Kiss & the famous telecaster sound!

Breadwinners were a unique instrument. The active preamps were powerful and gave the guitar a lot of flexibility. I think it suffered from it's soace-ship/paint-palette looks and possibly it was just ahead of it's day. If it was introduced today it would probably gain more acceptance.

 

Thanks for posting this, I haven't seen these pictures before.
However, being both a KISS fan and a Tele player, I don' think the two would've mixed in the long run.
The KISS sound is based on a bridge humbucker plugged straight into a cranked Marshall.
They were also one of the first to use Dimarzio pickups (Larry Dimarzio was a friend of Gene's), Paul used the Super II and Ace used the Super Distortion, both very hot pickups (Paul later switched to EMG's)
I just don't think a Tele with a single coil would do the KISS sound right.

 

I think people of our generation wanted Les Pauls because Page played one. Don’t recall any of my friends being influenced to buy one becauce Ace Frehley played a Les Paul and can’t imagine someone wanting a tele if that was Frehleys main guitar. I mean I didn’t want fireworks shooting out of my guitar because of Ace....

 

I betcha those were just studio guitars layin' around, KISS didn't really make it big until 1975. I remember reading in an old interview with Ace that he once bought an old Tele in a pawnshop while on tour.
It'd be interesting to interview him now again about the early years, but I somehow doubt he remembers anything

 

Then you must be the same generation as Ace, seeing how much Led Zeppelin was an influence on KISS.
Seriously, I read somewhere that Gibson thanked Ace for saving the reputation of the Les Paul which the 70's kids considered to be a Jazz guitar.

 

Deuce was played on a Tele!?! Yay....we win!!!!!

 

I guess Ace musta saved the Les Paul from jazz & doom...good thing aspiring players & musicians never noticed other ‘70’s ’Paul guitarists like;
Billy Gibbons ~ Joe Perry ~ Mick Ronson ~ Peter Frampton ~ Bob Marley ~ Frank Zappa ~ Joe Perry ~ Paul Kossoff ~ Gary Moore ~ Steve Jones ~ Mick Taylor ~ Mick Jones ~ Marc Bolan ~ Neil Young ~ Joe Walsh ~ Steve Hacket ~ Dickey Betts...
...KISS my Ace!

 

in the first place, he had other guitars too. Early gigs show him with a les paul junior and an epiphone batwing, in addition to the breadwinner. There were les pauls around too.

We have no idea what guitars were used on which tracks for the first album and he probably doesnt remember.

I did read one quote where he said he often doubletracked his rhythm parts with a Tele, so thats probably what he was doing in the photos.

 

Kiss and Tele fan here too, great pictures and info, great stuff

 

Maybe I understand why those guys covered up in all the makeup now!

I'll have to give their first album a listen. I kind of like some of there stuff these days, but I was born in 1977, when I started liking this kind of music (mid 80s) I really hated Kiss... their albums sounded like garage quality back then.

My teacher calls them "c o c k rock", seems about right, not that there is anything wrong with that.

 

Er you really should give them a listen, the 1st self titled album and Hotter than Hell too, but definitely Destroyer and Love Gun also, great classic Kiss stuff. I've been into Kiss for 40 years now and don't ever tire of that early sound!

 

Paul had a couple guitars that were custom made at that time. I can't remember who made them but it was someone on 48th street.

I have one of Vinnie Cusano's JMPs that I got from him a few years back - killer guitar player.

 

This.

I read the same quote. Paul said they often double-tracked with Fenders on top of the Gibbies. Always a good plan. Still works today.

 

As iconic as Ace with a Les Paul is, I think the Ovation breadwinner would have fit really well with his costume later on.

 

Who are these guys you're listing? ..........(just kidding) I am NOT dumping on Kiss, they're just not my cup of tea. Don't know what song it was I first heard, but I remember thinking, "They're copying Arthur Brown!!!" Don't know if Kiss ever owned up to the Arthur Brown connection, but with the make-up, theatrics, use of fire, AND the vocal and musical styles, there's no doubt in my mind of his influence.