Geddy Lee Sound.

Rculmone · #1 07-07-2011, 05:17 PM

Im looking for the perfect geddy lee sound for a project im doing. I have a Rickenbacker 4003, 2005 model and a Trace Elliot 715x combo amp. Any tips to help me get the sound im looking for?

Floyd Eye · #2 07-07-2011, 05:31 PM

SansAmp, Rotos and have Geddy's right hand surgical implanted on your right arm.

Rockmusician · #3 07-07-2011, 05:39 PM

Hard to tell what you are looking for. His sound has changed over the years and his tone is very different on studio recordings than it is live.

BassNGuns · #4 07-07-2011, 07:47 PM

Depends what era.
During the Moving Pictures tour he was using Ashley preamps and BGW power amps.
Now he uses Orange. YUK

Rculmone · #5 07-08-2011, 12:32 AM

I was thinking more A show of hands tour. Any tips for EQ, compression, ect. ?

JimmyM · #6 07-08-2011, 01:29 AM

Why look for Geddy's sound when you can make your own?

slap5string · #7 07-08-2011, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rculmone

Im looking for the perfect geddy lee sound for a project im doing. I have a Rickenbacker 4003, 2005 model and a Trace Elliot 715x combo amp. Any tips to help me get the sound im looking for?

Fender Jazz and Sansamp RPM - end of story! Oh...and a clothes dryer!

HillBillyWannaB · #8 07-08-2011, 05:14 AM

Light gauge strings, LOW action, fresh roto 66s, heavy attack. Sansamp helps, eq to taste.

jungleheat · #9 07-08-2011, 06:39 AM

What you don't need:
new gear (why would someone tell you to get a J when you already have a Ric, especially when you're apparently looking for the Wal tone anyway? Duh)

What you do need:
a stout amount of preamp gain, start with tone more or less flat and then tweak to taste

What you might need:
fresh strings (any roundwounds should be fine, I doubt a specific brand will get you appreciably closer)
reasonably low action

An outboard tube preamp could help if the Trace isn't getting you close enough by itself. I can pretty much nail the overall GL sound with my Kramer aluminum neck (single P PU) through my SWR Bass 350 (tube preamp, with gain at about 2 o clock), through a vintage 1x15 cab with an EV in it. A lot of it is the amount of pre gain, and then just how he plays.

jmac · #10 07-08-2011, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slap5string

Oh...and a clothes dryer!

I'm partial to his tone when he was using the rotisserie, but each his own.

slap5string · #11 07-08-2011, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmac

I'm partial to his tone when he was using the rotisserie, but each his own.

LOL! Right on!

Brian_L · #12 07-08-2011, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmac

I'm partial to his tone when he was using the rotisserie, but each his own.

Wrong.

His tone when playing through the sausage maker is far superior to the clothes dryer and the chicken roaster. You must be deaf not to hear that. :-)

Rculmone · #13 07-09-2011, 09:50 AM

Alright thanks for all the help, one more question. Which sansamp would you suggest for the sound im looking for, the RPM or RBI?

GrooveWarrior · #14 07-09-2011, 10:00 AM

Ewo (member here on TB) had a VT Bass pedal I tried, and his settings were exactly Geddy's live tone. I was blown away. Very cool.

tk4207 · #15 07-09-2011, 10:17 AM

If you're going for Ged's ASOH tone, you're trying to copy an active bass. You'll never get close with the Rick, so if you have some spare change pick up a used active bass. That alone will get you in the ballpark.

iunno · #16 07-09-2011, 02:34 PM

Geddy Lee's Wal tone is pretty much both pickups with the tones all the way open, although on a Wal that will give you very little low end. I'd say try either both or just the bridge pickup, cut the bass and boost the hi mids on your amp, and maybe the mids a little too.

jeff5311 · #17 07-10-2011, 09:06 PM

Vt bass with a bit of drive. Maple or sealed neck. Attack over the neck pickup with the right hand. Instant geddy!

MOTORHEADBANGER · #18 07-10-2011, 09:16 PM

VT bass will really help get that extra gain you need. I would set up your bass with some bright roundwounds (maybe a little lighter gauge for lower tension) and definitely a low setup on your bass. The key is to really dig into the strings to get the aggressive growl and attack. Amp/EQ wise, add a bit of preamp/tube gain (VT Bass shines here) leave your lows/bass flat or maybe even cut a slight, bit boost your midrange a lot (especially the high mids, and give a little boost to the treble. It's all about having a heavy attack on the strings, tons of midrange, and low setup with bright strings. Also a bit of compression wouldn't hurt either.

jgroh · #19 07-10-2011, 09:29 PM

If you are going for the ASOH tone, get a G&L L2000. I can nail it with mine. For the dirty Ric tone, the VT bass pedal may be good for you like others have said, but I sold mine because I thought it took away from the tone of my Ric (thats just my opinion of course). Im not a huge fan of the Sansamp tone he gets, but it might work for you.

Scalerwave · #20 08-03-2011, 08:47 PM

I've been working on Geddy's tone too lately.

Here's today's experiment (a bit sloppy thou) with Red Barchetta using isolated tracks of the original vocals, keys, and midi programmed drums

SW Red Barchetta Bass Tone test 3.mp3 - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

It's a Fender J Bass with new RS66LD Roto's, DiMarzio Area J's, going thru an ART Tube pre to a SansAmp.

I'm still experimenting though.

The plan is to do a YouTube collab vid.