How to get Geddy Lee's tone on Snakes and Arrows Live

MOTORHEADBANGER · #1 03-09-2009, 05:03 PM

I was watching Snakes and Arrows Live the other day and after hearing the utter greatness of it, I got the sudden urge to get that tone. I am currently using a Geddy Lee jazz bass and soon either a Sansamp RBI or Sansamp RPM. First does anyone have any suggestions on settings for the Sansamps and also which Sansamp to choose.

JimmyM · #2 03-10-2009, 08:39 AM

Geedy's tone has pretty much zip to do with equipment, although a lot of people think it does. I think he'd sound pretty much the same no matter what he uses.

Toastfuzz · #3 03-10-2009, 08:51 AM

Yeah, watch his crazy finger plucking. I dont know how he can play so fast and move his hand around so much, he just has mad accuracy and is able to hit the strings just how he wants, which is very hard. I can get a close Geddy tone in my ATK when I really thrash on it.

Bassgrinder77 · #4 03-10-2009, 08:53 AM

Geddy's gear has a lot to do with his sound, as does his technique and style. Like anyone with a distinctive sound, his choice of gear is far from random. Over the years Geddy has emphasized the upper midrange (around 1 kHz) in his tone and has used varying amounts of distortion. I think he got it from Squire. Even though he's changed gear over the years, all of it supports that upper-mids grind. Ricks, Jazz with maple fretboard and Wals are all aggressive, upper-mids basses.
Get a SansAmp RPM (used on Snakes And Arrows) or an RBI (Used on Vapor Trails). Don't use it as an effect, use it as your preamp (bypass your amp's preamp). Dial in a good amount of upper mids (the RBI mid control is 1kHz), not too much lows, some lower treble (RBI and RPM treble is 3.2 kHz), set the gain/drive for a good amount of overdrive/distortion, pluck HARD with your fingers (mainly your index) so the strings snap against the frets and get that grind sounding edge, now work to control that technique and develop speed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOTORHEADBANGER

I was watching Snakes and Arrows Live the other day and after hearing the utter greatness of it, I got the sudden urge to get that tone. I am currently using a Geddy Lee jazz bass and soon either a Sansamp RBI or Sansamp RPM. First does anyone have any suggestions on settings for the Sansamps and also which Sansamp to choose.

HooBass · #5 03-10-2009, 09:22 AM

Two things: First a not-exactly-on-the-point comment about sayings like "it's in his hands", and then something a bit more to your question.

I find the comments that swing either to the extreme "it's not the gear, it's in his hands", OR to the extreme "can you tell me what gear he uses, what pre, what amp, what strings, what wood neck, what cables..." to be somewhat frustrating. In their replies a lot of folks point out valid truths that unfortunately are only PART of the answer, necessary but insufficient: In my experience and observation it's true that the player significantly impacts the tone and quality of sound that comes out. It's also true that the gear has an impact. At the extreme, Geddy wouldn't sound like Geddy if he were playing air bass. At another extreme, I do think he'd sound more "like Geddy" than I would if he played my p-bass with flats through my computer speakers. Both the artist and the gear matter. I too often have received the "it's in his hands" reply when it comes to questions that DO have a valid response in terms of physical reality of coming up with a sound wave in the air -- the gear; I didn't have unhealthy adoration for a person, a lack of self-identify, or inability to respect the artist and their skill as a major contributor to the tone I wanted.

The second point -- comments on settings and physical attributes to get that tone: I suspect Bassgrinder77 may have it right -- I'd have to check out my RPM to see what I got for myself. Regardless, I'm VERY happy with the tone I've gotten and indeed it reminds me of Geddy's. It's an RPM, I think it was largely set to Tech21's settings to emulate an SVT (in my case), and I played a Geddy Lee Jazz through it. Note I am using this in a recording setting (I've wondered how it'd be different in a live band setting -- perhaps very!). Finally, if you're interested I can shoot you an email with an MP3 snippet and you could judge for yourself, motorheadbanger.

Since the early 80's I wanted this kind of tone, and after many years of asking questions, I'm finally happy with the results. I'd like to share this now! Now I sound like "me" but with an aggressive rock tone that has eluded me far too long.

Talk soon
HooBass

JimmyM · #6 03-10-2009, 09:43 AM

Geddy's gear matters to the extent that he has to play something.

Bassgrinder77 · #7 03-10-2009, 02:51 PM

Troll elsewhere please.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Geddy's gear matters to the extent that he has to play something.

MOTORHEADBANGER · #8 03-10-2009, 03:50 PM

"Finally, if you're interested I can shoot you an email with an MP3 snippet and you could judge for yourself, motorheadbanger."

