There are masterclasses taught by Simmons himself that are only available to Axe buyers. The clip is an outtake from the 2012 documentary Sample This. 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). Thank you for reading 5 articles this month*, US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year, UK pricing 2.99 per month or 29.00 per year, Europe pricing 3.49 per month or 34.00 per year, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription. He is the God Of Thunder, after all. Sadly, Gene wasnt impressed with the shows choice as he referred to Madonna as a karaoke singer during an interview with TMZ. The first part of the Dynasty tour shows the Spector #1 mk III hanging in there. But out of costume, the Kiss co-frontman is an equally commanding presence. Apparently, some people think the rockstar actually had a cow tongue surgically attached to his mouth, and thats how hes achieved such an impressive length all these years. But did he ever imagine such a strange instrument would become as successful as it has? Sadly, Steve Carr passed away in 2006 which probably means that this part of the Axe story will forever be shrouded in mystery. . The rosewood fretboard and EB6 4-string bridge add clarity to the Gene Simmons Axe, so you get definition with each note you strike. Heres how it works. LoBue custom. It seems Gene will live to spit blood another day. 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. 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 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. 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. What are you waiting for. The bass checked . The inception of the Axe Bass came from the adage of referring to a guitar as an axe. Although he's spent the last 50 years Gene Simmons and his son, Nick, have been spotted at a handful of events together over the years. 1979 saw the introduction of the Axe bass into Gene's repertoire and the beginning of a life-long association. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. In 2017, Gene Simmons hit the headlines for something pretty controversial among the rock world. 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 . 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. From 2006 until 2012, Gene Simmons and his family starred in the reality show Gene Simmons Family Jewels. M&G Pkg $4450. Although the world learned that things werent always smooth on their ride to the altar, the pair have been married ever since. 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. I have yet to figure out what this bridge was. The women and shady affairs that destroyed Gene Simmons' life. "Kiss was born on 23rd Street. If there is one thing that many of us have learned, its that Gene Simmons knows a good business opportunity when he sees one. 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. The Kramer Axe was fine for playback but for one of very few live TV performances (the first one since 1974?) Instead, roadies would allegedly hand Gene a cup of theater blood at some point in the performance. Contact our experts for a recommendation of great alternatives. His grandparents and one uncle were murdered by Hitler's henchmen. That Gene managed to play that bass and actually got something resembling music from it is a true accomplishment. It has a twin horn, small body, with one DiMarzio pickup." One of the many things that fans often cant wait to see is Gene Simmons performing his famous blood-spitting routine. It's only got one pickup with one dial for volume, one for tone; you can either turn it up or down. 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. Founding KISS bassist Gene Simmons has partnered with Gibson for a new line of electric guitars and basses dubbed G. The first change (mk II) is to simple clear lucite knobs with 1-10 numbers on them. None of the known LoBue basses had a bridge like this so it was probably not LoBue's work. The line-up shot from Knoxville with the slim lower horn has led me to believe that this is a re-finish rather than the re-appearance of the all-black from the Alive II tour. 1970 replacement Gibson pickup has been added and moved closer to the bridge; and a new, custom shape pickguard has been added. Overview. If one is to believe the quote from Gene above it may just be locked away in storage since it didn't surface for the auction. Following up on this thread, I found an article on one of the Gibson basses Gene Simmons used in the early years of KISS. However, it wasnt long before people learned that he was talking about the hand gesture he was pulling at the time. For this tour Gene also mysteriously starts sporting a cable from the output jack. 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. But, far be it from Gene to play an off-the-rack bass in standard configuration for long. Then came the aftermath. by Jacob Uitti 2 years ago. Sadly, neither relationship lasted for Gene. That was until the wires got stuck and what was supposed to be a graceful rise into the air turned into something almost pretty dangerous. 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. 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. There was once a time that Gene Simmons appeared to be on Fox News at every waking moment. 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]. In the end the long-scale neck and the rather elaborate Q-system electronics probably proved unnecessary for Gene's no-frills style. 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. The reddish metal flake Grabber first shows up in Fayetteville, NC on 74.11.30 but it doesn't see steady action until 1975. Skip to main content. 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. Guitar World is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. And don't worry - Kiss isn't gonna pull a Mtley Cre on you and . Now, depending on the pic and the angle the new pickup doesn't look quite like itself: at times it looks grayish and with barely discernible pole pieces, and other times it looks black with large and obvious pole pieces. Malcolm Young more influential than EVH or Clapton? Great Eastern FX Co. Focus Fuzz review: The best of all possible fuzz worlds in a single box? This mk III retains the original violin-type bridge. I drew what the Axe might be. The body is completely original but based on the concept of an old Gibson Melody Maker. 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. 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. Considering the rather complicated control layout, 3 knobs and 4 switches, it was probably not a Gene favorite. 