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Gene Simmons' Rig Rundown Video
- Thread starter Heisenberg
- Start date
I mean the pre-recorded backing track sounds the same no matter which prop rig is on stage, right?
I made that comment kinda tongue in cheek because I have heard him talk about bass gear and doesn't seem to care much about what he's using. I am a fan of the first few years of kiss and his playing at that time. I know he isn't a fake. I rarely pay any attention these days however.
I'm just taking the piss. I know Gene's not a fake, too. His band is like the Broadway show of metal, and he and Paul Stanley look like somebody's Jersey Shore grandmothers--but then again they're zillionaires with a successful band that's been rocking for 40+ years, so *** do I know. Apologies for the light-hearted trolling. Please carry on.
Naahhh, that's okay. It's got some Hairy Limey sweat underneath the frets- does that count for anything?Now, just pony-up another $9,650 and Gene Simmons will dribble some theatrical blood on it.
Stick_Player
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- Nov 13, 2009
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Naahhh, that's okay. It's got some Hairy Limey sweat underneath the frets- does that count for anything?
$0.14, maybe?
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With passive PU's removing the tone pot helps keep the signal from loosing high end. Not so much of an issue for four string bass players. I always think that the simpler the signal pathway, the better the tone so removing the tone control circuit isn't a bad thing.
I got the impression that Gene wanted to simplify what was on the instrument's pick guard. Anything that wasn't being used is removed so that it doesn't get in the way. Minimizes the chance of being snagged by the costume. So they removed the tone control and the pickup selector.
It's possible that his pickups are passive EMG's and not active. They mentioned that the Punisher pickups are active but they didn't say that his were.
I got the impression that Gene wanted to simplify what was on the instrument's pick guard. Anything that wasn't being used is removed so that it doesn't get in the way. Minimizes the chance of being snagged by the costume. So they removed the tone control and the pickup selector.
It's possible that his pickups are passive EMG's and not active. They mentioned that the Punisher pickups are active but they didn't say that his were.
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I would bet Gene uses passive pickups. He isn't exactly the knob twiddler. Further, I wouldn't put money on there being a lack of tone pot on the fact that Gene is worried about the tiny bit of capacitance (since the resistance factor is moot) a dimed tone knob would introduce into a passive circuit...and I challenge anyone who has removed theirs to prove there is an audible difference.
Well if you look closely at the pickups on the basses, they are clearly not passive EMGs, they don't have the passive logo on the casings.
Plus his tone just has that active EMG sound to it
Plus his tone just has that active EMG sound to it
The neck pickups are EMG X, the bridge pickup says EMG. Looks like an active.
The EMG pres don't change the sound when set flat, so it's most likely him wanting to rid his onstage bass of stuff he doesn't need. A little surprised to see an X on his basses, though. They're really bright pickups and Gene doesn't have what you'd call a bright tone.
This discussion brings to mind these vids from years ago when Guitar Hero II first came out and Gene played bass onstage with a couple people, I loved that gritty tone, looks like an SVT-II Pro he's got there.
The Axe sounds decent.
The Axe sounds decent.
Necromancy/kinda-veer alert...does he need THAT many picks for one night? One of those basses must have 30 or so glommed onto it.
He uses two of them to play the show, the rest he throws out into the crowd.
Gene throws them to the crowd during the show. Then after the show, his accountant finds the people who caught one and demands $20.
