The iconic stripped Black Beauty that shaped the sound of Ziggy Stardust and beyond
Gibson Custom celebrates the legacy of guitar icon, songwriter, producer, and arranger Mick Ronson with the Mick Ronson 1968 Les Paul Custom Collector’s Edition, a breathtaking tribute to the instrument Ronson used on tour and in the studio with David Bowie. Produced in an extremely limited run, this model benefits from the meticulous aging artistry of the Murphy Lab, enabling a remarkably accurate recreation of the guitar’s appearance, feel, and voice as it was during the Spiders from Mars era.
The instrument is constructed with a mahogany body and plain maple cap, paired with a mahogany neck carved to an Authentic ’68 Medium C-shaped neck profile. An ebony fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and mother-of-pearl block inlays completes the neck. Throughout, aged gold hardware is employed, including Grover® tuners, an ABR-1 bridge, and a heavily worn Stop Bar tailpiece. The mismatched volume and tone knobs recreate the distinctive details of Ronson’s original guitar.
Electronics include unpotted, aged ’68 Custom humbuckers™ with Alnico 2 magnets and no covers, delivering the forceful, cutting tone that defined Ronson’s sound. CTS® 500k audio taper potentiometers, hand-wired to Black Beauty capacitors, round out the controls, while the Murphy Lab aging faithfully reflects the precise wear patterns created by years of Ronson’s playing.
Limited to just 100 instruments, each guitar is handcrafted by the skilled luthiers of the Gibson Custom Shop and Murphy Lab in Nashville, Tennessee. The Mick Ronson 1968 Les Paul Custom arrives in a Custom case featuring a Mick Ronson signature reproduction on the exterior, accompanied by a replica strap and a Certificate of Authenticity booklet bearing his reproduced signature on the cover. This release offers a rare chance to own a tangible piece of music history connected directly to one of rock’s most iconic guitarists.
Mick Ronson was an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, arranger, and producer whose ability to translate avant-garde concepts into powerful, melodic rock anthems made him a defining architect of the glam rock sound. His work as an arranger reached well beyond his most famous collaborations, spanning artists such as Pure Prairie League, Ellen Foley, and Roger McGuinn, and even extending to the arrangement of John Mellencamp’s Jack & Diane. Ronson partnered closely with Ian Hunter following Hunter’s time with Mott the Hoople, collaborating on four albums, and his versatility made him a sought-after session musician for artists including Bob Dylan, Roger Daltrey, and Van Morrison.
In the role of producer, he guided recordings for artists such as Morrissey and Roger McGuinn, alongside numerous lesser-known performers, but it is Lou Reed’s landmark album, Transformer, where Mick’s distinctive sound is on full display. He co-produced the album with David Bowie and contributed the guitar, piano, and recorder parts. He also wrote and arranged the strings, brass, and piano.
His solo output consisted of five studio albums, among them Slaughter on 10th Avenue, which reached the Top 10 on the UK charts.
Still, Ronson is best remembered for his defining work with David Bowie across multiple landmark albums, including The Man Who Sold the World, Hunky Dory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, and Aladdin Sane. His playing style—bold, melodic, aggressive, and instantly recognizable—frequently incorporated a fixed-position wah pedal, fuzz, and echo, paired with the 1968 Les Paul™ Custom whose stripped Ebony top gave it a raw, unmistakable look that became inseparable from his identity.
