The reddish metal flake Grabber first shows up in Fayetteville, NC on 74.11.30 but it doesn't see steady action until 1975. 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. 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. Thats not individual products. 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. and I am certainly no expert on any of those instruments. Gene Simmons inspects the folder with the documents about his mother's persecution. 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. This feels like a real Thunderbird and being handmade in the USA, it very much is one, with an incredibly resonant mahogany body. 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. In 1977 the most common location of this mini switch was more or less right below the volume knob (with the bass seen in the playing position), and certain pics show what appear to be a piece of tape (or in some cases a dab of paint) covering up something. 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. I think that when it comes to Bass ( Which I play Bass and Guitar among other instruments! ) Guitar World is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Sadly, things didnt quite work out for the star. 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. 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. From 2006 until 2012, Gene Simmons and his family starred in the reality show Gene Simmons Family Jewels. It seems thats always been the case for Nick as the star has been working on his own band, Peroux, for the last few years. Below are pictures detailing the rather slight differences between them. Gene's version is either a '76 or '77 ebony version that was modfied from the get-go. There's very nice video of it from both Houston and Anaheim in August that show the mk VI in action. His wife, Canadian actress and 1982 Playboy Playmate of the Year Shannon Tweed, just shelled out $5.8 million for a Malibu . Just because Gene was a part of the scene doesnt mean that he took part in everything that came his way. During the time they were selling in Spencer's, various companies manufactured the . It seems this only made Gene even angrier than ever. (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. 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. LoBue custom LP Triumph Gibson EB-0. There is also a new, wider binding. Get the latest and greatest Guitar news with one of our guitar magazine subscriptions. However, Gene Simmons had his own views on it all and they werent very popular. Or why not treat yourself? Ron Wood is very under-appreciated. The Return of KISS!! Gene Simmons is a legendary rock icon and the bassist from KISS, and his new Gibson Gene Simmons G2 Thunderbird Bass reflects his tastes. If I wanted to learn something from Gene Simmons it would be how to run a business and make money. As Simmons explains, because I owned the name and the design, it qualifies as an invention in the library of congress. It can be tough for any celebritys child to make a name for themselves when their parents are Hollywood royalty. His. Thats right; the bass player is often seen with blood pouring from his mouth, but dont worry; no bass players are harmed in the making of the act. Sadly, in 2014, Gene upset quite a few people during an interview with HuffPost Live. Its one thing to be in a band. According to the Spector web site "Gene Simmons of mega-group KISS commissioned several Brooklyn Era SB-1 basses from Stuart in the late 1970's. That certainly would have been one way to get the kids listening. After having used a few different basses during the time in Wicked Lester, an Epiphone that was stolen and a Fender P-bass with a Gibson EB-0 pickup, Gene finally found his weapon of choice in the shape of a Charlie LoBue custom bass. Some have defended their actions by saying they want to focus on the performance and not the live rendition of the songs, while others have denied lip-syncing at all. Lets face it; its no secret that some of our favorite celebrities have worked through some pretty mundane jobs before making their way to the top. 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. Alas, by mid-1977 the cherised LoBue's days are numbered. [**]. Sophie reportedly pestered major streaming sites instead. If Gene tried to use the Carr Axe live it probably turned out to be too heavy for use. Cort GS Ax Punisher 2 Bass - One of Gene Simmons' two basses is a Cort GS Ax Punisher. The Serial Number for this Gene Simmons KISS: PUNISHER Bass Guitar is: #00896. Nady 950 wireless. 1's, Paul only changing from his own LoBue custom V when it was stolen. The entrepreneurial bassist recently reaffirmed his belief that "rock is dead . But for the Fridays TV appearance in January 1982 Spector #2 was back. Whether or not this is the first Axe that Gene got or not is something of a mystery. The 1970s rock scene was one that had to be enjoyed to be believed. The first G model is a Thunderbird Bass. Let's talk about your Axe basses. 