Which Strings?

[adamg67]

I was thinking of getting a Gene Simmons "Ax Bass" like the one in the photo, but I don't know which strings would be best for it? Are curved strings harder to find than straight ones?

[nige1968]

It’s a packaging error. That’s actually Gene’s Herb Chopper bass.

[joeystrange]

If you boil them first and fit them while they’re still soft they’ll stay in that shape as they cool.

[Nail Soup]

looks like a fan fret taken one step further😃!

[Graham56]

You have to tune them sharp as well...

[musicbassman]

Oh no, not this topic again!

Every few months someone revives the straight/curved debate, and they just need to remember what Gene said about this when he had the first curved strung bass specially made for him:  "Well, I don't play the bass with straight fingers, so why shouldn't my strings should be the same as my fingers - curved"

Here's the opening lines of Rarfer Friytnt's notoriously difficult bass piece *Straightjacket" which Gene was struggling with when he came up with the original idea:

[Paul S]

Never mind the bass, the action figure clearly shows a 6 pack.  I can't imagine the rather fleshy Mr Simmons ever sporting one of those, even in his heyday.

[adamg67]

7 hours ago, Paul S said:

Never mind the bass, the action figure clearly shows a 6 pack.  I can't imagine the rather fleshy Mr Simmons ever sporting one of those, even in his heyday.

Yes, he has rather muscly legs as well. I suspect what we have is the bizarre conjunction of Gene Simmon's head on a superhero's body.

I'm also curious about what some of the other "accessories" are... dare I ask what those things above his head are?

Edited October 24, 2020 by adamg67

[Stub Mandrel]

I'm worried about the bits at top right. What are they? Interchangeable codpieces or tongue armour?

[Paul S]

Perhaps Gary will know @cetera - did you wear such things?

[adamg67]

I suppose if you bought one you could, without lying, ask someone if they wanted to see your winged snake battle staff.

[adamg67]

5 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

I'm worried about the bits at top right. What are they? Interchangeable codpieces or tongue armour?

I reckon codpiece, and he needed two of them as they got very sweaty on stage.

[Hobbayne]

1 hour ago, adamg67 said:

I reckon codpiece, and he needed two of them as they got very sweaty on stage.

Well, thats put me right off my pot noodle that has.

[Baloney Balderdash]

To me it looks like it got just the right amount of vertical relief. 

[cetera]

On 24/10/2020 at 18:45, Paul S said:

Perhaps Gary will know @cetera - did you wear such things?

 

Ah yes, they're interchangeable elbow/shoulder spikes.... for when the guitarist/lead singer has REALLY been p*ss*ng you off and you want to bang into him on stage...

They were hugely necessary in my experience.