Highlights
- Limited edition of 100 guitars
- Mahogany body
- Plain maple cap
- Mahogany neck with an authentic '68 Medium C neck profile
- Ebony fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and mother-of-pearl block inlays
- Uncovered '68 Custom humbuckers
- Murphy Lab aged
- Gibson Custom hardshell case with Mick Ronson signature reproduction
Specifications
Body Specs
Body Specs
Back 1-Piece Mahogany
Binding Multi-ply Top, Back, and Headstock, Single-ply Fretboard
Body Finish Murphy Lab Aged Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Body Shape Les Paul
Body Styles Les Paul,Single Cut
single-cut
Top 2-Piece Plain Maple
Weight Relief None
Neck Specs
Neck Specs
End Of Board Width 56.89mm / 2.24in
Fingerboard Material Ebony
Fingerboard Radius 304.8mm / 12.0in
Fret Count 22
Frets Medium Jumbo
Inlays Mother of Pearl Block
Joint Long Tenon, Hide Glue Fit
Neck Material Solid Mahogany
Nut Material Nylon
Nut Width 42.85mm / 1.69in
Profile Authentic '68 Medium C-Shape
Scale Length 628.65mm / 24.75in
Electronics Specs
Electronics Specs
Bridge Pickup 68 Custom Humbucker with Alnico 2 Magnet
Controls Two Volume, Two Tone; 500K CTS Potentiometers, Hand-Wired Harness with Black Beauty Capacitors
Neck Pickup 68 Custom Humbucker with Alnico 2 Magnet
Output Jack 1/4" Switchcraft
Pickup Selector 3-Way Switchcraft
Hardware Specs
Hardware Specs
Bridge ABR-1
Control Covers Black
Control Knobs Volumes: Gold Top Hat with Gold Reflector Tones: Black Witch Hat with Gold Reflector; All with Dial Pointer
finish Aged Gold
Jack Plate Cover Black Multi-Ply
Mounting Rings Black M69
Pickup Covers None
Strap Buttons 2 - Brass
Switch Tip Cream
Switchwasher Black with Gold Hot Stamp
Tailpiece Stop Bar
Truss Rod 2-way Adjustable
Truss Rod Cover Authentic 2-Ply Les Paul Custom
Tuner Plating Aged Gold
Tuning Machines Grover Rotomatic with Milk Bottle Button
Misc Specs
Misc Specs
Accessories Certificate of Authenticity
Model: LPC68MRMLGH1
Case Custom Shop Hardshell
Headstock Inlay Gibson Logo and Custom Split Diamond in Mother of Pearl
Strings Gauge .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
Gibson Custom Mick Ronson 1968 Les Paul Custom Collector's Edition, Antique Natural/Ebony
Gibson Custom Mick Ronson 1968 Les Paul Custom Collector's Edition, Antique Natural/Ebony
Free & Fast Shipping
Free & Fast Shipping
Orders placed by noon CST Monday-Friday (excluding holidays) will ship the same day. Orders placed after this cutoff will ship the next business day. All orders over $100 receive free ground shipping within the United States.
Lifetime Warranty
Lifetime Warranty
Shop and play with confidence knowing that your instrument is protected by our limited lifetime warranty. Learn more about warranties and exclusions here .
Case Included
Case Included
Your instrument ships with a factory-supplied hard- or soft-shell case for safe storage and transportation. Please refer to the product specifications for details.
Setup Included
Setup Included
Our craftory-trained technicians perform a final thorough inspection and detailed setup moments before your instrument is packed and shipped to you.
Three Free Months of the Gibson App
Three Free Months of the Gibson App
For a limited time only, receive a three-month subscription to the Gibson App for free with the purchase of this product. Click here to learn more about the Gibson App.
The iconic stripped Black Beauty that shaped the sound of Ziggy Stardust and beyond
Gibson Custom celebrates the legacy of guitar icon, songwriter, producer, and arranger Mick Ronson with the Mick Ronson 1968 Les Paul Custom Collector’s Edition, a breathtaking tribute to the instrument Ronson used on tour and in the studio with David Bowie. Produced in an extremely limited run, this model benefits from the meticulous aging artistry of the Murphy Lab, enabling a remarkably accurate recreation of the guitar’s appearance, feel, and voice as it was during the Spiders from Mars era.
The instrument is constructed with a mahogany body and plain maple cap, paired with a mahogany neck carved to an Authentic ’68 Medium C-shaped neck profile. An ebony fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and mother-of-pearl block inlays completes the neck. Throughout, aged gold hardware is employed, including Grover® tuners, an ABR-1 bridge, and a heavily worn Stop Bar tailpiece. The mismatched volume and tone knobs recreate the distinctive details of Ronson’s original guitar.
Electronics include unpotted, aged ’68 Custom humbuckers™ with Alnico 2 magnets and no covers, delivering the forceful, cutting tone that defined Ronson’s sound. CTS® 500k audio taper potentiometers, hand-wired to Black Beauty capacitors, round out the controls, while the Murphy Lab aging faithfully reflects the precise wear patterns created by years of Ronson’s playing.
Limited to just 100 instruments, each guitar is handcrafted by the skilled luthiers of the Gibson Custom Shop and Murphy Lab in Nashville, Tennessee. The Mick Ronson 1968 Les Paul Custom arrives in a Custom case featuring a Mick Ronson signature reproduction on the exterior, accompanied by a replica strap and a Certificate of Authenticity booklet bearing his reproduced signature on the cover. This release offers a rare chance to own a tangible piece of music history connected directly to one of rock’s most iconic guitarists.
