ACE FREHLEY'S ORIGINAL 1973 GIBSON LES PAUL X WALT GRACE VINTAGE

[@RiffsAndBeards]

That amp sounds INCREDIBLE

[@vladimirerfan7721]

5/5 beards.

[@allendean9807]

Most likely a Marshall with a MXR distortion plus

[@christian_silo]

Direct in baby!! Marshall reigns supreme

[@allendean9807]

Lil' Wayne's guitar teacher I’m surprised. Those amps aren’t usually that fizzy unless you’re pushing a distortion pedal

[@GearGasms]

It’s the early DiMarzios Super Distortions. They were super hot back then.

[@kirkprell4493]

The tone of that guitar is absolutely unmistakeable.

[@Partsunknown426]

It's the sound of the mic you hear.

[@j_freed]

You wonder why Ace gave it up if the single to double cut conversion did not make the guitar sound thinner.

[@imandan1966]

It's the amp

[@jholdener44624911]

Sad But none of the Records could get this Concert Sound, I always thought they never could capture a Marshall Sound of Ace on the Records, So the Famous all knobs on 5 did not translate very well on the Records

[@calebproductions5970]

All you heard is what an engineer played through the board

[@rockhard2654]

i think it was obvious that from the moment he played the first note on this vid everyone of a certain age knew instantly that this is THE guitar that sound is burnt into our minds forever

[@Mark-um5hc]

Ace has always been my favorite lead guitarist, ever. Hís choice of guitars is incredible. This guitar is bad ass. I bet it plays as good as it looks. Especially if played through a Marshall. The great guitar players always did something to their guitars. Thanks Ace !

[@lastofthe4horsemen279]

Ace was such a riff master.Doesnt get enough credit .Also your playing here is alot of fun.Your enthusiasm is contagious. Ace is the best part of kiss

[@kirkhepburnmiddleagedwhiteguy]

Haha. Ace is no riff master. Think Bonamassa, Page, Beck, Clapton, Hendrix to name a few.

[@westpoint64]

@@kirkhepburnmiddleagedwhiteguy With all due respect to your opinion and preferences, I have to disagree. Ace was exceptional at creating simple, tough, powerful, muscular riffs that just matched perfectly the attitude that Kiss was all about. Examples: Parasite....Firehouse.....She....just to name a few.

[@pauljams6565]

Ace is one of the tastiest players ever!✨🎸💥. . .

[@HoosierCarnivore]

it blows my mind that he would let a guy make his first LP into a double cut and re-paint it... Still sounds fantastic!

[@rawint]

We’re with you!

[@RikJSmith]

Wth ?! I've never heard about that. Definitely sounded great. But changing it like that ? Nah. I couldn't do that to any of my Les Pauls.

[@historiclp4577]

Also , why didnt the luthier,fill in and make dissapear the evidence of the 3 way control cavity....of course i agree ...the guitar should have been left alone stock

[@rawint]

@@historiclp4577 Not sure why, but it's possible-depending on the material he used to fill it-that it shrunk over the years, exposing the "repair". We highly doubt, given the quality of the conversion, that he handed it back to Ace with that kind of primitive filler job. More likely than not, the repair revealed itself with age...

[@j_freed]

It blows our mind that 70s Les Pauls and even 50s bursts were just treated like working tools and 'used guitars'. Page reshaped the necks on his Bursts and routed under the pickguard for additional controls. Countless early Strats were also modified before you could just buy a superstrat. But these were also innovations that pushed forward guitar design and broke the old designs out of their functional and sonic limitations. Or certainly tried to.

[@petera.michaelsen4657]

That's one of the most iconic guitars of rock history, Ace definitely used it to record Alive and many other classic Kiss records. What an awesome piece of Kisstory!

[@ajjy1110]

It was his backup guitar by alive

[@squidwardshouse5431]

This is why this channel is better than the Hard Rock's collection of signature guitar videos, he actually plugs it in and plays it how it should be played.

