Guitarist Mick Ronson and his legendary 1968 Les Paul Custom are inextricably linked to the unmistakable sounds of frontmen David Bowie, Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, Morrissey and Ian Hunter. In his quest for better tone and resonance, Ronson stripped the finish off what originally left the Gibson factory as a Black Beauty to reveal the raw maple wood top beneath. In the deft hands of Ronson, this Les Paul wasn't just an instrument, it was a catalyst. His unique tone contributed to a new vocabulary for rock at a moment when glam, porto punk, and art rock were converging. 

 

Paired with his Cry Baby wah pedal, Ronson carved out a vocal-like, razor-edged expressiveness that became a hallmark of his signature sound; part snarl, part shimmer, and instantly recognizable.

 

In this composition by Babyak, the guitar seems almost to hum with the electricity of its history and musical connections. It's surrounded by imagery drawn from the songs and albums shaped by Ronson's guitar work, with titles woven together with vivid glam-era color and glitter. In this depiction, the guitar is both art and icon, a witness to the birth of a sound that would shape rock history. Ronson's Les Paul Custom stands as a symbol of a time when rock music was reinventing itself. It's the vessel of an era that reshaped popular music and continues to inspire guitarists and songwriters around the world.