Mick Ronson was an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, arranger, and producer whose ability to translate avant-garde concepts into powerful, melodic rock anthems made him a defining architect of the glam rock sound. His work as an arranger reached well beyond his most famous collaborations, spanning artists such as Pure Prairie League, Ellen Foley, and Roger McGuinn, and even extending to the arrangement of John Mellencamp’s Jack & Diane. Ronson partnered closely with Ian Hunter following Hunter’s time with Mott the Hoople, collaborating on four albums, and his versatility made him a sought-after session musician for artists including Bob Dylan, Roger Daltrey, and Van Morrison.
In the role of producer, he guided recordings for artists such as Morrissey and Roger McGuinn, alongside numerous lesser-known performers, but it is Lou Reed’s landmark album, Transformer, where Mick’s distinctive sound is on full display. He co-produced the album with David Bowie and contributed the guitar, piano, and recorder parts. He also wrote and arranged the strings, brass, and piano.
His solo output consisted of five studio albums, among them Slaughter on 10th Avenue, which reached the Top 10 on the UK charts.
Still, Ronson is best remembered for his defining work with David Bowie across multiple landmark albums, including The Man Who Sold the World, Hunky Dory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, and Aladdin Sane. His playing style—bold, melodic, aggressive, and instantly recognizable—frequently incorporated a fixed-position wah pedal, fuzz, and echo, paired with the 1968 Les Paul™ Custom whose stripped Ebony top gave it a raw, unmistakable look that became inseparable from his identity.
Highlights
- Limited edition of 100 guitars
- Mahogany body
- Plain maple cap
- Mahogany neck with an authentic '68 Medium C neck profile
- Ebony fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and mother-of-pearl block inlays
- Uncovered '68 Custom humbuckers
- Murphy Lab aged
- Gibson Custom hardshell case with Mick Ronson signature reproduction
Specifications
Body Specs
Body Specs
Back 1-Piece Mahogany
Binding Multi-ply Top, Back, and Headstock, Single-ply Fretboard
Body Finish Murphy Lab Aged Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Body Shape Les Paul
Body Styles Les Paul,Single Cut
single-cut
Top 2-Piece Plain Maple
Weight Relief None
Neck Specs
Neck Specs
End Of Board Width 56.89mm / 2.24in
Fingerboard Material Ebony
Fingerboard Radius 304.8mm / 12.0in
Fret Count 22
Frets Medium Jumbo
Inlays Mother of Pearl Block
Joint Long Tenon, Hide Glue Fit
Neck Material Solid Mahogany
Nut Material Nylon
Nut Width 42.85mm / 1.69in
Profile Authentic '68 Medium C-Shape
Scale Length 628.65mm / 24.75in
Electronics Specs
Electronics Specs
Bridge Pickup 68 Custom Humbucker with Alnico 2 Magnet
Controls Two Volume, Two Tone; 500K CTS Potentiometers, Hand-Wired Harness with Black Beauty Capacitors
Neck Pickup 68 Custom Humbucker with Alnico 2 Magnet
Output Jack 1/4" Switchcraft
Pickup Selector 3-Way Switchcraft
Hardware Specs
Hardware Specs
Bridge ABR-1
Control Covers Black
Control Knobs Volumes: Gold Top Hat with Gold Reflector Tones: Black Witch Hat with Gold Reflector; All with Dial Pointer
finish Aged Gold
Jack Plate Cover Black Multi-Ply
Mounting Rings Black M69
Pickup Covers None
Strap Buttons 2 - Brass
Switch Tip Cream
Switchwasher Black with Gold Hot Stamp
Tailpiece Stop Bar
Truss Rod 2-way Adjustable
Truss Rod Cover Authentic 2-Ply Les Paul Custom
Tuner Plating Aged Gold
Tuning Machines Grover Rotomatic with Milk Bottle Button
Misc Specs
Misc Specs
Accessories Certificate of Authenticity
Model: LPC68MRMLGH1
Case Custom Shop Hardshell
Headstock Inlay Gibson Logo and Custom Split Diamond in Mother of Pearl
Strings Gauge .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
-
A breathtaking tribute to the instrument Ronson used on tour and in the studio with David Bowie -
Handcrafted by the skilled luthiers of the Gibson Custom Shop and Murphy Lab -
Murphy Lab aging reflects the precise wear patterns crafted by years of Ronson's playing -
Includes a Gibson Custom hardshell case with a reproduction Mick Ronson signature -
Limited to just 100 instruments, each guitar comes with a Certificate of Authenticity
