Geddy Lee Bass. What's The Difference?

[SMILEYSIXX]

Whatever the difference may be, take it from me. I've played three different Geddy's on three separate occasions and I can't, for the life of me, fathom why Geddy would allow his name to be put on the trainwreck.

 

[chuck65]

I believe some of the newer ones are only painted.

I have also heard that if your neck plate says "Limited edition" they are blocks. The others are clearcoated stickers....I just had a full fret dress done on mine and the luthier said they were block inlays. I have a limited edition plate on mine. After a set of active EMGs I have no problems finding the "low growl" that was missing with the stock p-ups.

 

[Duke21]

The thing that bothered me the most about the GLee was that silly signiture on the head stock and the fact it was so heavy.

If Geddy manage to stay upright with this heavy bass, well.... but a Classic Vibe jazz which is much lighter due to the basswood. And that silliy signature, well don't buy a signature bass! The Geddy Lee signature bass is for the ones who wants the Geddy Lee signature bass + some others who just like the bass. Period.

 

[Vincent P]

I lucked out and purchased mine a month before the huge price increase. Although I am a Rush fan, this is not the reason for the purchase. I played this bass 4 or 5 times at my local music store before buying. Signature series aside. I love the thin neck, although agree with most that the lacquer finish cool as it looks does slow you down when your hands get sweaty. After a couple of weeks the neck did need some adjustment complete setup with Roto's, and have not had to touch her since in 2 years, I think this is due to the climate change from the store to my home. Love BadAss bridges so this was a plus for me. Agreed that the weight of this beast leaves you with a numb shoulder/sore lower back for a week after a couple of hours of play but, a wider cushioned strap helped alot. I've had no issues with balance but, then again I'm not your bassist who jumps all over the stage. As for tone/sound. this is what sold me on the bass. Yes the pup's and electronics are no where near my MIA Deluxe but, I've been able to move furniture when needed with this thing. I think this in a big part is due to how and what your rig is setup/dialed-in creating a nice seventy-ish sound. If you did'nt buy this bass to hang on a wall, or keep for a possible future ebay auction. It is a great gigging working bass.

 

[GreggBummer]

I borrowed a friends Geddy Lee for a few weeks. I played a gig with it and a few practices... long enough to get familiar with the instrument.

The one I played had great tone. It was very much a Fender Jazz, punchy and growly. It really shined when overdriven at the amp. As with most J basses, how you adjust volume and tone is key.

The neck is thinner. I found it comfortable. Some may say it is a "faster" neck. I don't like to use "faster neck" to describe a bass, but I understand why folks say that. For me anyway, the neck was comfortable but not a breakthrough.

The quality of the bass I played was very good. It was well constructed... no neck pocket gaps, nothing out of sorts.

Great bass... but it wasn't for me. I just didn't bond with it. No particular reason, it just wasn't my thing. I was disappointed that I didn't bond with it, I'm a huge Rush fan. It wasn't the bass, it was me.

I would suggest A/B the Geddy with another jbass.

Thats my take.

G

 

[parsons]

Is it so??? The Geddy's neck is the best I've ever tried.
And regrading the price. The Geddy do not cost that much if you consider how well it is build. It is just under the price of an MIA bass, so fine with me.

Its all in preference. I dont follow the whole "if you have small hands" crap about a thin neck.

My hands are tiny. I mean pretty damn tiny. From the base of my palm to the tip of my middle finger is about the height of a soda can give or take a 1/4 inch. My favorite necks? EBMM Sterling, Stingray, American Deluxe P's, etc. The Sterling being the smallest I prefer. I have a Fender Jag that I like but the neck is too small, even for my hands.

The cost of the Geddy was great....4 years ago when it was $599 new. The price of them now is absolutely absurd for what you get. Its just NOT a $1,000 instrument.

 

[thumpbass1]

I have one of the earlier so called limited edition ones, and after almost 8 years or so of gigging it, I still love it. I don't find it thin sounding at all, and Mr Lee's understated signature decal is tastefully placed on the back of the headstock, and always had been. I've had no neck issues of a serious nature at all once my inital set up work took hold. Great bass for the low dollars I paid for it when the local Mars Music chain store went under due to national liquidation some years back. As I said earlier, I love mine. I find the thin neck comfy to play, as I can easily play chubby wubby P-Bass necks, and other basses with corpulent neck profiles, so the shaved profile is speedy feeling to me.

The new ones have actual inlays again, plus supposedly better tuners. I recommend that one tries one out for themselves, and decide if they like them or not.

 

[DwaynieAD]

I've loved every one I've played, but I detune a lot and I felt the much lower action on the Geddy Lee didn't lend itself to detuning as well as a standard fender jazz bass. I will own one one day tho

 

[GreggBummer]

I recommend that one tries one out for themselves, and decide if they like them or not.

Here is the answer to every question about every bass. One man's treasure is another man's trash.

 

[Engine207]

The question should be: whats the difference between a Geddy and the MIM Classic 70's Jazz bass.

Correct.

The answer, then, would be: the neck thickness, the difference in fretboard wood, and obviously MIJ/MIM. I really liked the features of the Geddy, but I couldn't get used to the neck thinness or the maple fretboard. It's so thin, you can basically see through it. The 70's Classic has a neck so chunky, it reminds me of an old P-Bass with a 1-1/2" nut...or a Louisville Slugger. Perfect for my bear mitts.

The build quality of the Classic is outrageous, too. I've played a few '08-newer MIAs, and they don't have anything on them.

 

[GreggBummer]

Correct.

The answer, then, would be: the neck thickness, the difference in fretboard wood, and obviously MIJ/MIM. I really liked the features of the Geddy, but I couldn't get used to the neck thinness or the maple fretboard. It's so thin, you can basically see through it. The 70's Classic has a neck so chunky, it reminds me of an old P-Bass with a 1-1/2" nut...or a Louisville Slugger. Perfect for my bear mitts.

The build quality of the Classic is outrageous, too. I've played a few '08-newer MIAs, and they don't have anything on them.

Engine207 is spot on. Those Geddy necks just don't feel right to some people. As with most basses, it is all a matter of taste.

@Engine207: I'm a volly with Station16 here in Camden County, New Jersey... that is a nice engine you have there in your avatar. Our vollys are truckies for the most part. Sort of miss out on engine company work.

Stay safe.

G

 

[Foamy]

Got mine for $535 out the door before the price hike.
It is not worth $1,000.
I love the neck, but swapped out the p'ups for Quarter Pounders.
I like the BadAss bridge.
All subjective stuff - try one out.
If you like it, however, maybe look used. It's not worth $1,000.