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Geddy's bass tone

#521
Saw them last night at the Gorge, AMAZING show!

Saw you too Russ, before the show with Ged's bass strapped on :)

But man, was that one windy concert...I was a little nervous watching those lighting rigs swaying, and even more so watching the techies standing on em!

I was able to see Ged's Rack of basses (and Alex's rack of guitar, more on that later) and I noticed that there was only one Ric - no backup. Is the Ric really that reliable, that you don't take along a backup? Also, a kind of hypothetical - if something were to happen to the Ric, would Ged just play his main Jazz for Bangkok?

Also, I noticed that on the songs where Alex was playing his ES, there was no pickguard on it, where it was on there all the other times I've seen it. Was that one his backup, or did he just decide to take the pickguard off? If you can't answer that one I understand, you're Ged's tech, not Alex's :)

Sorry for the barrage of questions, I'm still pumped from the concert :hyper:
 
#522
ProfGumby said:
Um...yeah.......;)

I thought the early 70's Jazz all had the "extra" screw in the middle of the pups as well as an extra on the edges...the other holes are from the tug bar and pup covers.....for that reason, I have been thinking of adding that middle screw and screw holes as needed to make my Geddy clone more authentic to the original....kind of relicing, kind of not....
Click to expand...

that'd be pretty hardcore
 
#524
Glad you enjoyed the show. Hey, us crew were a little concerned about the wind! We have such great riggers out with us that they had everything tied down but they were on top of things through out the show, just in case.
Not sure about Alex's ES thing.
Yes, I have only one Ric out with me, If something happens, I would just swap it out with his main jazz.

superfunk47 said:
Saw them last night at the Gorge, AMAZING show!

Saw you too Russ, before the show with Ged's bass strapped on :)

But man, was that one windy concert...I was a little nervous watching those lighting rigs swaying, and even more so watching the techies standing on em!

I was able to see Ged's Rack of basses (and Alex's rack of guitar, more on that later) and I noticed that there was only one Ric - no backup. Is the Ric really that reliable, that you don't take along a backup? Also, a kind of hypothetical - if something were to happen to the Ric, would Ged just play his main Jazz for Bangkok?

Also, I noticed that on the songs where Alex was playing his ES, there was no pickguard on it, where it was on there all the other times I've seen it. Was that one his backup, or did he just decide to take the pickguard off? If you can't answer that one I understand, you're Ged's tech, not Alex's :)

Sorry for the barrage of questions, I'm still pumped from the concert :hyper:
Click to expand...
 
#525
hey again russ, just did a search on the year my Geddy Lee bass was made, and it came up being made between 1994 - 1995 according to Fender, I know Fender started selling Ged's bass around 1998 I believe, so I was wondering how mine is so old:hiding:

serial is S059701
 
#526
Gin said:
hey again russ, just did a search on the year my Geddy Lee bass was made, and it came up being made between 1994 - 1995 according to Fender, I know Fender started selling Ged's bass around 1998 I believe, so I was wondering how mine is so old:hiding:

serial is S059701
Click to expand...

Does your's say crafted in Japan above the serial number?..if so then it is post 1997

From what I have found out when researching the serial number on my 2005 geddy, your's is probably newer than mine...the Fender website is incomplete on japan made serial numbers. The serial number on my bass is R0 +5 digits. which dates it between 2004 and 2005, and since yours is a S0 +5 digits it would be the next time frame...2005 to 2006 or 2007.
 
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#527
Wayauste said:
Does your's say crafted in Japan above the serial number?..if so then it is post 1997

From what I have found out when researching the serial number on my 2005 geddy, your's is probably newer than mine...the Fender website is incomplete on japan made serial numbers. The serial number on my bass is R0 +5 digits. which dates it between 2005 and 2005, and since yours is a S0 +5 digits it would be the next time frame...2005 to 2006 or 2007.
Click to expand...

Ah okay, yes mine does say CIJ, thanks!
 
#529
Hey Russ,
I said hi and waved to you last night in Boston! That was me in front row center with the "Got Bass" shirt on. I won the tickets from the Rush.com contest.
I have to say you have your work cut out for you. I know Geddy digs into his bass but being so close to him I didn't realize how hard he does it. Man, it's no
wonder the original neck was shot on the '72. Ged really beats his basses into submission! That is the secret to his tone. Very aggressive attack! And, a great setup by a great tech! :D
Enjoy the next 10 days off! Regards, Joey

Here are a few pics of some of Ged's basses from the night for everyone!

IMG00018.jpg
IMG00087.jpg

IMG00071.jpg
IMG00117.jpg
 
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#532
Great thread. Awesome to have Russ contribute. Geddy was my idol as a kid playing in a power trio trying to learn his lines. At a concert in Victoria,BC in the late 70s we talked our way backstage prior to the show and I was able to meet my idol. All his basses were lined up on stands and he was incredibly nice to a starstruck 14 year old kid. He gave me a little nod from the stage during the show I'll never forget it. I own a early 70s Ric and the Geddy (as well as the Jaco). The Geddy is by far the best bass I've ever owned and I use it for all types of music Jazz thru Prog. I only wish it had come with a hardshell case but I understand about trying to keep the price down and the instrument accessible. So great to hear he didn't want to do a custom shop version and wanted a bass that carried his name to be affordable to the average guy. Will never play the way Geddy does but he still inspires me 30 years later...
 
