The Final Salute: The 2025 Kennedy Center Honors “Empty Chair” Tribute
On December 7, 2025, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the world watched as KISS received one of the highest honors in American culture. But the most moving moment of the night was a silent one: a lone Gibson Les Paul sitting in an empty chair, representing the late, great Ace Frehley.
As the tribute began, the guitar didn’t just sit there—it came to life. It smoked, it glowed, and it radiated the “Space Ace” spirit one last time.
The 48-Hour Miracle
While the performance looked like magic, it was the result of a high-pressure, 48-hour build by Jim Cara and The Art of Guitar under the direction of Criss Angel and Ace Frehley Management, John Ostrosky
Following Ace’s passing in October, Jim—who had been creating all of Ace’s special effects guitars for years—was tapped to create a definitive tribute instrument for the ceremony. Working under the direction of master illusionist Criss Angel, Jim took an actual Gibson Ace Frehley model from his shop and transformed it into a sophisticated “magic device.”.
Hidden Technology & Secret Activation
Because the Kennedy Center is a prestigious, highly regulated venue, a standard “stage smoker” wouldn’t suffice. Jim engineered an entirely new system for this instrument:
Radio-Controlled Activation: Allowing the guitar to be triggered remotely within the timing track with perfect timing for the live broadcast.
Integrated Lasers & Lighting: Custom-designed to interact with the smoke, creating a “white-hot” ethereal glow that captured Ace’s “10,000 Volts” energy.
Secret Controls: At the request of Criss Angel, the activation methods were built to be invisible, making the guitar appear to “perform” of its own volition.
Preserving the Legacy: The “Twin” Build
The original “Honors Guitar” currently remains with Jim’s associate on the project, Criss Angel. However, to preserve this pinnacle of guitar engineering, Jim Cara is currently in the process of a “Twin” Build.
Based on a 1975 Gibson Deluxe, this replica will feature the same advanced radio and laser technology, alongside an “Iron Heat” box illusion. Using actual fire under controlled conditions, Jim is recreating the authentic “burn marks” of the 70s era—recreated for replica reasons only—while utilizing the modern, safe technology that allowed the Spaceman to fly until the very end.
“At the time of his death, all of his special effects guitars were created by me. This final Honors build was the most advanced work I ever did for him. It was built to honor a friend.” — Jim Cara
Official Custom, Smoking & Special-Effects Guitar Replicas by Jim Cara
The Ace Frehley Legacy
In 1975, a fifteen-year-old me had an Ace Frehley poster tacked to the wall. I built my own crude smoking guitar and it worked. I never stopped with guitars and special effects and crazy ideas. I never thought that I would even meet you.
To realize you entrusted me and very few with building and modifying your Gibson arsenal—the smoking, flashing, and UFO guitars is beyond comprehension. You gave that chance to Steve Carr, my mentor John Elder Robison, and myself. Proudly speaking, I believe we all earned your respect and we gave you the same.
It is heartbreaking and surreal to realize that I will now forever be the last to have worked alongside you on those custom instruments. Yet, there is a deep, solemn honor in knowing that for over a decade you were still using the Gibson guitars I converted. The silence we shared after we handed a fan one of your stage played replicas that we made and sold together after years of my persistence.
The biggest thanks and respect I can offer you is to humbly, and honorably, carry the legacy of those guitars forward. That kid with the poster never would have believed it.
How Jim Cara and Ace Frehley Started Making Smoking Guitars
2006 - The Kid With The Trick Guitar
In 2006, Ace saw this video of Jim Cara playing the National Anthem for Robbie Knievel.
Frehley had someone contact Jim to ask about the Red, White and Blue Smoke.
His most recent builder, Steve Carr had passed away.
This began a relationship with Jim Cara starting to making Ace Frehleys Smoking, Flashing, and UFO guitars, as well as replicas of missing guitars from his collection.
They later started making replicas for fans that Ace would sign and play on stage.
A once in a lifetime opportunity for fans to own a piece of Ace Frehley history.
