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Paul Gilbert sells his rare Ibanez Ice-Stroyer to support Juan Alderete’s recovery
Alderete was involved in a bicycle accident in January that resulted in traumatic brain injury.
Photo: Paul Gilbert via Reverb.com
Paul Gilbert has sold his rare Ibanez Custom Shop Ice-Stroyer to support Mars Volta bassist and former bandmate Juan Alderete, who has been in recovery for a traumatic brain injury sustained in January.
Earlier this year, Alderete got into a bicycle accident that resulted in Diffuse Axonal Injury. Despite wearing protective gear, the 57-year-old was in a coma for close to four weeks.
Aldere’s wife, Anne, shared an update on his recovery in September. She revealed he had been undergoing multiple therapies and was playing bass again.
Gilbert listed his pink Ice-Stroyer on Reverb.com yesterday (7 December). The electric guitar – which combines the bodies of an Ibanez Destroyer and Iceman – sold for $16,000.
Gilbert was often sighted playing the guitar live with Racer X, the pioneering shred act with Alderete on bass. Only two Ice-Stroyers were ever made; the second belonged to the band’s second guitarist Bruce Bouillet. Both were built in Bensalem, PA back in 1987.
“I used this guitar for live Racer X shows, for Mr. Big recordings, and on Mr. Big tours,” Gilbert’s description for the instrument read. “Over the years, I changed the bridge to a fixed bridge, moved the location of the toggle switch, and had a DiMarzio Tone Zone and a DiMarzio single-coil pickup installed.”
“The back of the guitar has sushi stickers that I got on my first tour of Japan with Mr. Big back in 1989. And my signature on the headstock is back when I was still signing in script. The tall frets are in excellent condition, and the guitar plays and sounds great!”
Also included in the sale were a signed copy of Racer X’s Extreme Volume – Live; a collection of over 35 custom guitar picks, and an early JHS PG-14 overdrive pedal played by Gilbert.
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