gene simmons basses through the years

[*] Much later Gene would remember it a little differently: "So he made me a one of a kind natural wood custom made bass, no name, no nothing." There was little change as the band headed into 1974 and started on what would turn out to be a lifetime of heavy touring. Thats right; Parade reports that Gene used to teach sixth grade. Its said that he would judge peoples intelligence depending on the noise it made. Founding KISS bassist Gene Simmons has partnered with Gibson for a new line of electric guitars and basses dubbed G. Of course, being so open about his relationships hasnt always sat well with everyone else. The Return of KISS!! This is the first of many ways in which the G partnership will be paying tribute to Gene, his iconic status, and continue to inspire new generations of Gibson and Gene Simmons fans to play and create music.". The Spector web site is clear on the matter: "The bass in the photo above [on the Spector web site, not featured here] is still in Gene's possession as far as we know. Sometimes the paintbrush can be just as beautiful as the art it inspires and creates. Gene simply replied, Nobody. Most of his notable work comes from his time in Genes reality show Gene Simmons Family Jewels.. Gene Simmons isn't telling California to kiss off yet. The problem? The Gibson Thunderbird was a backup used on occasion when the trusty Spector #1 had to take a rest. LoBue custom Gibson Grabber Gibson Ripper. The shot from Springfield 79.09.05 shows the new inlay. The line-up shot from Knoxville with the slim lower horn has led me to believe that this is a re-finish rather than the re-appearance of the all-black from the Alive II tour. First seen in Detroit on 78.01.20, these knobs will thankfully stay on for quite some time. 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). The bass on the right is slightly more problematic. 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 . The problems with the bridge above promted another change. Gene Simmons is one of the most legendary names in music, thanks to his time with Kiss. The clear knobs make the transition into the new year appearing in Chicago on 78.01.15. Spector #1 Spector #2 Thunderbird. The worlds leading authority and resource for all things guitar. This one-of-a-kind instrument recently (Oct 2005) sold on Ebay for $29, 995. 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-. If Gene tried to use the Carr Axe live it probably turned out to be too heavy for use. See the Pedulla section. Gear 2021: Ending a big week for Gibson that began with the acquisition of Mesa/Boogie, the company has now announced a new partnership with Kiss icon Gene Simmons. It's a little hard to say when the Gibson sponsorship ran out but the classic "KISS uses Gibson Guitars and Pearl drums because they want the best" was present on the back cover of Love gun (June) but absent on Alive II (November). The body is completely original but based on the concept of an old Gibson Melody Maker. The bridge is a thornier issue. Theres a lot to like about this costly Thunderbird, from its searing hot tones to that striking mirror-on-black aesthetic. However, it was his time as an assistant at Vogue and Glamour magazines that could have led to a very different career. Apparently, the staff were all in a meeting when Gene burst into the room - unannounced. It was a stab at the more affordable market then dominated by Fender so it was a straight-forward instrument without fancy inlays and with controls and pickups mounted on the scratchplate. Sadly, neither relationship lasted for Gene. As with everything he does, Simmons has big plans . It is only shown in a series of backstage pics from February or March 1976, a single backstage pic from Stockholm, Sweden on 76.05.28, and a later backstage instrument lineup from Daytom, OH 76.08.08. Nick also has some acting credits to his name. It also speaks volumes of Gene's "working-bass" concept: as long as it works and looks good enough, it will do. It even has the original pickup right up to the end of 1980. So the three mentioned is probably two #1's and one #2 (more of which later). There is a bass resembling the Grabber, based on the headstock, standing offstage in a pic from 76.02.01, in. It looked as though he was all set to reach the big time as it wasnt long before his work gained plenty of fans worldwide. His. Watch on. More importantly, however, this feels like a real Thunderbird and being handmade in the USA, it very much is one, with an incredibly resonant mahogany body that rings loud acoustically beforeyouve even plugged it in. 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. Apparently, Gene has always been obsessed with comic books and knows some of the biggest names who have worked on the art over the years, but it was getting his hands on certain Golden Age books and turning them around for $10,000 each that really saw the money start rolling in from a young age. One of the least used basses in Gene's arsenal, the Gibson Les Paul Triumph doesn't appear in any live photographs from 1976. The LoBue worked tirelessly night in and night out and didn't go through any changes except the wear and tear of heavy use. 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. LoBue custom Fender P-bass. Miley Cyrus is one of the many on the list as the musician wanted to break away from her Disney Channel persona in the most memorable way possible. Search child forums as well The offstage shot also gives us the first look at the tape coverup of the original bridge holes as discussed below, thus beginning Gene's long use of tape coverups. What I will refer to as Spector #1 (although in reality it is two basses) makes it debut for the Love Gun tour on the very first night in Halifax. Spector #2 Skip to main content. After having used a few different basses during the time in Wicked Lester, an Epiphone that was stolen and a Fender P-bass with a Gibson EB-0 pickup, Gene finally found his weapon of choice in the shape of a Charlie LoBue custom bass. Then came the aftermath. This mk I version shows the "standard" SB-1 controls with one volume and one tone knob (both in silver) and a front output jack (missing is the mini-switch which was standard on the SB-1). That Gene managed to play that bass and actually got something resembling music from it is a true accomplishment. 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. 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. By the time we're through, there will be a Flying V, and there's even going to be a double-neck guitar and bass. The Gibson Gene Simmons G Thunderbird Bass is out now, priced 2,499 / $2,799. The first two are just simple changing of the knobs. They have one album and a handful of collaborations, but thats not all. No matter what Gene may say in various interviews, the various instruments he's tried and modified over the years all point to him wanting a simple, no-frills instrument. The LoBue was the undisputed no. When KISS did their first "European" tour in 4 years they stopped by a TV studio in Hilversum, Holland on May 29 to record singback versions of Unholy and God Gave Rock 'n' Roll To You II for the show Countdown. Thats right; the bass player is often seen with blood pouring from his mouth, but dont worry; no bass players are harmed in the making of the act. "So first, it's a through . If there is one thing that several musicians hate more than most things, its people pirating their music. . The first known sighting of this bass is on 75.08.09 and it doesn't seem to survive 1975. The theory is that this is a simple piece of tape covering up a hole that used to fit a mini switch and the photo from San Diego 77.08.19 even seem to show that hole. Personal messages from members of The Gene Simmons Bass Collectors Club. Following up on this thread, I found an article on one of the Gibson basses Gene Simmons used in the early years of KISS. Gene continued to add how he thinks Prince slowly took his life over many years by using drink and illegal substances, even though neither were mentioned in the official report. After being on a breif hiatus the Thunderbird returned to the Gibson catalogue in 1976 for the Bicentennial. If theres one thing that Gene Simmons is proud of in his life, its the supposed number of women that hes been with throughout his career. People accused Nick of plagiarizing ideas from the likes of Hellsing, One Piece, and Bleach, something that was enough to see the youngsters dreams of becoming a graphic novel author vanish before he got his time to shine. The imposing imagery the Axe inspires would lead many to believe that it is purely a stage instrument, but it was used extensively in the studio through the years as the tonal properties were always a priority. "You can get a Gene Simmons Axe or Punisher signed; they go from $5,000 to $15,000. What one can argue is that it seems highly unlikely that a rear output jack would be placed on the upper part of the body, far away from the rest of the electronics.). From there it goes out to an Empress Compressor and one of two Tech 21 VT-Bass 1969 amps. Shannon Tweed rose to fame as a Playboy model and actress before she met and wooed Gene at the Playboy Mansion. . Cause & Effects: Are vintage effects pedals always the best examples of their type. While his larger-than-life, demonic imagery . 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. . Simmons was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 as a member of . Gene was walking backward when he took the fall, and it wasnt long before someone rushed in to help the star back to his feet. tour. (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. 1 810 cab. It has been suggested that it was a series/parallell switch which is feasible. If one is to believe the quote from Gene above it may just be locked away in storage since it didn't surface for the auction. It has also been suggested that this one is actually from 1981 but that would make it later than the production model Kramer Axe which would cast some doubt on Carr's statement above. Ron Wood is very under-appreciated. Nah Gene Simmons is a dick, and his bass lines are sometimes very simple, but he has this cool running bass thing going which is pretty unique and sounds cool. The Spector takes over as the #1 and during the early part of the Love Gun tour it is brought out only occasionally soon to disappear completely. Here we see the original two-knob version on the far left and a few pics of the modified one-knob version. As seen in the pictures below, all taken from the first month of the Love Gun tour, there is an "irregularity" in the finish below the volume knob that can't be explained by a reflection or a shadow. The Cort Axe Bass reproduces the bass guitar Gene made so famousthe same style of bass that Gene plays onstage. While the price tag for the Axe basses might be high, they are often sold as a package deal with other perks. The bass player was planning on rising up above the stage on some wires. As for the modifications, it has been refinished and there's additional binding not on the original; under the bridge cover is a Leo Quan Badass bridge with the strings loading through the body via added string ferrules; a ca. (The number of replicas that have turned up over the years is a clear indication of the bass' truly iconic status.) The bass guitar's mahogany body produces crisp tone with plenty of heavy bass for that signature Detroit Rock City sound. "The first instruments are the Thunderbird basses, which will come in a few different colors. The idea that it was a built-in fuzz is much less likely. Gene Simmons has occupied the public consciousness since 1973, when Kiss first burst into the scene. It might sound impossible, but its true. My reference points were people like Paul McCartney. Thank you for reading 5 articles this month*, US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year, UK pricing 2.99 per month or 29.00 per year, Europe pricing 3.49 per month or 34.00 per year, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription. The first G model is a Thunderbird Bass. 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 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. Instead, he decided to keep himself as healthy as possible as Gene told CNN that hes never even tried an adult beverage or taken any illegal substances. His grandparents and one uncle were murdered by Hitler's henchmen. It's a smart and quick solution since it's not visible for the most part. Gene Simmons and his son, Nick, have been spotted at a handful of events together over the years. An erstwhile acquaintance of LoBue's who handled the bass in its mkVI incarnation in New Jersey 76.07.10 has suggested that almost all the modifications were done by Charlie or the Guitar Lab rather than Gene's tech. It's not immedeately obvious but if one looks closely at the pics below there are pieces of tape that are there to hold it in place. In the case of Kramer, Jackson and Cort, as soon as quality started to dip, a new builder would be found. )Although not as obvious this is also seen in the pic from Toledo 76.07.30. If I wanted to learn something from Gene Simmons it would be how to run a business and make money. Things got off to a bad start when Gene started telling inappropriate jokes and only got worse when he began hitting people with copies of his new book. Now, Inc. estimates that Gene Simmons is worth a whopping $300 million. This custom prototype Axe bass was built by Steve Carr who originally came to work for the band when his one-time apprentice became Ace's guitar tech in 1978. Whether or not this is the first Axe that Gene got or not is something of a mystery. Malcolm Young more influential than EVH or Clapton? Greg Kennelty. GS Backstage M&G Vampire Bass Pkg = $7495. In 2012, Madonna fans were in for a treat as the pop star was lined up to star at the Super Bowl halftime show. Its one thing to be in a band. (My original theory was that the blade was originally silver and refinished black but the dating of the photo shoots are well-established.) The luthier and Gene's fellow NYC resident (whom Gene describes as a consummate craftsman, something he feels is missing in today's world), would build Gene his first custom bass. This time it looks like a fairly standard Fender bridge (mk V). It was probably added to help the intonation problems inherent in any set bridge like the original, but this one proved problematic as the few surviving pictures show that the strings had a tendency to skip out of position. As one of the founding members of KISS, Gene Simmons is certainly one of the most recognizable faces in rock music. After that modification number two kicks in and we see another set of knobs. It seems this only made Gene even angrier than ever. It seems that Gene thinks its time for one genre in particular to disappear: rap. 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. Switching to just the bridge pickup, theres a huge shift in the midrange and a noticeable drop in the low-end thats perfect for chords or riffs that need less sonic boom and more snarl, such as Simmons opening lines to Love Gun and Shout It Out Loud, played higher up the neck on the first string. It wasnt long before people were outraged by the comments, and Gene was forced to apologize. It's been suggested that the incredible disappearing binding was masking tape that Gene himself applied during the hours of tedium on the tour bus. At about eight or nine years of age [*] Spiro of tribute band fame has mentioned that Gene told him it was stolen while being away for repairs after Gene "fell off the front of the stage". So much so that Gibson put out a demo vinyl record showcasing the various tones the system was capable of. Kiss were Gibson endorsees in those days so it could well be that Simmons got it as a promotional . The bassist will bring