1980. The bass touts a mahogany body with a bolt on C shaped maple neck and rosewood fretboard with a 15 radius. According to Gene "the original one was made by Valdez here in Los Angeles, and I still have it around here somewhere". 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. Introduced in 1973, the Grabber was Gibson's first bolt-on neck bass and featured a sliding pickup (you "grabbed" it to change the pickup position, hence the name). 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. Search child forums as well Once you do, the ceramic magnets in the Rhythm and Lead T-Bird humbuckers pack a powerful and immediate response, with no shortage of punch and depth, making for a bass that sounds, much like the American groups landmark 1975 release, truly alive. 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. Exactly what happens to the LoBue is matter of some confusion. . Oftentimes we find that ownership of an idea is just as important as the idea itself. The one below from Cleveland 79.07.19 is the only one I've found that is actually from 1979. My bass is the only musical instrument that is an 'invention'.". It's incredible to look at these pics and see the extent of the damage that year-round touring and Gene's costumes (most of it probably from his ever-. The problem? This particular version of the bass doesn't last long as both the bridge and the pickup are soon changed for mk IV. Though he is known for his woodsman-inspired Axe guitar, he told me it . "You can get a Gene Simmons Axe or Punisher signed; they go from $5,000 to $15,000. Sadly, in 2014, Gene upset quite a few people during an interview with HuffPost Live. I think that when it comes to Bass ( Which I play Bass and Guitar among other instruments! ) Overall there were some factual errors regarding the instruments during the Convention and the tour book was laughably incorrect. Okay, its hard to deny that one of Gene Simmons most prominent features is his tongue. Since this part relies entirely on picture evidence of miniscule details clicking the individual pictures below will bring up higher-res images. 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. This is not a traditional signature model arrangement. 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. My bass is the only musical instrument that is an invention., Jokes abound about the level of KISS merchandise available, but the reality is that Simmons was ahead of his time in terms of understanding how to monetise and control his image and legacy, and trademark ownership has played a big part of that. It has a 30" scale which matches that of the LoBue. For Gene, its simple: he thinks that future rockstars should give up on their dreams as the barriers in the way to the top have become insurmountable. Thankfully, many talented bands have continued to prove Gene wrong in recent years. (Also seen in Lund, Sweden. Pastorious,Wooten,Sheehan,Hamm,Graham,Johnson,Miller,and many other players through the years that had something I liked to form my own style of playing. 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. Gene Simmons went through the folder compiled for him, containing approximately 100 pages. 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. Watch Marty Friedman play with Megadeth again, Journey and Steve Lukather play Black Magic Woman. Alas, by mid-1977 the cherised LoBue's days are numbered. All in all, this first offering from G2 delivers on virtually every front, from the dazzling black diamond aesthetic through to playability and versatility. Thats right; the rockstar actually paid his way through college, all thanks to his comic book sales. I made several of these until we hit a design that is pretty much what he uses today." I heard there's a special package including one of your Axe or Punisher basses. Theres a good chance that you might have to be prepared for things to go a little wrong. 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). 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 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. here, he blamed the politically correct climate across the nation from stopping Americans saying what they really feel. 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. One can also see that the material under the studs is completely different from the rest of the bass. I've scammed people all this time The world of Jean-Jacques Burnel. There was suppose to be 1,000 . [**] 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. Just walking through the hotel lobby and hallways chatting with Gene was an unbelievable experience. 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. It has been suggested that it was a series/parallell switch which is feasible. Had the studs been mounted on the body this would have been completely non-sensical. This feels like a real Thunderbird and being handmade in the USA, it very much is one, with an incredibly resonant mahogany body. 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. Search titles only; Posted by Member: Separate names with a comma. All rights reserved. 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. We're sorry-this item is unavailable. 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). The prior owner believed this to be a late '90s, and when comparing with other listings on Reverb that appears to hold true. Would you believe that hes been building a business empire for himself since he was back in college? It turns out Gene accidentally rubbed host Terry Gross up the wrong way during an interview with the star. Talking about rap and hip-hop was enough to get plenty of people talking about Gene Simmons and his ever-changing music views. 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. A customized electric bass guitar - the "Gene Simmons Axe Bass" - was especially created for him by South Korean giant Cort. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. The GENE SIMMONS Meet & Greet Bass Signing Includes: - Choice of Gene Simmons Bass, signed & personalized by Gene Simmons. What I will call mkII actually makes it's documented debut in Detroit 74.12.20. 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. Gear 2021: Ending a big week for Gibson that began with the acquisition of Mesa/Boogie, the company has now announced a new partnership with Kiss icon Gene Simmons. Mk IV you strike, many talented bands have continued to prove Gene wrong in years. The inception of the Axe bass into Gene 's repertoire and the are! 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