop Sweet man, liking some of your other vids too, will keep posted for the new Les Paul Jr one coming up. Thanks for the reply! Cheers

[@Richard_Lush]

Hahaha it’s worth it. Did the same with a ML heavy aged 58 LP ( with wildwood specs) Don’t regret it at all. Honestly I can even tell the difference (and I’m no expert) tonally and playing wise. Also got an excellent price so couldn’t pass it up. You’ll be drawn to it all the time. Big difference than a 335 though 🤣 Greg is awesome 👍 Got to sell my CS 59 LP now😢 I prefer not getting another divorce. Now those are pricey 😑

[@TheSoundCoop]

Drawn to it is really the only way to describe it. I usually write fluffy John Mayer stuff on the Strat but this ML Junior just cranks out rock riffs like it was born to do that. I've written so many rock songs lately, I don't even know what to do with them all. HAHA! And you're right. ZERO regrets. It's a piece of art. And my desire to play has gone through the roof. I still want a 335 and a proper Les Paul. But getting this Junior has convince me it's worth saving a little extra and just getting Murphy Labs. The rest is timing. Waiting for that amazing deal. I got this ML Junior for what a VOS goes for. Would love to make that happen again. Cheers Sir. Thanks for watching!!

[@braciole7667]

That's what most people don't realize. You DON'T have to pay list. Just picked up a Gibson 61 in white for $300 off of list. I do wish Gibson would release that double cut in their standard line. I think people would buy them like crazy.

[@TheSoundCoop]

So, there's no double cuts except the VOS and CS stuff? Are those double cut Tributes just trash? I definitely don't dig the pickguard but have been curious about their quality. Regardless, where can I see pics of that '61?

[@braciole7667]

I own a double cut dc tribute. I wouldn't call it trash. But the neck is rather flat and wide. And the frets are short and thin. But being a J Thunders fan, I HAD to have one when it came out. But it still isn't a tv yellow. I would love to know how the tribute differs from your custom shop in feel. Anyway, enjoy your new guitar!

[@TheSoundCoop]

Ok, so the '61 you're talking about is a different guitar? Not the tribute? Is your '61 a VOS? If you have an IG, let me know. I'd love to see some pics. I become a real Junior addict recently 😁 Regardless, I appreciate you giving some input on the Tribute. I've been really kicking around the idea of getting one. They're not terribly expensive. And frankly buying this ML Junior got me hooked. It's a fun rig. I had no idea I'd be this inspired by such a simple guitar. There's also been a rash of new noiseless P90s hitting the market. I really want to try a bunch out without having the mess with this ML. Curious if there's any other major difference between your Tribute and your '61 aside from the neck and frets? I do love the thick neck on my ML Junior. The ML does have some medium jumbo frets but they're not terribly tall. I'm wondering if thinner ones would feel much different.

[@JohnBoy-Ramone]

Hard to believe that the price of these things has more than doubled since I bought my 2011 version new, for £1400 . When mine arrived, I was soooo relieved to find that the "ageing" must have been done on a Friday afternoon and basically consisted of some light Scotchbrite work on the plastic, coupled with a liberal application of that horrible (but easily removed) fake rust stuff on the metal parts.

[@TheSoundCoop]

I didn't think the Murphy Lab was around in 2011. Is your Junior a VOS rather than a Murphy?

[@JohnBoy-Ramone]

@@TheSoundCoop sorry, forgot to mention that...VOS, but as you may have guessed, I ain't a fan of fake "ageing" on guitars.

[@TheSoundCoop]

I was in Nashville over the weekend and finally got my hands on a VOS Junior. It had a thinner neck profile than my Murphy but otherwise very similar. Getting this Junior has me really hung up on single pickup guitars. I almost bought that VOS but the price was too high and it was bright red. I guess I like that color about as much as you like the fake aging 😂 I totally respect the anti relic people despite it not making much sense to me. The bottom line for me is, whenever I look across the room and see that finish checking, my brain just fires, and it makes me wanna immediately play. It's a brain hack to some degree.

[@JohnBoy-Ramone]

@@TheSoundCoop How are you finding the tailpiece? I eventually changed mine to a Tonepros compensated wraparound and it fixed the infamous sitar-esque 1st. string twang , whilst retaining the look of the original.