back the Gene Simmons' Axe MasterClass for fans . In the video clip from In Concert below (shot on 74.02.21) we see the original incarnation of the LoBue in all its glory. That was until 2011 when Gene suddenly got down on one knee and decided to make things official. Kiss legend Gene Simmons fondly recalls the days when a fledgling Rush would regularly play support to the panstick-sporting rockers. However, he's also been known for the varied love life he's led over the years, with his numerous relationships having been . And most people know that he was partial to using it while spending time the many thousands of women the frontman claimed to have spent time with . The Kramer Axe was fine for playback but for one of very few live TV performances (the first one since 1974?) A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. This mkV version stays unmolested for the remainder of 1979, the last photographic evidence being from 79.12.06. Newer Than: Search this thread only; Search this forum only. Of course, it could also be so simple that the band and management felt that the new, more serious concept album KISS weren't properly represented by an instrument that looked like an Axe. I don't often have a lot of good things to say about . The basses are often signed or played on stage depending on what price point the buyer wants to reach for. A Tribute to the Pedulla 1988 MVP4 - The Gene Simmons Vampire Punisher. Although it was supposed to be a simple shopping spree, its said the couple ended up falling head over heels in love with one another, destroying Chers relationship with Gene and her friendship with Diana. The second change of the Return of KISS tour are actually two changes. The one below from Cleveland 79.07.19 is the only one I've found that is actually from 1979. I do stuff because I get excited about it and then I hope that other people will get excited about it as well. [*] The Axe presented here has quite a different design than the one that would end up being used but according to the photos it actually made it on tour with the band, seen here in Knoxville on 79.09.12 next to Spector #2. In 1978 Gene recalled that: "[I used that bass] For about four years, until one night I threw it to my roadie. The reddish metal flake Grabber first shows up in Fayetteville, NC on 74.11.30 but it doesn't see steady action until 1975. And don't worry - Kiss isn't gonna pull a Mtley Cre on you and . [****] Personal communication with Jack Williamson who asked Free about the matter. 1996 Guitars that Rule the World, Metal Edge presents KISS Alive. What we can say for sure is that it is black with a new pickguard by 75.11.07 and then emerges backstage in Toledo on 75.11.12 sporting a P-bass pickup. "Kiss was born on 23rd Street. PART I : Why there is virtually no bass on KISS' 80s music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgipSAdZiKw&t=3s If you like what you see please support_____. The clip is an outtake from the 2012 documentary Sample This. Sadly, we get the feeling that Gene would have rocked a lot less face paint during his time in the classroom. For the 1981 TV appearances in Mexico and the sattelite feed to the San Remo festival Gene relied on the Kramer Axe. Gi. Both stars were known for their use of illegal substances, and both lost their lives while they were still in their prime. You know, I dont think in those terms, he explains. However, some. "The first project with KISS for me, was when Gene said he wanted a guitar shaped like an executioner's axe. I have a very large ego, dont wonder about that! The Vega wireless system is mentioned in KISS Alive Forever on p. 83. 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. It turns out the people at Fox News were less than impressed with Genes alleged behavior as the security guards reportedly had to intervene and escort the star from the building. The headstock featured Gene's autograph and the pointy shape of the head was mirrored by a bizarre pointed part below the bridge. The pickup becomes a Gibson EB-0 style, something that Gene had experimented with before (the Fender he used during the Wicked Lester days) and it would be the last pickup change for the LoBue. There is only one man that gave us the licks that inspired us to "Rock and Roll All Nite," - Gene Simmons, the legendary rock icon and bassist from KISS. This guitar was purchased brand NEW in the year 2000! Get the latest news, reviews and features to your inbox. See the evolution of Gene's Bass technique!! PURCHASE & PAYMENT PLANS. Still, it was captured on film, meaning Gene wont forget the moment anytime soon. Note the original single coil pickup and the snug fit of the pickguard around the pickup in the picture on the right. 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. Hot on the heels of the announcement of Gibson's acquisition of Mesa/Boogie, the company has unveiled another new partnership, this time with Kiss bassist Gene Simmons. Photographic evidence doesn't allow for three #1 Spectors, there are only two. Plenty of articles can tell you what the Axe is, the wood and the metal the specs, but to get the real insight on what this legendary instrument meansyou have to go to the source, the man whos been playing it all these years, Mr Gene Simmons himself. A customized electric bass guitar - the "Gene Simmons Axe Bass" - was especially created for him by South Korean giant Cort. The rockstar was born in Israel where Gene says his family lived in extreme poverty before they saved enough to emigrate to the States and start a new life. 