Literal "Tobacco Burst"

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📚Description: I Bought "Literal Tobacco Burst." This is a 1981 Gibson Les Paul Custom that hung out in a high-end Cigar shop for 30+ years. Over the years, the tar in the smoke accumulated and got on the guitar and ambered over the clear coat extremely! This is what I consider a stage 4 guitar!
0:00 - Unboxing
0:40 - 4 Stages of Guitar's Life
1:40 - How Does a Finish Yellow? (Clear Coat Ambering)
2:54 - What Is This Guitar?
4:30 - Workbench / Specs
14:22 - Blacklight
15:58 - Clean Tones
16:38 - Dirty Tones
18:40 - Chuggy Tones
20:05 - Final Thoughts
21:06 - Watch Next
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Guitar + Recording:
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[@Trog]

We needed a good video on a "Stage 4" guitar - Ol' Smokey was perfect for it! 🟢Available on My Website: www.troglysguitarshow.com 🔴Check it out on Reverb: tidd.ly/4aFiyhC 🐕 Private Help Sessions: troglysguitarshow.com/help-appraisals/

[@clarkbabin9799]

Could you imagine what Gibson or any guitar company would charge for relicing a guitar to that degree.

[@dandjurdjevicplus1]

I would fear Stage 4 cancer just handling it.

[@doctersound9630]

Would you sell it to me? How much?

[@blegend9351]

The former owners' lungs are probably stage 4, too.

[@Tcflohr]

Epic

[@russellzauner]

that's gonna leave a mark

[@hribc78]

🤣 sick burn!

[@CrucifiedSlide]

Criminal 💀

[@blakespurlock5322]

Hahahahahah

[@DaringDan]

I refuse to believe the Murphy Lab doesn't have a big Texas BBQ smoker at the shop where they just smoke guitars over hickory or manzanita.

[@russellzauner]

They use a Traeger because they're already set up for automation and compact fuel storage.

[@pat5882]

You just gave the idea for how to relic a guitar in the backyard.

[@We-all-watched-the-video]

Propane baby!

[@Friskybusiness1]

ill never understand "pre-reliced" brand new guitars, but ACTUAL relics like this one get me going like nothing else. this is so cool man

[@hatred9427]

it's solely because of the look, and it's far more cheaper to get your guitar relic-ed or get a relic one from the factory than spend hundreds of dollars on a natural aged guitar. And just like trogly said "If a guitar gets to this stage, it means it's been played a lot, and if it's been played this much, it's gotta be awesome." People just want that look.

[@strawsparky33]

​@hatred9427 it's also the feel. Relic guitars are still cheaper than buying a real vintage guitar that's got all the mojo and natural relicing, and alot of players love the "broken in" feeling that the necks on the Reliced series have. They're mostly collector pieces, but serious players buy them for feel too

[@davidgreenwood6029]

@@hatred9427 No its not just because of the look. guitars are made of wood, and an aged wood example that has been played has molecular differences from a new reliced wood guitar. Wood is something that is changed by the vibrations it experiences in its lifetime. or, afterlifetime. So a lifetime of great players playing great music is something you can't relic.

[@ericbitzer5247]

I agree.

[@musicauthority674]

This isn't a reliced guitar it's a naturally aged guitar. I can spot even the best relic job a mile away. this can't be duplicated, there's simply no short cut to achieve this. this is why I will never own a relic guitar. all my guitars have to earn their battle scars naturally. and this guitar is a perfect example of that.

[@heavybrett-al4082]

I still smoke, so if you want your Les Paul at stage 4, you can send them ALL to me and I'll sit in a room and puff like a smoke stack.

[@presmasterflash7555]

Brett Labs Relicing LLC

[@jsquire1331]

now that's a service!

[@infinidominion]

Not roasted maple....smoked maple

[@hoilst265]

According to this, tobacco smoke prevents finish checking! So, there's a benefit.

[@nonservitium]

Me, too!

[@jimmyzanolli1018]

Cuban Burst! Picturing strong coffee and a cigar

[@dogpd3]

Literally smokehouse burst! 😅

[@Kahuna54]

This is when I can appreciate the antique look because it earned it!