[@TheSoundCoop]

So, I can't say with 100% certainty but I think the bridge on this Murphy is one of those Music City bridges. It looks identical to the one my buddy put on his wrap tail. It doesn't have that lightning bolt thingy. The curve of the wrap around has been modified to help better compensate. The intonation is perfect and no odd pinging. I really want to keep the original look too. If I get another Junior I have one of those wrap trails with individual adjustable saddles. I'd definitely give it a try.

[@MarkBarna1]

Some of the Reverb deals when you watch a guitar or amp that come up are amazing. I bought a Knaggs guitar for a really good price. It is nerve-racking because the deals are still not cheap, but you have to act fast on it, as you did. On the plus side, most people watching Reverb gear are not in a financial position to buy anything even if $2,000 is knocked off a price. But if you really are feeling it, you still have to act as someone out there will beat you to it. Congrats!

[@TheSoundCoop]

I totally agree. If you have a list of things you want, and are willing to be flexible with what you actually get next, you can really find some killer deals. Provided you are ready to pull the trigger in a matter of minutes. I truly wanted a 335 next. But getting this Jr was a really lucky circumstance. Not only do I have no regrets. I'm trying to figure out why I didn't prioritize a Junior earlier 🤦🏼 🤣

[@Panic42000]

Awesome guitar! I have same model but mine is the VOS version.

[@TheSoundCoop]

@Panic42000 how's the neck on yours? I'm absolutely in love with the massive profile on this one. Had a buddy over last weekend and I'm not sure he was vibing with how thick it is. For me, it's a dream. Do you have an Instagram where I can see pics of yours? Thanks for watching 🙏🏻

[@Panic42000]

@@TheSoundCoop I love the neck on mine. I just got mine two months ago it’s a 23 model. Does yours have the brown alligator case like mine? I don’t have instagram.

[@TheSoundCoop]

@@Panic42000 mine is brown crocodile 😂 Cheers on having a gem of a guitar. I truly had no idea how much fun a Junior could be. I feel like I've been missing out my whole guitar life

[@Panic42000]

@@TheSoundCoop I love single pickup guitars. I also have a Fender Esquire that’s pretty awesome.

[@TheSoundCoop]

@@Panic42000 I'm way too late this this whole single pickup thing. I just never understood the point. You're building a guitar, why not just put at least 2 pickups in it? And also, I really don't like Bridge pups. This guitar set me completely straight. I still don't understand exactly why. But this whole setup is kinda dreamy. It plays extremely well. Looks so killer. And the 1 pickup does so many things SO WELL. I'm a complete convert and won't ask any more silly questions. As Greg Koch says "one pickup is more than you need, and often times, more than you deserve" 🤣

[@rlarsen4562]

It's great the owner is happy and I'm glad the pickup sounds good, but what exactly is $6,000 better for a simple one pickup, basic bridge, none- vintage guitar than a $1,000 guitar ?

[@TheSoundCoop]

I own a $1000 Junior on top of this Wildwood Murphy Lab Junior that cost me $4500 used. The Murphy isn't 7x the guitar the cheaper one is. So I'll totally agree the price and quality doesn't scale. But owning several nice relics from many different companies. The Murphy is hands down the finest specimen in terms of relic work. And all that time spent costs money. It's also perfect out the box. Perfect nut. Music City Bridge already installed so intonation is perfect. The action is incredible. Very nice balance between body and neck weight. It's nothing short of amazing. Not 7x the guitar. I tried a Gibson Junior DC Tribute and the nut was terrible. The lightning bolt bridge had the typical intonation issues. It probably needed $500 worth of work just to make it functional. Probably could have used some fret work too. I tried a RnR Relic as well. Definitely better than the Tribute but needed a new nut and some fret work. And they wanted 2k for it used. 3 years ago they were 1k. Now they're over 3k. So for me, the Murphy is worth every damn dime. Plus, considering the market, I'm 100% confident I could get that 4.5k back if I really needed it. And sadly Tom won't be around forever. Who knows what the future holds in terms of value.

[@BopKitBill]

I thought I hear you say something about your TwoRock? If so, you're making quite a case for the Valvestate.

