Ace Frehley’s 1975 Gibson Les Paul guitar fetches half a million dollars at auction
One of the most important guitars in Ace Frehley’s career has found a new home.
The Kiss guitarist’s beloved 1975 Gibson Les Paul – the instrument he played more than any other throughout his time with the band – recently sold for $512,000 at the Julien’s Music Icons auction in New York.
READ MORE: Featuring a snow globe and even a working thermometer, the bizarre climate change guitar played by Spinal Tap’s Nigel Tufnel is headed to auction
Affectionately nicknamed “Budokan”, the triple-pickup, cherry sunburst-finished guitar was a constant presence throughout Frehley’s tenure with Kiss, accompanying him onstage and in the studio more than any other instrument in his collection.
“This is the very guitar Ace played at the band’s legendary four-night residency at Japan’s Nippon Budokan arena from April 1st-4th, 1977, where it gained the nickname ‘Budokan,’” the guitar’s listing explains. “Ace used it to record the Kiss album Love Gun in May of 1977 and continued to use it on tour as his main guitar through 1979, when it was relegated to back-up duty.”
The listing notes that Frehley continued using the guitar throughout the 1980s, albeit with a number of modifications, including a replacement bridge pickup and the addition of a Washburn Wonderbar vibrato system with matching string retainer at the nut.
Given its history, it’s perhaps no surprise that the Les Paul proved one of the highlights of Julien’s two-day Music Icons auction, held at Hard Rock Cafe Times Square on 29 and 30 May. The guitar ultimately sold within its pre-auction estimate of $400,000 to $600,000.
The Les Paul wasn’t the only Frehley item to attract strong bidding. A stage-played 1997 Gibson Signature Les Paul Custom used during Super Bowl XXXIII sold for $57,600, while a 1996 Kiss Reunion Tour Light Show Sanchez Custom Gibson Les Paul Jr. fetched the same amount – nearly six times its original estimate.
Elsewhere, an Eddie Van Halen striped Charvel Art Series guitar, played during Van Halen’s final performance with Sammy Hagar in 2004, also exceeded expectations, selling for $115,200 – more than double its pre-sale estimate.
The appetite for artist-owned guitars shows little sign of slowing, either. Later this month, a unique climate change-themed Ernie Ball guitar played by Spinal Tap’s Nigel Tufnel will go under the hammer at Gardiner Houlgate specialist music auctions in Corsham.
View more upcoming auctions at Julien’s Auctions.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
