Had the studs been mounted on the body this would have been completely non-sensical. I think that when it comes to Bass ( Which I play Bass and Guitar among other instruments! ) That was until a friend suggested Gene get in touch with the singers best friend to try and find a Christmas present. "Well, that is very kind of you to say. As the photos show there is a marked difference in the shape of the lower horn, most easily seen in the shots of the back. With so little video evidence from this part of the tour it's hard to say whether these are two different pickups or just the trick of light and angles but considering the next (and later) developments I'm going to put my money on the light/angles hypothesis. It has a 30" scale which matches that of the LoBue. by Jacob Uitti 2 years ago. This one-of-a-kind instrument recently (Oct 2005) sold on Ebay for $29, 995. The shot from Springfield 79.09.05 shows the new inlay. 1 810 cab. Designed to meet the musical needs of modern bassists, it features the classic Reverse Thunderbird body and headstock shape. Sophie reportedly pestered major streaming sites instead. Meet Gene On Tour. As with everything he does, Simmons has big plans . For the better part of the Spirit Tour '76 the LoBue retains the mk VI look. Why you can trust Guitar World Oh no, its merely the number of categories that Kiss is now involved with. 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. The pics below are from a show in January, either on the 21st or 22nd. In an interview with his son for Esquire in 2014, Gene confessed he believes that rock music has finally come to an end, and even went as far as to say the music industry could be on its last legs. Why the other two remain unchanged is anyone's guess. 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. 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. The headstock featured Gene's autograph and the pointy shape of the head was mirrored by a bizarre pointed part below the bridge. 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. Okay, its not always simple to figure out how much someone is worth, especially when their name is tied to a well-known company or, in this case, a band. 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. The picture on the far left here clearly shows that the body was beveled where Gene rested his right arm. This obviously reflected the economic state of the band at the time, Paul and Ace also had very clear no. 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. According to Steve Carr his first version of the Axe shown below was made for Gene in 1978 and even used for a few shows that year but no photographic evidence of that exists. Over the group's 42 . The technical info on the EB-0 is taken from the January 2007 issue of Vintage Guitar (also avilable online). Nah Gene Simmons is a dick, and his bass lines are sometimes very simple, but he has this cool running bass thing going which is pretty unique and sounds cool. . "I just had a guy named Stuart Spector build me one with a longer neck. Kiss is currently out on the road for their final tour, dubbed End Of The Road. The clear knobs make the transition into the new year appearing in Chicago on 78.01.15. The bass on the right is slightly more problematic. The friend in question? 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 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. In order to cover the screw holes from the original (and replacement) stringmount below the then-current bridge cover, Gene's tech simply added a piece of what appear to be electrical tape. The basses are often signed or played on stage depending on what price point the buyer wants to reach for. Maybe gross, maybe cool, but definitely profitable to Mr. Simmons with a starting price of $12,000 per bass. Exact year is unknown but Gibson transitioned to this body type in 1961. Stage Played Pkg n/a. I originally thought that the natural satin finish, introduced in 1975 and seen in this well-known footage from San Fransisco 75.01.31, was Gene's first which was later re-finished but he actually had two Grabbers on the road with him and he used both during the Winterland show. Like the best signature models, this is an instrument that ultimately inspires you to sound and play like the musician behind it, while also being capable of a lot more, from Motown to country, and with the right kind of EQ scoop and compression, even slapped funk even if its not aimed at such musicians. The G2 Thunderbird Bass is voiced with a pair of powerful T-Bird pickups, each with individual Volume controls and paired with a . Let's hope it turns up in somebody's basement. 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. Gene Simmons's new haircut. For this occasion Gene borrowed a Thunderbird and proceeded to "thumb" his way through the songs.). The caption next to this Axe bass noted that it was a limited-edition built by Kramer. Exact year is unknown but Gibson transitioned to this body type in 1961. On the other hand it was listed in the Butterfields auction without the name of the luthier and it was suggested that it dated from the 1983 Creatures tour (which there is no evidence for, the Axe used on that tour was a Kramer). 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. Together, the happy couple share two kids; Nichols Adam Tweed-Simmons and Sophie Alexandra Tweed-Simmons. 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 went through the folder compiled for him, containing approximately 100 pages. To highlight a detail that entered the story a little earlier when the Fender bridge was installed I've chosen these particular pics. Both Peter Criss and Gene Simmons weren't the best players of their instruments but by god they both had a cool groove which made their song unmistakenly Kiss. In fact, in 1974 it was only offered in ebony and wine red (a high-gloss, see-through finish that looks nothing like this bass). 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. While his larger-than-life, demonic imagery . Gibson Gene Simmons G2 Thunderbird: Price Comparison, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices. The iconic Kiss bassist promises his new signature instrument is "The most fun you'll be able to have with your pants on". 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. There are a few pics that don't quite fit in. That was until 2011 when Gene suddenly got down on one knee and decided to make things official. At the time Spector only had two model bass guitars, the SB-1 and the SB-2. Conclusion. The prior owner believed this to be a late '90s, and when comparing with other listings on Reverb that appears to hold true. The pickup is still the original one as we can see from the lovely closeups. 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. Some of the modifications included a special gloss black paint job with white binding along the sides of the body. "Kiss was born on 23rd Street. I made several of these until we hit a design that is pretty much what he uses today." [*] The shape of the bass was indeed completely original in that it was custom shaped but it wasn't an original design. 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. 