I have to admit, I never could have conceived of Gibson crafting a signature Inspired By instrument for Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, but it still makes me smile… the man is a true guitar anti-hero.
Still, there’s something strangely, sadly ironic about producing a frighteningly expensive guitar replica for a guy whose musical persona* eschewed all things commercial, and I have to wonder who exactly the Steve Jones Les Paul Custom is going to be marketed towards––aging punks? Seems like an unlikely match.
Anyway, enough gawking––built as a painstaking re-creation of Jones’ white mid-’70s LP Custom, the guitar features a carved maple top decked out in appropriately aged yellow finish, aged gold hardware, and a pair of pin-up girl decals to boot.
Specs include a single-piece mahogany back, single-piece mahogany neck (24 3?4“ scale length,) ebony fretboard with 22 frets, pearl block inlays, Shaller M-6 tuning machines, and a set of Gibson’s 496R & 498T humbuckers.
Oh yeah, and the pickguard has been removed to match the original… comes with a certificate of authenticity, and of course a hardshell Custom Shop case. No official word yet on pricing.
*See Sex Pistol Confesses: ”I’ve Always Hated Punk!“ ;)
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March 25th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
I’ve read that Steve himself has no idea where that original one actually is.
Last photo of him I saw playing a “Custom” was a Burny.
In 2002 he said:
http://www.thefilthandthefury.co.uk/pistols/interviews/sp_steve.html
“Well, it pretty much looks like a white Les Paul, it looks exactly the same. It’s made by this company called Burny, they’re a subsidiary of Fernandez. It sounds fucking great. They‘re made so much better than Gibson’s. Gibson are fucking wankers, they’ve never done anything for me. Everyone knows I play a white Les Paul. Not that I think I’m self important, but I’m sure they’ve sold a lot of white Les Paul’s over the years…”
:)
March 25th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Hehehe… ROTFL.
I literally had to pick myself up off the floor after reading that quote!
Too freakin’ funny :)
March 25th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I clicked submit too quick, meant to include this from 2007.
Guess he changed his mind.. ;)
http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/The%20Sex%20Pistols_%20Steve%20Jones_/
Peace, you’re doing a great job with the blog, man.
Mike V.
San Diego, CA
March 25th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Yep, aging hipsters will fall all over themselves to buy this. What’s next? An East Bay Ray from the Dead Kennedys signature guitar?
It just doesn’t sit well with me that Gibson makes these ‘museum pieces’ that really only have some aging applied and an “insert famous name” neck profile to separate them.
I want to see signature guitars that offer me more than just the same old instrument and a signature of someone on the headstock. Can’t these companies at least pick guitars that have something truly special or innovative about them that the famous players requested or modified him or herself?
While I’m not a huge Fender fan at least some of their signature guitars really showcase the style and personality of the players and their approach to their instruments and equipment.
Ok sorry to rant on so long…
March 26th, 2008 at 5:01 am
Is this a copy of the guitar he allegedly stole from Mick Ronson from Bowie’s band?
I’m not sure who Gibson are marketing this to either. At least Fender’s Joe Strummer tribute Tele was affordable.
March 26th, 2008 at 5:29 am
Aww, G L, you stole my thunder. I came here to make the crack “In honour of Steve Jones, I’ll steal one of these guitars just as soon as the opportunity arises. Maybe from backstage at the Camden Roundhouse”, something like that. Damn!
March 26th, 2008 at 9:36 am
I just recently watched the Classic Albums DVD on Never Mind The Bollocks and interviews with him were very interesting and totally made me not surprised that he would be willing to make some money by putting his name on this guitar.
http://www.amazon.com/Sex-Pistols-Never-Mind-Bollocks/dp/B000077VQC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1206549143&sr=1-1
The Classic Albums DVD series is really good by the way.
April 12th, 2008 at 5:03 am
I could think of ten people I’d rather see get a signature guitar but I could probably think of ten people who already had a signature that was less deserving. No matter age, race, religion, just keep practicing and one day your own name might be on a Gibson.
Casey C.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Just wanted to say I just bought a Steve Jones Les Paul and to be honest the first time I saw this guitar I didnt no who the hell Steve Jones is, I just thought it was the hottest guitar ive ever seen. Its got all the custom bells and whistles but what really sold me on it was the 70s neck a happy medium between the fat 50s and thin 60s necks I think this guitar will really appeal to not only the nostalgic but to people like me who dont want a black Les Paul the cliche white or something decked out in gaudy gold hardware which by the way Gibson wont switch out anymore. correct me if Im wrong on that but thats what a Gibson rep told me. Im already in love with it Peace all. Rick