[@TheSoundCoop]

My Two Rock is a Studio Signature. It's a great amp, but it's a totally clean platform. There's no overdrive channel at all. And I'm typically not a fan of pedal based distortion. When I'm looking for driven tones, I tend to reach for a tube amp that is suited for high gain sounds. Marshall amps are probably my favorite for this. My Two Rock Studio Signature, Egnator Tweaker, and my Marshall Valvestate all live in my writing space. I mostly just use them for practice, jamming and writing. In the studio I have an amp locker to tamp down the sound volume. In there I run a 100-watt Marshall JMP, and a Fender Twin Reverb. Both these amps are set to jet engine loud. The JMP is probably my favorite for high gane tones. But in order to get it really cranked up, you have to run it unbelievably loud. It's just not very much fun to be in a room with. On the other hand, this Marshall Valvestate has a wonderful overdriven sound at just about any volume level. You can be in a room with it, get great tones, and not blow your ears out. If I'm being honest, I mostly record the JMP in the studio. But occasionally I like to do a stereo amp set up like this. Marshalls and Voxs tend to pair well. In this video, the Egnator is handling the Vox duties. Unfortunately, the Marshall JMP is extremely loud compared to the Egnator. For this reason the Marshall Valvestate is just a better amp to pair with the Egnator compared to the JMP. By no means is the Valvestate a sought after amp. It's not vintage. It's not classic. It's not extremely well loved. But I still really enjoy using it. Horses for courses 🤷

[@scottanderson4175]

I’m old to remember seeing Johnny Thunders with the Dolls opening for Ruth Copeland in Baltimore but I can assure you his tone wasn’t as good as yours lol

[@TheSoundCoop]

Isn't bad tone sorta part of the Punk vibe? If so, not exactly sure what my excuse is 😂 Regardless, thanks for watching and leaving a comment 🙌🏻

[@haytguugle8656]

Sounds like a really good guitar. I'd bet it will be amazing once you take it to a professional restorer and get the finish redone. Shame it wasn't taken better care of. New paint job and it'll be great!

[@TheSoundCoop]

@haytguugle8656 I had it repainted and refinished last week. It came out great!! Immediately put it in a UV light proof, climate controlled locker. Might consider taking it out every few years for a quick look. But just a quick one. Then it's going right back. I'm gonna keep this thing immaculate. Won't let you down 🙌🏻

[@haytguugle8656]

@@TheSoundCoop HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! 😀 I don't think it's right for one to tell another what is right or wrong for another player. No room for that in music or other creative artistic expression. But the comment section is there so viewers can respond, reply, share opinions, etc.. So I had a little fun with mine. I hope you have more years of happiness with your new friend than you can stand. Enjoy!!! 🙂

[@CentaurusRelax314]

Congrats-beautiful. That amp, though-Marshall Valvestate? Which model is that? Sounds great. I did not expect to find out it’s a hybrid.

[@TheSoundCoop]

I'm not even sure Hybrid is the right word. It's completely Solid State. I got this in the late 90's. Really great for getting the Marshall vibe without needing all the loudness. I've got a JMP in my ISO closet that has to be run at jet engine loud. This Valvestate is killer for living rooms and small jams.

[@CentaurusRelax314]

@@TheSoundCoop Can you tell me the model number? My quick googling told me the Valvestates have *one* preamp tube, and the rest is solid state. Not so for this one? I imagine it sounds great no matter what volume-does it do a good EVH 'brown sound?'

[@TheSoundCoop]

@@CentaurusRelax314 I just looked and sure enough, it has 1 tube in the preamp section. I can't say about brown sound tho. I'm not capable of VH riffage so haven't really explored his sound. The Clean channel is really loud. OD1 sounds like AD/DC. OD2 is what I used to play Metallica, Pantera, Slayer, etc, back when I was an angry teenager 🤣. I used the OD1 for this video. It's in the left stereo channel.

[@CentaurusRelax314]

@@TheSoundCoop Thank you, sir!

[@Gaslight.Guitar]

Noice axe. Cool video man.

[@TheSoundCoop]

Thank you Sir! 🙌

[@rlarsen4562]

I bought my cherry 58 in 1970 for $250. Sold it two years later. The price difference between various new LP jr models now makes no sense and feels like price gouging.

