Gene $immons: his old-school basses!

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by Scott in Dallas

I always thought it was odd that Gene Simmons always had to play something nobody else had. After seeing the photos of him playing a Precision, I can now say that I get it. He doesn't look right playing a regular instrument.

Even with a Thunderbird, it doesn't look "right".

Then again, Gene playing any bass with a 4 in-line tuner headstock looks weird to me. ;-)

[bassgod76]

Just curious. Does anyone know what bridge pickup Gene has in his Thunderbird? I know he took out the neck pickup and swapped it with a Mudbucker.
http://axeology.com/Gibson.html#Thunderbird

[godofthunder59]

Originally Posted by bassgod76

Just curious. Does anyone know what bridge pickup Gene has in his Thunderbird? I know he took out the neck pickup and swapped it with a Mudbucker.
http://axeology.com/Gibson.html#Thunderbird

The pickup in the neck position is not a mudbucker but a Dimarzio Model One.
The bridge pickup is a stock '76 Gibson Thunderbird pickup.

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by godofthunder59

The pickup in the neck position is not a mudbucker but a Dimarzio Model One.
The bridge pickup is a stock '76 Gibson Thunderbird pickup.

Yes, you're right.

Thanks!

[godofthunder59]

Anytime! I saw Kiss in '75 and '77. The Thunderbird was waiting in the wings at the '77 show in Buffalo NY but as I remember it saw no stage time.

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by godofthunder59

Anytime! I saw Kiss in '75 and '77. The Thunderbird was waiting in the wings at the '77 show in Buffalo NY but as I remember it saw no stage time.

I was kicking around the idea of getting an ebony Epi T'bird and altering it to give it the Gene 1977 look.
Gotoh makes pickups in chrome.

Wheels turning...

My LoBue build starts in two weeks. Body and neck are being shipped!

[godofthunder59]

Originally Posted by bassgod76

I was kicking around the idea of getting an ebony Epi T'bird and altering it to give it the Gene 1977 look.
Gotoh makes pickups in chrome.

Wheels turning...

My LoBue build starts in two weeks. Body and neck are being shipped!

A Lobue build? Cool! I have a black '77 Bird and I have thought about giving it the Gene "treatment" but I can't bring myself to do it.

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by godofthunder59

A Lobue build? Cool! I have a black '77 Bird and I have thought about giving it the Gene "treatment" but I can't bring myself to do it.

Dude, don't chop up that beauty. Thus why I'm using a cheaper Epi to cram in that neck pup.

I've slowly gathered parts for the LoBue. I will post a build thread when I get started. 99% of parts have been ordered.

[godofthunder59]

Trust me I won't chop it up. I may find a black 2000 something bird to mod.

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by godofthunder59

Trust me I won't chop it up. I may find a black 2000 something bird to mod.

Oy, I get nauseous when thinking about routing or cutting any MIA instrument.

[godofthunder59]

LOL than you don't want to see my 2001 white Thunderbird aka the Butcherbird.

[bassgod76]

Is this Gotoh bridge pickup similar to the one in that pic of Gene's T'Bird?
http://www.basspartsresource.com/bpi...ftermarket.htm

[adk teleman]

Thanks for sharing!! I always liked Kiss. I do wonder, if it is a comfortable bass to play. Looks like ti might be a bit headstock heavy.

[Blazer]

I joined a band called "Sunset strip" (the name should be enough) and our bassplayer uses two Epiphone Thunderbirds: a Nikki Sixx "Blackbird" and one of the new Thunderbird Pro series basses, both T-birds perform really well and sound killer.

You don't need to spend over a grand to have a cool bass.

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by Blazer

I joined a band called "Sunset strip" (the name should be enough) and our bassplayer uses two Epiphone Thunderbirds: a Nikki Sixx "Blackbird" and one of the new Thunderbird Pro series basses, both T-birds perform really well and sound killer.

You don't need to spend over a grand to have a cool bass.

That's encouraging :-)

[Blazer]

Originally Posted by bassgod76

That's encouraging :-)

You're welcome, I have no problem using Squiers. Ive seen enough instances where people have sanded off the brandname from the headstock making me go "If you're ashamed of playing a Squier then DON'T play a Squier."

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by Blazer

You're welcome, I have no problem using Squiers. Ive seen enough instances where people have sanded off the brandname from the headstock making me go "If you're ashamed of playing a Squier then DON'T play a Squier."

One of my favorite basses was a Squier. I did mod it extensively. The Squier logo was barely visible, so I refinished it with a CBS era Fender decal. I sold it like an idiot.

[godofthunder59]

Not really thats a mini bucker like in a EB3. For repro Thunderbird pickups I like Thunderbuckers available here http://www.thunderbuckerranch.com/ They are 60's spec reproductions.

Originally Posted by bassgod76

Is this Gotoh bridge pickup similar to the one in that pic of Gene's T'Bird?
http://www.basspartsresource.com/bpi...ftermarket.htm

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by godofthunder59

Not really thats a mini bucker like in a EB3.

But isn't that the pickup in that picture of Gene's T'bird, in the bridge position? It looks smaller than a T bird pup. The picture is kind of crappy, so it's hard to see.

[Jaymi]

it only looks smaller because the front pickup is a DiMarzio 'mudbucker'