When you think of KISS and the sheer visual overkill of 1977, the Gene Simmons 1977 Spector bass probably isn't the first thing that pops into your head. You likely picture the Axe. Or maybe that massive, blood-stained Punisher. But honestly? The Spector was the workhorse. It was the "secret" transition piece that bridges the gap between the early Gibson years and the custom-shaped madness that defined the eighties.
Most people don't realize how small Spector was back then. In 1977, Stuart Spector was basically a guy in a Brooklyn workshop making high-end instruments by hand. Gene, always looking for something that could handle a literal gallon of stage blood and a beating from a seven-inch dragon boot, saw something in those early SB-1 models. He didn't just buy one off a rack. He had them customized until they barely looked like Spectors anymore.
The Mystery of the Two SB-1s
Let’s get the technical stuff out of the way first. Gene actually commissioned two of these bad boys around 1976. They were based on the Spector SB-1 (sometimes referred to as the Brooklyn Era SB-1).
One was his primary, and the other was the backup. But if you look at photos from the Love Gun tour, you’ll see they weren't stock. Gene had the horns shaved down into sharper points. He also had them finished in a gloss black with white binding. It gave the bass this sleek, aggressive look that fit "The Demon" persona way better than the natural wood finishes Spector was known for at the time.
The first one—let’s call it No. 1—is the legend. It featured a walnut body and a maple neck. It was heavy. Real heavy. But for a guy who spent half the show flying through the air or spitting fire, he needed something that wouldn't snap like a twig.
Why the Spector Change Happened
KISS was at their absolute peak in '77. Love Gun was massive. They were transitioning to the Schaffer-Vega Diversity System—basically the first reliable wireless units for guitarists. If you look closely at shots of the Gene Simmons 1977 Spector bass from that era, you can see a weird metal box or a bulge near the bridge. That was the transmitter.
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Before the Spector, Gene was using Gibson Grabbers and a custom LoBue. The LoBue actually disappeared around this time (though it famously resurfaced years later). He needed a reliable replacement. He wasn't just looking for a cool shape; he needed something with a "punchy" tone that could cut through the wall of Marshall stacks and Paul Stanley’s rhythm playing.
The SB-1 had these unique split-style pickups. They weren't quite P-bass pickups, but they had that same "growl." Honestly, if you listen to the live recordings from the Alive II era, a lot of that mid-range bite is coming straight from that Spector.
The Evolution of the 1977 Spector
Instruments in the KISS camp didn't stay "stock" for long. By the time the Dynasty and Unmasked tours rolled around, Gene’s Spectors had undergone some serious surgery.
- The Studs: Sometime in the late seventies, he started adding those iconic silver studs.
- The Paint: Originally black with white binding, they eventually got painted all black.
- The Blood: If you ever find a photo of the original 1977 Spector now, it’s probably covered in decades of dried Stage Blood.
One of these basses ended up being sold at the famous Butterfield's KISS auction in 2000 for a staggering $20,000. It had the original KISS inventory barcode on it. Imagine owning a piece of wood that has been puked on by a rock god for twenty years.
What Most People Get Wrong
There's a common misconception that Gene only used the Spector for a few shows. Nope. This thing stayed in his rotation for roughly 20 years. He used it in the KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park movie. He used it in the "Unholy" video during the Revenge era. It even made an appearance in the movie Detroit Rock City.
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The reason it feels "hidden" is that Gene is such a master of branding. He wanted people to focus on the Axe bass because he could sell replicas of the Axe. You couldn't easily buy a 1977 Spector SB-1 back then—Stuart Spector was making very few of them.
Spec Breakdown (The Nerd Version)
If you’re a gear head, you want the numbers. The 1977 Spector SB-1 was a tank.
- Body Material: Generally Walnut or Mahogany wings.
- Neck Construction: Neck-through-body (this is why it had so much sustain).
- Weight: Around 11 lbs. Your shoulder would hate it.
- Pickups: Custom DiMarzio or early Spector split-coils.
- Fretboard: Ebony, usually with those weirdly spaced dot inlays Gene liked.
Where is the Gene Simmons 1977 Spector Bass Now?
One is in a private collection after that 2000 auction. The other? It’s been seen in Gene’s personal possession as recently as 2012. He actually brought it out for a show in Toronto, signed it, and sold it to a fan for a heavy price tag.
That specific bass was "photo-matched" to the 1977 tour. It still had the same bridge. It still had the same scars from the Love Gun tour. It’s wild to think that a bass made in a small Brooklyn shop would end up being one of the most traveled instruments in rock history.
Getting That Sound Today
If you want to emulate the tone of the Gene Simmons 1977 Spector bass, you don't necessarily need a $10,000 vintage instrument. Spector released a "Brooklyn" tribute model a few years back that gets pretty close.
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Look for a bass with a neck-through design and high-output passive pickups. Run it through an Ampeg SVT with the gain pushed just enough to get some "hair" on the notes. Avoid pedals. Gene famously hates them. He’s always said his sound is "just the bass and the amp."
Actionable Insights for Collectors and Fans
If you're hunting for one of these, or just want to appreciate the history, keep these points in mind:
- Check the Horns: Genuine Gene-used Spectors from this era have been modified. If the horns look too "rounded," it’s likely a stock SB-1, not one of the Demon's personal stash.
- The Bridge Matters: The 1977 models used a very specific, heavy-duty bridge that Stuart Spector was developing at the time.
- Axeology is Your Friend: If you want to dive deeper into the serial numbers and tour dates, the site Axeology is the gold standard for KISS gear history.
The 1977 Spector isn't just a guitar; it's the bridge between Gene the musician and Gene the brand. It was the last time he used a "normal" shaped bass as his primary weapon before the Axe took over the world.
To really nail that 1977 vibe, start by researching the SB-1 "Brooklyn" neck-through specs and look for 70s-style DiMarzio Model P pickups—that's the core of the growl.