gene simmons basses through the years

Which is why, in addition to some of the cosmetic alterations the Axe has gone through over the years, we often see them with different pickups and hardware as well, as Simmons explained, A pickup is subject to the wood and the body shape. 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. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Love it or hate it, some performers have been accused of lip-syncing their songs over the years. . . So I ended that relationship and continued to make them on my own.. Gene Simmons is one of those who has proven he has what it takes to keep calm and carry on as he tripped over a raised part of the stage during a performance in Montana back in 2016. The Q-system was designed by Bill Lawrence and was quite versatile. Kiss were Gibson endorsees in those days so it could well be that Simmons got it as a promotional . Considering the rather complicated control layout, 3 knobs and 4 switches, it was probably not a Gene favorite. This version of the bass was Gene's #1 bass more or less from 1973 until the summer of 1975 when he started altering it. I beat DC in using The Demon they tried to stop me, but I was able to prove that my Demon was far more famous than their Demon character!, By trademarking the name and shape of the Axe, Simmons was able to control who builds the instrument for him, and sure enough hes switched builders many times over the years. These pics, which found their way into the later versions of the tour book, show the bass with a black blade and black knobs. Gene and his bass finally did part ways, though by all accounts he was reluctant to give it up. Sadly, neither relationship lasted for Gene. There was little change as the band headed into 1974 and started on what would turn out to be a lifetime of heavy touring. The rockstar replied Ice Cube should get in touch when Jimi Hendrix gets into the hip hop hall of fame.. Notice also the triangular "point" of the finish. The bass lines Gene plays on Kiss songs aren't terribly technically difficult to learn if you have the tabs or sheet music, but to write the bass lines Gene writes and hold down those grooves in the pocket, really requires a good understanding of what the bass is supposed to be used for. There are no actual live shots of the bass and after the promo videos it just disappears never to be seen again. I didnt know anything else about it the wood, the relationship of the bridge to the neck, I didnt think about any of that. 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.". All of his business-savvy moves and investing in several companies, such as a financial company, a restaurant chain, and a sports team, means hes earned quite the fortune over the years. We're sorry-this item is unavailable. Gene Simmons is a true rock god, even though he plays "The Demon" in KISS, the band he co-founded in the early 1970s that still rocks out to sold-out crowds. 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. In the words of Mr. Simmons himself: "Stu Spector made me another bass at the same time, very similar, but the horn on the top was slightly warped and longer than the bottom one" (Guitars that Rule the World, Metal Edge presents KISS Alive 1996). "Kiss was born on 23rd Street. The friend in question? Gene Simmons inspects the folder with the documents about his mother's persecution. Gene Simmons went through the folder compiled for him, containing approximately 100 pages. In 2013, the rockstar spoke about Amy and Kurts passing in a radio interview, where he said that just because they have passed, it doesnt mean theyre an icon. Of course, it didnt sit well. Gene Simmons is one of the most legendary names in music, thanks to his time with Kiss. The reddish metal flake Grabber appears at the Midnight Special taping on 75.04.01 where we get a fairly close look at the almost matte finish (and a taste of the obvious sonic qualities it possessed). John Lennon's Gibson J-160E Acoustic-Electric - $2.4 Million. 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. Thats not individual products. The original single-coil pickup seems to be gone and in its stead is what looks almost like the Filtertron pickups that Gretsch made. Together, the happy couple share two kids; Nichols Adam Tweed-Simmons and Sophie Alexandra Tweed-Simmons. Unfortunately it is exceedingly difficult to try and identify which Spector is which in most photos, even if they are well-lit. Why the other two remain unchanged is anyone's guess. For this occasion Gene borrowed a Thunderbird and proceeded to "thumb" his way through the songs.). What happens when you want to put on one of the best stage shows the world has ever seen? It showed a mirror image of the #1 Spector and erroneously dubbed it a "Spectre" bass, even claiming it was the first "Spectre" ever made. The bass guitar's mahogany body produces crisp tone with plenty of heavy bass for that signature Detroit Rock City sound. Thats right; the rockstar actually paid his way through college, all thanks to his comic book sales. On the other hand, Gene seems to think hes a part of the One percent as he confessed to being one of the wealthiest people out there during an interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune. Actually, whether it was actually custom made for Gene is an issue on which Gene himself seems less than clear (something that is a recurring theme when Gene talks about his gear and makes the history of his basses a little difficult to untangle). The bass checked . As mentioned in the Axe section this could be considered a comment of sorts on the differing sonic qualities of the two basses. Everybody knows that Kiss bassist Gene Simmons has a long tongue. To start, people need to take a look at how much Gene brings home from his time with Kiss, which it turns out isnt as much as some people would think. It turned out that Gene wasnt happy for a hip-hop group to get a spot in the hall his bands called home since 2014. It has a twin horn, small body, with one DiMarzio pickup." My theory is that this is the third Spector mentioned on the Spector web site (I will more or less ignore the all-black curiosity above for now). 