Ace Frehley passed away on October 16th 2025
Jim Cara will forever hold the Legacy of building the final special effects guitars in his possession.
for more information :
acefrehleyguitars.com
acefrehleylespaul.com
axeology.com
The First Project. Recreate the Iconic Sunburst Smoking Les Paul
Can you copy this guitar?
That was the first thing they asked when I finally spoke to them.
I thought his associate was a joke when he asked. Nobody would call me and ask this about Ace Frehley
Of course I had seen the guitar and made several horrible replicas for myself, but here was the real guy asking if I had the skills to make an identical copy of this guitar.
I blew him off a few times and finally with his persistence and some financial motivation, and a call from the man himself, I realized it was the real deal.
Now I needed to really find out about this guitar. I had no idea how it really worked. It was a secret as good as the worlds best magicians would never tell.
If I was going to do this, It needed to have the same damage, the same color, the burn marks, the melted plastic and most importantly, it needed to work exactly like the original.
Well I had never seen the original, nor how it worked.
Now with some inside connections I was able to get some photographs of the original, and start to decipher what was going on. I made notes, then tracked down the original builder
Plans that Jim wrote to compare with Ace Frehley
Jim Cara meets John Elder Robison, The Original Builder
John Robison was now a noted Doctor and speaker, so I tracked him down to a College he was going to present a lecture.
Here I was sitting in a lecture room with 1000 aspiring scientists, and doctors.
I waited till the lecture was over and started to walk up to John. I could tell he was thinking “Here come another KISS fan wanting to ask me about Gene Simmons”.
As I approached with a more professional manner than most other KISS fans probably did. I did my research about the genius and told him more about himself and what he did, than he probably cared to remember, he realized I was as closest to his league that he had seen yet from this KISS bunch.
I had all of my drawings and photographs prepared in a Power Point presentation as well as printed posters and material.
I showed John the photo and notes from above and he looked them over for a good period of time.
He turned to me and said..” That’s exactly how I did it.”. I responded with “You’re Kidding!.”
Now I knew John was an expert on Aspergers and Autism . He was one of the most brilliant in the world that was affected by both. However, I didn’t realize what I said would get such a response. I had never met someone with such condition.
John says with a louder voice “Why would I be Kidding?” and he looked at me in silence. I was processing some type of possible hostility and was ready to scram. John changes his tone, and I start to remember the speech he just gave. I was witnessing it first hand and it was brilliant.
John and I discussed many things for so long the school was closing. He actually said he was handing me the torch to carry on. We had been in there so long that my car was towed. I had to find $450 Cash and a ride across Baltimore to get it back.
About Jim Cara — Ace Frehley’s Special Effects Guitar Builder
Jim Cara is one of the most influential custom guitar makers in modern rock.
His work appears in:
Guitar Player Magazine Hard Rock Café Guitars and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame installations KISS World Las Vegas exhibitions National TV, American Idol, Macys Parade, Super Bowl, The Tonight Show NHL & film features Dozens of major concert tours
Gene Simmons, Brad Gillis, John 5, Lita Ford, and many more have relied on his expertise and his wild ability to merge engineering with rock theatrics.
For Ace Frehley’s guitars, Jim is the only modern builder continuing the special-effects legacy.
Custom request any Ace Frehley Replica Guitar
We make Rocket Guitars, UFO Guitars, Flying Guitars, and anything that you have seen Ace play over the years.
Any replica of any one of Aces guitars can be made by the limits of your wishes
As of now, please just fill out our form and we will contact you with information. Please allow us time to process this great loss and friendship
Important Information
- All requests for replicas must be approved.
- All of Ace Frehleys guitars at his time of passing were created by Jim Cara.
- Not all are approved
- Under no circumstance will a guitar be modified or sold without our approval
- We do not use Pyro for our Smoking Guitars. Using a Pyro based Smoke Bomb inside a building or in front of a crowd without Fire Marshall approval is in violation of Homeland Security and can result in Federal Jail Time
- At this time, all sales, building, repairs of Ace Frehley Guitars has been suspended.