Back in February, Marilyn Manson and Mars Volta bassist Juan Alderete suffered a very serious traumatic brain injury, as well as some other serious physical injuries, from an unfortunate bicycle accident. A GoFundMe was started to help Juan and his family navigate such difficult circumstances, and musicians and fans the world over have made generous contributions in Juan's name.
Today, Juan Alderete's good friend Paul Gilbert is looking to help his friend with another much-appreciated donation—one that could even come from you. Listed in Gilbert's Reverb shop is a custom shop Ibanez "Ice-Stroyer"—one of only two total made in Bensalem, PA in 1987. The other one was made for Bruce Bouillet and is finished in orange.
"I used this guitar for live Racer X shows, for Mr. Big recordings, and on Mr. Big tours," Gilbert's listing reads. "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!"
Gilbert will also be including a vinyl of the Racer X Extreme Volume - Live album that he will autograph for the buyer, a collection of over 35 of his custom guitar picks, and a JHS PG-14 overdrive—a very early model that Gilbert has used on his pedalboard for some time.
All of the proceeds will go to support Juan Alderete and his recovery. "I co-founded Racer X with Juan. He is a great friend, a great musician, and was instrumental to my career both musically and in the business. He got me out of practicing in my bedroom, and onto the stage!"
Click here to check out Paul Gilbert's Ibanez "Ice-Stroyer" for yourself, and you can also visit Juan Alderete's GoFundMe here to make your own donation. You can also revisit one of our favorite early Reverb videos, "Bass Pedal Tricks with Juan Alderete," here.