[*] The reddish Grabber was re-finished since Gibson never offered the Grabber in any kind of metal flake finish. This feels like a real Thunderbird and being handmade in the USA, it very much is one, with an incredibly resonant mahogany body. One can see the sparkling of the finish during his blood-spitting routine. Apparently, Gene didnt want to break his mothers heart after her family survived World War II. Rock fans everywhere might disagree as Gene Simmons believes its time to give up on the genre. The two entities have teamed up for G, which will offer multiple electric guitar and bass collections across Gibson Brands, including Gibson, Epiphone and Kramer. The Fender Jazz basses Ive used on some songs, but live, theyre too boomy. 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. My theory is that all of these (with the exception of the already heavily modified EB-0) were endorsement instruments that were either pure backups or ones that Gene tried to make into his kind of bass. 10 young bluesbreakers who are making the Blues fun again, Maybe Id move to Japan and try and be an English teacher! Mastodons Bill Kelliher on the future of the band, his love of Les Pauls and what hed do if he wasnt in the band. 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. There was once a time that Gene Simmons appeared to be on Fox News at every waking moment. 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. All that twerking and tongue flashing was enough to change peoples minds about the star. . 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. 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. Biography reports that Gene actually worked a host of jobs as he tried to raise money to start his own band. Gene has claimed that he had it painted black before the start of the Alive! Or why not treat yourself? 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. One of the many things that fans often cant wait to see is Gene Simmons performing his famous blood-spitting routine. 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. Spector #2 was also a part of the traveling circus that was The Return of KISS but it doesn't seem to have gotten much action. It was one of three designed in this configuration for Gene." The bass(es) were high-gloss black with white trim and a very distinct "point" on the back where the body finish met the unfinished neck (see further down). Sadly, Gene Simmons wasnt impressed with the look. Celebrating 50 years in rock (1966-2016) Gene Simmons, multi-hyphenate entrepreneur, co-founder and front man of KISS, America's number one gold record award-winning group of all time in all categories (RIAA), and one of the most recognized performers in the world, recently announced the . 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. Founding KISS bassist Gene Simmons has partnered with Gibson for a new line of electric guitars and basses dubbed G. (The Thunderbird plays one final role in this story but not until 1992. Since this part relies entirely on picture evidence of miniscule details clicking the individual pictures below will bring up higher-res images. and I am certainly no expert on any of those instruments. Conclusion. Newer Than: Search this thread only; Search this forum only. It seems that Gene thinks its time for one genre in particular to disappear: rap. Great Eastern FX Co. Focus Fuzz review: The best of all possible fuzz worlds in a single box? Oh no, its merely the number of categories that Kiss is now involved with. Malcolm Young more influential than EVH or Clapton? Although he has a huge net worth and plenty of income from his Kiss brand, Gene Simmons isnt in the top richest people in the world. The pics below are from a show in January, either on the 21st or 22nd. Perhaps most importantly of all, it's a bass that's tailor-made for conjuring this larger-than-life character's earth-conquering tones. As with everything he does, Simmons has big plans . Gene tapped Valdez Guitars to build the first one, then Steve Carr built a few, as did Kramer, Jackson, and Cort. So what is the Axe Bass, then? That one night he dropped it and the neck broke in half." These are smaller, all black with a small white dot that shows the naught setting (mk III). For Gene Simmons, playing with Kiss is more than being in a rock and roll band; its about being part of a rock and roll brand. Perhaps its no wonder that Gene has taken his idea of branding the band to the top and cultivated quite the brand over the years? Overview. 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. The basses are often signed or played on stage depending on what price point the buyer wants to reach for. 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. In the case of Kramer, Jackson and Cort, as soon as quality started to dip, a new builder would be found. Some of the modifications included a special gloss black paint job with white binding along the sides of the body. Its one of the most distinctive signature models of all time, but how did the KISS Demon come up with his trusty four-string? 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. Genes got some good . 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. 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. The shift to the Jackson comes about just before the European leg of the Lick it up tour. The contrast between the ebony nitrocellulose lacquer finish against the mirrorplex pickguard and truss-rod cover is eye-catching, treading thefine line between modern edge and classic finesse. It wasnt long before people were outraged by the comments, and Gene was forced to apologize. 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). No matter the angle or lighting, up until now the white binding has been clearly visible at all times. They both had the same body shape and the number only designated the number of pickups. 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. Because of this I will "narrate" this story as if there's a single Spector until much later when they are more easily identifiable. He called her tongue the girls version. Apparently, Gene thinks it shows girls cant play with the guys because it will, in his words, never be as good. At least, that is if you want to avoid a moment like Gene Simmons had at one of his live shows. 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. 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. Believe it or not, but Gene is quite the entrepreneur when hes not working with the band. Heading to a Kiss concert is about more than listening to some of your favorite tunes. It might sound impossible, but its true. During the time they were selling in Spencer's, various companies manufactured the . 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. You've written some truly timeless basslines over the years so what exactly is the Gene Simmons guide to finding the perfect part? But did he ever imagine such a strange instrument would become as successful as it has? The musician was behind some of the most legendary tunes of our time and left a huge mark on the world when he passed in 2016. The passing of Prince was a tragic day for millions of fans across the world. John Lennon's Gibson J-160E Acoustic-Electric - $2.4 Million. here, he blamed the politically correct climate across the nation from stopping Americans saying what they really feel. There are masterclasses taught by Simmons himself that are only available to Axe buyers. Thats not the only time that Gene has opened up about his relationships away from the cameras, as the rockstar later confessed that hed actually been with up to 5,000 different women. The bass on the right is slightly more problematic. It might be no surprise that he doesnt always have nice things to say about fallen stars, including Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain. As well as the pearloid reverse split diamond inlays, its also nice to see the Gibson logo on the front of the headstock, with the G2 logo on the back side near the nut a reassuring consideration given this instruments price. 