geddy lees tone and assorted effects on certian songs

bassmastan · #1 12-22-2011, 03:08 PM

Ok so I am doing a show where I am playing YYZ, Tom Sawyer, Lime Light, and La Villa Strangiato, and I want to know what effects geddy lee uses during his solos and general bassline, I am not playing keyboard either, even though I can it would take to long to set up, so effects to make it sound like that too. My current effects are an early 70's muff, a late 60's crybaby, and a jekyll and hyde from 04, so I need to update my pedalboard might as well do it like geddy lee.

bassgod0dmw · #2 12-22-2011, 03:29 PM

He doesn't really use any effects.

He uses a little bit of delay when he does a bass solo in Driven, but that's about it.

Floyd Eye · #3 12-22-2011, 03:33 PM

SansAmp RPM+ 4001.

ksandvik · #4 12-22-2011, 03:33 PM

Sansamp BDDI or something similar should be useful.

scottfeldstein · #5 12-22-2011, 04:05 PM

Put on a set of bright round wound strings. Use a good OD to heat up the tone, a SansAmp or a Tone Hammer. Then really dig in with your fingers.

bassmastan · #6 12-22-2011, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

He doesn't really use any effects.

He uses a little bit of delay when he does a bass solo in Driven, but that's about it.

I know he uses some kind of wah at the end of la villa strangito, so idk. Anyone else knows what he uses, I don't personally use too many effects but I'm happy to learn more, does he use a chorus or overdrive, maybe synthisizer?

ksandvik · #7 12-22-2011, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassmastan

I know he uses some kind of wah at the end of la villa strangito, so idk. Anyone else knows what he uses, I don't personally use too many effects but I'm happy to learn more, does he use a chorus or overdrive, maybe synthisizer?

Many of the middle period Rush songs are keyboard-centric with Geddy using either Moog Taurus pedals or synth bass sounds in various sections of the songs.

bassgod0dmw · #8 12-22-2011, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassmastan

I know he uses some kind of wah at the end of la villa strangito, so idk. Anyone else knows what he uses, I don't personally use too many effects but I'm happy to learn more, does he use a chorus or overdrive, maybe synthisizer?

Are you talking about the last few notes? It's a phaser.

As I said, he doesn't really use any effects. No chorus, no overdrive, no synth.

Serious question: Have you listened to much Rush? Geddy's tone is fairly overdriven on it's own, that's just his sound. Rush uses plenty of keyboards/synth in their music, but it's not a bass effect.

bassmastan · #9 12-22-2011, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksandvik

Many of the middle period Rush songs are keyboard-centric with Geddy using either Moog Taurus pedals or synth bass sounds in various sections of the songs.

Perfect, this is geared more toward what I'm looking for I got the sans amp rmp, moog taurus synth bass.... any more?

ksandvik · #10 12-22-2011, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassmastan

Perfect, this is geared more toward what I'm looking for I got the sans amp rmp, moog taurus synth bass.... any more?

You need a keyboard for various string/brass sounds Geddy uses + the Moog line in Tom Sawyer of course. I'm not sure how much gear you need as they used all kinds of vintage analogue synthesizers.

Maybe get Logic with Mainstage and see how far you get with the various ES2 and ESX24 sampler sounds.

I would use Diva (just released by u-he) as a plug-in as that's me thinks the first good analogue virtual plugin, handles Jupiter sounds and so on. Not sure about Oberheims...

PS: If you are really clever just trigger samples from the Taurus or any other MIDI-pedal as that's what Geddy Lee is mostly doing at live shows today.

DigitalMan · #11 12-22-2011, 10:40 PM

Geddy uses about 5 different preamps these days, all blended to get his tone. The main factors are his clean tone and overdriven tone. He uses the Sansamp with major drive and presence basically as a quasi-distortion box and it is turned down in the mix. His main clean tone is an Avalon U5 DI box. Aside from those he uses a Palmer speaker simulator for extra lows, an Avid Eleven using the fender bassman modeling, and an orange amp which is super distorted and way down in the mix.

You can get 90% of the way there with the sansbass, an Avalon U5 (worth every penny of the $600 price tag, and any clean line mixer or your choice. The key IMO is having a clean and dirty channel and blending to taste.

And of course a shiny new set of rotosound strings is a must.

bassmastan · #12 12-23-2011, 01:29 PM

Too bad I can't find a moog taurus for 100 bucks hope fully ill find one on the clasifieds

Mr.Hat · #13 12-23-2011, 01:45 PM

Taurus 3 Bass Pedals | Moog Music Inc

A bit more than 100 $

scottfeldstein · #14 12-23-2011, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Hat

A bit more than 100 $

I'll say. Unless I was in a Rush tribute band, I'd forget that aspect of his "sound." Or hire someone to play a synth for you. I'd focus on getting the bass sound and technique right, the rest will be forgiven. At least if all you're after is to play a few live covers.

Mr.Hat · #15 12-23-2011, 01:57 PM

maybe the Digitech Bass Synth Wah to get the tom sawyer downsweep ?

SteveC · #16 12-23-2011, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigitalMan

You can get 90% of the way there with the sansbass, an Avalon U5 (worth every penny of the $600 price tag, and any clean line mixer or your choice. The key IMO is having a clean and dirty channel and blending to taste.

I agree. If I weren't so into having a minimal rig I'd go this route. The Avalon makes anything sound amazing. Add a little grit and viola' you sound like Geddy...kind of anyway.