Getting That Geddy Growl

[thunder-pick]

What setting do you use on your jazz bass to come close to achieving that Geddy growl? Is it possible on a P-bass? Entwistle had a nice bite on Live At Leeds with a P.

[VinylRepairKit]

A lot of it is in the plucking fingers, Geddy really attacks the string with them, but in a very controlled way.

[jgroh]

I have all knobs dimed on my Geddy Jazz and then add a little overdrive (emphasize a little) to get some growl. I think even Geddy himself can use too much overdrive in his live set up at times so be careful with that.

I think its possible on a P although I have never tried it. Just tastefully dial up more mids on your amp or EQ and see where that gets you. Also get some Rotosound strings...very growly IMO.

[renniw]

This thread may interest you as Geddy's sound tech post many good info...

Geddy's bass tone

[Rickett Customs]

The playing is all geddy, the OD is all Sansamp (currently, not originally), RBI or RPM, he's flip-flopped between them.

Not 100%, but what Entwistle used though I do know this:
Early days: He used tube and solid state (Marshall, Hi-Watt and Vox also Sunn). Fender P's, Danelectro, Rickenbacker,Mosrite,Gibson and Alembic.
1971-74 Rig:


1974-1985 Gelf and Sunn (Rack):


1989 Rig:

More 1989:



Although from '96-'97 it's noted that he used a Tech 21 SansAmp NYC model PSA-1, shortly.


After that he used Ashdown and in his chain used a Line 6 POD Pro guitar unit (for distortion), fed into RPM-1 preamp’s effect loop for chorusing and overdrive.

[Drewskie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuMLIHatC9E