ACE'S ROCK SOLDIERS

The late Ace Frehley's five most iconic Kiss-era guitars

- ANDREW DALY

1973 Tobacco Sunburst Gibson Les Paul Deluxe

It's long been rumored that Frehley auditioned for Kiss with a late-Sixties Gibson Firebird in nasty condition. And once he'd entered the fold, he reportedly recorded the band's debut record with an Ovation Breadwinner. Whatever. By February 1974, the Spaceman had found a gorgeous Tobacco Sunburst '73 Les Paul Deluxe (pictured on page 18) at Manny's Music in NYC. Frehley's first single-cut had mini humbuckers when he bought it, but Frehley quickly swapped them for a combination of full-sized DiMarzio Super Distortion/Dual Sound pickups. The '73 LP had Kluson double-bar tuners, a pancake body composed of four-ply maple and mahogany and a three-piece maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard. At some point, Frehley contoured the heel with a screwdriver, making it extra comfy until he all but retired the guitar in 1976.

1976 Cherry Sunburst Gibson Les Paul Custom, AKA "The Budokan Guitar"