The Gibson Les Paul Custom "The Rebel" is a Gibson electric guitar, currently around $8304.36. Close alternatives include the Epiphone Limited Edition Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom and the Epiphone Zakk Wylde Bullseye Les Paul Custom Plus. It pairs well with the Peavey Decade Too and the PRS HX 100 Head.
Gibson Les Paul Custom "The Rebel"
Gibson · electric guitar
Zakk Wylde's 1989 Gibson Les Paul Custom, nicknamed The Rebel, started life as a stock black Les Paul Custom during the Ozzy Osbourne No More Tears era before Wylde painted a rebel flag across it out of love for Southern rock acts like the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd, later noticing Poison guitarist Bret Michaels playing a similarly painted guitar the same year. Over time Wylde further modified it himself, sanding the back and sides, relicing the finish, reportedly setting it alight, and covering it in beer bottle caps and graffiti, turning a stock guitar into a genuinely one-of-a-kind instrument. It runs Wylde's usual EMG 81 bridge and EMG 85 neck active humbuckers with gold hardware, and while his Bullseye Les Paul remains his most recognized guitar, The Rebel has stayed a fan favorite in its own right.
- vintage
- southern rock
- warmth
- metal
- low noise
- modern
- rhythm
- consistent
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Gibson Les Paul Custom "The Rebel" is commonly used in
- Metal
- Rock
- Southern Rock
- Heavy Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Gibson Les Paul Custom "The Rebel"
Peavey Decade Too
Peavey
23% matchPeavey Decade Too leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
PRS HX 100 Head
PRS
21% matchWhere this leans warm, PRS HX 100 Head answers back bright
Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp
Vox
20% matchVox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Boss Waza-Air
Boss
tonal matchRun Boss Waza-Air after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Egnater VN-412A
Egnater
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Egnater VN-412A answers back bright
Laney Richter
Laney
tonal matchLaney Richter's bright balances out the warm tone
PRS HX 50 Head
PRS
tonal matchPRS HX 50 Head leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Soldano 4x12 Straight Classic Cabinet (Purple)
Soldano
tonal matchSoldano 4x12 Straight Classic Cabinet (Purple)'s bright balances out the warm tone
Pedals that stack with the Gibson Les Paul Custom "The Rebel"
Catalinbread Galileo
Catalinbread
19% matchWhere this leans warm, Catalinbread Galileo answers back bright
Catalinbread RAH
Catalinbread
19% matchCatalinbread RAH leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Boss EQ 200 Graphic Equalizer
Boss
tonal matchRun Boss EQ 200 Graphic Equalizer after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
CALIFORNIA WUB Continuum EQ Galaxy Man Edition
California Wub
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, CALIFORNIA WUB Continuum EQ Galaxy Man Edition answers back bright
Friedman Plexi-Drive Mini Overdrive
Friedman
tonal matchRun Friedman Plexi-Drive Mini Overdrive after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Fuzzrocious Baxtabber
Fuzzrocious
tonal matchRun Fuzzrocious Baxtabber after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Hornby Skewes Treble Booster
pedal
tonal matchHornby Skewes Treble Booster's bright balances out the warm tone
Ibanez Jemini
Ibanez
tonal matchIbanez Jemini's bright balances out the warm tone
Cheaper alternatives
Epiphone Zakk Wylde Bullseye Les Paul Custom Plus
Epiphone
70% similarity“while his Bullseye Les Paul remains his most recognized guitar, The Rebel has stayed a fan favorite in its own right”
Epiphone Riviera Electric Guitar
electric guitar
91% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson Les Paul 1958
Gibson
91% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Artist Series Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster
Fender
91% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Jimmy Page Dragon Telecaster
Fender
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
See all alternatives to the Gibson Les Paul Custom "The Rebel" (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Gibson Les Paul Custom "The Rebel"?+
The closest matches in character are the Epiphone Limited Edition Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom, the Epiphone Zakk Wylde Bullseye Les Paul Custom Plus, the Epiphone Riviera Electric Guitar. Budget picks: Epiphone Zakk Wylde Bullseye Les Paul Custom Plus, Epiphone Riviera Electric Guitar, Gibson Les Paul 1958.
What pairs well with the Gibson Les Paul Custom "The Rebel"?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Peavey Decade Too, PRS HX 100 Head, Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp — Peavey Decade Too leans bright right where the warm tone needs it.
How much does the Gibson Les Paul Custom "The Rebel" cost?+
Around $8304.36 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).
Compare
- vs Epiphone Riviera Electric Guitar
- vs Gibson Les Paul 1958
- vs Epiphone Limited Edition Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom