. Personal messages from members of The Gene Simmons Bass Collectors Club. It appears as if the Fender-style bridge that was previously under the bridge cover is moved back, sans the saddles, and a different bridge used in its stead. Nady 950 wireless. Apparently, some people think the rockstar actually had a cow tongue surgically attached to his mouth, and thats how hes achieved such an impressive length all these years. 1970 replacement Gibson pickup has been added and moved closer to the bridge; and a new, custom shape pickguard has been added. (It would be easy to assume that it was a shadow cast by, or reflection of, the volume knob but the tone knob shows nothing similar. The basses are often signed or played on stage depending on what price point the buyer wants to reach for. . The friend in question? Whatever the new binding was actually made with it was one of the least durable materials in the known universe. What are you waiting for. A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. Gene Simmons, bass guitarist for Kiss, gets ready to breathe fire during the crescendo of "Firehouse," a number performed during a concert in Hartford, Conn., Feb. 18, 1977. Search titles only; Posted by Member: Separate names with a comma. According to Steve Carr his first version of the Axe shown below was made for Gene in 1978 and even used for a few shows that year but no photographic evidence of that exists. Search child forums as well There's a high-gloss, mirror-like finish on the body and headstock, added rivules on the body near the pickup, and, true to form, a hole where there should be (or had been) a tone knob. Believe it or not, but Gene is quite the entrepreneur when hes not working with the band. According to Simmons' tech at (13:16), "This is the main bass for the show. Thanks to abusername for pointing that out. [****] Personal communication with Jack Williamson who asked Free about the matter. It has a 30" scale which matches that of the LoBue. Some have wondered why the Kiss star hasnt used his time in the limelight to help other people on their rise to the top. Gene? Tweed and Simmons were together for 28 years before they decided to tie the knot in 2011. They werent the only ones who had something to say, as Nikki Sixx from Mtley Cre has been open about his battles with depression. Once we move into 1978 and the Alive II tour the second Spector (henceforth known as Spector #2) makes its first appearance. Right after the guitar was purchased, it was immediately packed in its hard case along with all of the items the guitar came with, which included: The Certificate of Authenticity, the original Gene Simmons hard . M&G Pkg $4450. Would you believe that hes been building a business empire for himself since he was back in college? . The prior owner believed this to be a late '90s, and when comparing with other listings on Reverb that appears to hold true. I didnt know anything else about it the wood, the relationship of the bridge to the neck, I didnt think about any of that. LoBue custom. Gene Simmons has played all sorts of instruments over the years, from the Charlie LoBue custom bass guitar heard on the early Kiss albums to his own Punisher and Axe signatures, although for a while in the mid-70s Simmons did experiment with Gibson Grabbers and Rippers. The very obvious absence of an Axe during 1990-95, with the possible exception below, might suggest that Gene was in fact trying out various prototypes in preparation of going into the Axe business for himself. These are smaller, all black with a small white dot that shows the naught setting (mk III). Under the hood, in the 70s and 80s the Axe featured a boost, but the current models feature only EMG pickups and a preamp. As Simmons explained, [Cort] started mass producing them and selling them for a cheaper price, obviously, so the wood was cheaper everything was cheaper, and the paint started to crack. Simmons is announcing a new signature bass guitar in collaboration with Gibson, called the Gene Simmons G Thunderbird Bass. Spector #1 LoBue custom Thunderbird Dan Armstrong. The passing of Prince was a tragic day for millions of fans across the world. In 1977 the most common location of this mini switch was more or less right below the volume knob (with the bass seen in the playing position), and certain pics show what appear to be a piece of tape (or in some cases a dab of paint) covering up something. In an interview with his son for Esquire in 2014, Gene confessed he believes that rock music has finally come to an end, and even went as far as to say the music industry could be on its last legs. Overall there were some factual errors regarding the instruments during the Convention and the tour book was laughably incorrect. It's incredible to look at these pics and see the extent of the damage that year-round touring and Gene's costumes (most of it probably from his ever-. There seemed to be a strange moment in time when celebrities couldnt wait but to show their tongue on the red carpet. Everybody knows that Kiss bassist Gene Simmons has a long tongue. There is no evidence of the Thunderbird actually being used on stage during the Love Gun tour but for the Alive II tour it shows up in a limited number of pictures. He decided years ago that she'd already been through enough having survived the horrors of the Holocaust, and he didn't want to break her heart by becoming a drug addict. The Q-system was designed by Bill Lawrence and was quite versatile. (The Thunderbird plays one final role in this story but not until 1992. . There are no actual live shots of the bass and after the promo videos it just disappears never to be seen again. The change to mkIV happens sometime early July: the original pickup is on display during the Largo show 79.07.08 but by the shows in New York there is a new pickup in place. Chances are Gene just took the opportunity afforded him by the Gibson sponsorship the band enjoyed at the time (see the back of any KISS album from the time) but found that the basses weren't to his taste. A long-tongued, fire-breathing, towering bass player who performs in a demon warpaint, massive platform boots, and stylized armor, Simmons is a sight to behold. Apparently, Gene thinks there are some similarities between the two as rockstars and teachers both have an audience; its just that one might have to perform to people who dont want to be there. Its one thing to be in a band. Gene brings out the metal flake Grabber for 100,000 years at Winterland. Thats not individual products. An interesting aside is that the Grabber was the least expensive instrument in the Gibson 1975 catalogue, even cheaper than the Marauder that Paul smashed on a nightly basis. The very obvious absence of an Axe during 1990-95, with the possible . The shift to the Jackson comes about just before the European leg of the Lick it up tour. Biography reports that Gene actually worked a host of jobs as he tried to raise money to start his own band. While the price tag for the Axe basses might be high, they are often sold as a package deal with other perks. In Atlanta 76.08.29 it's still mk VI but for the start of the Winter Tour in Savannah 76.11.24 the new bridge is in place. G, from Gene to Gibson, will introduce new collections of right and left-handed electric guitars and basses across . It seems that not using Gene Simmons name meant she was on her own, and Sophie quickly had to find another way to make her dreams come true. As the photos show there is a marked difference in the shape of the lower horn, most easily seen in the shots of the back. There was once a time that Gene Simmons appeared to be on Fox News at every waking moment. Spector #1 Spector #2 Thunderbird. Every manufacturer will tell you that they try to ensure their guitars feel playable, but greater care needs to be taken with larger-bodied instruments like this Thunderbird, or they can end up feeling bulky and demanding. Some people love to embrace every different type of music, while others prefer to stick to what they know. The application claimed that Gene first used the gesture in 1974 while posing for a photo with the legend that is Dave Grohl. 1980. After showing off a few licks, Simmons points out a particular passage he wants to learn, and Kaye obliges. It can be easy to think that any of Gene Simmons children would have tried to walk in his footsteps after seeing the success their dad has enjoyed over the years. Thats right; the rockstar actually paid his way through college, all thanks to his comic book sales. Below are a few early shots of Gene using the LoBue in 1972-73 starting with the loft rehearsals as a three piece, a shot from one of the shows at the Daisy, and the soundcheck for the Filmore shows. Gene's version is either a '76 or '77 ebony version that was modfied from the get-go. So, after a few short months in "the rotation" it is modified by removing the tone pot and moving the output jack up in its place. There was suppose to be 1,000 . The bass checked . The '73 and '74 models were slightly "rounder" over the horns and had a slightly wider body so considering the look of Gene's Ripper it was probably a 1975 ebony version which sported an alder body (Gibson reverted back to maple in 1977). Had the studs been mounted on the body this would have been completely non-sensical. Considering the rather complicated control layout, 3 knobs and 4 switches, it was probably not a Gene favorite. This mk III retains the original violin-type bridge. This particular version of the bass doesn't last long as both the bridge and the pickup are soon changed for mk IV. He's a better bass player than he is a guitar player. The move to Gibsons during 1975 was purely financial. The worlds leading authority and resource for all things guitar. Pink AXE Guitar. I seem to remember there was a bass purporting to have belonged to Mr. Simmons on eBay, and a thread back in the DP2 days? Shannon Tweed rose to fame as a Playboy model and actress before she met and wooed Gene at the Playboy Mansion. That is probably going to be a very big item. That certainly would have been one way to get the kids listening. However, it wasnt long before people learned that he was talking about the hand gesture he was pulling at the time. Though he is known for his woodsman-inspired Axe guitar, he told me it . This mkV version stays unmolested for the remainder of 1979, the last photographic evidence being from 79.12.06. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Studio legend Carol Kaye gave KISS bassist Gene Simmons an impromptu bass lesson at Sunset Sound studios in Hollywood, and luckily cameras were rolling to catch it. To make sure no one thought that she was using her dad, Sophie would write her own music and send songs to record labels all off her own back. Watch Marty Friedman play with Megadeth again, Journey and Steve Lukather play Black Magic Woman. which run through July of 2022 at present. Unlike the EMG PJ set typically found in Simmons Punisher and Axe, however, these high-output humbuckers arent active, so theres no need to worry about battery power. Lets face it; its no secret that some of our favorite celebrities have worked through some pretty mundane jobs before making their way to the top. The bassist will bring back the Gene Simmons' Axe MasterClass for fans . Exact year is unknown but Gibson transitioned to this body type in 1961. The legendary rocker Gene Simmons has gone through various hairstyles over the previous decade. "Well, that is very kind of you to say. The Les Paul Triumph bass, actually designed by Les Paul himself, had been introduced in 1971 as a successor to the Les Paul bass. Some of the modifications included a special gloss black paint job with white binding along the sides of the body. Whether or not the change to the new bridge occured earlier than Cobo Hall 76.01.25 is anybody's guess. We asked the man himself. Spector #1 is certainly still in the picture but when it comes to relative use their fortunes are reversed with #1 "coming off the bench" here and there and #2 getting more stage time. There is something else that Nick Simmons has been working on over the years, and it comes in the form of his graphic novel. The courts fired back that hand gestures themselves cant be trademarked, meaning Genes case was thrown out, and he was forced to let others pull the pose. All rights reserved. [*] The shape of the bass was indeed completely original in that it was custom shaped but it wasn't an original design. Since this all-black Spector shows up with both sets of replacement knobs it was re-finished early on. Apparently, the staff were all in a meeting when Gene burst into the room - unannounced. The bass icon on bass rigs, riches and 50 years of music. Why? Whatever the case, it wasnt long before Gene Simmons had something to say about it all. Here we get to see it with a studded cover of some sort, probably leather. If there is one thing that many of us have learned, its that Gene Simmons knows a good business opportunity when he sees one. But out of costume, the Kiss co-frontman is an equally commanding presence. The second shot from the Japanese leg of the Alive II tour show that spot seemingly covered up by a small dab of matte paint. Ever the savvy businessman, Simmons ended up trademarking the term "Axe" as it refers to a musical instrument, as well as the shape of the bass. So much so that Gibson put out a demo vinyl record showcasing the various tones the system was capable of. Ice Cubes group, N.W.A., was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The original incarnation of the LoBue (mk I) had an unfinished wood body, a set neck, a violin-style bridge, a single-coil pickup, a black pickguard, and, despite Gene's quote above, three knobs. Jan 11, 2009. so I read an article years ago where it talked about gene simmons' live rig, but i couldn't find any info anywhere and the magazine is long gone, so I spoke with his tech Spike and he said basically this is it: 1 SVT-2 Pro. - Bass Certificate of authenticity signed by Gene Simmons. During an October 28 question-and-answer session with fans aboard this year's Kiss Kruise, KISS frontman Paul Stanley was asked what he has learned about himself through his 50-year friendship and . Simmons unveiled the Thunderbird during KISS' elaborate New Year's Eve livestream concert in Dubai. Reports have varied throughout the years, but Gene is confident that hes been with thousands of partners. Stuart shaved down the normally bulbous horns of the SB-1 into points.". Find out more about how we test. For me it was also pragmatism, because I already owned the word Axe as it relates to musical instruments, so I hand-designed it, and I still have the original artwork and it looks very much like the Axe thats available today. Watch on. John Lennon's Gibson J-160E went for $2.4 million at Julien's Auctions in 2015. There's very nice video of it from both Houston and Anaheim in August that show the mk VI in action. The problem? In fact, the rockstar went as far as it saw Mileys tongue was okay, but quickly put his foot in it with a few derogatory comments. For Gene, its simple: he thinks that future rockstars should give up on their dreams as the barriers in the way to the top have become insurmountable. Thankfully, many talented bands have continued to prove Gene wrong in recent years. Gene Simmons Bass Solo Compilation from the beginning to the end! Unfortunately it is exceedingly difficult to try and identify which Spector is which in most photos, even if they are well-lit. In the early-early years of KISS, he favored a Charlie LoBue bass ( photos ); this was a custom bass guitar made by Charlie. Both Peter Criss and Gene Simmons weren't the best players of their instruments but by god they both had a cool groove which made their song unmistakenly Kiss. Pastorious,Wooten,Sheehan,Hamm,Graham,Johnson,Miller,and many other players through the years that had something I liked to form my own style of playing. Add in a healthy dose of compression or overdrive, as well as some heavily repeating delays, andits hard not to picture a possessed Simmons spitting out blood infront of you, screaming Oh yeah! before attacking that open low note in God Of Thunder. Introduced in 1973, the Grabber was Gibson's first bolt-on neck bass and featured a sliding pickup (you "grabbed" it to change the pickup position, hence the name). Great Eastern FX Co. Focus Fuzz review: The best of all possible fuzz worlds in a single box? . Gene Simmons Punisher 2 Bass. 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