Saw Geddy Lee/Rush at Summerfest

[Tim C.]

Amazing show, and Geddy's bass tone was FANTASTIC! I've never heard the bass guitar so loud, present and clear in a big concert. They played "Leave That Thing Alone" and the place was shaking. I actually thought the bass might have been a tiny bit too loud!

But I definitely saw the same rack case with his wireless, Sansamp and Trace gear from the last tour on the bass side of the stage. Any idea that he's using the Orange Amplifiers exclusively is ridiculous. In fact, he had the same tone tonight as on the "Different Stages" CD. My guess is the Orange stuff is just a $$$ endorsement with minimal presense in the PA. I don't mind, because he sounded a hell of a lot better tonight than when I saw them on the Snakes & Arrows Tour two years ago.

Whatever. Rush and Geddy Lee rock - outstanding, unforgettable concert. Here's to more in the future.

[LAG]

I was there last night at Summerfest. Wow, what a show. Lee sounded superb, loud and very funky at times. I been to many different arena shows since the seventies, and Rush ranks up near the top as far as my favorite shows. (Twas my first Rush concert, and it won't be my last).

[motionkid]

I was there too!! I was in heaven seeing my original hero take the stage once more... as far as his tone I think the first set sounded amazingly snarly... second set it went back to that more trebly and "synthetic" sound as the night went on... I asked a few people who went as well and they noticed too... maybe its just us...

[bstringkyle]

I saw him on the S&A tour. That was a great show. Geddy's bass tone was incredible. The bass was right up in the mix. Awesome Concert.

[Ray man]

Originally Posted by Tim C.

Amazing show, and Geddy's bass tone was FANTASTIC! I've never heard the bass guitar so loud, present and clear in a big concert. They played "Leave That Thing Alone" and the place was shaking. I actually thought the bass might have been a tiny bit too loud!

But I definitely saw the same rack case with his wireless, Sansamp and Trace gear from the last tour on the bass side of the stage. Any idea that he's using the Orange Amplifiers exclusively is ridiculous. In fact, he had the same tone tonight as on the "Different Stages" CD. My guess is the Orange stuff is just a $$$ endorsement with minimal presense in the PA. I don't mind, because he sounded a hell of a lot better tonight than when I saw them on the Snakes & Arrows Tour two years ago.

Whatever. Rush and Geddy Lee rock - outstanding, unforgettable concert. Here's to more in the future.

Wow, He had his sansamp and Trace gear?
I don't know what changed but he sounds way better.

[jgroh]

Originally Posted by Tim C.

Amazing show, and Geddy's bass tone was FANTASTIC! I've never heard the bass guitar so loud, present and clear in a big concert. They played "Leave That Thing Alone" and the place was shaking. I actually thought the bass might have been a tiny bit too loud!

But I definitely saw the same rack case with his wireless, Sansamp and Trace gear from the last tour on the bass side of the stage. Any idea that he's using the Orange Amplifiers exclusively is ridiculous. In fact, he had the same tone tonight as on the "Different Stages" CD. My guess is the Orange stuff is just a $$$ endorsement with minimal presense in the PA. I don't mind, because he sounded a hell of a lot better tonight than when I saw them on the Snakes & Arrows Tour two years ago.

Whatever. Rush and Geddy Lee rock - outstanding, unforgettable concert. Here's to more in the future.

I wont get to see them until August but, the Different Stages tone, if I recall correctly, was from when he was still using real cabs and not just going completely direct. When I saw them during S&A's, I could hardly hear his bass and when I did, I wasnt loving the tone.

The band as a whole always sounds good (IMO of course), but I am one that wishes he would go completely Orange and dump the sansamp/di setup.

[Ray man]

Originally Posted by jgroh

I wont get to see them until August but, the Different Stages tone, if I recall correctly, was from when he was still using real cabs and not just going completely direct. When I saw them during S&A's, I could hardly hear his bass and when I did, I wasnt loving the tone.

The band as a whole always sounds good (IMO of course), but I am one that wishes he would go completely Orange and dump the sansamp/di setup.

I think part of his different stages tone was a sansamp mixed with something else, yet it still sounded far better than recent years.

Acctualy, I have a bunch of sansamp stuff running through real bass cabs.
No matter what, I can't get it to sound that fake and sh!ty.

So what gives? I don't know

[lijazz]

From the clips I have seen (with good sound), his tone is indeed very reminescint of Differnt Stages (my favorite live tone of his). It also sounds like he has some chorus going on, especially in Red Barchetta...can anyone confirm they hear that as well?