[@lakfit.b8347]

Yeah and the guy who had it spent 20-30 years of their life smokin it up to get that finish XDD I love it. Always leave mine out when I smoke for it hahaha

[@hoilst265]

I cannot comprehend why, if you were going to Fender Custom Shop or similar, you'd pay them to make it look worn. What, are you gonna tell people "Yeah, nah, true, bro, this is totally a '62 Strat that totally spent the last 60 years in all the really cool bars and clubs and stuff"?

[@strawsparky33]

​@@hoilst265They're collector pieces. And for serious players that like the look and feel of a worn guitar, they're cheaper than buying an actual vintage piece in most cases. People out here acting like beat up worn vintage guitars are cheap and easy to find I swear to god. Let people like what they like.

[@thomasmoore1003]

One of the best sounding Les Paul's I've heard on here and cool looking too

[@joermnyc]

It’s a Tobacco Widow. Guess Murphy labs needs a cigar room.

[@Tsilsby]

From the headstock thumb nail, I thought it was a Black widow at first.

[@weirdguy59]

Bacc Widow. Also yeah, it would be interesting if they got a smoke room like a food smoker on steroids and just try some cool shit

[@mordokch]

That's tone tar right there !

[@michaelpacinus242]

We used to call is “semen burst” because the guys bumming cigs would do just about *anything* for a stick

[@presmasterflash7555]

2 volumes, 2 tar knobs…

[@presmasterflash7555]

@@michaelpacinus242well that escalated quickly…

[@RolandSpecialSauce]

​@@michaelpacinus242say what now?

[@stephenstevens6573]

You better hang on to that, Austin. To find a stage 4 in that good of condition, and sounding as good as it does. You'll never be able to replace it!!

[@Tsilsby]

At 10k it's priced at I really don't want to sell it.. but for enough $$$ it's avail.

[@EarthAltar]

​@@Tsilsby There's one just like it for $4,300.00 that's been sitting there on Reverb for two years. '81 LP Custom tobacco burst. Not sure how he came to the 10K valuation. Seems extreme considering what's available on that site as far as Norlin era Gibsons go. For 10 grand you could get a lot of very exceptional 70's Les Paul. The examples are there. This ain't one of 'em.

[@Tsilsby]

@EarthAltar I saw that one too. He is at 10,500 on reverb. Guess they charge 500$ worth of fees now? There is a silver burst and its only at 7k But the price on those have dropped a lot.

[@EarthAltar]

​@@Tsilsby Yep, saw the silverburst as well. Like i was sayin', for that much coin you could be real picky. There's no shortage of Norlins. A few are rare from that era, but condition is what's driving the price in the nicer listings. Not scarcity. The same thing happens with the '75 to '79 Flying Vs. There's some beat up ones at ridiculous prices and some choice ones at even more ridiculous prices. They get listed and sit for years waiting for a chump to come along with the scratch. Don't even get me started on the Medallion Vs.

[@bobgambill6495]

When it comes to old muscle cars they call that a survivor.

[@mknewlan67]

This sounds like a Gibson in my head sounds like

[@blodpudding]

And if you want to refret it, this is the type of guitar that would not lose monetary value if you did it.

[@tonygaruba424]

Thanks for the Sabbath

[@user-kw1dx4gt3j]

Finally, a guitar worth talking about that has character, sounds has a decent story behind it More content like this would be greatly appreciated if possible!

[@dwtrksvc]

ABSOLUTELY DO NOT CLEAN THIS GUITAR! It is truly beautiful as is and the unique aging could never be replaced.

[@russellzauner]

Polish, smooth it out not clean it, the grime then hit it with a thin coat of clear UV resistant to freeze it in place (unless you start wearing through the clear coat)...

[@russellzauner]

Then again, remember that you don't eat the pellicle off aged meats, the tar coating has been staining it for years by gently cleaning it you're not ruining the relic you're just maintaining it - it would have turned those colors underneath anyhow, being played for decades in a cigar shop by assumedly the owner/proprietor, but in that environment it probably seemed clean enough at any time to someone actually in the shop. But a gentle clean up would really bring out the depth of the relic instead of leaving it like it's been drug through La Brea and left there. Wouldn't be surprised if it came out of some place like Cascade Cigar and Tobacco Lounge or similar...

[@N8K1D]

Trogly & the Stage 4 Cancer Guitar ☣️

[@ericzajac5237]

Can't remember the guitarist but years ago read an interview where he hung guitars in a shed and burned cartons of cigarettes under them.