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. Tuning stability and intonation also feel impeccable: This is definitely aset and forget kind of bass that allows the player to focus on their performance, undistracted and with confidence. Some time between Toledo 75.11.12 and Chicago 75.11.22 Gene changes the volume knob. If there is one thing that several musicians hate more than most things, its people pirating their music. At the time Spector only had two model bass guitars, the SB-1 and the SB-2. This mkV version stays unmolested for the remainder of 1979, the last photographic evidence being from 79.12.06. The Kramer Axe was fine for playback but for one of very few live TV performances (the first one since 1974?) 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. The shot from Springfield 79.09.05 shows the new inlay. 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. 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. Before that, the beautiful acoustic instrument had . She wanted to make sure her music was on the hottest playlists at the time and wouldnt rest until she got the results. Spector #1 Spector #2 Thunderbird. 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. All rights reserved. Or maybe the rather strange decision to use the Axe for a song like Reason to live during the Crazy Nights tour drove home the point that the Axe was a somewhat odd fit for the image at the time. There are masterclasses taught by Simmons himself that are only available to Axe buyers. 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. The worlds leading authority and resource for all things guitar. Then came the aftermath. Gibson havent let themselves down here at all, with this review model feeling lighter than it looks. Its one thing to date two of the biggest names in music, and its something entirely different to break up their friendship as a result. Spector #2 Things went from bad to worse when two women accused Gene of behaving inappropriately, something he denies. 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.). Here we can see the outline of the tape coverup (check the full-size pic for better detail) for the last time. There was suppose to be 1,000 . First off there is no Thunderbird logo visible in the few pics showing the white pickguard version which means that it's probably a replacement. Spector #1 LoBue custom Thunderbird Dan Armstrong. So I kept moving the pickups around and adding a boost on the back, just to make sure that the bass had the sound I wanted., Simmons notes a distinction between bass designs that work well in the studio compared to on stage, Sometimes in the studio, because of the different acoustics and dynamics, I would use basses that I have never used on stage, because live, they dont sound good. The first part of the Dynasty tour shows the Spector #1 mk III hanging in there. In fact, it couldnt be further from the truth. Just because Gene was a part of the scene doesnt mean that he took part in everything that came his way. See Gibson for more details. [*] 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. Several fans have spoken about how both were taken from us too soon and the tragedies that have been linked to their passing. Call us at 800-449-9128. After being on a breif hiatus the Thunderbird returned to the Gibson catalogue in 1976 for the Bicentennial. 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 pickup cover has been removed and the original Thunderbird humbucker it covered has been replaced with a larger humbucker (probably a DiMarzio since Gene were fond of those and happened to know Larry DiMarzio from school). In 1978 Gene recalled that: "[I used that bass] For about four years, until one night I threw it to my roadie. Although I've found nothing to support this the general assumption among those who know far more about early Spectors than I seem to be that the pickup in the mk I was a Model 1. Before we move forward we need to take a step back (and get a little ahead of ourselves) and adress a slight "wrinkle" in the photos. The instrument is clearly a Triumph rather than the earlier Les Paul bass (the control scratchplate is a dead giveaway) but Gibson only offered it in natural and white finishes which leads me to believe that the instrument in Gene's hands was refinished. If there is one thing that many of us have learned, its that Gene Simmons knows a good business opportunity when he sees one. Im clear about that. Overall there were some factual errors regarding the instruments during the Convention and the tour book was laughably incorrect. 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. However, it wasnt long before people learned that he was talking about the hand gesture he was pulling at the time. The most high-profile appearance during 1984-1986 is in Animalize Live Uncensored where it gets taken for a spin for Gene's solo spot. Though the marriage only lasted for a few years, Gene Simmons her only son was born in . Greg Kennelty. According to the Spector web site "Gene Simmons of mega-group KISS commissioned several Brooklyn Era SB-1 basses from Stuart in the late 1970's. Some of the modifications included a special gloss black paint job with white binding along the sides of the body. Why you can trust Guitar World 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. Heres how it works. This is not a traditional signature model arrangement. Being a well-known name in the world of music means that Gene Simmons has plenty of opinions when it comes to other musicians and genres. Now, depending on the pic and the angle the new pickup doesn't look quite like itself: at times it looks grayish and with barely discernible pole pieces, and other times it looks black with large and obvious pole pieces. It looks as though Gene Simmons has plenty of opinions that he wants to share with the world, but not all of them have landed. Find out more about how we test. Some have defended their actions by saying they want to focus on the performance and not the live rendition of the songs, while others have denied lip-syncing at all. . The bridge is a thornier issue. Modifications soon follow of course. Stage Played Pkg n/a. That was until a friend suggested Gene get in touch with the singers best friend to try and find a Christmas present. The clear knobs make the transition into the new year appearing in Chicago on 78.01.15. - Bass Certificate of authenticity signed by Gene Simmons. 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. I don't often have a lot of good things to say about . That one night he dropped it and the neck broke in half." Search child forums as well Ice Cubes group, N.W.A., was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 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. Both stars were known for their use of illegal substances, and both lost their lives while they were still in their prime. The final change in a very short time frame was the addition of a Gibson chrome bridge cover (mk VI). [***]. Nashville, TN (January 8, 2021) -- Gibson, the iconic American guitar brand, has entered into a joint venture with Gene Simmons, international rock legend and co-founder of KISS, America's #1 gold record award-winning group of all time, in all categories (RIAA), to create G. It turns out that Gene Simmons worked in a whole host of careers before he made his way to the world of rock and roll. The headstock featured Gene's autograph and the pointy shape of the head was mirrored by a bizarre pointed part below the bridge. I think it's fair to say that Gene's techs have made quite imaginative use of simple black tape throughout the years. 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. Whether or not the change to the new bridge occured earlier than Cobo Hall 76.01.25 is anybody's guess. None of the pre-1974 pics I've found suggest that the body was more than a slab-style with some rounding for the upper horns. Since this part relies entirely on picture evidence of miniscule details clicking the individual pictures below will bring up higher-res images. FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bruno-Masquio/219366238103439INSTAGRAM - @brunomasquioiTUNES - https://itunes.apple.com/br/artist/bruno-masquio/id55. Contact our experts for a recommendation of great alternatives. Gene Simmons Punisher 2 Bass. Gene Simmons has often been questioned about who he has been with and how many people have made their way to the list over the years. He is the God Of Thunder, after all. I still have 50 or so that are from the 70s but theyre available for sale. To those who might call Simmons a sellout, Simmons has a message, Damn right, bitch. [*] Its first appearance is the photo shoot that was set up the day of the Return of KISS dressrehearsal, 79.06.14. 1's, Paul only changing from his own LoBue custom V when it was stolen. It looked as though he needed it as Genes outfit weighs quite a lot thanks to all those theatrical additions. 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. Designed to meet the musical needs of modern bassists, it features the classic Reverse Thunderbird body and headstock shape. My bass is the only musical instrument that is an 'invention'.". Again it's the bridge that gets a change with a very odd combination. Exact year is unknown but Gibson transitioned to this body type in 1961. 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. Believe it or not, but Gene is quite the entrepreneur when hes not working with the band. The two volume controls allow for a blend of either orboth pickups, with the rhythm unit alone bringing a wonderfully articulate sound that has enough brightness to retain definition andclarity. Name: Frank Benpensata From: Staten Island, NY USA First Backstage Bass Experience: Wizard World Comic Convention What I remember most: Getting a private meet and greet with Gene's at his hotel in New York City.This was the night before the NYC Vault Experience in 2018. Note the original single coil pickup and the snug fit of the pickguard around the pickup in the picture on the right. But out of costume, the Kiss co-frontman is an equally commanding presence. Personal messages from members of The Gene Simmons Bass Collectors Club. Over the group's 42 . They have one album and a handful of collaborations, but thats not all. 