New for 2021

[uwe]

The Punisher was a functional, well-thought-out bass. Nothing silly about it - except for Gene's oversize signature that is.

Seeing him with a TBird takes some getting used to though. I always thought the Firebird shape was "reserved" for Paul within the confines of KISS.

Also still surprised that the GS TBird is apparently not active. On the Punisher, the EMG sound is pretty defining.

[D.M.N.]

Really hoping we get some better options in 2021, let's just say I am not a fan of these two offerings. The white binding one would be close, if it wasn't a GS sig, and was done more like the Firebird custom, with the binding, flat top, black guard, and silver or gold hardware. I'm still hoping for a proper 60s 'Bird, Reverse or NR.

[Ken]

Really hoping we get some better options in 2021, let's just say I am not a fan of these two offerings. The white binding one would be close, if it wasn't a GS sig, and was done more like the Firebird custom, with the binding, flat top, black guard, and silver or gold hardware. I'm still hoping for a proper 60s 'Bird, Reverse or NR.

The Epiphone VP is that, no?  Or are you talking about from Gibson?

[D.M.N.]

The Epiphone VP is that, no?  Or are you talking about from Gibson?

From Gibson, though I'd be content with an Epi NR too. Probably already going to pick up a Epi Vintage Pro, but I'd like to see offerings from Gibson as well. It would be nice if they put the jack on the face too, I'm not terribly fond of it on the side of basses.

[Granny Gremlin]

You want something for double the price with half the quality control? 

[D.M.N.]

You want something for double the price with half the quality control? 

[ilan]

is it even 34" scale?

Measuring the fretboard length to full instrument length ratio, it's the same as any other 'bird.

[Alanko]

Was McCartney an influence on bass?

"It was a different style back then, inspired by Lindisfarne, very picky and folky, aimless melodies with no hooks or choruses. Which is why they didn’t become a big band..."

Lindisfarne were a folk-rock band, and had hooks and choruses. Unlike Gene and co they didn't flog plastic toys and generally sell their mothers for a few extra dollars in the bank, which is maybe the reason they didn't "become a big band" in the Gene's mind. Kiss always went the extra mile to monetise every aspect of their fairly derivative musical output, but offloading on Lindisfarne is incredibly unfair in this instance. Gene isn't enough of a musician (why practice your craft when you can be a greedy money-grubbing slob, after all) to criticise anybody.

I suppose throwing a signature bass at an obese elderly entertainer of marginal musical talent is still better than throwing a signature guitar at a Youtube non-entity?

[Basvarken]

 

[Highlander]

[westen44]

+1

[Dave W]

Lindisfarne were a folk-rock band, and had hooks and choruses. Unlike Gene and co they didn't flog plastic toys and generally sell their mothers for a few extra dollars in the bank, which is maybe the reason they didn't "become a big band" in the Gene's mind. Kiss always went the extra mile to monetise every aspect of their fairly derivative musical output, but offloading on Lindisfarne is incredibly unfair in this instance. Gene isn't enough of a musician (why practice your craft when you can be a greedy money-grubbing slob, after all) to criticise anybody.

I suppose throwing a signature bass at an obese elderly entertainer of marginal musical talent is still better than throwing a signature guitar at a Youtube non-entity?

So... you won't be ordering a GS Bird, then? 

[Highlander]

I vaguely remember someone round here with a "not for fins" attitude, and what is sonically significantly different here, otherwise...? I presume we'll have to wait for that "specialist" at Gibson to offer us a demo...

[uwe]

Lindisfarne were a folk-rock band, and had hooks and choruses. Unlike Gene and co they didn't flog plastic toys and generally sell their mothers for a few extra dollars in the bank, which is maybe the reason they didn't "become a big band" in the Gene's mind. Kiss always went the extra mile to monetise every aspect of their fairly derivative musical output, but offloading on Lindisfarne is incredibly unfair in this instance. Gene isn't enough of a musician (why practice your craft when you can be a greedy money-grubbing slob, after all) to criticise anybody.

I suppose throwing a signature bass at an obese elderly entertainer of marginal musical talent is still better than throwing a signature guitar at a Youtube non-entity?

Mein Gott, Alan, shouldn't he have some credit for knowing and having listened to Lindisfarne at all? The man is a Jewish immigrant to (another) one of your former colonies after all. I didn't read it as him deriding Lindisfarne at all, the man is an outright Anglophile in his music tastes: Beatles, Jeff Beck Group, Slade, The Move/ELO/Wizzard, Uriah Heep, Argent, The Sweet, Blackmore, Gary Moore, you name them. All he said was that Lindisfarne wasn't geared to conventional and commercial tastes, which I believe any member of Lindisfarne would agree to.

And for the record: Gene's mom was an Auschwitz child survivor who largely raised him single. He adored her und would have done anything for her.

[Highlander]

... the man is an outright Anglophile in his music tastes...

Ah... a moment of your time, my Lord... and vielen dank for the use of the word "Anglophile"...
Both Alan and I still live in a "colony" too, crying "Freedom" (in an Australian dialect) occasionally... From Parliament, tarring us as "Brits" is just a way of conning us that we are (still) part of the "English" Empire, which is finally and truly setting below that western horizon, from your residential perspective, as there never was a "British Empire"... just an English (Anglo) one hiding behind a name to make us feel like we belong, and after all, our "Monarchy" has roots in country that might be known to you... my father most certainly did not call her "my Queen" but certainly served her family long enough...
Little independent Schotland/Ecosse will be back as part of the Eu within our lifetimes...