Skip to main content
Play Video

Ace Frehley Budokan Les Paul Electric Guitar

We're sorry-this item is unavailable.
Contact our experts for a recommendation of great alternatives. Call us at 800-449-9128.

Overview

One of the most coveted Les Paul Customs of the 1970s with triple Dimarzio pickups.

Epitomizing the rock concert as spectacle in the 1970s, KISS merged infectious metal riffs and glam-rock imagery more fully than any band to strut the stage. The glitz, make-up and pure musical fury climaxed in 1977 when KISS, having just been named the œmost popular band in America in a Gallup poll, flew to Japan to perform five sold-out shows at the legendary Budokan arena, breaking the record of four capacity concerts that was held by The Beatles. In his white-and-silver œSpace Ace makeup, lead guitarist Ace Frehley strutted the Budokan stage like he owned the world, laying down signature riffs from hits like œRock and Roll All Nite and œDetroit Rock City on a three-pickup 1974 Gibson Les Paul Custom that would instantly be the object of desire of every aspiring teenage rocker the world over. Bringing this iconic Custom back to life for the mere mortal guitarists among us, Gibson USA announces the release of the Ace Frehley œBudokan Les Paul Custom. With its luscious Cherry Sunburst nitrocellulose finish, traditional Les Paul Custom inlays and appointments, and three super-charged DiMarzio humbucking pickups, this guitar is the spitting image of Frehleys original in looks, feel and tone, and its ready to rock you all night long.

The Ace Frehley œBudokan Les Paul Custom is crafted with the traditional ingredients of the Les Paul Custom circa the early to mid-1970s. Its carved Grade-A maple top is joined to a Grade-A mahogany body that is weight relieved to reduce the load and enhance resonance. This classic tonewood pairing gives you the blend of maples snap and articulation with mahoganys depth and warmth, cornerstones of the legendary Les Paul sound. Seven-ply white-and-black body binding enhances the Custom, as do the necks acrylic pearloid block markers and the headstocks multi-ply binding and split-diamond inlays. The quarter-sawn mahogany neck is carved to a traditional slim, yet rounded, profile that measures .818 at the 1st fret and .963 at the 12th, and is topped with a fingerboard made from renewable Richlite. A fabricated material composed of cellulose fiber and phenolic resin, Richlite offers the constructional and resonant properties of fine hardwood, but with improved durability, for a superb playing feel.

In the image of Aces original guitar, the Ace Frehley œBudokan Les Paul Custom from Gibson USA is loaded with three period-correct, double-cream DiMarzio Super Distortion pickups for maximum rhythm crunch and lead tones of unparalleled fire and fury. To maximize the sonic versatility of the traditional three-way toggle switch and four-knob control section, the guitar is wired to select the neck pickup alone in the switchs upper position, both middle and bridge pickups in the middle position (sharing the lower volume and tone controls), and bridge pickup alone in the lower position. Hardware includes the classic pairing of chrome Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece for optimum sustain and precise intonation, with Aces modification of Grover tuners with pearloid œbanjo buttons. Strap it on, and its your own slab or raging glam-rock excess, as well as the perfect Les Paul for any breed of heavy rock and traditional metal riffing.

Features

  • Mahogany body, Maple top with Heritage Cherry Sunburst nitrocellulose finish
  • Richlite fingerboard with aged white acrylic block inlays
  • Three open-coil, double-cream DiMarzio Super Distortion pickups
  • Chrome-plated bridge and stopbar tailpiece
  • Grover machine heads with pearloid banjo tuners

Get ready for some inspiring sonic diversity.

Specs

Ace Frehley Budokan Les Paul Electric Guitar Specifications:

Body
  • Top: Maple
  • Back: Mahogany
  • Binding: 7-Ply White/Black on Top
  • Adhesive: Franklin Titebond
Neck
  • Species: Mahogany
  • Profile: Slim, Rounded
  • Truss Rod: Traditional
  • Joint Angle: 4 (+/- 15 seconds)
  • Adhesive: Franklin Titebond
  • Neck: Fit
  • Joint: Mortise & Tenon
  • Adhesive: Franklin Titebond
  • Joint Angle: Tolerance +/- .005"
Fingerboard
  • Species: Richlite
  • Frets: 22
  • Radius: 12"
  • Scale Length: 24.75"
  • Binding: White
  • Inlays: White Acrylic Block
  • Nut/E.O.B: 1.695/2.260
Nut
  • Material: Corian
  • Width: 1.695
  • Slots: Gibson PLEK System
Headstock
  • Inlay: Mother-of-Pearl Split Diamond
  • Logo: Mother-of-Pearl 'Gibson'
  • Angle: 17 Degrees
  • Binding: 5-Ply White/Black
  • Truss Rod Cover: Black/White Antique Bell
Tuners
  • Model: Grover with Pearloid Banjo Buttons
  • Plating: Chrome
  • Tuning Ratio: 14:01
Bridge
  • Type: Tune-O-Matic
  • Material: Zamak
  • Plating: Chrome
Tailpiece
  • Type: Stop Bar
  • Material: Zamak
  • Plating: Chrome
Hardware
  • Knobs: Gold Speed Knobs
  • Pickguard: Cream
  • Toggle Switch: Washer Cream with Gold Screenprint
  • Pickup Mounting: Rings Cream
  • Control Plate Cover: Cream
  • Strings: .010 - .046
  • Strap Buttons: Aluminum
Pickups
  • Neck Position: Open Coil, DiMarzio Super Distortion (Ceramic)
  • Middle Position: Open Coil, DiMarzio Super Distortion (Ceramic)
  • Bridge Position: Open Coil, DiMarzio Super Distortion (Ceramic)
Electronics
  • Potentiometers: 2 Volume Controls, 2 Tone Controls
  • Type: 300k Linear Volume, 500k Non-linear Tone
  • Toggle Switch: Three-Way with Cream Toggle Cap
  • Output Jack: Traditional ¼"
Finish
  • Sealer: Nitrocellulose Lacquer, Heritage Cherry Sunburst
Case
  • Type: Gibson Hardshell
  • Case Exterior: Black
Shop with a Friend
Free Shipping
  • Free Standard Ground shipping (48 contiguous states, some overweight and Used/Vintage items excluded).
  • Orders placed before 3 p.m. ET usually ship the same business day.
Learn More
2-Year Free Warranty on Guitars

Every guitar or bass you purchase from Musician's Friend (electric or acoustic, New or Open Box) includes two years of protection from manufacturer defects.

Contact Us for Details
We're Here for You

Our Gear Advisers are available to guide you through your entire shopping experience. Call or Chat for expert advice and to hear the latest deals.

Contact Us
Proactive Advisor Support Chat