Geddy's bass tone

[Russ Ryan]

In the studio, I think he is a one-take guy, but don't quote me on that. Yes, I was there for the Snakes album but when he & Alex are actually recording I stay out of the control room as to not distract them. I'm in the lounge watching a movie or mostly, reading many books I brought with me. I'm always handy if they need anything. I always talked to them when they are done to find out what guitars they used that day so I can change strings, etc, the next morning. If they punched in, I don't know.
Rush ever have a trainwreck live????? I'll never tell..........

Thanks again for being so cool to all of us! When in the studio, does Geddy always go for a complete one-take track, or does he punch in on songs? Also with all the duties he performs live, does he ever have a trainwreck, or is he always on? I saw him in Chicago over the summer and MAN was he on!

 

[Russ Ryan]

Steve, all is good. I'm still trying to get my foot out for many other reasons. I take a size 13 so you can appreciate my dilemma! I have never heard of Elrick basses.

I completely agree!! Geddy's tone is great on this tour. I think Russ mentioned before that Geddy backed some of the distortion off of his SanAmp this time around. To me, it made a huge difference.

Russ, have you had any experience with Elrick Basses? I played one at Bass Central and was just blown away. Thanks for being gracious about my foot-in-mouth before.

Steve Chesney

 

[Russ Ryan]

Newcastle. Lovely city. We had a full day off there and I just wandered around checking out sites. Everybody was so nice and helpful and the best, and this has nothing to do with basses, I wandered past a hair salon and noticed the incredibly gorgeous women working there. Of course, I realized I needed a trim.
My two cents!

I'm guessing you saw them in Newcastle? I was there, excellent show!

 

[fenbass]

RUSS,
what year is geddys 4001 us ricky fans whant to know

 

[walman01]

Steve, all is good. I'm still trying to get my foot out for many other reasons. I take a size 13 so you can appreciate my dilemma! I have never heard of Elrick basses.

Hey Russ,

Here is the link to Elrick Basses website. I co-designed a 3-octove fretless Wal bass with Pete Stevens and tried to buy a piece of burled buckeye off of Rob Elrick to use on the prototype. Needless to say, he would not sell me the lumber. We ended up using burled redwood for the prototype 3-octave Wal Fretless, which is the prize in my collection. When I played the Elrick at Bass Central, I fell in love with it!

Here is the link:

http://www.elrick.com/

Thanks,

Steve Chesney

 

[Russ Ryan]

Thanks Steve!

Hey Russ,

Here is the link to Elrick Basses website. I co-designed a 3-octove fretless Wal bass with Pete Stevens and tried to buy a piece of burled buckeye off of Rob Elrick to use on the prototype. Needless to say, he would not sell me the lumber. We ended up using burled redwood for the prototype 3-octave Wal Fretless, which is the prize in my collection. When I played the Elrick at Bass Central, I fell in love with it!

Here is the link:

http://www.elrick.com/

Thanks,

Steve Chesney

 

[fenbass]

RUSS,
Thats cool that you guys talked Ged into using his old ricky
last tour Im 40 and I just got my first 4000 series bass in Geddy-glo,there is alot of us that got a kick out of that and
been waiting a long time to see that.If you know Iwould still
like to know what year his famous ricky was made.rick should
thank Ged for all the ricky sales
thank you John

 

[Russ Ryan]

Guy's, I don't know. Yes, you might find that appalling. I'm a touring guitar tech. After 25 years, I don't care what the year of their axe is. They give it to me and I deal with it. Same with amps and such. I have to deal with whatever is thrown at me. I might offer a opinion if asked. I find "vintage" guitars are overrated! If I have an issue with any gear, I'm lucky to have contacts to help me out if I need it.

Sorry, this doesn't answer your question, and I'm sure to get blasted for this.
I will find out for you when I can.

RUSS,
what year is geddys 4001 us ricky fans whant to know

 

[walman01]

Thanks Steve!

Hi Russ,

Not a problem. I am attaching a picture below of the 3-octave fretless Wal prototype. I also have a quilted maple one that I had Pete make after he made this one. This one is special though.

 

[fenbass]

Guy's, I don't know. Yes, you might find that appalling. I'm a touring guitar tech. After 25 years, I don't care what the year of their axe is. They give it to me and I deal with it. Same with amps and such. I have to deal with whatever is thrown at me. I might offer a opinion if asked. I find "vintage" guitars are overrated! If I have an issue with any gear, I'm lucky to have contacts to help me out if I need it.

Sorry, this doesn't answer your question, and I'm sure to get blasted for this.
I will find out for you when I can.

No blast Here RUSS,
Thank you

 

[Ric5]

The Bass Geddy used on the last tour looks like a 73 ... but that is an educated guess.