Sure, I'll take a listen.

pc · #9 03-10-2009, 03:56 PM

I read an interview where he said he lets his fingernails grow so he can play with them

rarisgod · #10 03-10-2009, 04:02 PM

I think that's for the flamenco picking technique...others can explain it better than I though.

OneMoreRobot · #11 03-10-2009, 04:02 PM

I read an interview where he sold his soul to Satan for incomparable tone and a legion of fans that constantly fight over how he gets his tone.

DistantTremor · #12 03-10-2009, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Geddy's gear matters to the extent that he has to play something.

You cannot deny that his tone on Moving Pictures is significantly different from his tone on Snakes and Arrows.

His technique and gear both matter very much. Different basses sound fundamentally different, even with the same expert playing both.

lambro · #13 03-10-2009, 04:06 PM

nothing pulls in the babes like an argument about Geddy

get a jazz bass, get an svt, get a sans amp bass driver and use it as a floor pedal to add some drive

that should get you in the neighborhood of the munch

rarisgod · #14 03-10-2009, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DistantTremor

You cannot deny that his tone on Moving Pictures is significantly different from his tone on Snakes and Arrows.

His technique and gear both matter very much. Different basses sound fundamentally different, even with the same expert playing both.

While I agree with what you're saying, I must point out (because it amuses me) that if you compare the tone on YYZ to the tone on something like The Main Monkey Business, I believe Geddy used the same bass.

Yet the tone is undeniably different.

Aside from pointing that out, it's very true that his gear affected his tone over the years. But there's also the undeniable presence of his unique playing style. I heard that Geddy used a P bass on the first album (if this is wrong, correct me please). Compare a song like In the Mood from their debut album to one from the newest album, you can still hear that familiar Geddy twang. Before and After from the first album contains sections where the bass can be heard VERY clearly for an easier comparison.

JimmyM · #15 03-11-2009, 02:28 AM

Thank you, raris. Yeah, his tone with the Ric isn't exactly 100% what it is with the Jazz. But it's certainly close enough to let you know it ain't the neighbor kid playing it. He's made every bass and amp he's played sound exactly like Geddy Lee because of a unique style. When he's playing, you know it's him.

OTOH, knowing what he uses and buying it isn't necessarily a bad thing. He bought a lot of the gear his heroes played, too. He played a 4001 because he liked Chris Squire's sound. And you have to play something, so there's nothing wrong with buying something because your favorite bass player uses it. But you can use every single thing Geddy uses, even plug into his rig, and you're going to sound like you and he will sound like himself because the playing style is way more important than the gear.

Trapezius · #16 03-11-2009, 12:25 PM

In my quest to get a Geddy-ish sound, I found that fingernails has a LOT to do with it, so does fret buzz. It makes the bass growl in a nice way. Add the appropriate distortion, and you're pretty much there.

4-Banger · #17 08-14-2010, 10:40 AM

I know this is way way late but one has to have a Sansamp RPM (not RBI), an Avalon U5, and a Palmer speaker emulator, a PA, and a Geddy Lee Jazz to truly get that sound. And finding the right settings is an impossible labyrinth.

Papersen · #18 08-14-2010, 03:32 PM

I concur with some of the posts above that`s a combination of player + gear.

Geddy is almost always recognizable no matter what bass he uses. His attack, use of dynamics, note grouping and setup (low action, light gauge strings) make him unique.

The instruments he plays and equipment also contribute to the final sound. For example, his Wal sound ain`t the same than his Fender although you know it`s Geddy plucking the strings.

I`ve recently had the chance to play a Geddy for the first time recently and although and don`t play like him, never got my tone so close to his.

Check it out (plugged direct to my PC)

derJackal · #19 08-14-2010, 03:38 PM

I hate getting in to this. A person cannot create a tone on their own. They create a style that is identifiable which contributes a portion to his tone.

Equipment creates a large portion of tone. Geddy has kept his core tone in the same ball park for a number of years, pushed up highs, and overdrive. His bass adds to that tone. The Wal sounds totally different from the boatpaddle which sounds totally different from the Ric which sounds totally different from the Jazz recently.

Wonder why his Jazz now sounds different from his Jazz during Moving Pictures. Oh yeah, different gear.

As far as being able to pick out Geddy playing on anything through anything, you bet. But that's because of his style not because of his tone.

You want to sound more like Geddy, equipment will get you in the neighborhood of that tone (with some heavy tweaking and experiment) but you have to establish a jackhammer for a right hand for the last mile. Not simply speed, but sheer power. Then use that right hand like you don't care how long it stays attached to your arm.

Go have a listen to an isolated track and hear how hard he attacks the strings