TheBassAce's bass rig

Before you begin perusing my Rig, bear in mind that NOTHING listed here is for sale! I use and enjoy these items daily. So please- don't e-mail me asking me, "Is that AXE bass for sale?" My answer will be a resounding, emphatic, firm, LOUD "NO!" Also- effective January 1, 2006, any contact (either e-mail OR from a website) soliciting a sale of any part of my rig will be forwarded to that e-mail domain's/website's abuse center! There- you've been warned. If I ever DO decide to sell anything, you will see it on

First, before I could realize ANY of what you are about to read, I must pay homage to a truly indispensible teaching resource. A book known as "The Bass Grimoire". It has (and still does) teach me new things about how to play the bass guitar every time I open it. I believe EVERY bassist, regardless of skill level, can learn something from this book. Learn more about it by clicking on its cover below.

Meet my luthier- Bill Baker. The ONLY person in whom I place implicit trust with all of my instruments. Click the pic to go to his shop's website- you'll be GLAD you did!

I'm a BIG fan (and user) of what most folks out there call "vintage" equipment, as most of my gear is over 20 years old. To me, it sounds better, is made better, and is just plain more reliable than the equipment the same manufacturers are producing today. I've never had a single equipment-related problem at any gig or recording session I've every been part of. These are just my thoughts, tho! Here's the list. Enjoy. I know I do! Now- on to the good stuff- -

Backline: (bi-amped)

LOW end: 1 each 1969 Ampeg© SVT™ bass system consisting of 1 each all-tube (6146b!), all ORIGINAL, bass amplifier head, that is still rated at 300+W (I've had it meticulously gone over and cleaned by Central Jersey Music Service's own Dennis Kager! Serial number 100_15. Here is the view of the back panel. He was actually employed BY Ampeg in the Linden, New Jersey plant back in the '60s, so it couldn't have been in more competant hands! I met, and talked with, him at great length about Ampeg, and he even took the time to sign my copy of Gregg Hopkins and Bill Moore's reference book- "Ampeg: The Story Behind The Sound"!). I send my signal thru 2 matching B25B "refrigerator/freezer" ported and buss-fused speaker cabinets, each loaded with 2 150W 15" Altec Lansing© 421A™ speakers. My "beast". If it was good enough for Gene, then it's good enough for ME!

AND...

1 each Sunn© 215SH™ 2x15" bass speaker cabinet. Rated at 160W RMS. Big and LOUD! (Vintage- early '80s.)

1 each 1969 Ampeg© SBT™ bass preamplifier. Solid-state. Rated at 240W. A stand-alone unit, featuring JUST the preamp section- no power tubes. With this, if my SVT goes, I can still get that familiar SVT "growl" from any power amp I plug this baby into! AWESOME! Here is the view of the back panel.

1 each 2008 Ampeg© BA-115™ bass combo amp. 1-15" speaker. 100 watts. Solid-state. Passive/Active inputs. CD inputs. Headphone jack. Line Out jack. Tilt-back cabinet design. What I use live when my SVT™ is just too much.

HIGH end: 1 each Vibration Technology Ltd.© VR 140™ "Guitar Equalizer". Solid-state, single channel guitar amplifier w/reverb, distortion, and phase shifter/tremelo effects built-in. Rated at 140W. A great guitar head! It's got more chutzpa than any Marshall! (Vintage- early '80s.)

Bass guitar signal processing:

1 each 2008 SansAmp© Tech 21 NYC - Programmable bass driver™. 3 distinct bass amplifier tone presets, factory loaded- Fat Tube, Flip-Top, and Distorted. Fully programmable.

My 6-space OSP© rack consists of the following components: 2 each 2006 Furman© PL-Plus II™ power conditioners, a 1980s Tom Scholz Rockmount™ RM-10™ (for the Rockman and Bass Rockman modules), and the 1970s Eventide© 1745M™ mentioned further below. Additionally, I enlist a 1974 Sunn© Coliseum Slave™ amp for some SERIOUS bass horsepower!

2 each BOSS© BE-5B™ bass multiple (5) effects pedal featuring a Delay/Chorus/Flanger, 10 band graphic equalizer, Enhancer, Overdrive, and a Limiter. One half of my "sound". [I run one and keep a second one "on deck"]. (Vintage- early '80s.)