I agree that vintage gear is over-rated

 

[Loel]

Hi Russ,

High 5 to having you join us here at TB,
in a email i eluded to a show at a club
on Young st early 70's,at the end of that
show last note Alex & Geddy both struck
a chord then set there instruments on stands,
it just delayed delayed and delayed while Rutsie (spl)
played on,i'd never to that point seen anything like
that,have you ever heard anyone in the Rush camp
speak of that SRO performance,a pivotal show in
the formation of Rush's status in world of rock...

 

[walman01]

The Bass Geddy used on the last tour looks like a 73 ... but that is an educated guess.

I agree that vintage gear is over-rated

I agree, I have never been a big fan of vintage. I played with a guitarist who dropped $7000 on a 1950's gold top Gibson. I just didn't get it. Now I have heard some vintage Fenders that have had a unique sound. But for the most part, I prefer more modern, handmade instruments.

Steve Chesney

 

[fenbass]

The Bass Geddy used on the last tour looks like a 73 ... but that is an educated guess.

I agree that vintage gear is over-rated

me too on the over rated thing,but nopers on the 73 pickup spacing is different.we now lots on his 72 but not alot on his rick like fenders they made good and better years call it for nostalga reasons rick was a major part of his sound i konw i got a rick because ged was a major influnce when i was a kid
thank you john

 

[walman01]

me too on the over rated thing,but nopers on the 73 pickup spacing is different.we now lots on his 72 but not alot on his rick like fenders they made good and better years call it for nostalga reasons rick was a major part of his sound i konw i got a rick because ged was a major influnce when i was a kid
thank you john

I had a Ric, but really didn't care for it. I found it heavy and cumbersome. One of my 5 string Wals is one of the heaviest basses I have ever felt though. I don't play it that often because of its weight. For a 4-string, I really think the Rics are among the heaviest.

Steve Chesney

 

[jonfiredaman02]

Well, in an interview with Bassplayer magazine, Ged said that he bought his first Rick with the advance from their first album. Unless he bought it used, this would probably make it a 74, because that's when the album came out.

And thanks for all the awesome answers to everyone's questions, Russ. I feel like you're giving us something like the bible of bass tone, and that is really awesome. I kind of feel like a kid in a candy store, but instead of candy, its little nuggets of bass gold.

I have one burning question, though. Would you happen to know if the chickens in those rotisseries are real?

 

[fenbass]

I had a Ric, but really didn't care for it. I found it heavy and cumbersome. One of my 5 string Wals is one of the heaviest basses I have ever felt though. I don't play it that often because of its weight. For a 4-string, I really think the Rics are among the heaviest.

Steve Chesney

your probily right on the weight thing i play my jazz most of the time but you have a wal thats a statement all in its self
i feel the same about 4000 series basses thanks to Ged
john

 

[BassDudeSA]

I don't think it matters what kind of bass Geddy plays, he'll still get that Geddy sound. The actual bass is just one piece of the picture. You take his style, amp setup, effects, technique, recording equipment and all the other variables that affect his sound, then give him five different basses that he'll EQ into that desired sound, and there will be very little difference. What difference there is will only be discernable to one of us gearhounds that is trying to hear the difference, but no one else will.

And those talking about a Ric being so distinct in sound? Sure, every bass sounds a little different, but the Ric is nothing special outside of being a pretty nice bass, not unlike many others. I've used Rics before, the sound when mixed into a band is not too discernable, or different than any other typical passive bass. I have about 15 basses right now, once that I get "my sound" out of any of them, at least once that the full band is playing, I get relatively the same sound with any of them.

But it is still fun to try to emulate our bass heroes by using some of the same equipment that they do, just because it's fun, not really for any other reason. Just my .02.

 

[fenbass]

I don't think it matters what kind of bass Geddy plays, he'll still get that Geddy sound. The actual bass is just one piece of the picture. You take his style, amp setup, effects, technique, recording equipment and all the other variables that affect his sound, then give him five different basses that he'll EQ into that desired sound, and there will be very little difference. What difference there is will only be discernable to one of us gearhounds that is trying to hear the difference, but no one else will.

And those talking about a Ric being so distinct in sound? Sure, every bass sounds a little different, but the Ric is nothing special outside of being a pretty nice bass, not unlike many others. I've used Rics before, the sound when mixed into a band is not too discernable, or different than any other typical passive bass. I have about 15 basses right now, once that I get "my sound" out of any of them, at least once that the full band is playing, I get relatively the same sound with any of them.

But it is still fun to try to emulate our bass heroes by using some of the same equipment that they do, just because it's fun, not really for any other reason. Just my .02.

agreed!!!

 

[wateroftyne]

Newcastle. Lovely city....

I wandered past a hair salon and noticed the incredibly gorgeous women working there. Of course, I realized I needed a trim.
My two cents!

Shh.. you're giving away all our secrets!

Hurry back..