It wasnt long before people pointed out the sign actually means I love you in sign language. They both had the same body shape and the number only designated the number of pickups. Sadly, we get the feeling that Gene would have rocked a lot less face paint during his time in the classroom. 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 rosewood fretboard and EB6 4-string bridge add clarity to the Gene Simmons Axe, so you get definition with each note you strike. 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. In 2017, Gene Simmons hit the headlines for something pretty controversial among the rock world. 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 . Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Spector #1 Spector #2 Valdez Axe Carr Axe. There are people that want to leave a legacy and are concerned with what is said about them after theyre gone. Right after the guitar was purchased, it was immediately packed in its hard case along with all of the items the guitar came with, which included: The Certificate of Authenticity, the original Gene Simmons hard . Spector #1 is certainly still in the picture but when it comes to relative use their fortunes are reversed with #1 "coming off the bench" here and there and #2 getting more stage time. Wicked Lester had their equipment stolen from the loft at Mott St. and Canal St. After this there is a long void of solid photographic evidence on what happens. You know, I dont think in those terms, he explains. The rockstar replied Ice Cube should get in touch when Jimi Hendrix gets into the hip hop hall of fame.. While the price tag for the Axe basses might be high, they are often sold as a package deal with other perks. . It can be tough for any celebritys child to make a name for themselves when their parents are Hollywood royalty. 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. 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. 1996 Guitars that Rule the World, Metal Edge presents KISS Alive. Photographic evidence doesn't allow for three #1 Spectors, there are only two. Just walking through the hotel lobby and hallways chatting with Gene was an unbelievable experience. Contact our experts for a recommendation of great alternatives. After the re-finish (more info below) the coverup disappears, most likely because the hole was filled before the finish was applied. Diana Ross. Kiss legend Gene Simmons fondly recalls the days when a fledgling Rush would regularly play support to the panstick-sporting rockers. It looked as though he needed it as Genes outfit weighs quite a lot thanks to all those theatrical additions. (Also seen in Lund, Sweden. No matter the angle or lighting, up until now the white binding has been clearly visible at all times. Here we get to see it with a studded cover of some sort, probably leather. 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. 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. The Q-system was designed by Bill Lawrence and was quite versatile. It seems Gene will live to spit blood another day. There are masterclasses taught by Simmons himself that are only available to Axe buyers. 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. After that modification number two kicks in and we see another set of knobs. His wife, Canadian actress and 1982 Playboy Playmate of the Year Shannon Tweed, just shelled out $5.8 million for a Malibu . There's very nice video of it from both Houston and Anaheim in August that show the mk VI in action. Personal messages from members of The Gene Simmons Bass Collectors Club. The result? Once the band starts making personell changes at the turn of the decade Gene moves to Spector #2 as his main bass. Sadly, things didnt quite work out for the star. To start, people need to take a look at how much Gene brings home from his time with Kiss, which it turns out isnt as much as some people would think. Skip to main content. In 2012, Madonna fans were in for a treat as the pop star was lined up to star at the Super Bowl halftime show. This bass is authorized by Gene Simmons, and each Axe is adorned with Gene's signature on the headstock. Kiss is currently out on the road for their final tour, dubbed End Of The Road. I've scammed people all this time The world of Jean-Jacques Burnel. There is also a new, wider binding. This time it looks like a fairly standard Fender bridge (mk V). 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. Roland 555 space/echo (for solo) controlled by manipulating the intensity and . It's a smart and quick solution since it's not visible for the most part. During one interview, the rockstar was asked if he admired anyone else more than himself. Thanks to abusername for pointing that out. Kiss were Gibson endorsees in those days so it could well be that Simmons got it as a promotional . First the finish is re-done to be an all-black and Steve Carr makes a headstock inlay of Gene's makeup face. Reports have varied throughout the years, but Gene is confident that hes been with thousands of partners. Gene Simmons's new haircut. 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. Some of the modifications included a special gloss black paint job with white binding along the sides of the body. 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). Or why not treat yourself? For this occasion Gene borrowed a Thunderbird and proceeded to "thumb" his way through the songs.). 1's, Paul only changing from his own LoBue custom V when it was stolen. The application claimed that Gene first used the gesture in 1974 while posing for a photo with the legend that is Dave Grohl. 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. Though he is known for his woodsman-inspired Axe guitar, he told me it . Kiss bassist Gene Simmons told UCR about his artistic endeavors during an exclusive interview in August 2021. . [*] 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." 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). Had the studs been mounted on the body this would have been completely non-sensical. The shift to the Jackson comes about just before the European leg of the Lick it up tour. 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. [*] 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". I dont care, it doesnt mean anything to me.. 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). 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. Overview. Wherever the LoBue eventually ended up it is one of the great lost treasures of KISStory, one that deserves enshrinment. 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. Ron Wood is very under-appreciated. "The first project with KISS for me, was when Gene said he wanted a guitar shaped like an executioner's axe. It turned out that some people thought the reason Incarnate was doing so well was all because Nick allegedly stole ideas from other major mangas. 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. Because of this I will "narrate" this story as if there's a single Spector until much later when they are more easily identifiable. Although he's spent the last 50 years Now, Kiss is linked to an incredible number of product categories 3,000 to be precise. 1970 replacement Gibson pickup has been added and moved closer to the bridge; and a new, custom shape pickguard has been added. Gene Simmons has occupied the public consciousness since 1973, when Kiss first burst into the scene. So the three mentioned is probably two #1's and one #2 (more of which later). The neck has pearl diamond inlays just like Gene's, and the detail in the paint and set up is just like the Demons. The bass touts a mahogany body with a bolt on C shaped maple neck and rosewood fretboard with a 15 radius. At the time Spector only had two model bass guitars, the SB-1 and the SB-2. My bass is the only musical instrument that is an 'invention'.". The GENE SIMMONS Meet & Greet Bass Signing Includes: - Choice of Gene Simmons Bass, signed & personalized by Gene Simmons. Whatever the new binding was actually made with it was one of the least durable materials in the known universe. The Jackson Axe is mercifully kept in this near-original condition for at least the two following tours; there are no noticeable alterations. Now, Inc. estimates that Gene Simmons is worth a whopping $300 million. Since this all-black Spector shows up with both sets of replacement knobs it was re-finished early on. . For the 1981 TV appearances in Mexico and the sattelite feed to the San Remo festival Gene relied on the Kramer Axe. LoBue custom Fender P-bass. From the Spector site - For 20 years, Gene Simmons of the legendary band KISS recorded and toured with his custom made Spector bass. We get an excellent close-up of it in the instrument line-up pic from Knoxville but live shots seem to be lacking. Stage Played Pkg n/a. 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. 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. Newer Than: Search this thread only; Search this forum only. "I just had a guy named Stuart Spector build me one with a longer neck. The bass(es) were high-gloss black with white trim and a very distinct "point" on the back where the body finish met the unfinished neck (see further down). Conclusion. In the case of Kramer, Jackson and Cort, as soon as quality started to dip, a new builder would be found. 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