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. PURCHASE & PAYMENT PLANS. There is something else that Nick Simmons has been working on over the years, and it comes in the form of his graphic novel. For this tour Gene also mysteriously starts sporting a cable from the output jack. 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. That was until 2011 when Gene suddenly got down on one knee and decided to make things official. In the video clip from In Concert below (shot on 74.02.21) we see the original incarnation of the LoBue in all its glory. Open menu Close menu . Simmons is announcing a new signature bass guitar in collaboration with Gibson, called the Gene Simmons G Thunderbird Bass. The rockstar replied Ice Cube should get in touch when Jimi Hendrix gets into the hip hop hall of fame.. Newer Than: Search this thread only; Search this forum only. Perhaps youve found yourself wondering how Gene could have landed himself in such hot water when talking about immigration as he and his family immigrated to the US when he was a child? 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. I heard there's a special package including one of your Axe or Punisher basses. It looked as though he was all set to reach the big time as it wasnt long before his work gained plenty of fans worldwide. As if things couldnt get any worse, Gene proceeded to tear his shirt and shouted, Hey chicks, sue me!. The first part of the Dynasty tour shows the Spector #1 mk III hanging in there. The women and shady affairs that destroyed Gene Simmons' life. That is probably going to be a very big item. Heres how it works. Gene also caused a stir when he admitted he feels immigrants should all learn to speak English before moving to the States. 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. As Simmons explained, [Cort] started mass producing them and selling them for a cheaper price, obviously, so the wood was cheaper everything was cheaper, and the paint started to crack. The application claimed that Gene first used the gesture in 1974 while posing for a photo with the legend that is Dave Grohl. It seems that Gene thinks its time for one genre in particular to disappear: rap. The LoBue was the undisputed no. 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. It is also, when visible, curiously unaffected by lighting conditions. 1980. The two Gs have teamed to launch G - a whole range of electric guitar and bass . 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). It can be easy to think that Gene Simmons views comic books as nothing more than a way to make some extra money on the side. It was probably added to help the intonation problems inherent in any set bridge like the original, but this one proved problematic as the few surviving pictures show that the strings had a tendency to skip out of position. The worlds leading authority and resource for all things guitar. At the heart of the axe-shaped Simmons bass is its electronics system. Gene Simmons Bass Solo Compilation from the beginning to the end! )Although not as obvious this is also seen in the pic from Toledo 76.07.30. Every manufacturer will tell you that they try to ensure their guitars feel playable, but greater care needs to be taken with larger-bodied instruments like this Thunderbird, or they can end up feeling bulky and demanding. I have yet to figure out what this bridge was. When KISS did their first "European" tour in 4 years they stopped by a TV studio in Hilversum, Holland on May 29 to record singback versions of Unholy and God Gave Rock 'n' Roll To You II for the show Countdown. 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). I wanted to share this video because of how li. Being a well-known name in the world of music means that Gene Simmons has plenty of opinions when it comes to other musicians and genres. The Gibson Thunderbird was a backup used on occasion when the trusty Spector #1 had to take a rest. What is a guitar but a collection of wood, magnets and metals? The basses are often signed or played on stage depending on what price point the buyer wants to reach for. The very obvious absence of an Axe during 1990-95, with the possible . Its one thing to date two of the biggest names in music, and its something entirely different to break up their friendship as a result. 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. Though he speaks measuredly . There is a bass resembling the Grabber, based on the headstock, standing offstage in a pic from 76.02.01, in. The shot from Springfield 79.09.05 shows the new inlay. 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. The string of prototypes that Carr eluded to were probably the ones shown below. Gibson Gene Simmons G2 Thunderbird: Price Comparison, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices. 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. It has also been suggested that this one is actually from 1981 but that would make it later than the production model Kramer Axe which would cast some doubt on Carr's statement above. I dont care, it doesnt mean anything to me.. (Plenty of 1980 shots are improperly labeled 1979 online. 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