Name: Gibson Custom Mike Ness 1976 Les Paul Deluxe, Goldtop Murphy Lab Aged, Replica NH
SKU: 687720

The Gibson Custom Shop, a premier producer of instruments of unparalleled quality, today puts the spotlight on punk rock legend Mike Ness. With his years of work as a singer, songwriter, producer, and guitarist in the iconic punk band Social Distortion, Ness and his chops with the Gibson Les Paul have been heard on records and seen on stages across the world. This entry from the Gibson Custom Shop gives players a hands-on experience with one of punk rock’s best and most iconic instruments.

The Gibson Custom Shop Mike Ness 1976 Les Paul Deluxe is a replica of the go-to guitar Ness has endlessly played with personal touches and modifications. With the Custom Shop’s strict attention to detail and wealth of knowledge and expertise, this guitar comes as a vintage-inspired modified modern masterwork. The guitar starts with a two-piece plain maple top and a mahogany/maple/mahogany back. This body construction paired with a three-piece maple neck comes together for a punk rock feel when slung over the shoulder with a strap. The neck profile of this guitar is custom shaped to match the feel Ness has on his own model. A one-piece Indian rosewood fingerboard adorns this Custom Shop model with pearloid trapezoid rounded-corner inlays for quick punk rock playing.

A vintage replica model such as this would not be complete without an authentic finish. This customized 1976 recreation is finished with an Aged finish treatment from the Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab. With this Aged treatment, the guitar’s well-worn look is accurately retained and captured for a striking vintage visual aesthetic from first sight.

Sonically, the Mike Ness 1976 Les Paul Deluxe differs from the tones of other vintage Les Paul Deluxes. Along the way, Ness replaced the stock Les Paul Deluxe mini humbucker pickups with Soapbar P-90s out of personal preference. The tireless punk rock P-90 tones produced by the two custom Soapbar P-90s on this guitar speak for themselves on a stage or in a personal collection. In either scenario, they play with unmistakable Social Distortion grit and attitude. The playing experience of this Les Paul Deluxe is enhanced with a Tone Pros Tune-O-Matic bridge and Stop Bar tailpiece for solid intonation. Additionally, a nylon nut and Gotoh tuners keep tuning precise and stable.

This punk rock gem is brought together with absolute authenticity with stickers to replicate the Ness original down to the last detail. Orange County, Clay Smith Cams Mr. Horsepower, and I Voted stickers ready this instrument for a total aesthetic experience faithful to the Ness original. The guitar also comes with a certificate of authenticity, Dunlop Original Design Straplok buttons, and a Gibson Deluxe Protector case.

Today, fans of Ness, Social Distortion, and punk rock history are treated with a model of undeniable punk character only the experts at the Gibson Custom Shop can produce.