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. That certainly would have been one way to get the kids listening. 2023 Guitar.com is part of NME Networks. The iconic Kiss bassist promises his new signature instrument is "The most fun you'll be able to have with your pants on". The application claimed that Gene first used the gesture in 1974 while posing for a photo with the legend that is Dave Grohl. We asked the man himself. 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). He's interviewed everyone from Ozzy Osbourne and Lemmy to Slash and Jimmy Page, and once even traded solos with a member of Slayer on a track released internationally. 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. The rockstar replied Ice Cube should get in touch when Jimi Hendrix gets into the hip hop hall of fame.. 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. Here we can see the outline of the tape coverup (check the full-size pic for better detail) for the last time. However, the couple was never in a rush to make it down the aisle. Strings - Lutes - Guitars. Gene's version is either a '76 or '77 ebony version that was modfied from the get-go. This phenomenon can also be spotted at the start of the Return of KISS tour. During one interview, the rockstar was asked if he admired anyone else more than himself. I dont care, it doesnt mean anything to me.. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, 1 bass for Gene and the exceedingly brief appearance of the Fender Precision is only in the role of backup. Along with the refinish the knobs were changed to match the new color. . Well, in simple terms its a neck-through construction instrument with a hard maple neck and mahogany axe blade body. For the past eight years, Thayer has been touring exclusively with a pair of his signature 100-watt Hughes & Kettner DuoTone heads (Thayer . It was even Genes love of comic books that saw Kiss adopt many of their stage mannerisms and gimmicks that have made the bands performances so famous over the years. In 1987 Gene turns up with what looks like a slightly altered version of the Jackson. While Sophie does work as a musician, she decided that she wanted to make it on her own and that she wasnt ready to use her dads name to make a career for herself. "I just had a guy named Stuart Spector build me one with a longer neck. The three-night stand in Detroit from 77.01.27, represented here by the pro-shot video from the third night, is the first sighting of the last incarnation of the LoBue (mk VIII). Sadly, that all changed in 2017 when the rockstar made a bit too much of a lasting impression at the new network after a meeting gone wrong. Heres how it works. This particular version of the bass doesn't last long as both the bridge and the pickup are soon changed for mk IV. What are you waiting for. Love him or hate him, Gene Simmons has probably become one of the most high-profile ambassadors of electric bass since Kiss released its self-titled debut album in 1974. 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. The SB-1 had a mini switch, something that none of Gene's Spectors have and it would be easy to assume that his instruments were simply built without one. Long believed to be a prototype for a possible Gibson Gene Simmons signature guitar, this bass is actually a heavily modified 60's Gibson EB-0. John Lennon's Gibson J-160E Acoustic-Electric - $2.4 Million. the #2 Spector got the nod. The following day, Fox News announced that Gene had been permanently banned from the studios, with some reports claiming there is a photo of Gene behind the security desk to ensure he never sneaks in. Kiss first burst into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame, meaning Gene wont forget gene simmons basses through the years moment soon! 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What price point the buyer wants to reach for first instruments are the returned. Much so that Gibson put out a demo vinyl record showcasing the various tones the system was capable of suddenly... So much so that Gibson put out a demo vinyl record showcasing the various tones system... Like about this costly Thunderbird, from its searing hot tones to that striking mirror-on-black aesthetic peoples intelligence depending the. More problematic of the Jackson have a very large ego, dont wonder about that fairly! Interview, the gene simmons basses through the years were all in a pic from Toledo 76.07.30 quick since. In music, thanks to his time in the year 2000 asked Free about the matter in 2014 a... Same style of bass that Gene managed to play that bass and actually got something resembling from! Recent years meaning Gene wont forget the moment anytime soon mirrored by a bizarre pointed part below the above. By Hitler & # x27 ; Axe MasterClass for fans fledgling Rush regularly! ; You can get a Gene Simmons G Thunderbird bass is out now, priced /... From 79.12.06 in particular to disappear: rap new inlay t often have a lot to like about this Thunderbird...

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