NBD (And this one is NOT a gimmick!)

[johnk_10]

i used to own the aluminum neck kramer version of it. man, it weighed a TON.

 

[Staccato]

What an axe!

Attach a THIRD strap lock near the one on the horn. Run the second strap over the left shoulder and attach it to the other strap-near the bottom of the body.
Or find a super long strap lock for the bottom of the body to replace that one to hold both straps at the bottom. New found stability...

 

[Noseferatu]

I'm trying to figure out from this video how Gene has the straplock thing set up:

 

[TGLbass]

Tape the strap to the guitar (strong enough to hold it in place) then stand up over the couch or a bed in case it wants to fall -- then by tapeing and standing up with the axe you can tell where to put the straplock buttons so it's balanced. Move the strap and retape till it's balanced. Kapish??

 

[nostatic]

i used to own the aluminum neck kramer version of it. man, it weighed a TON.

I remember when those came out. I was working at GC in San Diego (back around '80 iirc) and we put a few up on the wall. That was back when Kramer actually had a bit of a following, though they were the "poor man's Travis Bean"

 

[TGLbass]

I had a Travis Bean and the coating had for some reason worn off the neck. It would turn my hand black after playing it.

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

I think this is a great sounding instrument and its tone reminds me of the one heard on a very famous recording made with a really expensive bass. Right now I'm practicing that bassline to record a demonstration video, so then you'll know which song I'm talking about.

So, Invalid Link Removed. Some may consider it an overstatement, but to my ears the tone is similar to that from the original recording.

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

I was expecting a really unpleasant tone from this instrument, but to my surprise, the stock Mighty Mite pickups deliver both a clear and powerful tone. The noise level isn't bigger than the average expected from a passive bass with a single coil pickup. With the tone control fully open and both pickups engaged, its "brightness" is a little too much for my taste, but nothing that cannot be solved with some EQ. I was ready to order an EMG PJ set to replace the stock pickups, but now I'm having second thoughts about it. Time will tell.

Hmm... the bass sounds really nice in a solo context. It also works really well within a Latin music band (yes, I did it). But yesterday I took it to a rehearsal with my rock band and, with heavy drums and guitar, its "cut-through" capabilities left something to be desired. Right now the idea of getting the EMG PJ set is getting planted in my head.

 

[ExurKun]

anyone else think the gigbag looks slightly phalic..
D:

 

[Tonegasm]

Now that's an axe...

 

[Jjango]

BTW, young people (specially young Kiss bashers) will never understand the meaning of being a hardcore Kiss fan during the time they didn't show their faces to the public. For those of us who were also fans of superheroes (Superman, Batman, Spider Man... you name it) and the concept of keeping a secret identity, Peter, Ace, Gene and Paul were that: True music superheroes.

I was just a little kid back then, and a huge fan of comic book superheroes. But to be honest, I never thought of KISS as rock 'n' roll superheroes – I always thought of them as rock 'n' roll clowns. Masks and capes made me think of superheroes, big shoes and greasepaint made me think of clowns.

 

[MOTORHEADBANGER]

Clowns don't breathe fire.

 

[t0t0m]

Wow..this bass was made in my Home Country Indonesia

 

[Chef]

If you like it, good for you!

I'd never consider such a thing.

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

If you like it, good for you!

I'd never consider such a thing.

Again, I think this bass is aimed to people who were huge fans of Kiss during they heyday. I think I wouldn't consider it either if I weren't one of those Kiss Army members and no cheap version of the instrument were offered to the public.

 

[Jjango]

Clowns don't breathe fire.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[stiles72]

I built an axe bass a while back and it balanced very well. I put the strap locks off center - moving the tail end one towards the left, just about inline with the corner of the bridge cover, and then put the other strap lock about 2 inches towards the blade from the normal "heel" position would be. Sorry I dont have any pics of it - it is gone now. But I do the exact same set up on my T-birds and they balance almost vertically.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

Well, it is definitely a gimmick, but from all I have heard, it is also a pretty decent bass. It is certainly interesting, anyway.

 

[purfektstranger]

I have lots of trees in my yard....dual purpose bass?? Really glad you are digging it. Not my thing and even if it was, the fact that Gene Simmon's name is on it would be dealbreaker for me. I respect the music of Kiss but Mr Simmons repulses me.

 

[bassplayer8953]

My gawd, is there anything Gene Simmons won't put his name on, for a buck???