[@mojorisen74]

I bought a 1975 Fender Mustang, it was black but it was covered in years of cigarette smoke residue just like this guitar. I had to take it apart and put a ton of cleaner and elbow grease into it. I used "virtuoso" guitar cleaner and it did a great job melting it away. Once i was done a shiny finish appeared but it took a lot of work lol

[@emmettberryhill9449]

You can tell when he really likes how a guitar sounds when he shouts during the playing demos

[@PRSMcCartywidefat]

I owned Pat Travers original DC Les Paul for awhile. It was naturally just like this with the years of playing in smoke filled bars and venues. Same yellowish haze, and the smoke smell never went away.

[@lilbitofOverdrive]

Gibson should reissue one that looks like this so cool

[@musicauthority674]

You can't duplicate that, it's got to be earned over time. there's simply no short cut to natural aging. that's what makes this guitar so AWESOME!!! and new relic's a joke. and it's why I would never own a relic guitar.

[@BCarpenter2314]

I'd probably clean the back of the neck and fretboard... the thought of my hand sliding around on a bunch if cigar smoke stains is gross.

[@ltgray2780]

Boston's "Smokin'". How appropriate.

[@davepatterson4774]

That is absolutely beautiful! The real thing and I love it. Plus, riffs from both Sabbath AND the Sword! Brilliant Trogly. Probably my favorite episode so far. Thank you!

[@Markotto09]

My favorite Les Paul thus far. Vibe is understatement.

[@ethanhitchcock5431]

It'd be cool to find an oversized ' Surgeon's General Warning' sticker for the back of that baby ! Thanks Trogness !

[@user-sd9kz6sr9l]

I’m guessing the humidity would be controlled in a cigar shop, the guitar may have never left the store. This is physically better than a well traveled gigging rig. The smelly portion more likely is the fabric of the case! Looks and sounds amazing. Hope it goes to a good home.

[@user-qo1uu2cq7o]

This is by far one of the best tone Les Paul's you've had on your show or your channel, what is everybody else think? Keep up the good work

[@thaedleinad]

I agree 100%. Very nice sounding Les Paul, just needs a new bridge and maybe new frets. It's perfect for playing 70's and 80's rock and metal stuff, and even some My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy tunes.

[@markjamesmeli2520]

For the looks of that axe, I did NOT expect it to sound so beautifully PERFECT!!

[@seekandcrush]

That belongs in a museum

[@JokersWild70]

So do you, Dr. Jones!

[@ericbitzer5247]

Nah, it belongs in the hands of a good musician.

[@badtonestudio]

Murphy lab and smoke shop coming soon! Featuring Gross burst 😎

[@aaabeverages7152]

Best sounding Classic ever. Allman Brothers sound awesome. Great Sustain!

[@ArchieOnEarth]

Guitar relic-ing could be a new line of business for cigar shops!

[@Joe___R]

A lot of guitars out of Asia get like that since they smoke so much still. That guitar is a beauty and should be kept for your museum.

[@BarbaraEllison]

I would have to call a bio-Hazzard clean up team before I played that one

[@sailinbob11]

Yeah... I dig it. Nice tone...

[@samiam5557]

Nicotine burst! It sounds great, one of the best I heard for awhile.

[@robbysguitars8223]

I heard some Boston there, Trogly. Boston songs have been my practice songs for more than 40 years.

[@bassfingers]

“Smokin’”?

[@michaelpacinus242]

One day you’ll get it down 🐉

[@robbysguitars8223]

Rock and Roll band, smoking, More than a feeling, all of the first album. I was a brand new baby guitarist when I discovered this album. This one and Rush 2112 were my two. What about you?

[@robbysguitars8223]

The other two albums that formed my outlook on music as a guitarist were Pink Floyd Dark Side and Alan Parsons I Robot. King Crimson Discipline was big as was Abbey Road. Animals and CCR. Ritchie Havens and Sly and the Family. Ten Years After and Green Day. RHCP and STP. Us old fert guitarists can claim them all as influences. EVH and Uncle Nuge. Billy Gibbons and Jimmi Hendrix. We lived it.

[@bassfingers]

@@robbysguitars8223 2112 and Rush in general got me into guitar.