[kingpin2512]

The summerfest show was great! Better than the snakes & arrows show i saw.

[Craig_S]

I don't know why anyone would think Geddy would sound any different through Orange/Trace/Ampeg... He'll dial in his sound with whatever gear he's using. As far as his FOH sound goes: Maybe there is a different engineer at the helm? Maybe they've made an effort to make the bass more present? Who knows? Thinking a move from Trace to Orange would make a HUGE difference in the FOH sound is a little silly.

[jgroh]

Originally Posted by Craig_S

I don't know why anyone would think Geddy would sound any different through Orange/Trace/Ampeg... He'll dial in his sound with whatever gear he's using. As far as his FOH sound goes: Maybe there is a different engineer at the helm? Maybe they've made an effort to make the bass more present? Who knows? Thinking a move from Trace to Orange would make a HUGE difference in the FOH sound is a little silly.

True. And like I said in another thread, we are picking it apart because

A. we are bass players

B. most of us are obsessed with getting a tone that only other bass players will even hear in a mix of other instruments

C. most of us arent famous and or making a living from our playing (let alone our playing, singing, keys, writing, arranging...) so we have time to post on threads like this =)

He found a sound that works for him and he seems to want to stick with it to concentrate on other things (like that writing, singing, key-synth-workings and whatever else a millionaire famous musician has going on in his life at the time)

If he were just the bass player I could see him spending alot more time futzin.

[Ray man]

Originally Posted by Craig_S

I don't know why anyone would think Geddy would sound any different through Orange/Trace/Ampeg... He'll dial in his sound with whatever gear he's using. As far as his FOH sound goes: Maybe there is a different engineer at the helm? Maybe they've made an effort to make the bass more present? Who knows? Thinking a move from Trace to Orange would make a HUGE difference in the FOH sound is a little silly.

I am not being silly.
He obviously sounds different.

If he use a Gorilla amp sent to the FOH. It would sound different than a Sansamp.
On the other hand, he might actually be using a Sansamp with a new engineer for all I know.
In any case it's different.

[Craig_S]

You're not getting me. Geddy is Geddy. Geddy's tone is Geddy's tone, regardless of who made his amp. The only thing that is changed is his presence in the mix.

[Ray man]

Originally Posted by Craig_S

You're not getting me. Geddy is Geddy. Geddy's tone is Geddy's tone, regardless of who made his amp. The only thing that is changed is his presence in the mix.

Sorry, but I understand what your saying.

When Russ Ryan said something about Geddy Lee sounding like Geddy lee no matter what, it's absolutly true, I agree.
He will still sound like Geddy thruogh a Fisher Price amp. But his tone would be effected wouldn't it?


I think were saying the same thing, you say his presence in the mix changed, yup, It certainly did.

[Wasted Bassist]

My mom went to Summerfest (but not to Rush). I'm so upset that I couldn't make it to go with her. A Rush show may have made my life complete.

[Craig_S]

Originally Posted by Ray man

Sorry, but I understand what your saying.

When Russ Ryan said something about Geddy Lee sounding like Geddy lee no matter what, it's absolutly true, I agree.
He will still sound like Geddy thruogh a Fisher Price amp. But his tone would be effected wouldn't it?


I think were saying the same thing, you say his presence in the mix changed, yup, It certainly did.

...but it wasn't because of his amp.

[Ray man]

Originally Posted by Craig_S

...but it wasn't because of his amp.

For all I know he might be using the exact same set up as the last few tours. I am cool with that. Yet it still sounds different.

All that aside, I find Orange/Trace/Ampeg all make you sound different and sending a feed to the FOH from those amps would absolutly make the FOH sound different too..

[LAG]

I noticed Geddy Lee has an aggressive style of playing (right hand). That probably accounts for much of his tone. That skinny necked jazz bass he plays sure sounds big and tough live. Sure makes for a satisfying show, even for non-musicians.

[Geddyfleaharris]

Originally Posted by LAG

I noticed Geddy Lee has an aggressive style of playing (right hand). That probably accounts for much of his tone. That skinny necked jazz bass he plays sure sounds big and tough live. Sure makes for a satisfying show, even for non-musicians.

On the Snakes and Arrows tour I had front row right in front of Geddy. His right hand technique is crazy aggressive. Pretty sure he could level a building from 40 paces with that hand. IT IS THAT AGGRESSIVE!

[cameronkeel]

ANyone notice the new Jazz bass he is playing? Pearl block inlays, instead of the black blocks. pearlized pick guard. Looks real sharp, ans as always....sounds great from what I have read. I get tto see them in October down in Tampa.