One each BOSS© BCB-6™ six pedal pedalboard loaded with the following 6 BOSS© pedals: PSM-5™ Power Supply & Master Switch™, TU-2™ Chromatic Tuner™, RC-2™ Loop Station™, OC-3™ Super Octave™, ODB-3™ Bass OverDrive™ and SYB-5™ Bass Synthesizer™. The other half of my bass "sound". (Sent thru the effect loop of the BE-5B.) The signal produced is sent through the VT© VR140™ Guitar Equalizer, and outputted through the Sunn© 215SH™ cabinet.

For my A/B (between the SVT™ and SBT™), I use one each BOSS© BCB-3™ three pedal pedalboard loaded with the following 3 BOSS© pedals: PSM-5™ Power Supply & Master Switch™, LS-2™ Line Selector™, and a NS-2™ Noise Supressor™.

For my A/B switching between my guitar and bass rigs, I use a BOSS© AB-2™ 2-way Selector pedal.

1 each Eventide© Model 1745 M® Digital Delay rackmount unit. This unit was originally sold directly to KISS™' manager, William Aucoin. This, according to some preliminary, and ongoing, Internet research I've been doing, is one of the first ever digital delay units ever to be manufactured! The 1745 M was only manufactured from 1975 to 1980-81. Gene used this unit on his bass guitar for his bass solo at the beginning of both "100,000 Years" and "God Of Thunder" and for his lead vocals in "God Of Thunder". Ace used it for his guitar solo in "Shock Me", Peter used it on his drum kit during his drum solo in both "100,000 Years" and "God Of Thunder", and Paul used it for his vocals in "I Want You". This same unit was, I believe, mentioned in an article by Jeff Suhs, appearing in the Spring, 2005 issue of the official authorized quarterly KISS™ magazine #3, in that magazine's "Inside the Vault" monthly column, page 15, paragraph 4, and I am in the process of verifying this. This unit was used on tour by KISS™ from 1975 to 1981. I recently acquired this piece. It's from the first Lelands© KISS™ auction, conducted both live AND on the Internet simultaneously, back in December of 2001! I am the third post-auction owner. All supporting documentation is in place and intact. The KISS™ logo has been spraypainted on top of unit's chassis, there's a small white KISS™ barcode sticker (used in KISS™' computerized inventory system), sporting both the KISS™ logo (in black), and the number '14454' beneath the barcoding, that is also still on the back of the chassis, along with a small white sticker with the handwritten name 'AUCOIN' on the unit's side. The unit currently powers up, but is not outputing a signal. I have picked up the manual (still available from Eventide©), and am familiarizing myself with this unit. After I get this piece back from repair, I intend to put it to VERY good use here! (Vintage- early to mid '70s)

1 each Electro-Harmonix© Doctor Q™ box Envelope Follower. 9 volt battery or AC adaptor powered. I've retired this effect, but it DOES still work! (Vintage- early 70's.)

4 each new Whirlwind© IMP 2™ passive Direct Injection (DI) boxes. This little guy converts a line or instrument level unbalanced signal to a low impedance mic level balanced signal, so I can go "right to the board" without miking my cabs. (I keep these around in case my SansAmp©s go bust. These are VERY reliable little DIs, let me just say!)

1 each new Whirlwind© cable tester. With this, I can ensure all my cables are in good, working condition! Absolutely indispensible!

3 each Nady© 101 VHF 101 VHF™ wireless guitar transmitter (9 volt powered)/receiver (AC adaptor) sets. [I run 2 and keep a third, all on separate channels and frequencies, "on deck"]. It beats being tied to a cord! (Vintage- early '80's.)

1 each Tom Scholz© BassAce®™ bass private pratice system. Either 9 volt battery or AC adaptor powered. Rackmountable w/optional adaptor kit. My "ol' standby"! (Vintage- early '80s.)

1 each Scholz Research & Development© Bass Rockman®™ bass guitar private practice system. Either 8 "AA" battery or AC "Rockadaptor" powered. Rackmountable w/optional adaptor kit. Same idea as the X100™ (see below), only for bass. (Vintage- early '80s.)

Guitar signal processing:

1 each 1992 Marshall© ValveState 80V™ Model 8080 8080™ combo. 80 watts, reverb. Dual-function footswitch. 1 each Celestion© G12T™, 75-watt speaker.

