Ibanez PS1 Mirror Ex Paul Stanley KISS
Ibanez PS1 Mirror Ex Paul Stanley KISS
Few artists have managed to create such an instantly recognizable visual identity. In that regard, Kiss quickly established themselves as masters of the genre. From their extravagant costumes to their makeup, they built a powerful image that helped shape the collective imagination of a spectacular, sensational kind of rock. Naturally, guitars were part of the show from the beginning, treated with the same theatrical flair as the stage outfits. Among them, the legendary Mirror Ball (or Cracked Mirror) guitar—with its beautifully fractured mirrored top—has become inseparable from the flamboyant Paul Stanley.
The story of Paul Stanley’s Mirror Ball Iceman embodies the full spirit of showmanship that defines the legendary Kiss guitarist. It was created in collaboration with Ibanez’s Jeff Hasselberger, who recalls Stanley’s vision during their conversations. Always looking for new ways to elevate the stage spectacle, Stanley imagined a guitar covered in mirror glass that appeared shattered around the pickups, with shards reflecting the stage lights like a disco ball. To achieve this, Hasselberger hand-cut pieces of mirror and embedded them into the guitar top at slightly offset angles to enhance the play of light. It took some serious ingenuity to combine such sharp materials with a coherent design—and Hasselberger jokes that he was lucky to come out of it with all his fingers intact!
This exceptional guitar was played live on stage during the 2017–2018 “Kissworld” tour. It’s a direct witness to Stanley’s stage presence, bearing visible signs of use and wear from Kiss’s electrifying performances. This Iceman includes all of Paul Stanley’s typical stage features, like the iconic strap lined with picks from the “KISS Kruise VIII,” ready to be thrown to the crowd. It was notably played during Kiss’s appearance on the 2018 season finale of America’s Got Talent and during the “Kiss Kruise VIII.” Paul Stanley even signed the body of the guitar and wrote on the back: “I was made for lovin’ you / Dynasty 1979.” A truly outstanding guitar—visually striking and historically meaningful!
Paul Stanley
(1952)
Band: Kiss
Main guitar: Washburn Signature
Must-hear track: *Love Gun*
In the United States, Kiss is much more than just a band: it's a religion, a cultural phenomenon of outrageous proportions (their fan club, the infamous Kiss Army, even includes former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice among its members). Every American has a story with Kiss—how they discovered the band's music, how they dressed up as the Starchild or the Demon for Halloween, and often how they were inspired to pick up an instrument after hearing Kiss for the first time.
The band members basically invented the pyrotechnic stage show, and their mastery of merchandising could inspire even the most shameless manager.
Founding members Gene Simmons (bass/vocals) and Paul Stanley (rhythm guitar/vocals) are the cornerstone of the band. They were there in 1973, and they’re still here for yet another farewell tour. Together, they form a Lennon–McCartney kind of duo for hard rock, with undeniable songwriting talent—so many of their songs have become enduring hits. Paul Stanley is the one with the higher, bluesier voice, and a tone that's instantly recognizable. His guitar playing is basic, but he holds the secret weapon every rock musician dreams of: a right hand built for riffing, capable of making an entire stadium stomp in rhythm. While Ace Frehley was the ultimate flamboyant lead guitarist, Stanley commands the stage with his charisma and the huge Marshall-driven tone of his guitars.
Over the years, Paul has built a great guitar collection, including a few Bursts that he uses only in the studio. On stage, he was long associated with the Ibanez Iceman, and later switched to Washburn, who now crafts his excellent signature models. Platform boots not included—but strongly recommended.
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