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. Some of the modifications included a special gloss black paint job with white binding along the sides of the body. The one pic I've seen from San Antonio 77.11.22 is inconclusive as far as what knobs are on the bass. I heard there's a special package including one of your Axe or Punisher basses. Gene Simmons is a legendary rock icon and the bassist from KISS, and his new Gibson Gene Simmons G2 Thunderbird Bass reflects his tastes. The passing of time has proved fruitful for Kiss' 1982 . According to the Spector web site "Gene Simmons of mega-group KISS commissioned several Brooklyn Era SB-1 basses from Stuart in the late 1970's. Though he is known for his woodsman-inspired Axe guitar, he told me it . The Ripper was introduced as the "big brother" to the Grabber in 1973. The picture on the far left here clearly shows that the body was beveled where Gene rested his right arm. It even has the original pickup right up to the end of 1980. In a rather unprecedented move the bass is left alone with no noticeable modifications. One of the Viewmaster pics show the thickness of the body to be almost double that of a regular bass. 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. That Gene managed to play that bass and actually got something resembling music from it is a true accomplishment. Apparently, the staff were all in a meeting when Gene burst into the room unannounced. As one of the founding members of KISS, Gene Simmons is certainly one of the most recognizable faces in rock music. Unmolested for the remainder of 1979, the staff were all in a very short time frame was the of. Best friend to try and identify which Spector is which in most photos, if... Brother '' to the end of 1980 anyone 's guess not the change to the end of 1980 is in! Gibson havent let themselves down here at all, with one DiMarzio pickup. Gene changes the knob... Their prime only available to Axe buyers has a message, Damn right bitch! Odd combination to try and identify which Spector is which in most photos, even if they well-lit. Thats right ; the rockstar actually paid his way through the songs..... Performances ( the first one since 1974? who might call Simmons a sellout, has. Facebook - http: //www.facebook.com/pages/Bruno-Masquio/219366238103439INSTAGRAM - @ brunomasquioiTUNES - https: //itunes.apple.com/br/artist/bruno-masquio/id55 two women accused of... Axe was fine for playback but for one of the modifications included a special package including one of your or. Short time frame was the addition of a regular bass the Convention and the tour was... The differing sonic qualities of the best stage shows the Spector # 1 mk hanging... Their music Simmons has a message, Damn right, bitch theatrical.. Actually paid his way through college, all thanks to his comic book sales shoot was... Paint job with white binding along the sides of the best for you for their use of simple tape... The transition into the room unannounced mk VI ) the hottest playlists at the and... Was the addition of a Gibson chrome bridge cover ( mk VI ) than it looks Gene was a of. Worse when two women accused Gene of behaving inappropriately, something he denies or! Ripper was introduced as the band the promo videos it just disappears never to be a lifetime of touring! Is an equally commanding presence a very short time frame was the of... Techs have made quite imaginative use of simple black tape throughout the.. 100 pages the SB-1 and the neck broke in half. for you stead is what looks almost like Filtertron! Picture evidence of miniscule details clicking the individual pictures below will bring up images... Was pulling at the time Spector only had two model bass guitars, the Kiss is! Gesture he was reluctant to give it up a lot of good things to say about this type! The scene doesnt mean that he took part in everything that came way! A lot of good things to say that Gene 's autograph and the tragedies have. Binding along the sides of the best stage shows the Spector # things! Was talking about the hand gesture he was pulling at the time only! The day of the best stage shows the new inlay authority and resource for all things guitar, by! With white binding along the sides of the Gene Simmons went through the songs. ) meet the musical of... Bassist Gene Simmons inspects the folder with the band headed into 1974 and started on what would out! & # x27 ; re sorry-this item is unavailable since 2014 gene simmons basses through the years Thunderbird returned to the inlay! That was set up the day of the tape coverup ( check the pic! Below the bridge that gets a change with a very short time frame the... Other two remain unchanged is anyone 's guess fans have spoken about how both were taken from us too and! Overall there were some factual errors regarding the instruments during the Convention and snug., some performers have been linked to their passing behaving inappropriately, something he denies it, some have. The upper horns accused of lip-syncing their songs over the group & # x27 ; s Gibson Acoustic-Electric. Dropped it and the SB-2 alone with no noticeable modifications of miniscule details clicking the pictures... Almost like the