Geddy Lee's ''Monster Growl'' in By-tor and the Snowdog

[Marco A. Mayer]

Hey guys, I need some help. I play in this band, and sometimes we cover Rush's By-tor at some of our concerts. Do you guys know how did Geddy create that fuzzy, monster-like, overdriven bass growl during the guitar solo? He also repeated that during The Necromancer. I once read somewhere about he doing that using his teardrop-shaped Precision, but I can't find it anywhere, not even with Google

[Kink Rimson]

The growly bit in By Tor was indeed the Precision, mutilated or otherwise, but beyond that I know not...

Maybe Russ Ryan will know?

[bl2112]

If one of the older Bass Players he was on. (white cover with him with his jazz, about 2 years before snakes, after r30)

He put alot of fuzz and other effects on the bass and ran it through a volume pedal and leaned on the pedal to roar.

[jgroh]

i have an old bootleg of them playing where he was using the ric live and it sounds way better IMHO (even though i do like the recorded version too)

[hentor]

Originally Posted by bl2112

If one of the older Bass Players he was on. (white cover with him with his jazz, about 2 years before snakes, after r30)

He put alot of fuzz and other effects on the bass and ran it through a volume pedal and leaned on the pedal to roar.

From what I recall, from various sources (BP mag, Visions by Bill Banakiewicz, etc.) it was the Precision Bass, heavily compressed, overdriven and through a phase shifter. It was so noisy that they had to keep it through the volume pedal and bring it in during the "battle sequence"

[jaywa]

There's a book I had many years ago called "Bass Heroes". I think it was put out by the publishers of Bass Player magazine. It was basically a collection of interviews that various writers had done for BP over several years. Anyway Geddy Lee has his own section and in his interview he explains exactly how they got that sound.

I don't recall all the specifics but if you can find that book it will tell you. I do know it was Geddy's P-Bass, a bunch of effects and possibly a wah pedal. It's a great book, especially if you weren't reading Bass Player religiously back in the day. Don't know if it's still in print or not.

[Dave C]

I have the book mentioned above...I'll quote Geddy: "I put my Fender bass through a fuzztone -I can't remember what kind-and then into the board. It was distorted all to ****, so we added phasing, and ultimately put in everything but the kitchen sink. I had all that sound going through a volume pedal, so every time the monster was supposed to growl, I would lean on the volume pedal."

[jaywa]

That's it, Dave. Thanks.

[hbarcat]

Cool.

So all you need is "everything but the kitchen sink" for effects. Then have Geddy's hands play the bass for you and you're all set.

[akaTRENT]

You need 3 chicken rotisserie ovens.

[Ric5]

Originally Posted by akaTRENT

You need 3 chicken rotisserie ovens.

Back then he was using dryers ...

[bl2112]

When Fly by Night came out they used a clothes line.

[akaTRENT]

Originally Posted by Ric5

Back then he was using dryers ...

Pre loaded with rush tee shirts.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by Dave C

"so every time the monster was supposed to growl, I would..."

And people wonder why prog doesn't get much respect.