I sell out every night., Just as different paintbrushes might inspire us to paint differently, the Axe is a very different instrument and commands a different vibe when it is played. Personal messages from members of The Gene Simmons Bass Collectors Club. It might be no surprise that he doesnt always have nice things to say about fallen stars, including Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain. "The first instruments are the Thunderbird basses, which will come in a few different colors. We're sorry-this item is unavailable. 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. Unfortunately it is exceedingly difficult to try and identify which Spector is which in most photos, even if they are well-lit. This bass is authorized by Gene Simmons, and each Axe is adorned with Gene's signature on the headstock. The thunder starts with a Shure U4D-UHF into a Radial JD-7 Injector. 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. At about eight or nine years of age The bass icon on bass rigs, riches and 50 years of music. 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. It has a 24 frets and the deep cut away which allows me to easily reach the 23rd and 24th frets - a real bonus. Some time in November mk VII shows up. Now, 46 years later, he and Gibson are teaming up for G2, a new line of basses and guitars announced this past week during the NAMM conference. Contact our experts for a recommendation of great alternatives. First seen in Detroit on 78.01.20, these knobs will thankfully stay on for quite some time. Then, all he needs to do is let it start trickling from his mouth to up the performance. Pink AXE Guitar. 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. Because of this I will "narrate" this story as if there's a single Spector until much later when they are more easily identifiable. 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. According to Gene, hes through with listening to music thats just talking and wants to go back to a time when music focuses on lyrics and melody. We guess Kiss were never known for their rap tunes. It can be easy to think that Gene Simmons views comic books as nothing more than a way to make some extra money on the side. However, it was his time as an assistant at Vogue and Glamour magazines that could have led to a very different career. 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. 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). 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. Notice also the triangular "point" of the finish. One can see the sparkling of the finish during his blood-spitting routine. In fact, his passion for comic books even helped to inspire The Demon that we see at Kiss shows as Biography reports Gene shaped his character on Marvels Black Bolt. Various production versions of the instrument often feature pickup configurations and tone controls that offer a wider tonal palate, but Gene doesnt want anything getting in the way, and so his personal versions feature just a volume control. If I wanted to learn something from Gene Simmons it would be how to run a business and make money. To top it off, Gene says that he has a Polaroid photo of each of his partners from over the years and a hotel key firm the night they spent together. At the heart of the axe-shaped Simmons bass is its electronics system. (The Thunderbird plays one final role in this story but not until 1992. In a rather unprecedented move the bass is left alone with no noticeable modifications. The friend in question? I do stuff because I get excited about it and then I hope that other people will get excited about it as well. It looked as though he needed it as Genes outfit weighs quite a lot thanks to all those theatrical additions. The very obvious absence of an Axe during 1990-95, with the possible . 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. 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. Why you can trust Guitar World Cort GS Ax Punisher 2 Bass - One of Gene Simmons' two basses is a Cort GS Ax Punisher. The laser-engraved skull logo on the pickguard may not be to everyones taste, so youll either love it or hate it, though it does tie in with the rocknroll aesthetic associated with Kiss and therefore has its merits. [*] The reddish Grabber was re-finished since Gibson never offered the Grabber in any kind of metal flake finish. We get an excellent close-up of it in the instrument line-up pic from Knoxville but live shots seem to be lacking. 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. Simmons is announcing a new signature bass guitar in collaboration with Gibson, called the Gene Simmons G Thunderbird Bass. The Return of KISS!! 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. 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). 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. Apparently, the staff were all in a meeting when Gene burst into the room - unannounced. 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. There are a few pics that don't quite fit in. The 1970s rock scene was one that had to be enjoyed to be believed. By Roy Kaddosh. According to Gene he met Stuart Spector, then just an upstart luthier working out of a small Brooklyn shop, during the Destroyer sessions. Thats not individual products. Apparently, he didnt like Terrys supposed holier-than-thou attitude. 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 . 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. So what is the Axe Bass, then? Gene Simmons: "Everything Vinnie Vincent did sounded like Yngwie Malmsteen on crack". It is also, when visible, curiously unaffected by lighting conditions. The Ripper was introduced as the "big brother" to the Grabber in 1973. 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. Of course, being so open about his relationships hasnt always sat well with everyone else. Earliest known appearance of this version is 75.05.06 in Milwaukee, WI. One of the many things that fans often cant wait to see is Gene Simmons performing his famous blood-spitting routine. It also arrives with a low enough action for more technically ambitious styles of playing, as well as basic root-noted rock, making bends, stretches and hammer-ons more comfortable than expected. 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. KISS frontman Gene Simmons delivers briefing at Pentagon podium that has not seen a spokesperson in almost a year By Tom Kludt , CNN Business Updated 10:54 AM EDT, Fri May 17, 2019 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. Greg Kennelty. The pickup is still the original one as we can see from the lovely closeups. This feels like a real Thunderbird and being handmade in the USA, it very much is one, with an incredibly resonant mahogany body. 