On first glance, this debut in the seriesnot in the form of a Grabber or Ripper, but a Thunderbird, interestingly is certainly impressive. This mkV version stays unmolested for the remainder of 1979, the last photographic evidence being from 79.12.06. 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. Spector #1 LoBue custom Thunderbird Dan Armstrong. 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). In 2012, Madonna fans were in for a treat as the pop star was lined up to star at the Super Bowl halftime show. It turned out the bass player wanted to trademark the devil horns sign. 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. Kiss is currently out on the road for their final tour, dubbed End Of The Road. Stuart shaved down the normally bulbous horns of the SB-1 into points." Great Eastern FX Co. Focus Fuzz review: The best of all possible fuzz worlds in a single box? 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 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. The video clips are from one of the German dates (the blood spitting clip) and Sydney. [****] Personal communication with Jack Williamson who asked Free about the matter. Skip to main content. 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. 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. Contact our experts for a recommendation of great alternatives. 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 move to Gibsons during 1975 was purely financial. And the first time I used this was on New Year's Eve, Dubai, 2020. Gene Simmons of KISS will be hosting a MasterClass event in Las Vegas next month, where he will teach bass and songwriting. As mentioned in the Axe section this could be considered a comment of sorts on the differing sonic qualities of the two basses. There was suppose to be 1,000 . 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? Sadly, the truth isnt quite so exciting as Gene apparently discovered he had an impressively long tongue when he was 13 years old and realized it was a hit with the ladies. Thats right; the rockstar actually paid his way through college, all thanks to his comic book sales. This guitar was purchased brand NEW in the year 2000! Apparently, the staff were all in a meeting when Gene burst into the room unannounced. That Gene managed to play that bass and actually got something resembling music from it is a true accomplishment. The photo shoot at Stuart Air Force base during the rehearsals on 77.11.09 and shots from opening night in Oklahoma City on 77.11.15 show the original silver knobs but by the time the band hits St. Louis on 77.12.02 the new knobs are in place. 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. The bass guitar's mahogany body produces crisp tone with plenty of heavy bass for that signature Detroit Rock City sound. Call us at 800-449-9128. You know, I dont think in those terms, he explains. Here we can see the outline of the tape coverup (check the full-size pic for better detail) for the last time. 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. It can be tough for any celebritys child to make a name for themselves when their parents are Hollywood royalty. 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. 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_____. 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. Heres how it works. Instead, roadies would allegedly hand Gene a cup of theater blood at some point in the performance. The problems with the bridge above promted another change. But, during the Convention Tour of 1995 this bass was part of the museum and was labeled as a prototype Gene Simmons Axe (see pic and video below). Gene's version is either a '76 or '77 ebony version that was modfied from the get-go. Pictures showing the back of the LoBue are very few but over the course of 1976 there were a few. Chances are Gene just took the opportunity afforded him by the Gibson sponsorship the band enjoyed at the time (see the back of any KISS album from the time) but found that the basses weren't to his taste. Overview. Designed to meet the musical needs of modern bassists, it features the classic Reverse Thunderbird body and headstock shape. 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. There is a bass resembling the Grabber, based on the headstock, standing offstage in a pic from 76.02.01, in. 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. For this tour Gene also mysteriously starts sporting a cable from the output jack. At least, thats what most lists would have you believe. [*] 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". But, during the Convention Tour of 1995 this bass was part of the museum and was labeled as a prototype Gene Simmons Axe (see pic and video below). Gene Simmons went through the folder compiled for him, containing approximately 100 pages. We now know that Gene Simmons doesnt always have the most popular opinions on people who use illegal substances. He is the God Of Thunder, after all. All of the basses are built at a shop in South Korea [although there are some specialty one-off builds done in the USA by master builder, Jim Cara]. The body is completely original but based on the concept of an old Gibson Melody Maker. After showing off a few licks, Simmons points out a particular passage he wants to learn, and Kaye obliges. 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. 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. Not once in the Gene Simmons/Bass Player interview (July 1996) does Simmons ever claim . Later in the year, in Columbus 76.11.30, the cover is very obviously split into two colors, a very sharp delineation that wasn't there in March and May, which suggests that it's been at least partially replaced. Or why not treat yourself? 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. "Well, that is very kind of you to say. During an October 28 question-and-answer session with fans aboard this year's Kiss Kruise, KISS frontman Paul Stanley was asked what he has learned about himself through his 50-year friendship and . - Bass Certificate of authenticity signed by Gene Simmons. At the heart of the axe-shaped Simmons bass is its electronics system. I made several of these until we hit a design that is pretty much what he uses today." The friend in question? Amazingly, that could have been the case for Gene Simmons as The Washington Post claims that he was in a relationship with Cher in the 1980s. 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. here, he blamed the politically correct climate across the nation from stopping Americans saying what they really feel. The bass touts a mahogany body with a bolt on C shaped maple neck and rosewood fretboard with a 15 radius. It seems that Gene thinks its time for one genre in particular to disappear: rap. "[The Grabber] was a well built instrument that weighed a ton, [] the body was too big and I couldn't move as easily with the thing. New rock and roll stars lurked around every corner, and it seemed that plenty of people couldnt wait to head to the latest party on the block. It turned out that some people thought the reason Incarnate was doing so well was all because Nick allegedly stole ideas from other major mangas. Gene simply replied, Nobody. 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 very obvious absence of an Axe during 1990-95, with the possible exception below, might suggest that Gene was in fact trying out various prototypes in preparation of going into the Axe business for himself. From 2006 until 2012, Gene Simmons and his family starred in the reality show Gene Simmons Family Jewels. 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. Things didnt get off to a good start as he accused them of playing a victim, but he made things even worse by stating in an interview that they should take their own lives. The rockstar tried to say Prince had turned to several cliches that often come with a time at the top and supposedly thought he was the best musician in the world. Reports have varied throughout the years, but Gene is confident that hes been with thousands of partners. As Simmons explains, "because I owned the name and the design, it qualifies as an invention in the library of congress. [**] 1996 Guitars that Rule the World, Metal Edge presents KISS Alive! [*] 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." It usually means the artists miss out on the profits and can have some pretty huge effects. The picture on the far left here clearly shows that the body was beveled where Gene rested his right arm. 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. The clear knobs make the transition into the new year appearing in Chicago on 78.01.15. * * * * ] Personal communication with Jack Williamson who asked Free about the matter what most lists have. 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