1 each Vibration Technology Ltd.© VR 140™ "Guitar Equalizer". Solid-state, single channel guitar amplifier w/reverb, distortion, and phase shifter/tremelo effects built-in. Rated at 140W. A great guitar head! It's got more chutzpa than any 100-watt Marshall©! (Vintage- early '80s.)

1 each 2008 SansAmp© Tech 21 NYC - TRI A.C.™. 3 distinct guitar amplifier tone presets, factory loaded- MESA/Boogie©, Marshall© and Fender©. Fully programmable

A second BOSS© BCB-6™ six pedal pedalboard, loaded with the following 6 BOSS© pedals: PSM-5™ Power Supply & Master Switch™, TU-2™ Chromatic Tuner™, PS-5™ Super Shifter™, PS-3™ Phase Shifter™, AC-2™ Acoustic Simulator™, and a EH-2™ Enhancer™. The other half of my guitar "sound". (Sent thru the effect loop of the BE-5B.)

1 each BOSS© FV-50L™ and 1 each BOSS© FV-50H™ Volume Pedal. (Do I really need to explain what either of these pedals does?)

2 each Roland© EV-5™ Expression pedals. Used with my BOSS© SYB-5™ Bass Synthesizer™ and my BOSS© PS-5™ Super Shifter™ pedals.

1 each BOSS© FS-6™ Dual Footswitch™. Used with my BOSS© RC-2™ Loop Station™. I use a BOSS© PCS-31™ Y-cable to connect the FS-6™ to the RC-2™.

1 each BOSS© FS-5U™ footswitch. Used with my BOSS© PH-3 Phase Shifter™

1 each BOSS© BE-5™ guitar multiple (5) effects pedal featuring a Chorus, Noise Suppressor, Digital Delay, Overdrive/Distortion, and a Compresser. (Vintage- early '80s.)

1 each MXR© Distortion II™ pedal w/integral AC power cord (no 9 volt battery power option). (Vintage- mid '70s.)

1 each Jim Dunlop© "Heil Sound"® HT-1™ Talk Box. I hadda have one of these! (New)

1 each Scholz Research & Development© Rockman® X100™ guitar private practice system. Either 8 "AA" battery or AC "Rockadaptor" powered. Rackmountable w/optional adaptor kit. Now I can play my guitars and have them actually sound like guitars! (Vintage- early '80s.)

Keyboards/Synthesizers:

1 each Roland© Juno-106™ Polyphonic synthesizer. Additionally, I use only Roland©'s FV-200™ stereo volume pedal, and 2 Roland© DP-2™ damper pedals with this synthesizer.

1 set Moog© Taurus II™ pedal synthesizer unit. Doin' the "Geddy" thing! (Vintage- early '80s.)

1 each Ultimate© AX-48B™ keyboard stand- with the MIC-480™ boom mic stand attachment

Instruments: (Bass guitars)

1 each 2006 Fender© Geddy Lee Jazz Bass™. Black polyurethane finish, alder body, 1-piece maple, thin "C" shape gloss polyurethane finish neck, maple fingerboard with 20 medium jumbo frets, 2 vintage Jazz Bass® single-coil pickups, Volume 1 (Neck Pickup), Volume 2 (Bridge Pickup), Master Tone controls, Leo Quann© Badass II™ bridge, vintage style machine heads (with a Hipshot© BT-2™ Bass Xtender™ installed on the "E" string), chrome hardware, 3-ply white/black/white pickguard, 34" (864 mm) scale length, black fingerboard binding with black rectangular-shaped position markers, slim neck profile.

1 each late 70's Electra© MPC™ X-620 Outlaw™ bass. This is a bass I have been wanting for over 25 years. There are 12 different effects "modules" that actually plug into a cavity routed out in the back of the body, and are powered by a 9-volt battery. 20:1 tuning machines, bone nut, abalone inlays, neck-thru-body construction. This bass does it ALL!