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. The idea that it was a built-in fuzz is much less likely. Spector #1 Spector #2 Thunderbird. Ron Wood is very under-appreciated. So the three mentioned is probably two #1's and one #2 (more of which later). 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. Call us at 800-449-9128. Sometimes the paintbrush can be just as beautiful as the art it inspires and creates. The rockstar replied Ice Cube should get in touch when Jimi Hendrix gets into the hip hop hall of fame.. I wanted to share this video because of how li. His many accomplishments include his work as an outstanding actor and television actor, guitarist, singer, singer-songwriter, film producer, composer, voice actor, blogger, songwriter, and record producer, to name a few. As mentioned in the Axe section this could be considered a comment of sorts on the differing sonic qualities of the two basses. Wherever the LoBue eventually ended up it is one of the great lost treasures of KISStory, one that deserves enshrinment. The headstock featured Gene's autograph and the pointy shape of the head was mirrored by a bizarre pointed part below the bridge. Tweed and Simmons were together for 28 years before they decided to tie the knot in 2011. We now know that Gene Simmons doesnt always have the most popular opinions on people who use illegal substances. I heard there's a special package including one of your Axe or Punisher basses. 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. It is generally assumed that the re-finish and the headstock inlay occured at the same time even though the picture evidence can't entirely support that conclusion. Gene Simmons Punisher 2 Bass. 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). From lunch boxes to credit cards and everything in between, it seems theres no shortage of Kiss-themed things on the market as even caskets are on the menu, meaning the brand is estimated to be worth $1 billion. 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. In 1978 Gene recalled that: "[I used that bass] For about four years, until one night I threw it to my roadie. tour. The Les Paul Triumph bass, actually designed by Les Paul himself, had been introduced in 1971 as a successor to the Les Paul bass. Considering that the mkI version had a single coil pickup (possibly a stacked humbucker) the third knob is somewhat of a mystery. Genes got some good . Exactly what happens to the LoBue is matter of some confusion. 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. 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.". He's a better bass player than he is a guitar player. This is one of first Gene Simmons (KISS) signed Axe Basses made available to the public. Apparently, the staff were all in a meeting when Gene burst into the room unannounced. 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. Gene Simmons is one of the most legendary names in music, thanks to his time with Kiss. Spector #1 LoBue custom Thunderbird Dan Armstrong. . 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. The basses are often signed or played on stage depending on what price point the buyer wants to reach for. It usually means the artists miss out on the profits and can have some pretty huge effects. 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. 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 bass on the right is slightly more problematic. 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. 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; Parade reports that Gene used to teach sixth grade. . If Gene tried to use the Carr Axe live it probably turned out to be too heavy for use. 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. [*] 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. Overview. At first, people thought that Gene was trying to trademark the image itself. One can also see that the material under the studs is completely different from the rest of the bass. Two or three years ago, Gibson and I connected and decided to do a joint venture - the G2: Gene and Gibson, or Gibson and Gene. The string of prototypes that Carr eluded to were probably the ones shown below. 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. 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. You've written some truly timeless basslines over the years so what exactly is the Gene Simmons guide to finding the perfect part? Rock fans everywhere might disagree as Gene Simmons believes its time to give up on the genre. LoBue custom Gibson Grabber Gibson Ripper. 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. Talking with legendary rock 'n' roll musician, Gene Simmons, one thing becomes clear pretty quickhe likes a good thrill. 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. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). However, being so popular means there have been plenty of conspiracy theories about Genes tongue. The final change in a very short time frame was the addition of a Gibson chrome bridge cover (mk VI). 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. Following up on this thread, I found an article on one of the Gibson basses Gene Simmons used in the early years of KISS. 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. 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. See Gibson for more details. It's not shown in the tour book photos shot at SIR studios but instead makes its "proper" debut in the video for. The Jackson Axe is mercifully kept in this near-original condition for at least the two following tours; there are no noticeable alterations. BA1 1UA. 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. Radio stations Power 97 and Timple M both announced they were pulling all Kiss songs from their lineup as neither agreed with Genes controversial comments. The first part of the Dynasty tour shows the Spector #1 mk III hanging in there. PURCHASE & PAYMENT PLANS. Gi. Length: 42 in, Width: 14.5 in, Depth: 1.5 in. 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. M&G Pkg $4450. From there it goes out to an Empress Compressor and one of two Tech 21 VT-Bass 1969 amps. Founding KISS bassist Gene Simmons has partnered with Gibson for a new line of electric guitars and basses dubbed G. By. John Lennon's Gibson J-160E went for $2.4 million at Julien's Auctions in 2015. 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. Some of the modifications included a special gloss black paint job with white binding along the sides of the body. Or why not treat yourself? Kramer Aluminum Gene Simmons Axe Bass KISS 1980 Black & Gray Autographed by Gene Simmons and numbered w/OHSC, Serial No. 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. Thanks to abusername for pointing that out. See the evolution of Gene's Bass technique!! The studs are not glued or otherwise mounted directly on the body of the bass. [] I had two of them on the road with me, but I liked the sound of the off-red one." Why? 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