[@AmIonArock]

Thank you for giving Ace respect,

[@kingofallwhites]

He’s a trump supporter now. :(

[@n6a6me6jebus]

Yeah f ace now​@@kingofallwhites

[@seandowning5918]

He's back on the sauce

[@adamwatson6916]

Les pauls from the first half of the 70s are highly underrated guitars . Page has a 1970 gold top deluxe that was routed for humbuckers and painted red and it became one of his most used guitars. It was his backup guitar from 1970 to 1973 until he got his second 59 les paul after the 73 tour . The guitar was used again as a backup on the 77 tour .. on the outrider tour of 1988 the red les Paul deluxe was pages number 1 and he used it on almost every song it also saw serious stage time on the the page and plant tours and in the tour he did with the black crowes. It has actually seen far more stage time than the 59 les Paul he bought in 1973 . Alex lifeson also had a couple of 1974 les Paul's that he used extensively in the 70s . One was a 74 deluxe routed for humbuckers and the other was a 74 tobacco sunburst standard which seen more use than the deluxe. It's the les paul he is playing on the all the worlds a stage live album and his guitar tone on that album is absolutely ferocious. Vintage snobs will say the early 70s les Paul deluxe and mid 70s standards are all garbage but I have heard many that blow modern gibson custom shop les pauls out of the water. The early the 1968 to 1974 les paul customs are fantastic guitars too . Many players have used 74 les customs and made them sound killer . Early 70s customs were a common choice for hard rock and metal players in the 1970s Randy Roads Mick Mars and steve jones all rocked the early to mid 70s les Paul customs. Pre 1975 Gibson t top humbuckers are incredible pickups and many famous and sought after guitar tones that get credited to paf pickups were actually recorded with t top and earlier Gibson patent sticker pickups

[@captainsouth4460]

Agreed, My 1980 LP Cherry Standard is built plays way better than the 2014 Custom shop R8 I purchased. The difference is the R8's pick ups are a bit darker and richer. The bridge saddles on the R8 are junk and all the speed knobs now have cracks in them. Most rock albums in the 70's that used LP's were brand new Norlin Era guitars, don't let the guitar snob cork sniffers fool ya. Same with tube amps, love them but you better replace tubes often!

[@speedfreakjive8843]

T-Tops are criminally underrated pickups. I have two in my 2017 Les Paul Traditional made by Manlius pickups out of New York.

[@flashy5150]

I’m so glad that you played my favorite song “Mr. Speed”.

[@axempizza]

Sweet baby Jesus! Hearing and seeing that instrument played is just amazing. It sounds unmistakably like those early kiss records. I’m glad to see it still being rocked than rusting away

[@paso193]

Walt Grace Vintage should find some way to get this iconic guitar into Jeff’s hands - permanently! The man is obviously devoted to playing/protecting and lovingly maintaining it to the end of his days. U got my vote, W.G.V.!

[@plonky17]

Great tone. It sounds so uniquely Ace.

[@mathewfoley1531]

Love to see and hear aces story about this guitar

[@billb89]

I’m thinking this is my top 5 KZbin video I’ve ever watched. As a Kiss fan and specifically an Ace Frehley fan, this is absolutely incredible.

[@billgoldstein5152]

🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@matiasmendiara6273]

Love that he plays as much as he talks. Hate videos when they show the instrument and don't play it.

[@zippy61]

It makes me feel good to know such a true fan was able to have time with a iconic instrument. I can feel your excitement on this video. Congratulations man!!

[@studio-flash]

Great..and he can play just like Ace..wow!!!!!! What a sound...rock n roll...history.

[@SteveOuimette]

YES YES YES!!! I've heard the stories but never have seen it in action. How amazing!

[@MichaelDouglasSkewes]

Ace needs that guitar back! Even though he never played it after it was chopped up and got the double cut out!

[@rawint]

He's happy to have it go to a good home-it will definitely mean more to a fan!