[@TheSoundCoop]

It's a wild market for sure. The Epiphones are now over a $1000. The VOS Jrs are over $3500. And the Wildwood Murphy Labs are over $7000. That's a pretty nutz range of prices for basically the simplest guitar design in history 🤣

[@TheJaybax]

Amazing tone dude ! Can I ask how much did you pay for this one? I might get the same guitar in VOS finish, but 3800€ seems a lot for a JR even if these CS JR are amazing

[@TheSoundCoop]

The price of these things is CRAZY. I got this one used for a little over 4k, and that's some decent savings. Wildwood has a green one on Reverb that came from the same lot as this one and they are asking $6,100 for it, brand new. Setting aside the relic work, I definitely think paying this much is NUTZ. Juniors are no frills guitars. Nothing fancy. But I have a great deal of love and respect for proper relic work and don't mind paying for a quality job. I've played a few Rock'n'Roll Relics Jrs and they don't even compare to this Murphy Lab. I actually bought a 2015 Special about 8 months back. It was 1k. I was going to send it to my favorite Relic Artisan, who lives in France, and have him paint and relic the guitar to my taste. But when I looked into shipping it was gonna cost over $1000 to ship it there and back. When I considered the guitar cost, shipping cost, and the cost of the paint/relic work, it was already gonna be over $3,000 and I still didn't know what Customs import fees would cost. After some thought I just figured I'd rather spend another 1k and just get this Murphy Lab. At least I could resell it without losing any value if I wasn't happy with it. I'm pretty confident I could get my 4k back if I need to, but I'm even more confident I don't wanna sell it. I'm completely blown away by this beauty. I was actually looking at buying Novo's version of a Junior. Based on the specs I wanted I was looking at something closer to 5k. I'm really glad I waited and stumbled across this Junior. It feels and sounds like the real deal. If you end up getting that VOS one, shoot me a link to some pics. The Custom Shop does amazing work, even if it's not a Murphy Lab. I'd love to see what you end up with 🙌

[@TheJaybax]

@@TheSoundCoop Thanks man ! 4K for this beauty is such a great deal, Gibson is asking 4299€ for the VOS model these days…

[@TheSoundCoop]

@@TheJaybax I'm still in disbelief about it. It was already listed at a decent price when I added it to my watch list, and then I got a reduced offer that took another $700+ off. It was Friday. I was sitting on my couch after work. I had to think about it maybe 15 minutes 🤣 I was gonna get a 335 but I knew that was gonna have to wait 🤷 I was randomly just looking at Reverb and it seems like maybe Murphy finally sent out a batch of 2023 models? And, it seems like the price went up? No one seems to want the Murphy Juniors with the black paint job. But even those seem to be getting listed for closer to 7k brand new. It's pretty wild. Despite all the relic haters out there, the market doesn't seem to be losing any steam.

[@TheJaybax]

@@TheSoundCoop Amazing bro !

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

I had a real one in the 80s, sounded dreadful, looked great though. Yours is better, mine had a hedstock break same colour. I got a Fender Esquire which I still own.

[@TheSoundCoop]

I've always wondered how many of the original 50s/60s Juniors are still around. How many were broken and just discarded. Glad you saved yours 🙌🏻

[@picksalot1]

Single pickup guitars rule! Instead of turning the Tone Knob, you can just move your picking hand to where the tone sounds best.

[@TheSoundCoop]

It took me forever to understand this fact, but they really do rock as much as everyone says. I'm a convert, for sure 🙌🏻

[@craftwiser]

What is the name of the song played at 8:22?

[@TheSoundCoop]

Dude, I wanna know this as well. I stumbled across this riff shortly after I got this Junior. I just can't figure out who's riff this is. But I sure appreciate you asking. I've literally sent this off to every guitar player I know and have yet to get an accurate response. I figured it's probably a Leslie West riff. Or Jager. Or Rich Robinson. Or... 🤷

[@stratmagic6893]

I really want one but the 58 neck is just too thick. Cool guitar though.