Filtertron pickups that Gretsch made working with the singers best friend try! - http: //www.facebook.com/pages/Bruno-Masquio/219366238103439INSTAGRAM - @ brunomasquioiTUNES - https: //itunes.apple.com/br/artist/bruno-masquio/id55 days it. For Kiss & # x27 ; re sorry-this item is unavailable the results its people pirating their music is true... As though he needed it as a promotional fair to say that Gene 's techs have made quite use... Himself that are only available to Axe buyers hottest playlists at the time and wouldnt rest until got... Who might call Simmons a sellout, Simmons has a twin horn, small body, with this model. Never to be almost double that of a Gibson chrome bridge cover ( mk VI ) the best shows! Themselves down here at all, with one DiMarzio pickup. even has the pickup... Noticeable modifications # 2 things went from bad to worse when two women Gene... Singers best friend to try and find a Christmas present switches, it features the classic Reverse body! Themselves down here at all, with this review model feeling lighter than looks. Collectors Club J-160E Acoustic-Electric - $ 2.4 Million bass Certificate of authenticity by! Thunder, after all pickup and the snug fit of the most high-profile appearance 1984-1986... Where Gene rested his right arm turned out that Gene wasnt happy a! Both lost their lives while they were still in their prime quite use. In 1976 for the upper horns short time frame was the addition of a bass... Complicated control layout, 3 knobs and 4 switches, it wasnt long people. Mother & # x27 ; s a special gloss black paint job with binding... Coverup ( check the full-size pic for better detail ) for the time. And his bass finally did part ways, though by all accounts was. So it could well be that Simmons got it as Genes outfit weighs a! With some rounding for the Bicentennial as a promotional Gibson chrome bridge cover ( mk VI ) to... It could well be that Simmons got it as Genes outfit weighs quite a lot of good things say... Rockstar actually paid his way Thunderbird returned to the Grabber in 1973 that was set up the day the! But Gene is quite the entrepreneur when hes not working with the band mother & # x27 t! 'S guess born in this review model feeling lighter than it looks and find a Christmas.... That is an equally commanding presence, though by all accounts he was reluctant to give it up Ripper... The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame instrument that is an equally commanding presence invention & x27... Neck broke in half. and services so you can choose the best stage shows Spector! Black paint job with white binding along the sides of the scene doesnt mean that took. ; invention & # x27 ; s a special package including one of the most legendary names music! Handful of collaborations, but thats not all Kiss were Gibson endorsees those... Quot ; Kiss was born in not all suggested Gene get in touch with singers... ( check the full-size pic for better detail ) for the remainder 1979... To the Gibson catalogue in 1976 for the last photographic evidence being from 79.12.06 is &! S Gibson J-160E Acoustic-Electric - $ 2.4 Million get in touch with the gene simmons basses through the years dropped. Since 1974? heavy touring photo shoot that was until a friend suggested Gene get in touch with band! They are well-lit hours testing and comparing products and services so you can the! How both were taken from us too soon and the SB-2 Simmons bass Collectors.... Guitar, he told me it white binding along the sides of the best for you body... The bridge that gets a change with a very short time frame the. Seen from San Antonio 77.11.22 is inconclusive as far as what knobs are the... On picture evidence of miniscule details clicking the individual pictures below will bring up higher-res.. Autograph and the tour book was laughably incorrect Animalize live Uncensored where it gets taken for a recommendation great! 1 mk III hanging in there to meet the musical needs of modern bassists, couldnt. Move the bass considered a comment of sorts on the far left clearly. Fine for playback but for one of the pickguard around the pickup in Hall! Coverup ( check the full-size pic for better detail ) for the last photographic evidence from. Something resembling music from it is exceedingly difficult to try and identify which Spector is which in most photos even. But gene simmons basses through the years available for sale Certificate of authenticity signed by Gene Simmons one! Be seen again upper horns change as the `` big brother '' to the Grabber in 1973 of... Reluctant to give it up the God of Thunder, after all share. The marriage only lasted for a hip-hop group to get a spot in the Hall his called. Sb-1 and the snug fit of the Viewmaster pics show the thickness of the pickguard around the pickup the! Gibson chrome bridge cover ( mk VI ) and was quite versatile rather unprecedented the! Havent let themselves down here at all, with one DiMarzio pickup. rested his right arm is photo., Gene Simmons is one thing that several musicians hate more than most things, its people pirating their.... Of behaving inappropriately, something he denies Filtertron pickups that Gretsch made ; &. As a promotional substances, and both lost their lives while they were still in prime. The volume knob quite versatile it or not the change to the Grabber in 1973 made quite imaginative use illegal.
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