Why you can trust Guitar World 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). "[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. The prior owner believed this to be a late '90s, and when comparing with other listings on Reverb that appears to hold true. However, some. "So first, it's a through . And then we come to the "how many Spectors" issue. What one can argue is that it seems highly unlikely that a rear output jack would be placed on the upper part of the body, far away from the rest of the electronics.). LoBue custom Gibson Grabber Gibson Ripper. 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. . I do stuff because I get excited about it and then I hope that other people will get excited about it as well. The Return of KISS!! 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. (My original theory was that the blade was originally silver and refinished black but the dating of the photo shoots are well-established.) Apparently, he wasnt impressed with someone so prominent sharing such questionable opinions. This is the story behind the iconic Axe Bass which has been wielded by Gene Simmons for decades. The picture on the far left here clearly shows that the body was beveled where Gene rested his right arm. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, All the latest gene simmons celebrity news, videos, and more. And for the Valdez Axe that's all she wrote. (It would be easy to assume that it was a shadow cast by, or reflection of, the volume knob but the tone knob shows nothing similar. More highs can then be cut using the master tone knob, allowing for softer, jazzier tones when dialled in clean a nice option tohave, even if Simmons himself tends not to go there. The new collection will launch with the release of the G Thunderbird bass later this year. It's still there in St- Louis 76.12.04 but by 76.12.11 in Pembroke Pines it's been reduced to, well, almost nothing. Cause & Effects: Are vintage effects pedals always the best examples of their type. 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. 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. It seems that Gene thinks its time for one genre in particular to disappear: rap. Just because Gene was a part of the scene doesnt mean that he took part in everything that came his way. April 13, 2022. Some time in November mk VII shows up. 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. After that modification number two kicks in and we see another set of knobs. The bass checked . 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. We now know that Gene Simmons doesnt always have the most popular opinions on people who use illegal substances. 1 bass for Gene and the exceedingly brief appearance of the Fender Precision is only in the role of backup. 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. . We're sorry-this item is unavailable. Most of his notable work comes from his time in Genes reality show Gene Simmons Family Jewels.. Both stars were known for their use of illegal substances, and both lost their lives while they were still in their prime. Gene Simmons has played all sorts of instruments over the years, from the Charlie LoBue custom bass guitar heard on the early Kiss albums to his own Punisher and Axe signatures, although for a while in the mid-70s Simmons did experiment with Gibson Grabbers and Rippers. 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. 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. I dont care, it doesnt mean anything to me.. Together the two pickups complement each other very well indeed, with serious weight and bite that can be easily tamed through the respective volume controls. Apparently, he didnt like Terrys supposed holier-than-thou attitude. The application claimed that Gene first used the gesture in 1974 while posing for a photo with the legend that is Dave Grohl. (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. G, from Gene to Gibson, will introduce new collections of right and left-handed electric guitars and basses across . I made several of these until we hit a design that is pretty much what he uses today." The pics below are from a show in January, either on the 21st or 22nd. Gene Simmons, bassist and co-vocalist of rock band Kiss, looks back on the band's career, and how he has been in charge of the group's highly lucrative business affairs. 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). This guitar was purchased brand NEW in the year 2000! My bass is the only musical instrument that is an 'invention'.". I have yet to figure out what this bridge was. 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. The reddish metal flake Grabber first shows up in Fayetteville, NC on 74.11.30 but it doesn't see steady action until 1975. Talking about rap and hip-hop was enough to get plenty of people talking about Gene Simmons and his ever-changing music views. Get the latest news, reviews and features to your inbox. Whether or not this is the first Axe that Gene got or not is something of a mystery. The offstage shot shows Gene with the bass and the action on that thing could make a grown man cry. If there is one thing that many of us have learned, its that Gene Simmons knows a good business opportunity when he sees one. 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. We get an excellent close-up of it in the instrument line-up pic from Knoxville but live shots seem to be lacking. Whether or not the change to the new bridge occured earlier than Cobo Hall 76.01.25 is anybody's guess. FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bruno-Masquio/219366238103439INSTAGRAM - @brunomasquioiTUNES - https://itunes.apple.com/br/artist/bruno-masquio/id55. First seen in Detroit on 78.01.20, these knobs will thankfully stay on for quite some time. 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. . Perhaps most importantly of all, it's a bass that's tailor-made for conjuring this larger-than-life character's earth-conquering tones. The Gibson Gene Simmons G Thunderbird Bass is out now, priced 2,499 / $2,799. The one below from Cleveland 79.07.19 is the only one I've found that is actually from 1979. Gene Simmons now thinks people pirating songs was enough to see the end of rock and roll as he confessed he thinks no one values the music enough to pay for it.. 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 shot from Springfield 79.09.05 shows the new inlay. Conclusion. [**] In a 2013 interview at G-Club in Tokyo Gene threw another wrinkle to the story of the LoBue's demise, this time suggesting that he used the bass on stage in 1982 when he fell off the front of the stage, cracked the neck and promptly gave the pieces to a member of the audience. "Kiss was born on 23rd Street. . 