Joined a KISS Tribute - Quick Helix "Ace" test - UPDATED

[JerEvil]

For actives and NOT a Les Paul, I am not displeased with this nod to Ace! All guitars are Helix direct with stock cabs. Just joined a KISS tribute as Ace so they wanted to hear me do some vocals so I did all Ace/Gen/Paul vocal parts. All single takes so not perfect including the tone but I had fun! LOL! Ordering a Les Paul in the next day or two. Probably a LITTLE too much gain still on the rhythm tones but I think the lead tone is great for that era KISS.

Going to feel weird to have to shave. This is a 6 month gig at a nice club in a casino here in Vegas so more of a show band thing.

EDIT:
Got another clip in he OP. Used a Dr Z amp this time. Tried getting closer to a cross of the self titled and Alive.

https://soundcloud.com/jerevil/ace-test-2

 

[mrhiwatt]

I liked it. Ace really isn't a overly distorted tone. I think you had right amount for lead. Have fun

Mrhiwatt

 

[JerEvil]

I liked it. Ace really isn't a overly distorted tone. I think you had right amount for lead. Have fun

Mrhiwatt

Yeah for sure. I will revise most definitely. I was surprised to read after doing this that Ace like a Fender Tweed in the studio. Will have to check that out in the Helix.

 

[RedB4Black]

Sounds great, but agree with above. Too much gain in rhythm. I hope 100,000 years is in the set list!

 

[romanianreaper]

Dude that is awesome!!! I almost want to come out to Vegas to see a show.

I'm a huge KISS fan and even collect some stuff and have dressed up like all of them for Halloween over the years. Great job on the guitar parts. As others have said, you almost have to "dumb down" playing when doing Ace because he uses less gain and has a sloppy way of playing. Sounded great though! Also, if you don't mind me giving you a tip for vocals. Your vocal sounded better than Ace's vocals. I would work on trying to capture some of that Ace New York "Bronx" vocal he has and be a bit sloppy on the vocals as well. Fans will love it!

As ridiculous as this sounds, one extra tip on the makeup. I went as Gene a few years ago and saw a tutorial on how he does his makeup. After years of frustration trying to not make my face look like I fell into a wall of paint, I did what I saw in the video and it was awesome! Stayed on my face the whole night, wasn't messy looking, etc. They put the white all over their face and then remove area for designs with Q-Tips. Then makes it easier to "paint" in design. Then you get that clear "setting powder" and pat lightly over the makeup and it takes that shine out of it and makes it look professional. I couldn't believe the difference.

Anyway, good luck man! Sorry for the rant. I've been a KISS fan since the mid-70s and get KISS cakes for my birthday and all kinds of crap. Even my grandmother has got me KISS shit. LOL! - Mike (RR)

 

[BorfJr]

 

[311boogieman]

Great tone, playing and vocals.

I think you nailed it man. They should be very happy to have you. Will there be theatrics and pyro etc? Please post some show vids OK? KISS was my first band that I got into as a kid as well.


HAVE FUN!

 

[MrDowntown]

Very cool I know you're excited!
Congrats.

 

[Speeddemon]

Sounds pretty good, but yeah, as you mentioned, rhythm gain a little lower, and the Shock Me tone has even more of that warbly low-end fuzzyness/congestion. Not my fav Ace tone (that would probably be Black Diamond).

 

[splatter]

Nice job!

side note ,I'm in a Def Leppard tribute and the best thing about tribute bands is you don't have people wanting to play music you hate. That is as long as you like the band your a tribute to

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Here comes the opinion police! I think the tone is the weakest part of the chain here.. Performance is good, vocals good, and I dug everything else but that tone. It sounds almost like you took an already too gainy amp and then turned down on the volume knob on your guitar. If you want to do old school KISS right, it has to sound big and raw. For that I would use an old Marshall, Gibson copy of some sort, and a treble booster. That's right, old school treble boost. The rest will be digging in with your hands to get that wide ass Ace vibrato (which I think you did awesome btw, you caught his feel). Are you going to be using the Helix live for your shows? If so, I think you could do better dialing in maybe a Marshall Major or a big woofier sounding Plexi and then boosting with a treble booster on the floor.

