This one-of-a-kind instrument recently (Oct 2005) sold on Ebay for $29, 995. It usually means the artists miss out on the profits and can have some pretty huge effects. 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. Gene? 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. Apparently, Gene wanted to sue everyone who shared copyrighted files, something that saw his site get taken down by Anonymous. In fact, many years ago, the rockstar told Off The Record with Michael Landsberg that hed been intimate with 4,500 women. (And the look of the #1s from behind betrays no evidence of a rear output jack but in all fairness the entire bass isn't visible. 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). Perhaps most importantly of all, it's a bass that's tailor-made for conjuring this larger-than-life character's earth-conquering tones. At the end of our show [I] walk offstage and I throw the guitar off the stage, and everyone gasps. 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. Because of this I will "narrate" this story as if there's a single Spector until much later when they are more easily identifiable. Along with the refinish the knobs were changed to match the new color. 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. Gene tapped Valdez Guitars to build the first one, then Steve Carr built a few, as did Kramer, Jackson, and Cort. (The Thunderbird plays one final role in this story but not until 1992. By Roy Kaddosh. Exact year is unknown but Gibson transitioned to this body type in 1961. 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 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). Sadly, in 2014, Gene upset quite a few people during an interview with HuffPost Live. 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. 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. The passing of time has proved fruitful for Kiss' 1982 . Sadly, neither relationship lasted for Gene. If there is one thing that several musicians hate more than most things, its people pirating their music. After that modification number two kicks in and we see another set of knobs. But as far as what its going to mean after Im gone, oh my god, who cares? Notice also the triangular "point" of the finish. It has been suggested that it was a series/parallell switch which is feasible. Maybe gross, maybe cool, but definitely profitable to Mr. Simmons with a starting price of $12,000 per bass. Some time between Toledo 75.11.12 and Chicago 75.11.22 Gene changes the volume knob. 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. PURCHASE & PAYMENT PLANS. The video clips are from one of the German dates (the blood spitting clip) and Sydney. 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. Then, all he needs to do is let it start trickling from his mouth to up the performance. 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. A long-tongued, fire-breathing, towering bass player who performs in a demon warpaint, massive platform boots, and stylized armor, Simmons is a sight to behold. 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. 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 offstage shot shows Gene with the bass and the action on that thing could make a grown man cry. Gene simply replied, Nobody. 1 bass for Gene and the exceedingly brief appearance of the Fender Precision is only in the role of backup. 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. Gibson Gene Simmons G2 Thunderbird: Price Comparison, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices. At the heart of the axe-shaped Simmons bass is its electronics system. There are, to my knowledge, precious few pictures of Spector #2 in the Love Gun/Alive II costumes. 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). Simmons is announcing a new signature bass guitar in collaboration with Gibson, called the Gene Simmons G Thunderbird Bass. "I just had a guy named Stuart Spector build me one with a longer neck. The neck has pearl diamond inlays just like Gene's, and the detail in the paint and set up is just like the Demons. Sadly, Gene wasnt impressed with the shows choice as he referred to Madonna as a karaoke singer during an interview with TMZ. Metal, wood. We cant say that weve ever thought about a world where Gene Simmons is the one giving us fashion advice, but the more we think about it, the more we want to know what thats like. However, there is a dark side of Gene Simmons that not many have learned about over the years. Gene Simmons's new haircut. However, being so popular means there have been plenty of conspiracy theories about Genes tongue. Search titles only; Posted by Member: Separate names with a comma. The worlds leading authority and resource for all things guitar. 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. After all, his stage show is often filled with performances of him showing off his impressive tongue skills and has been argued as one of the most iconic poses of all times. 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. 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. Princes cause of passing was ultimately ruled as an accidental overdose. On the one hand it has an inlay of Gene's makeup on the headstock that looks very similar to the one that Carr did on Spector #1. From there it goes out to an Empress Compressor and one of two Tech 21 VT-Bass 1969 amps. 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 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. Wherever the LoBue eventually ended up it is one of the great lost treasures of KISStory, one that deserves enshrinment. Whatever the case, it wasnt long before Gene Simmons had something to say about it all. As Simmons explains, Well, you cant avoid feeling badass Its not the first instrument I think of when I want to play Yesterdayby The Beatles. Over the group's 42 . And for the Valdez Axe that's all she wrote. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. I dont care, it doesnt mean anything to me.. They both had the same body shape and the number only designated the number of pickups. According to Gene "the original one was made by Valdez here in Los Angeles, and I still have it around here somewhere". It also speaks volumes of Gene's "working-bass" concept: as long as it works and looks good enough, it will do. . This feels like a real Thunderbird and being handmade in the USA, it very much is one, with an incredibly resonant mahogany body. Realtor.com. That Gene managed to play that bass and actually got something resembling music from it is a true accomplishment. Its one thing to be in a band. That is probably going to be a very big item. 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. It has a twin horn, small body, with one DiMarzio pickup." 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. The bass guitar's mahogany body produces crisp tone with plenty of heavy bass for that signature Detroit Rock City sound. However, it wasnt long before people learned that he was talking about the hand gesture he was pulling at the time. It has a 30" scale which matches that of the LoBue. 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.". Bath For many years, Simmons' primary . This is one of first Gene Simmons (KISS) signed Axe Basses made available to the public. Instead, roadies would allegedly hand Gene a cup of theater blood at some point in the performance. The body and hardware can be shaped in any number of ways. Gene Simmons inspects the folder with the documents about his mother's persecution. What I will call mkII actually makes it's documented debut in Detroit 74.12.20. The second change of the Return of KISS tour are actually two changes. Had the studs been mounted on the body this would have been completely non-sensical. Alas, by mid-1977 the cherised LoBue's days are numbered. Last years news that he was launching his own G2 brand pronounced G squared through the American giants nevertheless came as a surprise, the new collaboration pledging to release a whole range of guitars and basses built with the Demons personal seal of approval. Thats right; the rockstar actually paid his way through college, all thanks to his comic book sales. The two Gs have teamed to launch G - a whole range of electric guitar and bass . Sadly, Gene Simmons wasnt impressed with the look. 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. A Tribute to the Pedulla 1988 MVP4 - The Gene Simmons Vampire Punisher. 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. by Jacob Uitti 2 years ago. Whether or not the change to the new bridge occured earlier than Cobo Hall 76.01.25 is anybody's guess. If the LoBue could be considered to have a long and complicated story then the tale of the Spectors is worthy of Sherlock Holmes. The first part of the Dynasty tour shows the Spector #1 mk III hanging in there. Amit has been writing for titles likeTotal Guitar,MusicRadarandGuitar Worldfor over a decade and counts Richie Kotzen, Guthrie Govan and Jeff Beck among his primary influences. It might sound impossible, but its true. Gene Simmons isn't telling California to kiss off yet. Cause & Effects: Are vintage effects pedals always the best examples of their type. So I started out with the visuals, because when somebody walks in, that the first thing that hits them. 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). A complete rundown of the various basses used by Gene Simmons of KISS 1973-1992. Love it or hate it, some performers have been accused of lip-syncing their songs over the years. tour. We now know that Gene Simmons doesnt always have the most popular opinions on people who use illegal substances. I wanted to share this video because of how li. The problem? Now, Inc. estimates that Gene Simmons is worth a whopping $300 million. Heading to a Kiss concert is about more than listening to some of your favorite tunes. Among the promo pics taken at Stewart Air Force Base 77.11.09 is the photo on the left below which seem to show a hole where the above coverup was placed. 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. Apparently, he wasnt impressed with someone so prominent sharing such questionable opinions. 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. Gibson havent let themselves down here at all, with this review model feeling lighter than it looks. 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. Heres how it works. 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. In 1987 Gene turns up with what looks like a slightly altered version of the Jackson. Thanks to abusername for pointing that out. The Kramer Axe was fine for playback but for one of very few live TV performances (the first one since 1974?) Let's talk about your Axe basses. Larry Harris had set up an endorsement deal which apparently specified that the band use Gibsons exclusively on stage in exchange for free instruments (see. Ever the savvy businessman, Simmons ended up trademarking the term "Axe" as it refers to a musical instrument, as well as the shape of the bass. Exactly what happens to the LoBue is matter of some confusion. 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. (My guess is that the P-bass pickup was added when it was painted black.) 15155. For the past eight years, Thayer has been touring exclusively with a pair of his signature 100-watt Hughes & Kettner DuoTone heads (Thayer . 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