Gibson's Sonex‑180 Deluxe was introduced as a budget‑friendly Les Paul alternative, but it ended up with a character all its own. The Resonwood construction gives the pickups a clearer, more direct voice than a traditional mahogany Gibson, making it a raw, punchy, versatile rock machine that handles everything from garage punk to Zeppelin to Metallica. This is the Gibson you grab when you want attitude without the weight or warmth of traditional tonewoods.

Features / Highlights

• Early‑'80s Resonwood body over a wood core
• Bolt‑on neck for a snappy, immediate feel
• Zebra humbuckers with strong mids and aggressive punch
• Feels a bit like a Les Paul Studio, but without the low‑end thud of mahogany — you get a more direct, punchy response from the zebra humbuckers straight to the amp
• Professionally repaired neck crack — solid, smooth, and stable under the fretting hand; the repair is clean enough that I didn't notice it when I bought it
• Recently had the neck shimmed, realigned, and fully setup at the Keith Holland Guitar Hospital

This Sonex‑180 Deluxe is the definition of a working‑class Gibson: tough, loud, and unapologetically itself. The Resonwood body keeps the pickups' voice honest and direct, making this one of the few vintage Gibsons where the tone is almost entirely in the electronics and your hands. With a pro setup and a flawless, stable repair, it plays exactly as it should. If you want a guitar with personality and punch that can handle any genre — the Sonex delivers exactly what it was built for and comes with the original Gibson Hardshell case.