[@FelipeLindstron]

I love the simple way that you show how the guitar sounds, amazing job

[@stratdude56]

by far my fav episode

[@HouseOfCouplePuffs]

My favorite LP so far. Such VIBE. TOTAL SMOKESHOW

[@TheAsain]

@Trog can you make a video or comment about aria pro, and greco 1970s lawsuit guitars please I have found a couple that I like and I want to know about them

[@lilbitofOverdrive]

Im a big fan of both have a Greco SG and a Aria pro II xr ( for shredding ) in my collection

[@AtlanteanReacts]

Greco EG 800 and above is the best bet 1978-1981 models especially, puts Gibson less Paul in that era to shame , source=im a guitar player and not a hoarder 😂

[@thomasmoore1003]

Check out flash flood of gear,they have a couple of videos when they went to Japan and bought a few of them.

[@stevemehan7276]

GREAT guitar! Absolutely love the tone & the way it looks! Awesome 😮

[@davidsamson5811]

Absolutely stunning

[@presmasterflash7555]

It’s like the nicotine acted as a plasticizer on the nitro and prevented it from checking. The missing ingredient Gibson has spent years and countless dollars trying to find…

[@rocketpigrecords3719]

My 89 RG 550 had nitro (lol, Stryper/Desert Yellow, but nitro!) and in the 10 or so years it had existed, it had already developed checking on the headstock sides. People blame Gibson for: guitars in general having built in intonation issues, for Mahogany being brittle, for nitro being nitro. It's like blaming Fender for "causing" single coil hum.

[@LP23D6]

Beautiful! Keep the patina! Sounds great.

[@Kahuna54]

Sounds great to my ear!

[@michaelpacinus242]

Has anyone ever pissed inside you ears?

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

Man, I can’t imagine how bad that thing must have smelled hanging in that shop. I live above an old lady who smokes like a chimney and life is rough 😂

[@southernpanda33]

God, I feel that. My downstairs neighbors were two old ladies that smoked like a Cadillac 😂

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

@@southernpanda33 Joke’s on this lady, she’s gotta listen to my mediocre blues playing every day.

[@spudwashington3880]

All that tar from the smoke must of protected the finish from checking, it would probably clean up better than you think with the right tools and compounds. I know you don’t want to , but cleaning it would make a awesome video

[@GeorgeZahrah]

keeping guitars in smoking rooms for years should become a real project.

[@SamuelR007]

The cleans on this guitar immediately made me think of Midnight Rider by The Allman Brothers band. Which very much fits the look of this guitar. Sadly, I looked the song up and found that the last of the artists passed away in April of this year (2024).

[@asw7696]

There's nothing clean on this guitar!

[@SamuelR007]

@@asw7696 XD That's funny. I was talking about the sound though.

[@christopherguzzi1316]

Great tone for a rock guitar!!! It has a nice clarity through the growl.

[@SplyBox]

I love guitars like this, definitely has some stories to tell

[@thaedleinad]

Sounds surprisingly good. Actually, one of the best sounding guitars I've seen you play here, despite minor intonation issues.

[@brentbeltz8968]

I know where there is a cigar shop/jam room in SC. These guys hang around smoking - watching old ROCK videos with guitars, amps and drums set up around the shop for impromptu jam sessions.

[@user-pu5sk1zc8s]

I love the look of that guitar.

[@gwvest]

you should have played Smoke on the Water too---LOL

[@jbmusicuniverse9505]

I wonder how does it smell. Such a beautiful guitar with great story to tell

[@sapelopelo]

One of my favourite reviews so far. From the looks, to the sound, amazing guitar. Cheers

[@homersreluctantodyssey2508]

alien snot knobs need to show up in the mod shop

[@Techead78]

Lovely guitar.

[@bryceblunck7658]

Smoked a stogie for this one!!

[@BCarpenter2314]

Im curious how there is a pancake layer that doesn't show on the sides?

[@Trog]

That layer is only visible on thin-binding in the cutaway guitars outside of the pickup cavities

[@cataclysmicconverter]

It's almost bone stock and there's your Tim Shaw sound flowing effortlessly. I get why it was well loved and played. No belt buckle rash, just rivet divots and worming on the back. Give it a Plek. Done.

[@scottbogfoot]

Smokeshop burst. How do the strings wear the pickup ring if they can't touch them?