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. His wife, Canadian actress and 1982 Playboy Playmate of the Year Shannon Tweed, just shelled out $5.8 million for a Malibu . Shannon Tweed - Now Whatever the new binding was actually made with it was one of the least durable materials in the known universe. Gene did have some thoughts for those less fortunate as he continued to tell the world that rich people are the ones keeping things afloat. This guitar was purchased brand NEW in the year 2000! Call us at 800-449-9128. Gone is the original witch-hat knob, in its stead we find a black speed knob. I made several of these until we hit a design that is pretty much what he uses today." The problems with the bridge above promted another change. 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. Several fans have spoken about how both were taken from us too soon and the tragedies that have been linked to their passing. The GENE SIMMONS Meet & Greet Bass Signing Includes: - Choice of Gene Simmons Bass, signed & personalized by Gene Simmons. After showing off a few licks, Simmons points out a particular passage he wants to learn, and Kaye obliges. Once you do, the ceramic magnets in the Rhythm and Lead T-Bird humbuckers pack a powerful and immediate response, with no shortage of punch and depth, making for a bass that sounds, much like the American groups landmark 1975 release, truly alive. Together, the happy couple share two kids; Nichols Adam Tweed-Simmons and Sophie Alexandra Tweed-Simmons. 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. 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. LoBue custom Gibson Grabber Gibson Ripper. And then we come to the "how many Spectors" issue. There is a bass resembling the Grabber, based on the headstock, standing offstage in a pic from 76.02.01, in. We get an excellent close-up of it in the instrument line-up pic from Knoxville but live shots seem to be lacking. 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. Strings - Lutes - Guitars. The string of prototypes that Carr eluded to were probably the ones shown below. Watch on. 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. Earliest known appearance of this version is 75.05.06 in Milwaukee, WI. As far as video evidence goes it first appears in the opening credits of KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park (see below). . - Bass Certificate of authenticity signed by Gene Simmons. As a session guitarist, he's played alongside members of Judas Priest and Uriah Heep in London ensemble Metalworks, as well as handling lead guitars for legends like Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols, The Faces) and Stu Hamm (Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, G3). Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Most of his notable work comes from his time in Genes reality show Gene Simmons Family Jewels.. The entrepreneurial bassist recently reaffirmed his belief that "rock is dead . Spector #1 Spector #2 Thunderbird. Find out more about how we test. . This mk III retains the original violin-type bridge. 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 . It even has the original pickup right up to the end of 1980. Metal, wood. Ice Cubes group, N.W.A., was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. . [*] 1996 Guitars that Rule the World, Metal Edge presents KISS Alive! [****] Personal communication with Jack Williamson who asked Free about the matter. . 1996 Guitars that Rule the World, Metal Edge presents KISS Alive. 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-. Simmons was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 as a member of . It turns out that none of the record labels Sophie contacted actually wanted to work with the star, meaning her plan worked and worked against her. The one in the middle does feature the pointy headstock that was a feature of all of the guitars Carr built for KISS (see Ace's mini-Explorer and Paul's Star guitar for instance). 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. 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. by Jacob Uitti 2 years ago. The friend in question? But at the end of the day a guitar is just a tool to create art. Diana Ross. During one interview, the rockstar was asked if he admired anyone else more than himself. It has the same basic hardware as the #1 but a slightly different body shape and a mirror-like pickguard with a jagged lower edge. 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. There's very nice video of it from both Houston and Anaheim in August that show the mk VI in action. Not once in the Gene Simmons/Bass Player interview (July 1996) does Simmons ever claim . Spector #1 Spector #2 Valdez Axe Carr Axe. 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). 1970 replacement Gibson pickup has been added and moved closer to the bridge; and a new, custom shape pickguard has been added. Gene Simmons of KISS will be hosting a MasterClass event in Las Vegas next month, where he will teach bass and songwriting. There are, to my knowledge, precious few pictures of Spector #2 in the Love Gun/Alive II costumes. Kiss is currently out on the road for their final tour, dubbed End Of The Road. Before that he had an old rickety Epiphone which was stolen, bought a Fender P for $150, sold that P for $300, took that cash and had Charlie build his . They cover the classic Kiss tones, from the walking lines of Strutter through to heavier hits likeCreatures Of The Night and beyond. Nick also has some acting credits to his name. Thanks to abusername for pointing that out. The G2 Thunderbird Bass is voiced with a pair of powerful T-Bird pickups, each with individual Volume controls and paired with a . However, he's also been known for the varied love life he's led over the years, with his numerous relationships having been . 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. After the re-finish (more info below) the coverup disappears, most likely because the hole was filled before the finish was applied. It looked cool on a piece of paper so I thought it would look cool as a bass., The Axe has become such an integral part to not only KISS, and Genes Demon character, but Gene Simmons himself. LoBue custom LP Triumph Gibson EB-0. 1980. Gene Simmons went through the folder compiled for him, containing approximately 100 pages. . Search child forums as well As Simmons explains, because I owned the name and the design, it qualifies as an invention in the library of congress. The idea that it was a built-in fuzz is much less likely. It's akin to a Thunderbird bridge but appears to be slightly larger. Heres how it works. I drew what the Axe might be. Gene Simmons is a legendary rock icon and the bassist from KISS, and his new Gibson Gene Simmons G2 Thunderbird Bass reflects his tastes. 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 Return of KISS!! 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. On any of those instruments basses are often signed or played on stage depending on what point! Below will bring up higher-res images authenticity signed by Gene Simmons with trusty! 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