A 1974 Gibson Les Paul Custom electric guitar, serial #145418 with “Made In USA” stamped below, in an aged Alpine White finish. Formerly owned and stage played by Steve Jones of the seminal English punk band The Sex Pistols, renowned for hit songs “Anarchy in the UK,” “God Save the Queen,” and “Pretty Vacant.” Originally owned by New York Dolls guitarist Syl Sylvain. Heavily worn from play, the finish has yellowed from cigarette smoke. Shows breaks, cracks, and repairs as one would expect from a Sex Pistols touring instrument. Shows “tan lines” where 1940s pinup girl decals were previously placed as well as four mounting holes for a Bigsby B5 vibrato, which Steve removed shortly after he got the guitar.

As Jones has indicated in interviews, many other white Les Paul Customs have been sold as his “original” Sex Pistols guitar, but Julien’s has been able to confirm this as the true original and iconic Steve Jones Sex Pistols guitar through extensive photo matching. Such work includes the distinctive and unique “fingerprints” of the mother-of-pearl inlays on the guitars’ ebony fretboard, the shape of the large belt buck “rash” area on the back of the body, an area of worn finish by the bridge pickup surround, the location of the Bigsby B5 mounting holes which are visible in many photos, a repaired and stable crack at the heel of the neck which Jones mentioned in a 1996 Guitar World interview with Alan Di Perna, the position of “tan lines” where two 1940s pinup decals were placed on the guitar’s top for many years, the position and discoloration from duct tape which was placed over the upper bout strap button and affixed to the top of the guitar, the re-location of that strap button, and finish damage to the treble-side tip of the Gibson “open book” headstock.

A 24.75” scale length three-piece mahogany neck, 22-fret ebony fretboard with mother of pearl block inlays, and split diamond and Gibson logo headstock inlays of mother of pearl, gold Grover tuners. Headstock and heel of neck have both been broken and the neck has been totally refinished, with the serial number partially obscured. Mahogany body with maple top, finished in white, with multi-ply binding on the front and back. Two Patent sticker T-Top Gibson pickups (covers removed), bridge unit is in need of repair. Four holes in the top where a Bigsby B5 was mounted, as played by Syl Sylvain. Three-way pickup selector switch, volume and tone controls for each pickup; neck volume and bridge tone controls are frozen. Black speed knobs are older replacements; guitar previously had Gibson ‘witch hat’ knobs. Potentiometers date to very late 1973. Bridge is a late ‘70s or early ‘80s chrome Japanese-made ABR-1. Tailpiece is heavily-worn.

Includes Gen 2 Gibson Protector “Chainsaw” case with red interior, two photos of Steve Jones playing the guitar, a copy of the book Punk: The Whole Story by Dorling Kindersly, a DVD copy of The Filth and the Fury: A Sex Pistols Film, and a Sex Pistols Lunch Box.

Guitars & Instruments