Few guitars are as closely tied to a single artist as Mick Ronson’s late‑60s Les Paul Custom. From his years alongside David Bowie in the Spiders From Mars to his later work as a producer and session guitarist, Ronson’s tone—cutting, articulate, and full of attitude—became inseparable from his well‑worn Custom. Now, Gibson Custom Shop has revisited that watershed moment in rock history with the meticulously crafted ’68 Les Paul Custom, a tribute model built to reflect the instrument as Ronson used it at its peak.
This isn’t a reimagining or a modernized signature. It is a historically grounded recreation shaped around Ronson’s guitar vocabulary: punchy midrange, expressive sustain, and the unmistakable attack that defined tracks like Moonage Daydream and Queen Bitch.
Construction With Purpose
The foundation of the guitar follows the late‑’60s Les Paul formula, with a solid mahogany body joined to a two‑piece plain maple top. This combination was key to Ronson’s unmistakable bite—maple for clarity and cut, mahogany for density and warmth. Multi‑ply binding wraps the top, back, and headstock, adding that unmistakable Custom aesthetic, while single‑ply binding outlines the ebony fretboard for an authentic vintage look.
The solid mahogany neck is carved to an Authentic ’68 Medium C‑shape, sitting comfortably between the slim early‑60s taper and the chunkier 50s profiles. Players familiar with vintage Customs will recognize the feel immediately: a bit of heft, but designed for fast phrasing and wide‑interval bends.
Topping the neck is a 24.75” ebony fretboard with 22 frets, nylon nut, and mother‑of‑pearl block inlays. Ebony, long associated with Les Paul Customs, brings the glassy top‑end response Ronson’s playing often relied on—especially during his stinging, violin‑like solo passages.
Electronics Dialled to Ronson Territory
Under the hood, the guitar uses a pair of ’68 Custom Humbuckers with Alnico 2 magnets, both un‑potted to retain the open, slightly microphonic character typical of late‑60s Gibson pickups. This detail is central to the model’s sonic authenticity—un‑potted coils can interact with the amplifier in lively, sometimes unpredictable ways, perfect for controlled feedback, harmonic bloom, and expressive vibrato.
The wiring harness stays true to vintage spec, built around 500K CTS pots, a hand‑wired layout, and Black Cat capacitors, ensuring smooth roll‑off behaviour and tone controls that feel musical across their full range.
Hardware and Finishing Touches
Hardware choices are equally era‑accurate. There’s an ABR‑1 bridge, Stop Bar tailpiece, and Grover Rotomatic tuners with Milk Bottle buttons, all finished in Aged Gold plating—a nod to how Ronson’s original guitar aged through years of heavy stage use. Control knobs follow a mixed‑era look:
- Gold Top Hat knobs with gold reflectors for the volumes
- Black Witch Hat knobs with gold reflectors for the tones
- All paired with dial pointers, completing the authentic late‑60s aesthetic.
The guitar ships in a Custom Shop hardshell case featuring a faithful Mick Ronson signature reproduction on the exterior, adding to the historical dedication of the release.
Specs at a Glance
- Body: 2‑piece plain maple top, 1‑piece mahogany back
- Neck: Solid mahogany, Authentic ’68 Medium C‑shape
- Fingerboard: Ebony, 24.75″ scale, 22 frets
- Binding: Multi‑ply body/headstock, single‑ply fretboard
- Pickups: ’68 Custom Humbuckers (Alnico 2, un‑potted)
- Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone; 500K CTS pots; Black Cat capacitors
- Hardware: ABR‑1, Stop Bar, Grover Rotomatic tuners
- Finish: Aged Gold hardware
- Case: Custom Shop hardshell with Ronson signature
With its period‑correct construction and historically voiced electronics, the Mick Ronson ’68 Les Paul Custom goes beyond tribute status and recreates the character of one of rock’s most recognisable instruments. Only 100 of these guitars exist worldwide, and Australia will receive just one—making it one of the rarest Custom Shop Artist models ever to reach the country.
That single Australian allocation will be available exclusively from Better Music. For players who appreciate Ronson’s singular tone or simply admire the craftsmanship of late‑60s Customs, this model represents a detailed and faithful recreation of a true glam‑rock workhorse.