1 each 2006 Custom AXE bass. If you see this bass on

, do NOT let the low

pricetag fool you! This bass is a tone MONSTER! Yes, it's made in the Far East, but make NO mistake- this bass means business! I was proven dead wrong about all of my misconceptions about Japanese basses with this one. The balance is far superior than EITHER of my Gene Simmons© AXE™ basses! The construction is of top quality as well. The back of the bolt-on neck is left in unfinished maple, and the 24 nickel/silver fret fingerboard is rosewood. The position markers are pearl. The P/J pickups are, if you'll pardon the pun- "Hotter Than Hell". The pots are very smooth. If you want a high-quality AXE bass in YOUR arsenal- then BUY THIS BASS on

1 each 2005 B.C. Rich© Bronze series© Warlock™ bass. Gloss black finish. Nickel plated hardware with a Hipshot© GB-7™ Bass Xtender™ installed on the "E" string. 24 fret bolt-on maple neck. Rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays and side dots. Seymour Duncan Bassline Quarter Pound SPB-1© P™ bass pickup. Skull knobs sit atop the volume and tone controls. My second B.C. Rich©. This Warlock™, whom I recently christened "Voldemort", lives in a black, B.C. Rich© BCRCC2™ Coffin hardshell case with red diamond-pattern velvet lining, made especially for the Warlock™ Bronze™ series.

1 each 1996 Gene Simmons© AXE™. Number 00061. Ebony/metallic silver finish, chrome plated hardware, Chrome plated Schaller© tuning machines and bridge. 21 jumbo nickel-silver frets, rosewood fingerboard w/side marker dots- no inlays. Neck-thru body. Active EMG© P™/J™ pickups (9 volt battery powered). I've always wanted one. MINT, hand-signed & numbered in black, permanent, Sharpie© -type marker. I have the hand-signed COA on this AXE, and YES, the 16 guitar picks taped to the blade ARE genuine KISS™ guitar picks (Gold lettering. The KISS™ logo is on one side, and the other side features Gene's facsimile signature), stage-used by Gene Simmons on the '95-'96 'Revenge' tour!

1 each 2002 Fender© DeArmond® Ashbory™ Mark I. Serial number KC00009095_. "Moon blue" finish, 24 fret (painted line), "infinite" fingerboard. One-piece construction. Active electronics (9 volt battery powered). Piezoelectric™ bridge. Unique silicone rubber strings. I used to own an upright, but I replaced my upright with this! It sounds just like one! A VERY interesting bass to play!

1 each 1978 Aria Pro II© SB700 Super Bass™. Serial number 04903_. Natural finish, nickel plated hardware, 24 fret rosewood fingerboard w/pearl "dot" inlays. My first "real" bass! Neck-thru body.

1 each 1986 B.C. Rich© NJ Series® Mockingbird™. Serial number R85108_. Metallic yellow w/handpainted dragon & spiderweb, black plated hardware, 24 fret rosewood fingerboard w/pearl "dot" inlays. Neck-thru body. Fully active electronics (9 volt battery powered). My ex-wife, Jennifer, painted the dragon & the spiderweb, so I named the bass after her.

1 each 1976 Gibson© "The Grabber"™. Serial number 00182691. Ebony finish/pickguard (w/sliding pickup), nickel plated hardware, 20 fret rock maple fingerboard w/pearl "dot" inlays. Bolt-on neck. More "Gene emulation"!(Check out the cover of KISS "ALIVE!")

1 each 1975 Gibson© L-9S "The Ripper"™. Ebony finish/pickguard, nickel plated hardware, 20 fret ebony fingerboard w/pearl "dot" inlays. Set neck. Still more "Gene emulation"!

All of my electric basses are strung with D'Addario© EXL160™ (.050, .070, .085, .105 ) roundwound strings. The only exceptions are the AXE™s, which both use GHS© Bass Boomers™ (.045, .065, .080, .100) roundwound strings exclusively, and the DeArmond®, which uses silicone rubber strings, as mentioned above, that are made only by Fender©. P/N 350-9520-000

Fender DeArmond Ashbory silicone strings

Picks used:

Fingers.

White, Fender© classic "teardrop" shaped. HEAVY or EXTRA HEAVY weight.

Alternately, I use white, felt "teardrop" shaped picks.

Jack Daniel's® 351 black pearl (p/n 00580160) and white pearl (p/n 00579600) finish guitar picks, in HEAVY weight.

Jack Daniel's® 351 HEAVY guitar picks in black pearl

Jack Daniel's® 351 HEAVY guitar picks in white pearl

Straplok™s:

Dunlop© dual design, p/n SLS1101N (chrome).