[@larryburwell8550]

i have a 81 custom cherry burst, i still have all the black plastics, but i converted it to cream plastics that i bought from george gruhn, and nice 90s brown case. i still have the chain saw case though. i hate them. i put cream dimarzios on it paf neck super distortion bridge. it has a great sound

[@johnmarshall3903]

I love my 81 cherry sunburst. It even has a 2 piece top. Sounds great.

[@marrerowski]

Stage 4. Grungy still clean mostly original guitar just missing pickup covers. One of the coolest custom I have seen.

[@Fuxerz]

That beautiful guitar and sound.

[@brownsfan7753]

That guitar is a definite player!! Sounds really good!!

[@readrepairs]

A total gem. So glad you did not clean. Hope this helps turn a corner in approaches to 'dirt...'

[@PlatinumBlack90038]

Funny coincidence... In the spring of 1981 - around the 99th day of that year when this guitar received its serial number - I was going through my cigar phase at 16. I had gotten lucky when I bought a perfect batch of the Dutch Masters brand. Whilst puffing away on my front porch but not inhaling, I would read guitar catalogues, contemplating purchasing a Gibson Les Paul Custom. 🚬📖🎸

[@mjeh1]

That's definitely a keeper. Looks and sounds great!

[@dasherf17]

Gorgeous guitar...!

[@WilliamHaisch]

The pickups sound fantastic!

[@brianwall4912]

I absolutely love the look of it

[@davewestner]

Murphy watching this video thinking, "hmm...I think I'm gonna start hotboxing guitars"

[@misternobody4786]

I wouldn’t touch that, personally

[@maxhanningiv2223]

Sweet Leaf played on a heavily smoke-stained guitar, I see what you did there

[@buzzstankos8532]

SCORE! Great find… a real beauty and sounds like an awesome Les Paul should…

[@lloyddomke9563]

Someone really loved this one, I'm sure they are no longer with us or you wouldn't have it.

[@hifibrony]

Looks cool, sounds great!

[@spudwashington3880]

Has some good sound

[@musicauthority674]

Break out the black light for this one. that is an AWESOME guitar, it's actually not a relic. this guitar got it's battle scars naturally just the way it should be. it reminds a person of a really cool piece of antique furniture. I'm a huge fan of this guitar even with the brass nut. all guitars should have a brass nut on them as far as I'm concerned. even if they make the tone a little brighter. if this guitar could talk I'd sit all day listening to it's stories. I'm one of rare people that still smoke. so I would be okay with the smell. if it isn't overpowering. the fact is this can't be duplicated. there's simply no short cut to natural aging. you have to put in the time to achieve this. this isn't a relic guitar it's an actual aged guitar. and it's the reason I will never own a relic guitar. I can spot even the best relic job a mile away. that guitar needs to remain in the condition it's in. it would be a crime if someone bought that guitar, and cleaned all that natural aging off of it. and with all the morons out there I could just see that happening. that would be a shame and a crime for sure.

[@codybates9619]

Wasn't expecting to hear The Sword riffs

[@iwishiknew10]

Wow. Smokey sounds outstanding

[@christopherjohnson5923]

That thing sounds great!

[@spudwashington3880]

It’s awesome to have a nice grimey one like that though . Pretty cool

[@paternuin]

Those Norlin finishes ambered like crazy. A 50s one wouldn't have get to that point

[@troglodytez]

Good to be back buddy

[@omotoboyderibeirao]

That was just great

[@blacklion401]

Sounds killer. Love the Mastodon ❤

[@zeusapollo8688]

Cigar shop would be humid

[@swaffy101]

I really like that!

[@markboettcher9412]

I can only imagine this thing was kept in the home of a family of chain smokers.

[@kevinsimmons7182]

Great sounding guitar

[@PolishHammer]

love it neck wear is wicked close to my 80 standard sounds great too this ax has some stories to tell I would guess.

[@thaedleinad]

With that visceral tone, she still got a lot to live and tell.

[@PolishHammer]

@@thaedleinad 🤘🏻💯

[@NickGoblin]

Love the look of this thing. If only I could feel it through the video.

[@jerryhernandez2570]

That guitar is awesome! Would buy!

[@erochelle77]

Such a gorgeous guitar. I hope no one ever cleans it.