#533
Thanks for all your kind words! Hey, just doing my job. I will post on other stuff. On break and going fishing which I haven't done in years and I can't wait.

Joeykun said:
Hey Russ,
I said hi and waved to you last night in Boston! That was me in front row center with the "Got Bass" shirt on. I won the tickets from the Rush.com contest.
I have to say you have your work cut out for you. I know Geddy digs into his bass but being so close to him I didn't realize how hard he does it. Man, it's no
wonder the original neck was shot on the '72. Ged really beats his basses into submission! That is the secret to his tone. Very aggressive attack! And, a great setup by a great tech! :D
Enjoy the next 10 days off! Regards, Joey

Here are a few pics of some of Ged's basses from the night for everyone!

IMG00018.jpg
IMG00087.jpg

IMG00071.jpg
IMG00117.jpg
Click to expand...
 
#534
I was at the Philly show and they sounded great (as usual) I saw Russ every time Geddy had a bass change.

I would love it if he continued to use the fretless, I think his playing could really go in a new direction if he used it. I love the tone on MalNar but didnt know it was a fretless until I read it somewhere online. Thats both a compliment (playing in tune so well you cant tell) and a disappointment (no mwahh). I read an interview from the early 90's where he said he was messing around with a fretless, so its not exactly new to him, hopefully he will keep in up. A song like Armor and Sword would have sounded fantastic on a fretless.

One thing I did notice at the show is that I thought Alex sounded awesome and played great, but was a little high in the mix. I could barely hear Geddy's bass. And, I really liked the tone I could hear from Rick. Im not bashing, just thought it sounded great live. Next time he needs to bust out the Wal for some songs. :D
 
#535
Russ,

I have tickets to the Jones Beach show in addition my band is playing the Jones Beach board walk on July 3rd (gotta throw that in)

I live very close to the Theatre. I am an avid Salt water fly fishman and the President of a fly fishing club on the island if that's your cup of tea and you have the time contact me via PM and we can set something up. The striper fishing within a mile of the Theatre is fenominal...

As many I grew up listening to Geddy he inspired me to pick up the bass and major in Music now in my mid 30s this thread has been allot of fun to tag along and read up on...
 
#536
Hey Russ,

I'm 15 and have been listening to Rush as far as I can remember. Geddy inspired me to pick up bass as more than an instrument but a personalized art-form. So, for the past couple of years I've been playing a Steinberger Spirit however, recently I began to play a Geddy Jazz in my local Guitar Center and fell in love with it. It wasn't till I saw them at the Gorge that I was completely sold on it. Umm... Recently I heard that there might be some kind of newer model of Ged's bass with a sanded neck and was wondering if I should hold off for one as I prefer a sanded neck to a laquer finished neck. Also, what type of cables does Geddy use?! Just curious. Thanks!;)

By the way, did you catch any whoppers on your little excursion?!
 
#537
Wow, nice invitation! I have never Salt water fly fished. I use to fly fish in my teens in the small lakes and rivers north of Toronto. Unfortunately, I don't think I have the time to do it. I'm so out of touch with fishing these days so it was a nice break.

peterpalmieri said:
Russ,

I have tickets to the Jones Beach show in addition my band is playing the Jones Beach board walk on July 3rd (gotta throw that in)

I live very close to the Theatre. I am an avid Salt water fly fishman and the President of a fly fishing club on the island if that's your cup of tea and you have the time contact me via PM and we can set something up. The striper fishing within a mile of the Theatre is fenominal...

As many I grew up listening to Geddy he inspired me to pick up the bass and major in Music now in my mid 30s this thread has been allot of fun to tag along and read up on...
Click to expand...
 
#538
llamalor2112 said:
Hey Russ,

I'm 15 and have been listening to Rush as far as I can remember. Geddy inspired me to pick up bass as more than an instrument but a personalized art-form. So, for the past couple of years I've been playing a Steinberger Spirit however, recently I began to play a Geddy Jazz in my local Guitar Center and fell in love with it. It wasn't till I saw them at the Gorge that I was completely sold on it. Umm... Recently I heard that there might be some kind of newer model of Ged's bass with a sanded neck and was wondering if I should hold off for one as I prefer a sanded neck to a laquer finished neck. Also, what type of cables does Geddy use?! Just curious. Thanks!;)

By the way, did you catch any whoppers on your little excursion?!
Click to expand...

Just today I saw a newer model of the Geddy today at my local guitar shop, it only has the upgraded tuners on it, the gloss finish is still on the neck, but it didn't feel as smooth as the one I own at home. The original tuners to me do the job well and stay in tune most of the time, but do feel kind of cheap.
 
#540
Russ Ryan said:
Wow, nice invitation! I have never Salt water fly fished. I use to fly fish in my teens in the small lakes and rivers north of Toronto. Unfortunately, I don't think I have the time to do it. I'm so out of touch with fishing these days so it was a nice break.
Click to expand...

Russ,

Here you go, I am 35 and my buddy in the picture is 37. We went to our 1st Rush concert in our teens. We played in a band together in HS playing Rush covers. We'll be at the Jones Beach show and here are some picks of our striper fishing last weekend.
 

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