You're also forgetting probably the single most important facet of his sound these days.
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About Geddy Lee's Bass Technique
- Thread starter cyberfrenzy
- Start date
You're also forgetting probably the single most important facet of his sound these days.
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My brother and I were in the 3rd row at the winnipeg Rush concert on May 24/08 and My brother caught a "henhouse" t-shirt. It has the pic from that website on the back and "henhouse" on the front.
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It's a collector's item and he may put it on ebay.
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It's a collector's item and he may put it on ebay.
His "classic" sound from the 70's and early 80's is mostly a combination of his technique, the studio engineering and analog recording.
He sounded very different on their new record with the same bass he used on Tom Sawyer, his 1972 Jazz. Tom sawyer sounds completely different because studio engineering makes all the difference.
He sounded very different on their new record with the same bass he used on Tom Sawyer, his 1972 Jazz. Tom sawyer sounds completely different because studio engineering makes all the difference.
I tell you the one tone besides the Wal that kills me is...listen to Witch Hunt from Moving Pictures. Geddy does this simple little solo thing towards the end and the bass is all growly and it sounds like the Fender (not as metallic as the Rick, but I could be wrong). That just is an awesome rock bass tone! 
When i saw him recently, i noticed also that he floats his right hand(no anchor) and that he is constantly changing where he picks from.. Some time choruses are near the neck and verses near the bridge..
I will concede that our tone is in our hands, but to say that the rig plays no part is, well, as you said, ridiculous. Of course Geddy is going to sound like Geddy no matter what he plays, but are you saying that Geddy really doesn't need his Sansamp RBI to to get his overdriven sound? Then why does he use it?
Strings, pickups, EQ, and effects all play a part is someone's distinct sound. I'm sure I could cop a sound a whole lot closer to Geddy(but not exact) playing on his rig, than mine.
I will concede that our tone is in our hands, but to say that the rig plays no part is, well, as you said, ridiculous. Of course Geddy is going to sound like Geddy no matter what he plays, but are you saying that Geddy really doesn't need his Sansamp RBI to to get his overdriven sound? Then why does he use it?
Strings, pickups, EQ, and effects all play a part is someone's distinct sound. I'm sure I could cop a sound a whole lot closer to Geddy(but not exact) playing on his rig, than mine.
Thats not what I am saying at all. If you read what lead to my post, and others regarding that, you will see that some posters were trying to make it out like you could just buy a similar rig and viola! To me, his basic tone is there, P, Rick, Stein, Wal, or Jazz...yes the Rick is more metallic sounding, and yes the Wal has its rubbery (my fav) tone but you can tell its him. That is what I am getting at.
The tone in not in the fingers at all, if you chopped off the fingers they wouldn't being playing bass. Tone is in the brain. The brain controls the fingers through motor nerves. If you had a stroke (cerebral vascular accident) where part of your brain was injured, you may not be able to move your fingers.
The brain is also responsible for making decisions to buy basses (GAS), strings, cords, amps and speaker cabinets as well as other equipment.
Therefore tone is in the brain! Geddy's got a talented brain!
The brain is also responsible for making decisions to buy basses (GAS), strings, cords, amps and speaker cabinets as well as other equipment.
Therefore tone is in the brain! Geddy's got a talented brain!
If you chopped off the fingers your brain wouldnt be playing the bass now would it? Yeah we all know the brain sends the Signals, but if you filmed a Show of Hands playing the bass, you would see that its your hands that Holds Your Fire. You also cant feel the Caress of Steel with your brain, now can you? Presto, theres your answer!
Yeah, Geddy has a very very strong pluck when he plays, so he does get a ton of the aggressive metallic tone from that.
Build up that right hand!
Tone is not in the fingers!! Sound is!! Tone=timbre. Geddy Lee will not get his TONE through a fretless with 10 year old flatwounds through a 10 watt cheapo amp but he will sound like him. I will be closer to his tone using his exact rig and EQ settings... read this [Invalid or Expired Link Removed], I know it's about guitars as opposed to bass but the basic principle still applies!! This is correct!!
dont quote me on this but i remember for Geddy's tone he likes to use a little bit of overdrive in his rig, not to mention his bass is built kind like some 70 models i believe, the bridge pickup is a little closer to the bridge than normal todays jazz bass for more growl to be added to it. I remember reading an article on it a bit ago when i first heard leave that thing alone. Tried one of those 70s mod bass with the bridge pickup closer and added a little bit overdrive, sounded just like the one he did at verizon center. again dont quote me on it haha
by the way, make sure the sound is minimal on the overdrive. it should just accent the normal bass signal. If it takes over or does 50/50 its to much. Youll get it with good pickups as well, I seen people with MMs pull it off no problem. I have an Ibanez Sr506 with Bartolini MK1s, i can emulate it to where it sounds almost on the dot, best bet though is his Sig bass or a little work on moving your bridge pickup lower like a 70s mod Jazz Bass. good luck 
I think it's worth mentioning that there's merit in both ideas here, i.e. equipment vs. tone from hands/mind/soul/etc. If I played through Geddy's setup, from any era, I still wouldn't sound like him. His musical ideas and physical traits are unique to him and are really what makes Geddy Geddy, above all else.
However, if you dig his sound, for example, and want to emulate it, then a good start would be to play aggressively w/ slight overdrive, EQ plenty of mids, and all of those observations that people have keenly noted here. It won't make you a Geddy clone, because that's really impossible, but if you just want to get closer to his tone, then those are some good things to be aware of. Maybe that's what the questioner was referring to? Or maybe not.
Oh yeah, and the Henhouse, absolutely.
However, if you dig his sound, for example, and want to emulate it, then a good start would be to play aggressively w/ slight overdrive, EQ plenty of mids, and all of those observations that people have keenly noted here. It won't make you a Geddy clone, because that's really impossible, but if you just want to get closer to his tone, then those are some good things to be aware of. Maybe that's what the questioner was referring to? Or maybe not.
Oh yeah, and the Henhouse, absolutely.
Going back to the technique... I can't match Ged's speed and articulation when using two fingers with the thumb anchored on the pickup (namely on YYZ). I can play the song at the right speed using my normal technique, which involves using my floating thumb sometimes--think of a banjo player. But I can't get the right "bounce" to the notes with that technique. Should I just focus on building up my speed and dexterity with the standard two-finger approach? I'm pretty much relearning the song with the standard technique and the frustration is annoying.
Well first of all since you've only just started try umm......................PRACTICE! How do you think Geddy got to play and sound like that?
Guaranteed it's down to his technique, which is a little of center but Geddy would sound like Geddy on most gear!
