I am a genius. (Picture Included)

back as a wolf · #1 07-21-2008, 08:07 PM

I had been looking for that Geddy tone for quite a while. I think I finally found it. I have a LM II with dual inputs (quarter inch, XLR). I have the MXR M80 and the Sansamp Bass driver. I run my signal from my bass into the MXR, take the parallel output with an unaffected signal and run that into the Sansamp via a short quarter inch cable. The "color" switch is engaged on the MXR for a bass heavy tone. I run a quarter inch cable from the MXR into the input on the head. I EQ the Sansamp for a trebly distorted tone, and run an XLR cable from its XLR out into the head. I blend the two signals accordingly using their master volumes and magically I have Geddy's tone from Rush in Rio or R30. Voila! Here is the picture (sorry for the quality, taken with my phone):

Jared Lash · #2 07-21-2008, 08:09 PM

A statement like this will require audio clips for verification of your claims. . .

back as a wolf · #3 07-21-2008, 08:13 PM

Lol, I don't have a converter to line out from my LMII into my computer. The line out is XLR.

Jared Lash · #4 07-21-2008, 08:20 PM

Well that sucks.

Geddy Lee's tone is very much like James Jamerson's tone to me. Not that they sound anything alike, but that they are tones that I really dig hearing and fit their music perfectly but aren't ones that I personally strive for.

Geddy's tone here, is probably my favorite of his ever.

back as a wolf · #5 07-21-2008, 08:25 PM

Yeah I hear you bro. That's a great clip, and his tone is still great but I prefer the Exit Stage Left/early 80's tone better. It's distinctive and seems like it has a lot of "bite". Not that his R30 tone wasn't distinctive, as I think it's a matter of your hands too. Jamerson and Ged both have recognizable tones.

Nyarlathotep · #6 07-21-2008, 08:26 PM

Just get an XLR->1/4" stereo female, then get a 1/4"->1/8" line. Or get a 1/4"->1/8" plug/jack/adaptor that comes with most headphones, and run an 1/8" cord to your comp. I did that with my SAPDDI back in the day

back as a wolf · #7 07-21-2008, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanielTulip

Just get an XLR->1/4" stereo female, then get a 1/4"->1/8" line. Or get a 1/4"->1/8" plug/jack/adaptor that comes with most headphones, and run an 1/8" cord to your comp. I did that with my SAPDDI back in the day

Yeah I have the 1/4"->1/8" but lack the XLR to 1/4". I'll have to pick one up sometime soon as I really want to get a clip out there.

CicadaSilence · #8 07-21-2008, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigO

Geddy's tone here, is probably my favorite of his ever.

Holy crap!

steve66 · #9 07-21-2008, 08:55 PM

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7yxA9vt2-c

at 1:50 ish

beyondthe48 · #10 07-21-2008, 09:15 PM

RUSH on COLBERT REPORT!

Chronicle · #11 07-21-2008, 09:44 PM

Geddy's tone is two Sansamp preamps. The RBI and RPM. So your dual preamp setup is going to mimic that :]

Oreomeister365 · #12 07-21-2008, 09:56 PM

he's also got a clean preamp too right?

tomvelsor · #13 07-21-2008, 10:27 PM

i like the idea

i just wish these experiments were done to make your sound, not gettys. but either way keep it up.

Vic Winters · #14 07-21-2008, 10:58 PM

Geddy's current setup is a 3 part setup.

Straight from Russ:

. We use two Samson UR-5D wireless units. They are single rack mount dual wireless receivers. Each channel has their own dedicated output. Signal routing for hooking up, all of these pieces are unbalanced 1/4" jacks. Audio obviously takes XLR line level outs, from the outboard gear, not the wireless!

The outputs from the Samson's (4 in all) now go to a Kittyhawk Midi Looper. Most of you will probably not be familiar to the Kittyhawk products. I came across Kittyhawk products when I worked for the Scorpions in the 90's. It was, and still may be, a small German company that made loopers, midi switchers, amps, etc. Well made products and a very unique individual, Gundolf, who made these products! I thought they sounded good, worked well and very reliable.
This Kittyhawk, as the name implies, was primarily made to midi switch to different effects. I don't use the midi function, no need. I use it basically as multi-channel "A/B" box, rack-mounted! This unit has six separate channels. I take the separate wireless outputs to each individual channel input on the Kittyhawk. The Kittyhawk has a MAIN OUTPUT, for all channels.
The Kittyhawk has individual switches on the front to turn each channel on and off, as desired. As Ged switches to a different bass, I just hit the corresponding switch on the Kittyhawk to activate that bass. This gives me the luxury to know that as he is playing one bass, I can unplug, tune another bass, without sending any 'popping' noise to to audio as that particular channel of the wireless is muted! This means not having to mute, turn off transmitter, or turn down the output volume of the wireless receiver.

The signal now goes from the Kittyhawk main out to the input of the Avalon D.I. The Avalon's tone setting are ON. I can't quite remember where the boost and tone levels are set. I don't have the gear in front of me and like I said before, my notes are in my toolbox in storage. I now take the 'thru' output of the Avalon and this goes to the Sansamp RPM.
By the way, the Avalon has a feature that you can turn on or off for the the thru setting. If you want to send the tone and boost settings to the thru settings, you can but I defeat that.

After the original signal is split, I take one of the signals and send it to the input of the Trace. I then take the speaker out from the Trace and go into the Palmer PDI-05. The Palmer has a switch to go from speaker in to line in. If you are going to do what I do, MAKE sure that switch is set on speaker!
This particular Palmer has a thru jack from the input jack. I now run a speaker cable to a Trace 4x10 cab which I try to place in a spot that won't kill everybody!! The Trace amp volume is on full!
I have to do this to place a load on the Trace. The PDI-05 does not provide a load for amps.
We have tried 'dummy' loads but they don't react the same as an actual speaker so to us, it doesn't quite sound as good.
I only use Trace cabs as we have them from when Ged use to have cabs on stage. This cab I use is not mic'ed. It's only there for what I said above.
Also, we use the Trace amp as it it from Ged's early days and we find it sounds quite good. I usually replace the tubes in the Trace amp every tour.

Combs4MyDomes · #15 07-21-2008, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomvelsor

i like the idea

i just wish these experiments were done to make your sound, not gettys. but either way keep it up.

Who's?

Ric5 · #16 07-21-2008, 11:02 PM

I had a similar setup then I went to 4 parallel signals ...

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/effects.htm

With my 5 string jazz (black & maple) and the j-retro preamp and the sd 1/4 pound pickups I can nail the modern Geddy sound.

Mr. Pickles · #17 07-22-2008, 09:53 AM

Hey Ric,
A few questions for you:
Do you have any phase issues with your parallel setup?

Does the splitter send out the four signals at line or instrument level?

Does the Rolls mixer send out the mixed signal as instrument or line level?

Does all of this happen in front of your amp or in an effects loop?

I'm not going for Geddy's tone-I just appreciate the experimenting to create one's tone.

Thanks in advance!

back as a wolf · #18 07-22-2008, 10:13 AM

To all who aren't very fond of me attempting to replicate Geddy's tone: It was a cool experiment but I don't think I'm gonna keep it this way. I may just run through the Sansamp instead. Or, I have I new idea. Run the MXR and Sansamp next to each other with the MXR first. Cut the bass and boost mids and treble on the MXR. Run through the Sansamp so it distorts mids/treble. Re-boost bass on amp's EQ. I'll get back to you guys with how this works...