KISS' TOMMY THAYER Discusses Signature Guitar On 'Talking Metal' (Audio)

February 12, 2013

On the latest episode of the "Talking Metal" podcast, host Mark Strigl talks to Tommy Thayer of KISS about the Tommy Thayer "Spaceman" Les Paul model guitar from Epiphone.

To hear the chat, listen to the "Talking Metal" podcast using the audio player below (the interview starts approximately 14 minutes into the podcast).

The Tommy Thayer "Spaceman" Les Paul model from Epiphone was launched at this year's NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show, a massive music-products convention that took place January 24-27 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.

Tommy, KISS' former tour manager who took on the "Spaceman" persona after founding KISS guitarist Ace Frehley left the band in 2002, says, "It's based on a Custom Shop Les Paul that Gibson made for me. It has a Silver Sparkle top and it's a straight-ahead Standard based on a 1959 to 1960 vintage. It's got the same 498 pickups that I use onstage."

According to Epiphone, the guitar features a solid mahogany body and a plain maple veneer top that deliver the classic tone and sustain that can only come from a "real" Les Paul. The 1960s SlimTaper "D" profile mahogany neck has a deep-set glued-in neck joint, a 24.75" scale length, 22 medium jumbo frets, and a 1.68" nut. Like all Epiphone Les Pauls (and unlike less costly designs),the limited-edition Tommy Thayer "Spaceman" Les Paul Standard Outfit features a 14-degree headstock that gives you more pressure at the nut for more sustain with less tuning hang-ups caused by "string-tree" gadgets. A rosewood fingerboard with a 12-inch radius and pearloid trapezoid inlays completes the classic Les Paul Standard look and feel. The hand set-neck delivers outstanding string-to-body resonance while the medium-jumbo frets add to the smooth and sustained tone. The top features a beautiful Silver Flake color finish and a black gloss finish on the back, sides, and neck. The body features single ply white binding on the top and on the fingerboard. A cool black pickguard completes the modern look.

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