With a bigger than life stage show and some great rock anthems, KISS clawed their way to the top of the charts during the 70’s to become one of the biggest acts in the history of Rock n’ Roll. In 1976, the band’s frontman, Paul Stanley, was approached by Ibanez to collaborate on a signature guitar that would become the iconic instrument he would forever be associated with. In 1977, when Paul and Ibanez sat down to create his signature guitar, it was to be a totally unique design, but while perusing through the Ibanez catalog, one guitar in particular caught the frontman’s eye: The Artist 2663. Later to be known as the “Iceman”, the Artist wasn’t exactly a popular model at the time, but Stanley was intrigued by its asymmetrical shape and unusual body style and decided this would be the template for his signature instrument – The PS.
3pc Maple neck
A strong 3pc Maple neck provides an enriched resonance.
Ebony fretboard
Ebony produces tight lows and mid range with a strong attack in the high end and features a quick response and rich sustain.
Medium frets with Prestige fret edge treatment
Medium sized frets enhance the accuracy of your notes. Prestige Fret Edge Treatment guarantees effortlessly fast playing.
Maple top / African Mahogany body
The Maple top sonically enriches the response while picking. The African Mahogany body delivers a rich mid-low end.
Seymour Duncan® ’59 model™ / Custom 5™ pickups
Seymour Duncan® ’59 model™ and Custom 5™ pickups provide balanced and warm tones.
Gotoh® machine heads
Gotoh® machine heads provide superior precision, a smooth feel, and excellent tuning accuracy.
Gotoh® GE103B-T bridge
The Gotoh® GE103B-T bridge improves sustain and tuning stability.
Gotoh® GE101Z-T tailpiece
The stable Gotoh® GE101Z-T tailpiece holds your strings in tune.
The “Cracked Mirror”
Ibanez obtained the original guitar of Stanley’s and were able to faithfully recreate the original Cracked Mirror top with acrylic pieces, reproduced by hand by Japanese craftsmen one piece at a time.
Specifications Body
- Top Wood: Maple
- Body Wood: African Mahogany
- Finish: “Cracked Mirror”
Neck
- Neck Profile: PS
- Neck Wood: 3pc Maple
- Construction: Set
- Fretboard Wood: Bound Ebony
- Inlays: Acrylic & Abalone Blocks
- Frets: 22 Medium with Prestige Edge Treatment
- Scale: 628mm / 24.7″
- Nut Width: 43mm / 1 11/16″
- Thickness: 20.5mm at 1F, 23.5mm at 12F
- Radius: 12″
Hardware
- Bridge: Gotoh® GE103B-T bridge
- Tailpiece: Gotoh® GE101Z-T tailpiece
- Hardware Color: Chrome
Electronics
- Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan® ’59 model™ (H) neck pickup (Passive/Alnico)
- Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan® Custom 5™ (H) bridge pickup (Passive/Alnico)
- Controls: Neck Volume, Bridge Volume, Master Tone, 3-Way Switch
Misc.
- Strings: D’Addario® EXL120
- String Gauge: .009/.011/.016/.024/.032/.042
- Case: Hardshell
- Instrument Weight: 8.4 lbs