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. There will be a guitar version and left-handed versions. Length: 42 in, Width: 14.5 in, Depth: 1.5 in. The body appears to be a slab style with a hint of a bevel on the "inside" of the horns (and possibly where Gene rests his arm; see below). What I will call mkII actually makes it's documented debut in Detroit 74.12.20. If I wanted to learn something from Gene Simmons it would be how to run a business and make money. The shift to the Jackson comes about just before the European leg of the Lick it up tour. It was even Genes love of comic books that saw Kiss adopt many of their stage mannerisms and gimmicks that have made the bands performances so famous over the years. This phenomenon can also be spotted at the start of the Return of KISS tour. 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). Okay, its hard to deny that one of Gene Simmons most prominent features is his tongue. Or why not treat yourself? It turns out that some people were so offended by how Gene Simmons conducted himself and the thoughts he has on people suffering from their mental health that they decided to protest against the rockstar and his band. In 2017, Gene Simmons hit the headlines for something pretty controversial among the rock world. According to Simmons' tech at (13:16), "This is the main bass for the show. 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. The one below from Cleveland 79.07.19 is the only one I've found that is actually from 1979. The bass player was planning on rising up above the stage on some wires. As one of the founding members of KISS, Gene Simmons is certainly one of the most recognizable faces in rock music. . First seen in Detroit on 78.01.20, these knobs will thankfully stay on for quite some time. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. There's very nice video of it from both Houston and Anaheim in August that show the mk VI in action. Become part of our community of travelers to receive exclusive tips, tricks and travel expert secrets, By Hannah Pennington, Published on Mar 24, 2021, Gene Simmons claims that hes been intimate with thousands of women, The Cheapest Countries In The World For Traveling, Tourists Share The Craziest Things They Have Seen While Traveling The World, Hilarious Breakup Notes That Are Bordering On Awkard, Everything You Could Possibly Need to Know About Subscription Travel, Bizarre Photos Youd Only Ever See In Thailand, The Worlds Most Anticipated Bar Has Finally Opened In London, These Valentines Destinations Are Perfect For Every Type Of Couple. Spector #2 Search titles only; Posted by Member: Separate names with a comma. Personal messages from members of The Gene Simmons Bass Collectors Club. All in all, this first offering from G2 delivers on virtually every front, from the dazzling black diamond aesthetic through to playability and versatility. The first G model is a Thunderbird Bass. There are no actual live shots of the bass and after the promo videos it just disappears never to be seen again. In 2016, Gene told Rolling Stone that he cant wait until rap music is gone for good and thinks it will only take a decade for it to disappear. Apparently, the staff were all in a meeting when Gene burst into the room unannounced. 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. Would you believe that hes been building a business empire for himself since he was back in college? This feels like a real Thunderbird and being handmade in the USA, it very much is one, with an incredibly resonant mahogany body. We'll let him know. Apparently, Gene wanted to sue everyone who shared copyrighted files, something that saw his site get taken down by Anonymous. (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. . 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. 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. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Cause & Effects: Are vintage effects pedals always the best examples of their type. Apparently, Gene didnt want to break his mothers heart after her family survived World War II. Though he is known for his woodsman-inspired Axe guitar, he told me it . So I started out with the visuals, because when somebody walks in, that the first thing that hits them. [*] 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". . Still, it was captured on film, meaning Gene wont forget the moment anytime soon. His grandparents and one uncle were murdered by Hitler's henchmen. At first, people thought that Gene was trying to trademark the image itself. In contrast, Spector #2 takes a serious beating throughout (the pics below span the entire tour). See Gibson for more details. At about eight or nine years of age 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 two Gs have teamed to launch G - a whole range of electric guitar and bass . [*] 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." BA1 1UA. Why? PURCHASE & PAYMENT PLANS. A Tribute to the Pedulla 1988 MVP4 - The Gene Simmons Vampire Punisher. Just as musicians arrange 12 notes to create songs, guitar designs often take the form of artistic expression when shaped in new and interesting ways. A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. Gene has claimed that he had it painted black before the start of the Alive! There was suppose to be 1,000 . Roland 555 space/echo (for solo) controlled by manipulating the intensity and . The original single-coil pickup seems to be gone and in its stead is what looks almost like the Filtertron pickups that Gretsch made. "I saw a bass he had built hanging on the wall and decided right then that I wanted it. [**] 1996 Guitars that Rule the World, Metal Edge presents KISS Alive! 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. LoBue custom Fender P-bass. However, being so popular means there have been plenty of conspiracy theories about Genes tongue. There is a bass resembling the Grabber, based on the headstock, standing offstage in a pic from 76.02.01, in. The inception of the Axe Bass came from the adage of referring to a guitar as an axe. Watch on. Whatever the case, it wasnt long before Gene Simmons had something to say about it all. 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. One person in particular had plenty to say as Ice Cube took to social media, which started a pretty heated feud between the two. Below are pictures detailing the rather slight differences between them. My reference points were people like Paul McCartney. 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. Gene also caused a stir when he admitted he feels immigrants should all learn to speak English before moving to the States. However, Gene Simmons had his own views on it all and they werent very popular. It even has the original pickup right up to the end of 1980. The bridge is a thornier issue. Nady 950 wireless. The video clips are from one of the German dates (the blood spitting clip) and Sydney. See the latest gene simmons celebrity trends and reviews on PremierGuitar.com, the world's foremost authority on all things guitar and bass. From Cleveland 79.07.19 is the only one I 've chosen these gene simmons basses through the years.... Before moving to the Jackson comes about just before the European leg of the bass and guitar other. Her family survived World War II Simmons G2 Thunderbird bass is voiced with a starting price of 12,000! 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