Gene $immons: his old-school basses!

[elgecko]

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by ChessTiger

I love and desire to have a Punisher 2. Everyone whom I've shown it to (non guitar players; bass or other wise) thinks it looks GREAT!! I'm tempted to get one.

I'm a newbie to the bass and currently taking lessons and teaching myself how to read bass clef. The Punisher 2 is on my list of must have.

The Punisher definitely has the cool factor nailed. I swapped out my pickups for EMG's (what Gene uses), and it barks.

Is it a comfortable bass to play? Well... It looks cool!

In the immortal words of a Bassplayer interview of Gene Simmons back in 1996, "Gene Simmons is no Victor Wooten. Conversely, Victor Wooten is no Gene Simmons."

[EAZTITI]

Gene Simmons playing one his new custom painted Axe bass, the Firehouse

[EAZTITI]

The 1/4 scaled miniature Firehouse Axe bass that I made

[EAZTITI]

And Gene Simmons with the miniature Firehouse Axe bass that I sent him this summer. More pics on my FB page https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Li...21620104602691

[Jaymi]

I have a spare Axe bass for sale if anyone is interested...brand new for 350....

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by Jaymi

I have a spare Axe bass for sale if anyone is interested...brand new for 350....

Post this item on here.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/kisstributebands/

[Jaymi]

I requested to join...

[bassgod76]

Even this page. The folks on this one are KISS swag zombies.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/KISSKRUISERS/

[rtslinger]

Originally Posted by Blazer

I found some demos that showcase the fat sound that Charlie LoBue bass had. My guess is that it has active electronics, some kind of pre-amp.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPlg2...eature=related
"Strutter"
I Actually like this one better than the one they released.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox-kO...eature=related
"Cold Gin"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVzhWyTGyb0
"Duece"

THAT VERSION OF STRUTTER HAS SOME GREAT BASS RIFFS LATER DROP FROM THE ALBUM VERSION GENE'S SIR PAUL INFLUENCE REALLY SHOWS IN THAT DEMO.THANKS FOR SHARING!

[bassgod76]

A question for you guys. Please give me your opinions!

I'm finishing up gathering parts for my LeBou bass build.
I'm foregoing the mudbucker originally used, and going with EMG's. I'm doing a, "What would the LeBou look like if Gene used it today" theme.

First question:
I bought a fairly new set of EMG P/J's for this build, because they are the pups Gene is using on his current basses.

I really dig the P (neck) & 35DC (bridge) setup. Would I be making too much of a departure with this change?

Second question:
Gene used black speed knobs on the original LeBou. Is going to chrome knobs, like his current basses another faux pas?

Last question:
The original LeBou had three knobs. This is a mystery to me since the bass originally had one pickup. Since I would be going with a two pickup setup, should I use a selector switch like his current basses, or go with a V/V/T setup?

Let me know, rock & roll!

[Tender Prey]

IMO if you are doing an "update" then you can combine old style and current style. Sounds more like you are building a tribute than an exact replica, so you can add or subtract anything that you feel makes it more functional. Looking forward to seeing the project.

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by Tender Prey

IMO if you are doing an "update" then you can combine old style and current style. Sounds more like you are building a tribute than an exact replica, so you can add or subtract anything that you feel makes it more functional. Looking forward to seeing the project.

I figured as much. I would prefer the p/35DC setup, but the other basses for this band are EMG p/j's.

Decisions...

[THand]

Originally Posted by bassgod76

A question for you guys. Please give me your opinions!

I'm finishing up gathering parts for my LeBou bass build.
I'm foregoing the mudbucker originally used, and going with EMG's. I'm doing a, "What would the LeBou look like if Gene used it today" theme.

First question:
I bought a fairly new set of EMG P/J's for this build, because they are the pups Gene is using on his current basses.

I really dig the P (neck) & 35DC (bridge) setup. Would I be making too much of a departure with this change?

Second question:
Gene used black speed knobs on the original LeBou. Is going to chrome knobs, like his current basses another faux pas?

Last question:
The original LeBou had three knobs. This is a mystery to me since the bass originally had one pickup. Since I would be going with a two pickup setup, should I use a selector switch like his current basses, or go with a V/V/T setup?

Let me know, rock & roll!

Do what you want with the pups. Gene swapped and experimented all the time, so I don't think it's off to do something different since you already have the P/J's covered...

Other questions...I'd use a selector switch, and definitely speed knobs. Without the speedknobs and a bridge cover, I don't think it would be recognizable as a LeBou tribute, which seems to be what you are going for...something old fans( or even Gene) would see and say "I remember that!"

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by THand

Do what you want with the pups. Gene swapped and experimented all the time, so I don't think it's off to do something different since you already have the P/J's covered...

Other questions...I'd use a selector switch, and definitely speed knobs. Without the speedknobs and a bridge cover, I don't think it would be recognizable as a LeBou tribute, which seems to be what you are going for...something old fans( or even Gene) would see and say "I remember that!"

THAND: You always have great pointers.

I will be using the Gibson style bridge cover. That is very much a must. I do admit, ever since doing this band, I've grown quite fond of bridge covers.

I think that if I used speed knobs, I'd almost like to go V/V/T, and have that 3rd knob in the weirdo position the original LeBou was mounted in.

I have a set of PJ's already, but this is my thought process...
I like a P/J bass, but have found that the J solo'd just sounds weak.

I did my explosive Ibanez project with a EMG 35DC in the bridge position, and it just slayed. I could solo either pickup, and I was cookin'.

Unlike my two Corts, this bass would be the only thing kept, if I ever quit my tribute, and it would probably be the only "KISS" bass I'd play in other bands.

I just don't know if this change in pickups would kind of ruin the project.

[bassgod76]

I just had an "Ah crap" moment. Was the LeBou short scale?

[Tender Prey]

I don't think it was short scale. If you compare pics of it against say the LP jr bass that he used, you can see a size difference in the neck. The short scale looked like he was wearing a toy bass.

[THand]

Originally Posted by bassgod76

I just had an "Ah crap" moment. Was the LeBou short scale?

I wish I could answer that as a fact instead of an opinion...but I can't do anything but make an educated guess.
Basically it is modeled after a Gibson EB0 (mahogany body, body shape, ebony fretboard, 2+2 tuners), which makes you think short scale, but Gene prefers full scale basses and only did some photos and tv lip sinking with an EB0 when they were endorsed by Gibson...he didn't really play it.
As much as he liked that Lebou bass, and as much as he prefers full-scale basses, I believe it is full scale. I don't think he would have liked it that much if it wasn't.
IIRC, back then, he liked the Fender P bass sound and the feel of the neck on a P bass, but hated the body of a P and hated bolt-on necks, so that Lebou bass was designed with the Gibson style cutaways and a glued-in neck so he could do slides easier. But I really believe the neck was a 34" neck with a profile similar to a P...I could be wrong, but those are my thoughts.
The only reason he didn't play a P in KISS, was that he didn't think the body style looked right for his image on stage...but in some older shots, you can see his back-up bass was a black Fender P. There are some pics of him playing the P on stage too.

[bassgod76]

Here's two pics of a dude who built a LeBou copy. I'm pretty sure it's 34" scale.



This guy is in a Japanese tribute. I don't know how large this guy is, but the bass looks massive on him.

Here is the real LeBou




Does the neck look short scale now?

[bassgod76]

More of that LeBou copy


Gene's Gibson EBO, a confirmed short scale bass.