 

[PeteLaramee]

That's cool as shit. Ace is the reason I started playing guitar.

 

[El Mariachi]

AWESOME MAN! Congrats on the gig!
Hope you post some vids from your shows!

I was asked to be Ace in a local KISS Tribute some years ago. I turned it down at the time because I was tired of dressing up. (I had just come off 4 years in a Motley Crue Tribute). Looking back, I kind of wish I had accepted the offer.

At any rate... Stoked for ya man!

"How many people out theya love the taste of VADKA an' O'ange Juice"????

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

AWESOME MAN! Congrats on the gig!
Hope you post some vids from your shows!

I was asked to be Ace in a local KISS Tribute some years ago. I turned it down at the time because I was tired of dressing up. (I had just come off 4 years in a Motley Crue Tribute). Looking back, I kind of wish I had accepted the offer.

At any rate... Stoked for ya man!

"How many people out theya love the taste of VADKA an' O'ange Juice"????

I think Tribute bands are the way of the future for the legacy of bands to live on. Good musicians in their 40's or 50's who can cover most of the eras of a band and who enjoy doing what they do. Not a lot of the real bands themselves can still bring it the same way they used to..(unless they use backing tracks.... ahem, Paul Stanley).

 

[splawner]

Great job dude....Sounds awesome!

 

[romanianreaper]

"How many people out theya love the taste of VADKA an' O'ange Juice"????

Sadly, I know exactly what song, album, etc. that is off of. LOL!

I'm going to see them one last time the end of August. Been a good run but time for them to hang up da' boots!

 

[El Mariachi]

AWESOME MAN! Congrats on the gig!
Hope you post some vids from your shows!

I was asked to be Ace in a local KISS Tribute some years ago. I turned it down at the time because I was tired of dressing up. (I had just come off 4 years in a Motley Crue Tribute). Looking back, I kind of wish I had accepted the offer.

At any rate... Stoked for ya man!

"How many people out theya love the taste of VADKA an' O'ange Juice"????

I think Tribute bands are the way of the future for the legacy of bands to live on. Good musicians in their 40's or 50's who can cover most of the eras of a band and who enjoy doing what they do. Not a lot of the real bands themselves can still bring it the same way they used to..(unless they use backing tracks.... ahem, Paul Stanley).

Agreed!
The tribute scene is pretty big here. Original bands and your standard cover bands just don't pull 'em in like they used to. I play in an 80's hard rock/metal cover band. (Female fronted). Great group of people. We get some decent gigs, but nothing like the Tribute scene. I'm still friends with the promoter I used to work with. She gets shows at the top clubs and the audience comes in droves. SIGH... I do miss playing those shows.

 

[El Mariachi]

"How many people out theya love the taste of VADKA an' O'ange Juice"????

Sadly, I know exactly what song, album, etc. that is off of. LOL!

I'm going to see them one last time the end of August. Been a good run but time for them to hang up da' boots!

I'm a bit torn on going to see them again.
I really enjoyed the reunion shows with the original lineup. Just don't have much interest in going to see the other guys in makeup.

 

[hammered]

"How many people out theya love the taste of VADKA an' O'ange Juice"????

Sadly, I know exactly what song, album, etc. that is off of. LOL!

Sadly ! Be proud man . Cold Gin , 2nd song on side 4 off KISS Alive

 

[El Mariachi]

"How many people out theya love the taste of VADKA an' O'ange Juice"????

Sadly, I know exactly what song, album, etc. that is off of. LOL!

Sadly ! Be proud man . Cold Gin , 2nd song on side 4 off KISS Alive