Gene Simmons LoBue Tribute Build

[bassgod76]

Ha! My dog made it in the pic!

 

[bassgod76]

Here's something I wrestled with last night.
Looking at my pickup configuration for this build, I wonder if I'm doing something cool and different, or am I doing the bass a disservice by not using a mudbucker in the sweet spot?

I'd like to present this to Gene himself to look at. I just don't know if going the EMG route will kill the nostalgia factor? Or will he appreciate the electronic face lift?

 

[THand]

I'm afraid if they scale up the sides, that the distance from the bridge to the end of the bass will increase.

If you are going to retain that shape, it will...will it matter? You won't know till you try.

 

[THand]

Here's something I wrestled with last night.
Looking at my pickup configuration for this build, I wonder if I'm doing something cool and different, or am I doing the bass a disservice by not using a mudbucker in the sweet spot?

I'd like to present this to Gene himself to look at. I just don't know if going the EMG route will kill the nostalgia factor? Or will he appreciate the electronic face lift?

Seeing it both ways, and considering it's a tribute...I'm liking the mudbucker in the sweet spot better. It just looks right, to me. You can always add/mod more later if you don't like it.

As far as whether to use EMG's or not...IDK..Gene has been using EMG pretty exclusively since they came out so he definitely likes them, but I see what you are saying. I would go with a EMG mudbucker and call it a day.

I think the neck would be the big difference to him....but what else can you do with so little info on the original? There are not a lot of used short-scale mahogany necks w/ebony fret-boards out there...even Carvin is using rosewood on their replacement necks now, instead of ebony. I tried to do an on-line model on Warmoths site and went over $400 really quickly.....so in some ways, you may have to say, "Gene, this is the 2013 tribute model of your 1973 Lobue...wood embargoes and active pups have changed things, BTW, you are a powerful and attractive man..."

 

[ctmullins]

EMG mudbucker???

If you want an authentic vintage look, go with a chrome mudbucker in the sweet spot.

If you want a more usable and flexible tone, use the EMGs.

I'm trying really hard to like the Artec mudbucker in my RayBird. But it just doesn't have enough cutting highs on its own, even when coil-tapped. Maybe with stainless strings...

 

[bassgod76]

Seeing it both ways, and considering it's a tribute...I'm liking the mudbucker in the sweet spot better. It just looks right, to me. You can always add/mod more later if you don't like it.

As far as whether to use EMG's or not...IDK..Gene has been using EMG pretty exclusively since they came out so he definitely likes them, but I see what you are saying. I would go with a EMG mudbucker and call it a day.

I think the neck would be the big difference to him....but what else can you do with so little info on the original? There are not a lot of used short-scale mahogany necks w/ebony fret-boards out there...even Carvin is using rosewood on their replacement necks now, instead of ebony. I tried to do an on-line model on Warmoths site and went over $400 really quickly.....so in some ways, you may have to say, "Gene, this is the 2013 tribute model of your 1973 Lobue...wood embargoes and active pups have changed things, BTW, you are a powerful and attractive man..."

I was adding the EMG P's because he did use P pickups on the LoBue Mark III and he uses them now.

What about using a DiMarzio Model one pickup?

I should've purchased the EMG HB, because that's what he actually used on past basses. Decisions.

If I do go one pickup, what do I do with the 3rd knob?

 

[bassgod76]

EMG mudbucker???

If you want an authentic vintage look, go with a chrome mudbucker in the sweet spot.

If you want a more usable and flexible tone, use the EMGs.

I'm trying really hard to like the Artec mudbucker in my RayBird. But it just doesn't have enough cutting highs on its own, even when coil-tapped. Maybe with stainless strings...

I want something that if Gene sees the bass, and takes it on stage (I know I'm reaching) I don't want him to play through a mudbucker and be reminded of why he went to EMG.

 

[Jaymi]

I would go with the DiMarzio...

 

[bassgod76]

The Model one could be wired with a push/pull pot for series/parallel?

 

[Jaymi]

The Model one could be wired with a push/pull pot for series/parallel?

probably, they are capable of going with toggle switch(they are 4 wire pup)

 

[bassgod76]

Decisions. I've heard that these pups are not really made for use near the bridge.

 

[Jaymi]

I dunno, I have seen a number of people using them in that position

 

[bassgod76]

I've read some, and many have said the results werent great, and the pole pieces dont line up with that pup near the bridge?

 

[Jaymi]

depends on the string spacing at the bridge....notice Gene's...it had the EB0 pickup.....wonder if it lined up

 

[bassgod76]

depends on the string spacing at the bridge....notice Gene's...it had the EB0 pickup.....wonder if it lined up

See the top left corner of the article.

 

[THand]

Originally, it had something else that was not what we would call mudbucker today. It was thinner...he may be talking about that. Who knows? It had a that mudbucker from Dimarzio all the way to Love Gun, once he installed it...That bit about not having a backup is BS too. There are a few old pics of him playing a regular Black P bass (not the one with the EB-O pup, but regular P pups), and you can see it on some old videos sitting by his amp on a stand. I also recall some interview a long time ago, where he said he prefered P basses, but they didn't look as cool as the Lobue. The Lobue was part of the show, because it was different from what anyone else was playing.

 

[bassgod76]

Originally, it had something else that was not what we would call mudbucker today. It was thinner...he may be talking about that. Who knows? It had a that mudbucker from Dimarzio all the way to Love Gun, once he installed it...That bit about not having a backup is BS too. There are a few old pics of him playing a regular Black P bass (not the one with the EB-O pup, but regular P pups), and you can see it on some old videos sitting by his amp on a stand. I also recall some interview a long time ago, where he said he prefered P basses, but they didn't look as cool as the Lobue. The Lobue was part of the show, because it was different from what anyone else was playing.

Well, he said it never lined up, so if that means that no pickup ever lined up? Who knows.

Once, I get the final shape, I will actually make a more 3D foam copy, so you can see how the pups look with them installed in a cavity.

 

[Nocturnal]

What bridge are you using on the project? If you use one with adjustable saddles then you may be able to line up the pole pieces without issue.

 

[bassgod76]

What bridge are you using on the project? If you use one with adjustable saddles then you may be able to line up the pole pieces without issue.

Just an old MIM bridge.

 

[ctmullins]

The DiMarzio Will Power Neck is very similar to the Model One, but has Fenderish spacing. It's not chrome, though, which is a turn-off for me.

You might consider one of Curtis Novak's replacements - the EB-AA is a bright humbucker, and the EB-BS is a BiSonic style single-coil. Curtis recommended the BS to me for heavy rock use.

All of the above is assuming you want something in a mudbucker form factor, of course!