Help! how do i get a Ged bass tone? what effects do i use? what bass settings do i set it on, and what are the levels on the effects?
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I want Geddy lee's tone...
- Thread starter Josh Emmons
- Start date
Funny thing about that "Tone" - he has been getting it on a ton of different basses with a ton of different amps/FX for years. What that tells me is that old Geddy gets his tone from... Geddy. I know, not helpful, but if Geddy is what you're after - get a J bass. Play it hard and fast. A lot. That's a good start.
about a bazillion people have asked this exact question here.
the search button could help with you finding the answer.
+1 create your own personal "tone" and style. It's not an easy task to sound like someone else, 'cause you're not. As far as getting in the ballpark, (all you can realistically hope for) play hard and strike the strings with authority, using a Jazz bass strung with rounds, and as big an amp and (more importantly) speakers as you can muster.
You could start with a Fender Geddy Lee Signature Jazz Bass...
...and I just happen to have one for sale in the TB classified!
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=709968
Geddy's maintained his tone with a P bass, a Ric, a Jazz, a Stein, and a Wal.
He's also maintained his tone through Sunn, Ampeg, BGW+Ashly, BGW+Furman, Trace Elliot, Sans Amp, and Orange gear.
There is nothing you can buy that will make you sound like him more than something else, he has a sound of his own. You can cop it with plenty of different gear, but people still won't think "Oh that sounds like Geddy Lee."
He's also maintained his tone through Sunn, Ampeg, BGW+Ashly, BGW+Furman, Trace Elliot, Sans Amp, and Orange gear.
There is nothing you can buy that will make you sound like him more than something else, he has a sound of his own. You can cop it with plenty of different gear, but people still won't think "Oh that sounds like Geddy Lee."
When I was first starting out, the tone to copy was the Jack Bruce sound (al la Crossroads ) . Eventually I grew up and just played for myself and just copied myself. Now, I have more than I need for special effects and I really don't use them all that often . Getting a jazz or a p bass puts you in the ballpark to sound real good no matter who inspires you....
Hey Josh......don't let others tell you what you should and shouldn't want. Unless I missed it somewhere, I was under the impression that Talkbass was a forum for bassists trying to help other bassists achieve what they want, not to tell people what to want. Sheesh!!!
For all we know, you might be in a Rush tribute band (or have such an interest), in which case the desire to cop Ged's tone makes perfect sense! Even if all you want to do is play bass in your bedroom along with Rush CD's, wanting Ged's tone is perfectly understandable. But whatever your reason for wanting his tone, it isn't any of our business. That's your interest, and that's all that matters.
I was in a YES trib some years ago, and copping Squire's tone was an obvious must. So I spent lots of time researching and obtaining certain gear to match his tone as closely as possible. I was successful, but it took time and money (both of which I fortunately had).
So, my advice to you is, keep doing what you are doing......try to find out as much as you can about Geddy's gear and style. BigOldHarry is right....Ged's finger attack is quite unique, but if you are a Rush fan and a bass player, I will assume you already know about Ged's aggressive right hand and how he moves his fingers back and forth over the same string.
Good luck, my friend!
Not mentioned in this thread yet, Geddy used a blend of 3 signals - one of which is fairly overdriven. As the above folks have stated, get yourself a nice Fender G.L. Jazz or (my preference) a Ric 4001/4003, string it with Rotosounds, 105 - 45 gauge, and use a strong right-hand attack. Watch some of his video performances - he usually anchors his right hand in the area between the neck pickup and the end of the fingerboard, and listen to his tone on his solo breaks - you will notice his sound is pretty raspy, while still having clean punch and clear treble, a result of blending clean and overdriven signals together.
In the 70s and 80s, live he'd run stereo, two of the same Amps, whether they were SVTs (Pre hemispheres) or BGW+Pres. The bass pickup would run to 2 V4b 2x15s while the treble pickup would run to a couple of different cabs (Sunns, Thieles) all 2x15s. All had JBL k140 speakers. He would mic the treble cabs and run DI from the bass pick up amp.
For his Rickenbackers that is.
For his Rickenbackers that is.
The Russ Ryan thread pretty much lays it all out there, if you can slog through it.
It covers the entire spectrum from "here's exactly what to use" to "why on earth would you do that, get yer own sound!"
It covers the entire spectrum from "here's exactly what to use" to "why on earth would you do that, get yer own sound!"
Jazz bass. Aggressive playing style. Bright tone.
There's noting wrong with wanting to sound like Geddy or anyone else. All the "get your own tone" people probably started the same way. Nothing wrong with that. On the way to Geddy's tone, you will probably find your own. Have fun in the quest. It can b a slippery slope.
There's noting wrong with wanting to sound like Geddy or anyone else. All the "get your own tone" people probably started the same way. Nothing wrong with that. On the way to Geddy's tone, you will probably find your own. Have fun in the quest. It can b a slippery slope.
