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I didn't catch this show (it was just slightly before my time) but I did catch many a concert at the Spectrum (including my first - LIONEL RITCHIE! haha).
From what I remember, he started the tour with the Steiny and ended up with the Wal. And I as at that show in Philly too. My first Rush concert and I loved it...though, the tshirt drug dealer gang war in the parking lot after the concert where one group used my mothers Chrysler Cordoba as a base wasnt so much fun.
The Rush tour books always featured photos from the previous tour, but there should be a page in there detailing what gear was being used on the current (at that time) tour.
I don't think so, his original looks much more like the first photo. The body doesn't have the wear of the second photo and the neck has black (not pearl) block inlays:
Should I be proud of the fact that I can tell this is a picture from the Signals tour just from the clothes they are wearing and from their hairstyles? I think I know these guys too well
I wasn't referring to the pictures, but rather a direct quote from the man himself in the link I've provided above from the PW tour book (emphasis is mine):
"Meanwhile, in the fun, I mean Bass department, I am pleased to announce the addition of one beautifully crafted and great sounding Wal Bass. Custom made in England by a small but "happening" company. The Wal (no pun intended) along with my two trusty Steinbergers are the only Basses I will be using on this tour. My amplifiers remain the same as on the "Grace Under Pressure" tour. And Oy! I'm getting thirsty!"
Has anyone compiled a nice list of what bass Geddy used on each album and/or song? If so, please post a link. Thanks
My point exactly.
IIRC, when the Power Windows tour came through Denver, he mainly played his Steinies, with the Wal making a guest appearance on just a few numbers.
Yep, that P on RTB was the best sounding of all the basses he played on the R40 Tour. I was commenting about it to my friends as he played it.
I love Geddy - I really do. He was my first and #1 inspiration for picking up bass, and I got all my good and bad habits from overanalyzing his playing. And his playing on the Power Windows tour is outstanding - tight, focused and locked in.
And...forgive me...I hate the tone. Hate hate hate it. It is punchy and cutting but, just to me, also nasally and lacking in character.
For me, his reference tone will always be this:
One of my favorite things regarding Ged's tone is how he always sounds so much like himself, regardless of what bass he is using. Something every bassist should strive for.
My favorite Geddy tone has always been when he played a Ric (his FireGlo 4080 sounded especially meaty on the R40 tour), but I love all of his tones, from his first album to the R40 tour.
Yes, it is in the tour book but he did not use his Wal bass live until the HYF tour.
He used the Steinberger for the entire Power Windows tour.
The Philly Spectrum show (well known boot) is all Steinberger as well.
In the G/P tourbook Geddy lists a Rickenbacker 4001. It never went on tour for G/P.
In the MP tourbook it lists his 4080 doubleneck (bass/6 string).. the one he used the previous tours for A Passage to Bangkok, but they did not play it on that tour nor did he bring it along on the MP tour. It was listed in his equipment page though.
....from 1986 on the Power Windows tour...
"Grace Under Pressure is a much darker-sounding record; the bottom end is a different shape, and the top end doesn't have such a nice twang. Different sounds for different periods, I guess. After Power Windows was finished, I visited the Wal people, and they built me the bass I used in "The Big Money" video. They really build their instruments with a lot of care and take a lot of pride in their work."
Did you want anything special done on the bass?
"I just wanted to have it sound close to that bass of Peter Collins. The only difference was that most of the basses they make are in natural wood finishes, and I'm not a big fan of them. So I asked for a black one. The sound is slightly different because it's a more reflective surface than a natural. But it's only different in a positive way; it's probably a little brighter than the other ones."
What made you choose the Steinberger for this tour and the previous one?
"Well, number one, I wanted a different sound. I was sort of bored with the same sound I was getting. And number two, I liked the compact feel of the Steinberger. It's small and concise. For me, playing onstage surrounded by so much gear--keyboards, microphones, and stuff--it's a very practical instrument to use. I felt that if I could get a sound out of it that I was happy with, it would make a lot of sense to use it because of its shape. And in the end, I liked the sound I was getting out of it onstage. It's very ballsy-sounding. So the size and sound made it an ideal touring bass for me."
Are you using the Wal onstage at all?
"I'm still using the Steinberger onstage. I have the Wal out with me, and it sounds really good live. But until the show gets to a point where I feel comfortable enough to start changing basses from song to song, I'm going to stick with the Steinberger and slowly work the Wal into the show."
Tom Mulhern's Interview With Rush's Geddy Lee
And the Wal never got worked into the Power Windows show, nor I have never heard any live recordings from the Power Windows tour where he used the Wal and there aren't any photos of him on that tour, anywhere showing him using that bass either.
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First time I saw them was at one of our high school dances. Still had Rutsey on drums. Saw them quite a few times at a bar in T.O. called The Picadilly Tube, they played there regularly. After they got too big to play that place, another trio played there a lot, Triumph. Quite the bar. And yes, that does make me officially old.
I live in Kalamazoo where he bought that bass. I do have a Geddy Lee model (see profile picture)...but I have yet to find a pawn shop locally that provided such a deal as he originally got.
BTW - Kalamazoo was the home of the original Gibson Guitar factory. Odd that one of the most famous guitars to come out of here was a Fender.
BTW - Kalamazoo was the home of the original Gibson Guitar factory. Odd that one of the most famous guitars to come out of here was a Fender.
Bluzman99
Commercial User
We met up with Skully his trusted tech back in May of 2012 in Scottsdale to do the measurements and tear down of his #1. I made the current neck that is on the bass now so the focus was on getting the measurements on the pickups for the USA version, wear patterns documented for the Custom Shop for the limited run of the relic version they were going to do. We spent the day going over one of the holy grails of Jazz basses. Being a huge fan it was surreal actually getting to hold that bass and work on the USA project. My profile pic is the wear pattern on the arm contour that is very unique and very cool. Cheers! M.B.
No problem, you're welcome.
I was pretty shocked when Geddy came out with the Steinberger for those Power Windows shows. I was all set for the new Wal sound and he played the Steinberger for the entire set.
BUT.. the sound, in my opinion was fantastic and that is what gave me severe G.A.S. for a Steinberger XL-2 of which I owned from 1986 through 2003. Had virtually the same tone. I think they all do..
I wanted a Wal once I heard the Presto album and finally received mine in July of 1993. It's awesome.