[@MichaelDouglasSkewes]

@@rawint probably right ,Ace goes through guitars like ..........water.

[@petera.michaelsen4657]

he played it a couple of years ago.

[@wreckgarr50]

He played it after it was cut. I believe the guitar was eventually stolen and went underground for a number of years. I think he’s just happy to know where it is now. Something about a neck marking in the wood that ID’s the guitar.

[@detroitrockcity3389]

He doesnt want it... or hed own it still

[@ronnieparker4311]

This was really awesome to see! Ace is my guitar god!!!!! I love looking at pictures of all the guitars he used back in the early days before kiss and kiss club days! Very fascinating guitars!!!!

[@kirkhepburnmiddleagedwhiteguy]

As a lead guitarist, Ace sucks.

[@ronnieparker4311]

@@kirkhepburnmiddleagedwhiteguy you know a lot about suck n !

[@1allspub]

Ace’s tone is literally embedded into that guitar. :)

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

Amazing! That guitar still has that ALIVE! sound! Fantastic! When is the last time Ace played it live?

[@willchew4040]

ACE FOREVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@rawint]

🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@MrAcEsNeIgHtS1188]

From 1974-1977 there were a total of 503 shows played. Far short of the "thousands" or "thousands and thousands". ;) An iconic guitar!!

[@SonicVR12]

Such great KISStory and what a great story! Thank you!

[@darthpishflaps9654]

I would never have credited Ace Frehley with such taste or guitar building ability! Awesome video....!

[@roxammon5858]

That amp plays a big role in his sound as well

[@mrs.googlay5898]

Thank you such much. I love KIZZ and I was fortunate enough to catch them here in San Diego on 9/25/2021. Unfortunately Ace wasn't playing but it still was a fantastic show. Kepp up the good work.

[@dyrhee1]

wow! amazing piece of history!

[@Hitemwhereithurtss]

Great guitar and playing

[@picax8398]

2:34 actually, he was a plumber

[@Hitemwhereithurtss]

😂

[@samright4661]

That Guitar belongs in the Rock N Roll HOF

[@wiiliewicking7606]

Brought my First ever guitar today a Gibson les Paul standard I’m 60 but love Kiss just want to learn all those songs the journey starts here Ace is one of my hero’s 😎🎼👌👍

[@Rosko3333]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!Get a looper pedal.

[@thunderclad]

Good god. Ace is the reason I picked up a guitar. Envious you got to play that legendary instrument 🤘😁🎸

[@althewhite9756]

I had the same T-shirt you are wearing, ,got it on my 10 the birthday, in 1977!

[@JaneBarnes-rq3lv]

Saw Kiss in Sudbury Ontario in 1977. I was 16 they blew my mind. Loudest concert I’ve ever seen.

[@davidbrucemusicvideo]

I grew up in love with this band, became a professional guitar player because of Ace, bought a 1978 Cherry burst Les Paul custom for $600 cash when I was 16 years old in 1981 because I wanted a guitar like Ace, (couldn’t find an actual sun burst) so why haven’t I ever heard of this guitar or seen Ace play it?

[@andyhayes7828]

This iconic guitar that Ace recorded all of the classic Kiss records with ( 1st album up to Rock and Roll Over) needs to be brought back to it's former look and glory. It needs to be carefully stripped of the black paint and have the upper cut away replaced with proper dimensions, fix the face of the headstock, take the binding off of the headstock, carefully refinished to that '70's era tobbaco sunburst finish. This could be done and SHOULD be done.

[@billgoldstein5152]

Agree, 100%, but we no longer have the guitar.

[@brianball5101]

Sweet Moses! They say tone is in the hands and he’s definitely one hell of a guitar player but my gosh does that guitar sound like a towering inferno of tone. The historical features of this are so great, I only wish it was another 30 minutes longer.

[@billgoldstein5152]

Yes, Jeff is the man and the combination of him with this guitar was MAGICAL. We have TONS more footage that we’ll it post soon.

