I know it's been done before Geddy's setup...

Tommygunn · #1 08-12-2009, 06:20 PM

I want to know what all he used for all rush's 'older' albums. Especially the song "the trees"

Any and all info would help.

No smart ass answers like "a bass and a amp" or "his jazz bass" or even "his rics"

I'm not that dumb. I just need to know, I'm learning the song "the trees" for my band and they want me to get as close to his tone as I can. And don't say "forget them, use your own sound" I'd actually like to attempt this.

Thx in advance

ggoat!!! · #2 08-12-2009, 06:24 PM

Do you want to know what the actual secret is to a usable distorted tone such as that?

Use an eq BEFORE the distortion. It lets you tune out the frequencies that make the distortion messy and lacking claritiy, while lets you boost and distort those frequencies that work best with your particular bass and your particular distortion unit. Basically it allows you to tailor the distortion so that you don't have a buzzing inarticulate mess.

Stickk · #3 08-12-2009, 06:25 PM

He used a Rickenbacker on "The Trees"... He also used Ashly preamps and Ampeg and or Sunn amps. He sent the neck pickup to one amp, and sent the bridge pickup to another with a huge treble boost, and a lot of gain from the preamp.

Tommygunn · #4 08-12-2009, 06:34 PM

So... he bi amped? Damn! I'm never going to get this! But thx for the info stickk and goat

lijazz · #5 08-12-2009, 06:38 PM

Someone has to be the first one to say this on this thread so hear goes: "It's all in the hands". Back then he was using his fingers, especially index and middle, as one unit with attack from his nails. Short of this method (and using a Ricky), the best thing you can do is use the recommendation of "ggoat!!!" above and dig in when playing..is about all you can do... Most of us have tried to get his tone from time to time (myself inculded), but Geddy is Geddy and technique governs when it comes to his tone....no matter wat bass he has played over the years, he always sounds like himself....which is a great thing.

KPAX · #6 08-12-2009, 07:17 PM

During that period (mid/late 70's) Geddy used this live:
Rick 4001 running stereo.
Neck pickup through SVT head driving two V4B 2x15 folded horns.
Bridge pickup through Sunn Coliseum 880 head driving two front-loaded 2x15 cabs. For a while these cabs were Sunn but later they were custom.