Gene Simmons LoBue Tribute Build

[rarcauto67]

SORRY IM A BIG GENE FAN AND ALWAYS WILL BE. HE IS A BETTER BASSIST THEN HE IS GIVEN CREDIT FOR. HIS BIG MOUTH SHROUDS HIS MUSIC ABILITY BUT THATS GENE

 

[Splods]

What is caps lock...

 

[ampegfuzz]

Here is the only one I know of

Looks like the back isn't painted. Paint would probably come right off with the costume anyway.

 

[bassgod76]

I think the back peeled

 

[bassgod76]

While at band practice tonight, during "Take Me", I was wondering at my LoBue strap ergonomics and weight & balance.

Being a conventional guy, I prefer my front strap pin on the forward part of the top horn.

I think this is the most accurate place to install the front strap pin, however, my Schaller strap lock nipples would jab me. I guess I could use some oversized strap pins.

I recently saw this type of front pin mounting on a Fender Reverse Jaguar bass. This position would keep the look of the strap being on the middle front of the body, but still allow me to use Schaller strap locks. The only issue I see is how it interacts with the strap and the top horn.

Any ideas?

 

[ampegfuzz]

You probably won't like the looks but when I had my ibanez destroyer I used the dimarzio clip lock strap locks. Only problem is the clip part won't be clean looking. Also stuck with their strap.

 

[bassgod76]

I bought these big mushroom oversized strap pins. They don't stick out far and may be my best bet. I will think about it

 

[AltGrendel]

Look for something that will flush mount.

 

[bassgod76]

And I don't want to countersink Dunlop locks.

 

[ThaCoast]

While at band practice tonight, during "Take Me", I was wondering at my LoBue strap ergonomics and weight & balance.

I think this is the most accurate place to install the front strap pin, however, my Schaller strap lock nipples would jab me. I guess I could use some oversized strap pins.

I think this is the best one if you use the oversized pins. i don't think you'd have an issue with the strap popping out of it either. I have an ibanez GaxB 150, which i got when i was a kid cause it looked like gene's lobue , and the strap pins on that are oversized and they work great. never had a major issue of strap coming off in middle of song or anything.

 

[bassgod76]

Now I have to figure out if I should grind this lip down more. The lack of pictures make this part a giant estimation.

 

[ThaCoast]

Now I have to figure out if I should grind this lip down more. The lack of pictures make this part a giant estimation.

True. I tried searching through google and only came up with this picture. While brosing through past build pictures, my best advice, would be to add another piece of wood on the backside of the neck at the neck joint (about 1" or bit more). So clamp the neck in the body, look at pictures you could get reference from (like set neck basses/guitars i.e. les pauls, gibson rippers, etc.) and the lobue for sure. In the picture provided, it looks like it's at least 1"-1.75"~ more wood than yours has. But that's just my eye sight, others can say different. Best of luck

 

[bassgod76]

True. I tried searching through google and only came up with this picture. My best advice, would be to add another piece of wood on the backside of the neck at the neck joint. So clamp the neck in the body, look at pictures you could get reference from (even like set neck basses/guitars) and see how much wood you'd need to add. That's my two cents i guess. plus this picture

I was thinking about adding pieces, but I'm not sure how well it would hold up after a while with the fiinish at the glue joints.

In reality, if I knew about this pic earlier, I would've extended the pocket a bit. Currently, the pocket is like a bit over 1/2 inch shy of where Gene's was.

I just may do my own thing for this. At the end of the day, the part people will see will be pretty dead on.

I'm sure Hopkins will suggest something that will completely simplify and remedy the situation.

 

[ThaCoast]

best of luck as i said before. Intresting fact i discovered today: his spector basses, have eyebolts as strap pins. I never knew that

 

[bassgod76]

I know he's big on eye bolts. I just hate stuff jabbing me.

 

[ThaCoast]

I know he's big on eye bolts. I just hate stuff jabbing me.

+1, but i doubt he ever used it on his lobue bass

 

[bassgod76]

+1, but i doubt he ever used it on his lobue bass

Agreed

 

[millsbass5]

And I don't want to countersink Dunlop locks.

I'd think about goin' with the original screws from the strap pins (minus the pins), and just use washers over the screws instead. But, the strap would not be removable, unless you unscrew them. That way, nothing is protruding from that back strap pin.

 

[bassgod76]

I will think about it

 

[Ironfingers]

My .02 cents on this.

I'm assuming the "lip" you are talking about is the semi-circular part of the body at the top of the neck pocket. I don't think you should take it down any.

Your neck is a lot thinner than the original. If you look at the pics you can see how thick the heel is, and how far it's sunk down down into the body. I'm sure this was intentional to get more surface area to glue to. It's hard tell, and as you say there are no good pics of that area, but it does look like that semi-circular detail is there and is probably there for the same reason. Surface area. Your neck is a lot thinner so the more surface area, the better.

Of course, as in everything else about this thing, I'm just guessing but it sounds good to me... And you are right, most people are not going to be seeing that area unless you are showing it to someone that has the same type of interest in the bass as we do.

I also think you should just put the strap button in the correct place. Just man up and get poked. You have to suffer for your art, right?