Any tips on getting a Ric-like tone?

[Astre]

Big fan of Geddy Lee and Chris Squire here. Their punchy, mid-heavy, badass tone has got me wondering if I can get something sounding like a Ric without a Ric - the price tag seems much too high. If any of you have got amp settings or technique tips to get a good tone, please put them down below. Thanks.

For reference, my two basses are an Ibanez SR500ZW and a Harley Benton JB-40 FL.

 

[msb]

Fresh strings every couple of days .
Probably the biggest component of that sound , more so than using a Ric .

 

[bassdude51]

Geddy went from a Ric to a J and sound wise, nobody could tell any difference. So, a J with Roto Sound strings should get you there.

 

[steve_ss]

Lets not forget, their sound also comes from their playing technique, amps, pedals, and other production elements. Chris Squire used a pick. I own a Ric (see picture on the left). I don't use a pick, just alternate index/middle fingers. I don't sound anything like Chris Squire. And probably never will. I like sounding like myself.


EDIT: Chris Squire rig rundown video:

 

[matti777]

I was just admiring Randy Meisner's Ric tone last night. Honestly I wasn't sure if had a P or not until a rare camera glimpse.

 

[jd56hawk]

 

[luciens]

Big fan of Geddy Lee and Chris Squire here. Their punchy, mid-heavy, badass tone has got me wondering if I can get something sounding like a Ric without a Ric - the price tag seems much too high. If any of you have got amp settings or technique tips to get a good tone, please put them down below. Thanks.

For reference, my two basses are an Ibanez SR500ZW and a Harley Benton JB-40 FL.

A fretted Jazz bass can get the closest to it, in my experience. Run the action kind of low, hit it really hard over the neck PU with some light distortion and that will almost be the splittin' image of an actual Rick 400X. Or play it with a pick to get the more Chris Squire version.

And of course, fretted Jazz basses are all over the place that sound great for reasonable cost.

You could always get that pedal/DI that Geddy Lee helped design (can't remember the name of it right) too. It adds grind in all the right places to get a tone very much like a Rick...

L

 

[SleepyShark]

Geddy went from a Ric to a J and sound wise, nobody could tell any difference. So, a J with Roto Sound strings should get you there.

Rotos are awesome and certainly are a big part of it.

The other part is getting deep under the string and digging in hard with your plucking hand. It can take a while to build up even volume and rhythm (not to mention you can thrash your fingertips with blisters) - but it gives you that bright, aggressive bite.

Don't hurt yourself, though. Just give it a nice extra UMPH. Geddy doesn't do the whole, "light touch near the neck heel" thing

 

[luciens]

Rotos are awesome and certainly are a big part of it.

The other part is getting deep under the string and digging in hard with your plucking hand. It can take a while to build up even volume and rhythm (not to mention you can thrash your fingertips with blisters) - but it gives you that bright, aggressive bite.

Don't hurt yourself, though. Just give it a nice extra UMPH. Geddy doesn't do the whole, "light touch near the neck heel" thing

Agree. That's the only real drawback of the classic Rick grinding sound - you have to really bang on it to get that kind of sound out of it. Even with a pick you have to really hammer it hard. Especially as your strings wear in and die out.

OTOH, a Rick 400X starts to get very P bass-like when played with a "normal" light touch, and/or plucked nearer the bridge PU. The low bottom isn't quite as fat "out of the box" as a P or J bass, but with a good amp and EQ, etc, you can play a 400X in a C&W band if you want to with the right technique. And nobody will be the wiser until they look....

L

 

[mrface2112]

A couple years ago, I picked up a Fender USA Geddy Lee Jazz (the one in my profile pic) and it's got that punchy Geddy tone in spades. I don't have to do anything except play it. EQ the amp a bit more middy and you're even more there.

New strings, a bass with punchy mids, and a forceful picking hand will get you most of the way there.

 

[Mudder]

Geddy is not a light player. He hits the strings hard with his fingers.

 

[Franchy]

1) Playing technique.
2) Fresh roundwound strings with low action setup.
3) Overdrive.
4) Any bass with two pickups config.

 

[Ric5]

Big fan of Geddy Lee and Chris Squire here. Their punchy, mid-heavy, badass tone has got me wondering if I can get something sounding like a Ric without a Ric - the price tag seems much too high. If any of you have got amp settings or technique tips to get a good tone, please put them down below. Thanks.

For reference, my two basses are an Ibanez SR500ZW and a Harley Benton JB-40 FL.

round wound strings, hard attack, distortion, and plenty of treble, mids, and bass.