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). Apparently, Gene thinks the best thing that people with less money can do is Try being nice to rich people. Thats certainly one way. Like many, the rockstar was forced to take any job that came his way, including a role as a deli cashier. And most people know that he was partial to using it while spending time the many thousands of women the frontman claimed to have spent time with . Gene simply replied, Nobody. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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). It's not shown in the tour book photos shot at SIR studios but instead makes its "proper" debut in the video for. Princes cause of passing was ultimately ruled as an accidental overdose. 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. Then came the aftermath. That one night he dropped it and the neck broke in half." Gibson havent let themselves down here at all, with this review model feeling lighter than it looks. Contact our experts for a recommendation of great alternatives. Some time between Toledo 75.11.12 and Chicago 75.11.22 Gene changes the volume knob. Earliest known appearance of this version is 75.05.06 in Milwaukee, WI. It turns out Gene accidentally rubbed host Terry Gross up the wrong way during an interview with the star. The bass guitar's mahogany body produces crisp tone with plenty of heavy bass for that signature Detroit Rock City sound. 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. In the pic from 76.03.12 it's hard to tell whether the back of the body is just worn or if there is a protective cover, but by the time the band hits European soil for the first time, as shown here from Mannheim 76.05.18, there is a distinct reddish overlay screwed onto the back. The clip is an outtake from the 2012 documentary Sample This. It seems this only made Gene even angrier than ever. In fact, it couldnt be further from the truth. If the LoBue could be considered to have a long and complicated story then the tale of the Spectors is worthy of Sherlock Holmes. Genes got some good . 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). There are a few pics that don't quite fit in. 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. Although he initially apologized for the incident, Gene also accused it of being highly exaggerated and misleading. It seems that we will never know the truth about what happened behind closed doors at the news network. Exact year is unknown but Gibson transitioned to this body type in 1961. 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. 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. [***]. The idea that it was a built-in fuzz is much less likely. Greg Kennelty. Designed to meet the musical needs of modern bassists, it features the classic Reverse Thunderbird body and headstock shape. 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. It seems thats what some people think, especially when looking at old footage of The Demon of Kiss. 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 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. 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). As Simmons explains, I started out playing Ampeg SVTs and for a while we were going to do a line of SVT amps and they were originally going to be called The Punisher, and I was able to beat Marvel to the trademark for the name Punisher, even though they had a character named The Punisher. There are, to my knowledge, precious few pictures of Spector #2 in the Love Gun/Alive II costumes. The Spector takes over as the #1 and during the early part of the Love Gun tour it is brought out only occasionally soon to disappear completely. Exact year is unknown but Gibson transitioned to this body type in 1961. But out of costume, the Kiss co-frontman is an equally commanding presence. . Of course, being so open about his relationships hasnt always sat well with everyone else. Thats not individual products. Gibson Gene Simmons G2 Thunderbird: Price Comparison, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices. Below are pictures detailing the rather slight differences between them. Custom Charlie LoBue bass built for Gene Simmons of KISS. Its difficult for me to walk past a mirror without stopping to say, yo, whats up?. The worlds leading authority and resource for all things guitar. The body and hardware can be shaped in any number of ways. . Stuart shaved down the normally bulbous horns of the SB-1 into points." LoBue custom Fender P-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. From there it goes out to an Empress Compressor and one of two Tech 21 VT-Bass 1969 amps. 15155. Instead, he decided to keep himself as healthy as possible as Gene told CNN that hes never even tried an adult beverage or taken any illegal substances. The body of the instrument is shaped like the . The result? Search child forums as well As seen in the pictures below, all taken from the first month of the Love Gun tour, there is an "irregularity" in the finish below the volume knob that can't be explained by a reflection or a shadow. The second change of the Return of KISS tour are actually two changes. As Simmons explains, because I owned the name and the design, it qualifies as an invention in the library of congress. (The number of replicas that have turned up over the years is a clear indication of the bass' truly iconic status.) 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. Search titles only; Posted by Member: Separate names with a comma. Spector #1 LoBue custom Thunderbird Dan Armstrong. Several fans have spoken about how both were taken from us too soon and the tragedies that have been linked to their passing. Whatever the case, it wasnt long before Gene Simmons had something to say about it all. After the re-finish (more info below) the coverup disappears, most likely because the hole was filled before the finish was applied. No matter the angle or lighting, up until now the white binding has been clearly visible at all times. If there is one thing that several musicians hate more than most things, its people pirating their music. The one pic I've seen from San Antonio 77.11.22 is inconclusive as far as what knobs are on the bass. To highlight a detail that entered the story a little earlier when the Fender bridge was installed I've chosen these particular pics. John Lennon's Gibson J-160E went for $2.4 million at Julien's Auctions in 2015. The pair have been together since 1983, with Gene telling People that theyve been happily unmarried most of that time. The technical info on the EB-0 is taken from the January 2007 issue of Vintage Guitar (also avilable online). From 2006 until 2012, Gene Simmons and his family starred in the reality show Gene Simmons Family Jewels. In a rather unprecedented move the bass is left alone with no noticeable modifications. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Believe it or not, but Gene Simmons is actually a married man, even though the rockstar has been open about his alleged romances over the years. They have one album and a handful of collaborations, but thats not all. 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