(Guitars)

1 each 2006 OLP™ Signature Series MM612™ doubleneck 6/12, finished in Tobacco Sunburst. Basswood body and a GORGEOUS quilt film top. 2-25.5" North American maple necks (bolt-on) with maple fretboards. 22 jumbo frets per neck. Custom contoured neck profiles. 2 nickel-plated fixed bridges. Direct-mounted OLP humbucker "zebra" pickups. This is 2 Ernie Ball©/Music Man© "AXIS"™ series bodies combined into one VERY cool sounding guitar. I LOVE THIS GUITAR!

1 each 2006 Jackson© DXMG™ Dinky™ (aka "Sirius Lee Black"). All black hardware. None blacker. 24-fret bolt-on neck, rosewood fretboard with sharkfin inlays, reverse headstock, Seymour Duncan© SH-2™ and SH-4™ Hotrodded pickup set, Original Floyd Rose© tremolo with an EVH© D-Tuna™ installed. Pure rock 'n' roll.

1 each 1990 Gibson© Flying V™ DSVR (the first year Gibson reissued the 1967 version). Serial number 93330711. Made in Nashville, TN. This was the 11th guitar stamped on Saturday, September, 29, 1990. IDENTICAL to Paul Stanley's 1975 Flying V. Ebony finish, white/black/white pickguard and truss rod cover, nickel plated hardware, chrome plated Schaller© M6® tuning pegs, and a cream-colored DiMarzio© Tone Zone™ DP155 pickup in the bridge position. The neck pickup is still original Gibson©. The original black pickup selector switch knob was replaced with a cream colored one. 2 Black Gibson© Les Paul™-type "speed knobs" were added over one volume, and the tone, control while leaving the other volume knob with the original "top hat™"-type knob. I also relocated the heel strap button to the inside point of the V. 22 fret rosewood fingerboard w/pearl dot inlays. Glue-set neck. Now I know why Paul played the V- it KILLS!

1 each 1986 Yamaha© Eterna® EF-15™ series acoustic. Serial number 5062_153. Bound maple top, mahogany sides and bottom, w/tortoiseshell pickguard, 20 fret rosewood fingerboard w/pearl "dot" inlays. Glue-set neck. This is both my "travel" and my "what I write on" guitar.

1 each Gracie© PS-A™ acoustic guitar stage stand. For my Yamaha© Eterna® EF-15™.

My electric guitars are strung with either D'Addario© strings- EXL110™ light gauge electric guitar strings (.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046), or Gibson© Vintage Reissue™ 11s.

Martin Medium gauge acoustic guitar strings

Picks used:

Jack Daniel's® 351 black pearl (p/n 00580150)and white pearl (p/n 00579590) finish guitar picks, in MEDIUM weight.

Jack Daniel's® 351 MEDIUM guitar picks in black pearl

Jack Daniel's® 351 MEDIUM guitar picks in white pearl

Straplok™s:

When I use 9-volt batteries, I only use Duracell 9-volt batteries

because I insist on the best.

Guitar Straps:

I only use nylon mesh straps made by

otherwise...

All of my custom leather guitar straps were created exclusively by "The Leather Jester", an immensely talented, dedicated, and professional individual with a real eye for detail. He hails from Ohio. I wholeheartedly recommend him to ANYone who wants ANYthing leather! I wanted the best and I got the BEST! Take a look at the caliber of his work by clicking on my AXE bass! (Those are the first two of four examples of this particular strap I've commisioned.) You may contact him directly if you wish to commission him.

P.A., microphone, and sound reinforcement:

2 each OnStage Productions LS-T2BK black, tubular steel, tripod-style, adjustable speaker stands for the V-12Bs. New.

3 each chrome, adjustable, tripod-style microphone stands. One tall (vocals), one short (amplifier miking). Each has an adjustable "boom" attachment. The tall one is made by Atlas Sound© (vocals) and the other 2 are Tama Percussion© Stage Master™ series stands (for instrument miking).

And lastly what, at times (to ME at least!), seems like MILES of Spectraflex© "Baldee"™ series cables, just to keep it all connected and cranking!

For a look at how it all goes together, click here.

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Email: thebassaceskisspage@yahoo.com