Gibson Mick Ronson 1968 Les Paul Custom: The ‘Spiders’ Guitar!
Only 100 Guitars Available Worldwide
5,0 / 5,0 | 
Gibson Mick Ronson 1968 Les Paul Custom: limited run officially unveiled. This meticulous recreation pays homage to the legendary “Spiders from Mars” guitarist, offering fans and collectors a chance to own a piece of the Ziggy Stardust legacy.
Mick Ronson 1968 Les Paul Custom
During the 2026 NAMM Show, the vintage guitar community was abuzz with the official announcement that Gibson is reissuing one of the most storied instruments in rock history. Today, the Mick Ronson 1968 Les Paul Custom has been officially launched, offering a Custom Shop recreation of the guitar Ronson famously wielded with the Spiders from Mars.
The new 2026 model is a “spot-on” reproduction of the original 1968 Black Beauty that Ronson famously modified to achieve his signature sound and aesthetic. There was a limited edition Custom Shop run back in 2004, so it will be interesting to see how they compare.
Sanded Top
While the original 1968 guitar began its life with an Ebony finish, Ronson famously had the top sanded down to bare wood under the belief that removing the paint allowed the maple to “breathe” and enhance the tone.
Construction-wise, this model features a standard mahogany body topped with a (sanded) plain maple top, and a mahogany Authentic ’68 Medium C-shaped profile neck. It has the typical Les Paul Custom ebony fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and mother-of-pearl block inlays.
Murphy Lab Aging
The 2026 reissue captures this iconic stripped natural finish with startling accuracy, utilising the Gibson Murphy Lab’s aging process to replicate the specific dings, scratches, and finish checking found on the original instrument.
Gibson’s attention to detail extends beyond the finish to the idiosyncratic hardware choices that defined Ronson’s rig.
To mirror the guitar heard on The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, the Custom Shop has removed the pickup covers to reveal a pair of unpotted, aged ’68 Custom humbuckers using Alnico 2 magnets. Hardware includes an ABR-1 bridge, a heavily distressed stop bar tailpiece, and aged Grover tuners.
The guitar also features the historically accurate “mismatched” control layout, with two of the original black witch-hat knobs replaced by gold reflectors.
2004 vs 2026
While the Custom Shop previously produced a limited run of Ronson tributes in 2004 featuring a silk-screened signature on the headstock, this 2026 iteration is being hailed as the most authentic version to date.
By combining modern craftsmanship with the specific “road-worn” DNA of a glam rock staple, Gibson says it has created an instrument nearly indistinguishable from the one that stood alongside David Bowie on stages across the world in the early 1970s.
Limited Edition
Each guitar ships in a Custom case, along with a Mick Ronson signature reproduction, a replica strap, and a Certificate of Authenticity booklet. They are only making 100 of these guitars, so I’m guessing collectors will buy them all pretty quickly.
Price & Availability
The Gibson Mick Ronson 1968 Les Paul Custom is available at Thomann, priced at $9899/£8799/€9999
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