Gibson Custom Shop 1963 Dove Murphy Lab Light Aged Acoustic Guitar - Dark Natural with Hardshell Case

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This brand new Gibson will ship insured, fully set up, and inspected from Rapid City, SD.

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The Gibson Custom Shop 1963 Dove Murphy Lab Light Aged represents a stunning recreation of one of Gibson’s most beloved acoustic designs, blending mid-century artistry with modern craftsmanship. Originally introduced in 1962, the Dove quickly became a favorite of iconic artists such as Tom Petty, Elvis Presley, John Mellencamp, and Alex Lifeson for its bold projection, rich tone, and unmistakable aesthetic. This 1963 reissue, crafted by the Gibson Custom Shop and masterfully aged by the Murphy Lab, captures that same golden-era magic with meticulous attention to detail. From its thermally aged top to its hand-aged nitrocellulose finish, this guitar feels like a perfectly preserved vintage treasure — one that’s been played, loved, and cared for over decades.

Every element of the Dove’s design speaks to Gibson’s legacy of excellence. The body features a thermally aged Sitka spruce top paired with flamed maple back and sides, delivering a powerful yet refined voice that’s as clear and articulate as it is harmonically rich. The traditional scalloped X-bracing, assembled with hide glue, ensures vintage-style warmth and resonance, while the 25.5" scale length and mahogany neck add snap, clarity, and balance. The Dove’s famous decorative touches — the engraved pickguard adorned with vines, flowers, and a mother-of-pearl dove, as well as the rosewood bridge inlaid with twin doves — evoke the hand-crafted artistry that made this model a stage favorite for generations.

The neck profile is a comfortable round shape, tapering smoothly for modern playability while retaining the feel of an authentic ‘60s Gibson. The Indian rosewood fingerboard is accented with mother-of-pearl parallelogram inlays, and the 12-inch radius allows effortless chording and expressive bends. Subtle relic work from the Murphy Lab’s Light Aging process simulates decades of careful use — faint lacquer checking, softened edges, and a lightly oxidized patina — giving this guitar the look and feel of a true vintage piece without compromising structural integrity. Paired with nickel Kluson Waffleback tuners, multi-ply binding, and a Murphy Lab Light Aged gloss nitro finish, the result is an acoustic that feels both luxurious and alive in your hands.

Each Gibson Custom Shop Dove Murphy Lab Light Aged ships fully inspected, set up, and insured from Haggerty’s Music in Rapid City, South Dakota. It includes a Gibson hardshell case, Murphy Lab Certificate of Authenticity, and a Gibson accessory kit. Whether displayed as a collectible or played daily as a performance-grade instrument, the 1963 Dove is more than a guitar — it’s a living piece of Gibson history, reimagined for today’s discerning musician.

Features / Specs

Highlights

• Orientation: Right-Handed
• Electronics: None
• Bracing: Traditional Scalloped X-Bracing (Hide Glue Fit)
• Cutaway: None

Body

• Body Shape: Dove (Square Shoulder Dreadnought)
• Top Material: Thermally Aged Sitka Spruce
• Top Finish: Murphy Lab Light Aged Nitrocellulose Lacquer
• Top Color: Dark Natural
• Back & Sides Material: Flamed Maple
• Back Configuration: 2-Piece Flamed Maple
• Back & Sides Finish: Murphy Lab Light Aged Nitrocellulose
• Bracing: Traditional Scalloped X-Bracing (Hide Glue Fit)
• Binding Material: Multi-Ply Top, Multi-Ply Back, Single-Ply Fretboard
• Rosette: Multi-Ring (Double Black/White Inlay)

Neck

• Neck Profile: Round
• Neck Material: Mahogany
• Neck Taper: Standard Taper
• Neck Depth: 0.857" at 1st Fret, 1.023" at 10th Fret
• Scale Length: 25.5" (647.7 mm)
• Fingerboard Material: Indian Rosewood
• Fingerboard Inlay: Mother-of-Pearl Parallelograms
• Fingerboard Binding: Single-Ply White
• Fingerboard Radius: 12" (304.8 mm)
• Neck Finish: Murphy Lab Light Aged Gloss Nitrocellulose
• Neck Joint: Compound Dovetail (Hide Glue Fit)
• Headstock: Gibson Dove Style with Crown Inlay
• Headstock Binding: None
• Headplate Inlay: Gibson Logo and Crown (Mother-of-Pearl)
• Headplate Finish: Gloss Black

Hardware

• Bridge Style: Dove-Style Rosewood Bridge with Decorative Wing Design
• Bridge Material: Indian Rosewood (with Two Mother-of-Pearl Dove Inlays)
• Bridge Pins: Bone
• Saddle: Bone
• Nut Material: Bone
• Nut Width: 1.69" (42.85 mm)
• Tuners: Nickel Kluson Waffleback
• Pickguard: Dove Pickguard with Stamped Vines, Flowers, and Mother-of-Pearl Dove

Miscellaneous

• Electronics: None
• Strings: Gibson .012–.053
• Case/Gig Bag: Hardshell Case
• Accessories: Murphy Lab Certificate of Authenticity, Gibson Accessories Kit
• Serial Number: 22035008
• Manufacture Date: 2025