Description
Lovies Guitars is excited to present this 2021 Gibson Custom 1976 Mike Ness Les Paul Deluxe with an Aged Goldtop Finish! Since 1978, Social Distortion and frontman Mike Ness have churned out their distinctive brand of aggressive SoCal-style punk. Even though Mike hails from Fullerton, Calif., his taste in guitars is pure Michigan. A self-proclaimed “Gibson guy,” Mike brandishes Les Pauls for his white-hot tone. The Gibson Custom Mike Ness 1976 Les Paul Deluxe is a stunning re-creation of Mike’s no. 1 LP, a Norlin-era Goldtop with a 3-piece maple neck and custom-wound P-90s subbing in for the stock mini humbuckers. Artfully aged by the Murphy Lab and adorned with Mike’s iconic Orange County and Mr. Horsepower decals, the Mike Ness 1976 Les Paul Deluxe has mojo for miles. Every detail is accurate according to Mike’s bespoke demands, including a custom neck profile, a 1-piece Indian rosewood fingerboard, and Gotoh machine heads.
The Mike Ness 1976 Les Paul Deluxe is anything but your standard LP. Manufactured during the Norlin era, Mike’s Les Paul Deluxe has two standout features that distinguish it from LPs made during any other period, and they’re included in this faithful re-creation. Instead of the familiar all-mahogany LP body, the Mike Ness 1976 Les Paul Deluxe is constructed from two pieces of mahogany sandwiching a thin slice of maple with a cross-grain orientation, which is referred to as a “pancake body” style. Maple plays another important role as the star of the guitar’s 3-piece maple neck. Both modifications to the classic Les Paul design were introduced to make the guitar more durable — 1950s and 1960s Gibsons had a reputation for fragility. But Mike gravitates to the Norlin-era LPs for their increased brightness and attack, which perfectly complement his aggressive SoCal punk sound.
Another key element of Mike’s sound, both onstage and in the studio, is his choice of pickups. Mike tells a story of witnessing Neil Young’s guitar tech yank a pair of stock mini humbuckers from one of Neil’s Les Pauls and replace them with soapbar P-90s. As a big fan of Young’s tone, Mike made the switch himself, and it was a decision that stuck. The Mike Ness 1976 Les Paul Deluxe follows suit, boasting a pair of soapbar P-90s custom wound to Mike’s demanding specifications. This set of screaming single-coils has a rip-roaring rock ’n’ roll attitude, full of grit and growl with a chiming top end that makes open chords shimmer and shine — especially when you capo the guitar at the second fret.
Mike’s ’76 Les Paul Deluxe has a signature look to match its signature tone. What started as a stock Goldtop has been transformed over time by honest wear and a smattering of decals and stickers that have a personal connection to Mike, including an Orange County decal, rendered in a West Coast ink font, and a Mr. Horsepower decal from the legendary Long Beach auto shop Clay Smith Cams. The Mike Ness 1976 Les Paul Deluxe’s aged nitrocellulose finish is courtesy of the master artisans at the Murphy Lab, featuring gorgeous lacquer checking, various scratches and dings, and exposed wood on the lower bout to mimic the rub away from Mike’s furious rhythm playing. This guitar Unplayed, rated at 10/10. It is entirely original and free from any breaks, cracks, or repairs. Included with this guitar is an Original Hard-Shell Case and a complimentary sample of Fret-Not, our preferred fretboard cleaner, check it out at fretnot.net! Thank you for considering this exceptional instrument from Lovies Guitars!
Features:
Stunning re-creation of Social Distortion frontman Mike Ness’s no. 1 LP
Norlin-era mahogany/maple/mahogany “pancake body” and 3-piece maple neck add extra attack and brightness
2 custom-wound soapbar P-90s are packed with growling punk-rock attitude
Standard LP deluxe 2-volume/2-tone configuration puts a wealth of sounds at your fingertips
Eye-catching Goldtop nitrocellulose finish artfully aged by the Murphy Lab
Adorned with Mike’s collection of decals and stickers for spot-on authenticity
High-performance hardware includes a Tone Pros Tune-o-matic bridge, stopbar tailpiece, and Gotoh machine heads
Comes with a Gibson Deluxe Protector case, inspired by the 1970s “chainsaw” case design
WEIGHS in at: 8.70 lbs
1st Fret: .835”
12th Fret: 1.020”
Nut Width: 1 11/16”
Serial: MN010
SKU: 6448
We offer a 14-day money-back return policy. Buy with confidence.
All guitars are guaranteed to arrive in the condition as described, and a full refund will be issued if not. Additionally, all our guitars are fully insured, and we will assist with any claims that may arise.
Lovies Guitars holds a CITES Master File, and we can provide certificates when and where they are required. We are also declaration-friendly, ensuring a smooth experience for international shipments.