[@TheSoundCoop]

This is straight facts. I think this '58 neck is the thickest neck I own, and I've mostly got thick necked guitars. But I'm completely in love with it. Meanwhile, I get where you're coming from. The neck is the most important part of the instrument. It's gotta work for YOU. And if it doesn't, it's off the table. Have you had a chance to play any of the early 60s Jr reissues? I wonder if they are considerably thinner necked

[@stratmagic6893]

@@TheSoundCoop I am not a slim taper neck guy either. My R9 has the perfect neck carve.

[@drivenmad7676]

I would have to try several and find "the one." I'm a lefty so that's a problem.

[@TheSoundCoop]

Ugh, I'm sorry brother. I cannot even imagine. Us right handed players just don't know how lucky we have it sometimes. We definitely have the better pick of guitars. But then again, you guys have Hendrix. So... I guess we'll call it even? 🤣 🙌

[@drivenmad7676]

@@TheSoundCoop LOL

[@hessex1899]

Buying an expensive Gibson is always a little of column an and a little of column b. It's not at all unusual for alimony to be part of the TCO of such an instrument.

[@TheSoundCoop]

So, Column B = can be sold to fund a one-way flight to a non extradition country? 🤣

[@hessex1899]

Personally I like to maintain enough liquidity to get into Abu Dhabi or Doha with as few transactions as possible. But yes absolutely. YMMV

[@hessex1899]

BTW that's a great sounding guitar. I plan on building one this spring, once the garage temperatures settle down a bit.

[@TheSoundCoop]

@@hessex1899 I should have known "non extradition" wasn't gonna cut it. So. I'll need a non extradition country where I can also play rock music without risking apostasy 🤣

[@hessex1899]

@@TheSoundCoop Abu Dhabi and Doha are chill. They don't have the draconian laws that, say, Saudi has. Even Saudi, where I lived for a while doing a security contract, is not that bad. :)

[@Popskull_666]

Whats under the hood?

[@TheSoundCoop]

Whatever came stock from the Lab. I had intentions of changing it out for a Noiseless P90 when I ordered it. I mostly do studio work so cannot handle the noise. But I can't bring myself to change out this pickup. Whatever Gibson did here totally nails the vibe I have in my head for a guitar like this. It's got so much weight for a Bridge pickup. I don't understand how they do that and I want more 🤣

[@brunoantony9257]

good decision

[@TheSoundCoop]

Haha! Thanks. Not only do I have zero regrets. This whole 1 pickup thing got me. I never would have guessed but it's a fun and inspiring setup

[@sempercompellis]

what is the neck dive situation with these--- neck dive is the biggest reason i dislike SG's

[@TheSoundCoop]

Neck Dive, as in, neck is too heavy compared to the body? Or are you talking about the break angle at the neck glue joint?

[@Sammywhat]

I think I found the Wildwood vid with Greg Playing this bad boy... kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2XYoH-igbWjeJI Congrats on the purchase man!! Woooooo!! If I shouldn't have linked this please forgive me and just delete this comment! 🙏

[@TheSoundCoop]

Haha 🙌🏻 No worries at all. I'm pretty sure I put a link to this in the video description. Totally cool to share it. Greg is such a savage!! And I still cannot figure out how someone let this guitar go!

[@zenrun2913]

Just don’t show her the receipt otherwise it’s divorce city😂

[@TheSoundCoop]

Pro tip. Find a wife who loves shoes and she'll never be able to criticize your guitar purchases. The ratio of shoes to guitars in this house is about 243/7 😜🤣👊

[@altemose_prime]

This relic murphy lab stuff is ridiculous. $7000 for that? You can get one for $1599 and that's crazy. Gibson's crap is all overpriced. People continue to buy it.

[@donknotts5625]

Whoever this Murphy guy is, fire him.

[@TheSoundCoop]

Ya. He should probably just go back to being one of the most sought after vintage guitar specialists in the world... 🤣😂😜

[@donknotts5625]

@@TheSoundCoop the Murphy lab is actually the day care center they have for employees children, the put a guitar in the room and give the children rocks to throw at the guitar

[@TheSoundCoop]

Haha!! I'm dying to see CCTV from the workshop. This would be beyond hilarious 😂😆😜

[@b.i.g.brothersinguitars249]

you've done the right thing bud,wifes don't matter in this case

[@TheSoundCoop]

Blahaha! You're a legend! 👊