[@tshouse2782]

Sounds so smooth

[@mikerobson5580]

Super cool Jeff! R&R KISStory!!! Absolutely amazing!!!

[@MJSalls]

Holy fudge that rig sounds incredible.

[@glengamble526]

Gene was friends with, and went to school, with Larry DiMarzio, hence the Kiss connection. Also, the ‘smoke bomb’ residue on this guitar is from the joke shop smoke bombs Ace would insert into the cavity of the guitar-and light them. In the early days, that’s how he did it. He didn’t have this one modified and routed out for smoking-that came later. But it’s not this guitar that was a ‘push button’ modified smoker-it’s another Les Paul entirely. That’ said, great playing, man! I’m glad a true Kiss fan got to show this to us.

[@markburns4636]

Ace is god, Jeff is a star, I have been a kiss fan since 74. Bring on more of these videos. MB

[@rawint]

Agree on both accounts and there will definitely be many more videos coming your way soon. Subscribe to be notified when we post more! 🤘🏼🎸🤘🏼

[@joeshlong9614]

Jeffery Star 😳

[@everythingbobbywolfe]

That sound is mind blowing!!!!

[@CrazedFandango]

Great video, I really enjoyed it. The tone is very Ace.

[@rawint]

Thank you!!!

[@lroscinski5046]

i love how you show admiration for Ace, he is my fav guitarist, def doesnt get enough credit, im doing an ace-slash combo les paul right now from a well known kit... great video, thanks !!!

[@billgoldstein5152]

Ace is the man, and we agree- he definitely doesn’t get his fair share of credit!! Glad you enjoyed the video. 🤘🏼

[@roncarter2188]

My sister-in-law bought me my first electric guitar at Strings& Things in Memphis in the early 1980s. I loved gong to that store and lust over all the cool guitars there. Great video seeing Ace's guitar and the story.

[@thrillionaire6567]

Sounds incredible, Man! Thank you for sharing this...I can tell you are so truly happy and excited to play that! Awesome

[@rawint]

Thanks for the kind words!! Definitely an absolute THRILL to play!! 🤘🏼🚀🪐⚡️🤘🏼

[@petergiles5224]

Thanks dude! Really enjoyed and a fantastic classic sound from yourself.

[@mookytc]

Nice! Great riffing as well!

[@MegaDubTV844]

No true fan would give this video thumbs down ever! Thanks for sharing! That rig, guitar and tone are absolutely droolworthy!

[@rawint]

Thanks, Larry!

[@jamesbutterson5218]

Funny how everything has been changed and it still has that original KISS sound! 💚🎸👌💨🤘

[@storms5150]

Tone for days!! 🎸 killer video, that guitar is badass & sounds 👌🏼🤘now I want one! 😁

[@ZzenNomad]

This was fantastic, the info, and the sound! The sound is quintessential Ace so why have Gibson not recreated it? Fantastic demo of the guitar and priceless history and information. My only question is, where can I buy one! Come on Gibson!

[@RastaSaiyaman]

The closest you'll get is if you go for an Ibanez Artist in Black because they have that same look. images.richtonemusic.co.uk/product/YIBANEZ69454.jpg

[@rawint]

Has been discussed, and not been ruled out yet...

[@jbacarel]

Hey bro. I heard a recent interview with ace on Eddie trunk, and he confirmed that he is working with Gibson on a new signature model, which will be based on the Black Beauty LP. So hopefully soon 😊😊

[@RastaSaiyaman]

@@jbacarel Err so you know a "Black beauty" is a three pickup Les Paul Custom. Which means it'll be based on THIS Ace Les Paul. acelp.homestead.com/files/1980/ace_black_custom_3_80.jpg

[@jbacarel]

RastaSaiyaman Who knows ? Just saying that Ace himself confirmed there is a 3rd (black) signature LP on its way ... whether it’s with 3 pickups or double cut, he didn’t say. Just sharing. You’re welcome lol 😂

[@rickfriel6093]

Thank you so much for doing this! Well done.

[@andrewfleming5170]

Probably the coolest story I have heard all year! well done and thank you!!

[@billgoldstein5152]

Thank you!!! Rock on!

[@jeffpolk4800]

Wow that’s amazing!

[@jaysunten]

Great video! I love your excitement and passion. Thank you! 🤘😀🤘

[@billgoldstein5152]

Thank YOU!!!

[@NitroModelsAndComics]

Nothing like a 50 watt Marshall. My 50 watt JCM 800 is the only amp I've kept for over 30 years.

[@ollid.5590]

Love this feature of Ace‘s famous guitar. It sounds amazing especially when played through this Marshall amp.

[@jeffhodge7272]

Bass all the way down. Treble all the way up. Mid on 2. THE classic ACE sound. Try it.🤟

[@ivanc9231]

The sound is tremendous

[@rawint]

Jeff makes everything sound tremendous, so just imagine the magic when he got in the room with this baby!

[@peterm.fitzpatrick7735]

Thanks for sharing. One cool guitar right there!

[@brianmckenzie1318]

Tone is thick and awesome! Never knew Ace contoured the heel! In this day, not sure why all guitars aren't modified for better access, but of course I'm not really a traditionalist. Also digging the double cutaway, looks unique and stands out.

[@rawint]

Yeah, the contoured heel is perfection! Ace did an amazing job, especially since (as legend has it) he did most of the work with a screwdriver used as a chisel! Gibson does make a version of the Les Paul with the contoured heel, called the Axcess,... not quite as comfortable (or as cool as Ace’s), but fantastic just the same! We’re with most of the other commentators here in wishing that he would have kept the guitar intact, but glad you like it!! 🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@reno145]

Fender had a series of guitars called the Flame. Double cutaway, LP size. My black Flame standard looked very much like this. Robben Ford used the Esprit, which was an ES-335 size. Awesome guitars. Too bad youthful over-exuberance got the better of me and I sold it.

[@JENDALL714]

​@@rawint Ace must of had balls to chisel out a brand new Gibson guitar, when he wasn't making much money in '73 and '74 than again Ace was living at home and had a charmed home life, despite the hard luck poor boy stories he likes to tell. Ace's father was an Electrical Engineer and worked for NASA. Ace's mother drove him to his audition with KISS in her Cadillac, but I like to listen to Ace's stories about his "rough" life in the Bronx anyway, they are amusing, he's a character to say the least.

[@williambroadstreet3353]

I cannot thank you enough for posting this.

[@darthpishflaps9654]

Looooove double cuts......awesome!

[@adriangc8677]

The guitar of my dreams was always a Les Paul Sunburst like Ace Frehley's from the first time I saw him playing and in photos, over time I have become a fan of other guitars and brands, but I remember that I always wanted this guitar, and I wondered for a long time who would have it now or where that guitar would end up, I like double cut style but I would have left it original good video

[@Michlandir]

Always wondered why that classic guitar(my fav by far) seemed to just disappear! Great post. 😎🤟🏽

[@robertdamron898]

WOW !!! SO freaking ..... GREAT . COOL AS COOL CAN BE !!!

[@rawint]

🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@robertdamron898]

and what is the price of that baby ?

[@Cruiseangel72]

I've been a kiss fan since I was 14 years old. I have thousands of magazine photos.and I must say I never seen this axe played by Ace.

[@Cruiseangel72]

Yes I totally agree.. I have never seen ace play this guitar. Been a fan since hotter than hell. Seen kiss in Concert 83 times. Can you show any pictures of him playing this guitar?

[@pauli.vanili]

For the whole video I was scratching my head looking at that double cutout and thinking ‘that’s not Aces guitar’, but you explained it in the end, haha, great video!

[@robertschaffer1598]

I was thinking the same thing👍👍

[@chrisretro81]

Yep I was confused as fuck lol

[@toddrobins3165]

Yeah when he plays that solo from alive that was fucking awesome

[@PoorTom]

That was my absolute favorite guitar, it still feels a bit personal when I look at it with the old look. I cannot believe somebody turned it into this, what a shame.

[@xlwirexlwire1986]

SUPERB!!!! 🙌

[@tomzipser6687]

Wow that is so amazing. It sounds incredible. I to wish he would've kept it original, but whatever w that. It's an incredible guitar, and it's ingrained in rock history.

[@rawint]

We hear ya! Us too, but no matter what it looks like, it still has that undeniable early Ace sound and is the guitar that inspired millions of players to pick up Les Pauls in the 70s!

[@dominikpohli2381]

is their a celestion g12m greenback speaker in this cabinet

[@dmatt1116]

Great video! Thanks!

[@kevinstrong8265]

Bought my first studded leather strap at Strings n Things. Killer store, they had a room for every instrument. They had a Marshall stack room.

[@drdolittle65]

Wow! This is the original KISS-Sound! Great!

[@dkbarnwell]

It would have been nice to hear how Walk got his hands in it.

[@GraemeSpringer-xe1zh]

This is a very good video mate, ty for sharing the experience. ❤

[@supernoah71]

This is very interesting and speaks to the importance of having a unique sound.

[@darthpishflaps9654]

Wow! What a cool and interesting video.....I'm a huge KISS fan science the 80s ( my youth!), I never fail to be surprised at how much cool and fun information,that you didn't know, is out there.....awesome vid! 6:49

[@darlenekeramidas6131]

You rock Jeff!

[@t-bone3657]

Saw this guitar twice in concert in the mid 70’s in Detroit. General admission tickets back then were $4.50 to stand before the stage and induce hearing loss 😮 lol - our heads would ring for a couple of days it was so loud. Then we’d pop in the 8-track on the way home and blast some more outta the 6x9 Jensen coaxial speakers. Life was awesome and affordable back then.

[@larsarnelana]

I always wondered what happened to that guitar and now I know. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@big106razor]

Very cool! I know the feeling. I got to play his original smoker from the '77 poster. Got pics with it and the the whole deal.

[@leftchicago]

Strings n' Things in Memphis was notorious for screwing up guitars. They screwed up Jeff Beck's Les Paul too.

[@philhudson...5017]

Muppets....

[@adkinneyam]

Easily the best person to ever demo this guitar. Those KISS riffs were perfection.

[@johnkelley7543]

Rad. I have a 1955 Strings & Things Les Paul Jr. that was routed to double humbuckers in '79. Chris Lovell of S&T confirmed that this came through their shop. I have since put real 1960 PAFs in it and it's amazing.

[@rawint]

Now THAT sounds rad... where's that P90 at?!! :-)

[@graemespringer4643]

Wow! Nice licks and that thing just reaks of Ace

[@dookieday1]

I got one of those early DiMarzio humbuckers sitting round , going to call it the Ace pu now...

[@crisprtalk6963]

Amazing piece of history!

[@OrangeBearRecords]

How on earth was it destroyed like that? I like double cuts, but that legendary tobacco burst Les Paul with the cream open coil pickups is one of my favourite guitars ever, in my opinion it just doesn't look great now, not because double cut Les Pauls are bad, but because of legendary axe it once was.

[@kent-oveprestberg3578]

The answer is within...

[@JohnnyGuitaristOfficial]

Sweet amp, so much power!!! 🎸🎶

[@stringslinger5504]

BUT....whatever happened to Ace's Ovation Breadwinner that he played when KiSS first formed.

[@pabloiaconoguitar311]

Wow incredible sound and very nice guitar Ace take best taste in choose your guitars the best sound and looking guitars at the level of the legend

[@jeffrojacobs8094]

That Marshall half stack next to you is so Incredible, both looking and sounding!