Professional Concerns About Geddy Lee Bass

[Fenderz2015]

I a currently looking at playing in a bunch of venues professionally--yay! That said, I was told that my Mexican Geddy Lee bass may be cause interefernece with the sound system or vice/versa. I was thinking of swapping the pickups for noiseless as I love the bass, but it knda kills the vibe.

Any ideas?

 

[musicman556]

Congrats!

Ever think about getting a P bass? Now might be your chance. If you really like the Geddy just the way it is, I wouldn't mess with it, myself.

 

[Will_White]

I a currently looking at playing in a bunch of venues professionally--yay! That said, I was told that my Mexican Geddy Lee bass may be cause interefernece with the sound system or vice/versa. I was thinking of swapping the pickups for noiseless as I love the bass, but it knda kills the vibe.

Any ideas?

Depends how you like the tone, either pickup solo it's going to hum, both all the way up and it should be hum canceling.

 

[Fenderz2015]

Depends how you like the tone, either pickup solo it's going to hum, both all the way up and it should be hum canceling.

I am not sure I understand. Do you mean the noise cancelling will hum individually. Just trying to understand.

 

[Fenderz2015]

Congrats!

Ever think about getting a P bass? Now might be your chance. If you really like the Geddy just the way it is, I wouldn't mess with it, myself.

Have a P bass, looking at picking up a Player Jazz bass, but I just look so awesome with the Geddy Lee, I know it's vain but I see myself with that bass when I play

 

[Will_White]

I am not sure I understand. Do you mean the noise cancelling will hum individually. Just trying to understand.

With the standard single coil pickups you have now, if you solo either pickup it will hum, how bad depends on the venue. With both pickups all the way up, or with the blend in the middle you shouldn't have any hum.

 

[alembicbones]

I have more than a few single coil basses. When 60hz hum is an issue, I use the Electro-Harmonix Hum DeBugger. I don't find that it colors the tone much and when I emphasize the bridge pickup, no discernible hum.

That Geddy should be fine bass to use as-is.

Just a thought.
Bones

 

[Heavy Blue]

I a currently looking at playing in a bunch of venues professionally--yay! That said, I was told that my Mexican Geddy Lee bass may be cause interefernece with the sound system or vice/versa. I was thinking of swapping the pickups for noiseless as I love the bass, but it knda kills the vibe.

Any ideas?

If you have stock style single coils on your Geddy Lee, when you solo either pickup you will get hum. Typical J Bass as designed by Leo.

However, the amount of hum that you get from a given Jazz Bass will vary according to quality of construction, the particular pickups, etc. I have 8 Squier/Fender Jazzes and the amount of single coil hum I get when soloing a pickup varies considerably amongst them. Most of them aren't particularly objectionable but a couple are. YMMV!

That being said, I do look forward to trying out some noiseless pups soon on a couple of the Squiers and maybe the Player Fender. Pricey buggers though.

My thought on the matter is that any "vibe" killed by the noise cancelling pups will be compensated for by the happier player not being annoyed by excessive hum.

Another suggestion. If you want to keep your stock pups, try leaving the volume on your dominant pup full but start turning down the other one until you get to the point where the noise becomes excessive to YOUR ear, then back it off just a touch. It isn't technically soloed but will be pretty close and most of the time will be an acceptable compromise.

Or you can do what many do and just run both pups all the time but imo then you're seriously depriving yourself of the Jazz's biggest sonic strength, it's high versatility.

 

[Schlyder]

Hum is a bigger vibe killer.

 

[DrBnz]

I swapped out the pickups on my CIJ Geddy once - it sounded great, but very different. It had lost the Geddy tone (which was the whole reason why I liked this bass). Plus it added half pound to an already heavy bass. I swapped them back.

 

[bassrique]

I have a Geddy with American Super55’s and the tone isn't so different to be noticable by an audience or even a band. For solo practice, if I listen closely, yes.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

Geddy does ok with it as do many other professional players.

 

[swink]

I was told that my Mexican Geddy Lee bass may be cause interefernece with the sound system or vice/versa.

Problem for the sound guy, not yours.

 

[Hevy T]

If you love your Geddy then maybe tell the sound guy to learn how to use his board! Sounds harsh but there are millions of Geddy Lee basses being played at all kinda of venues! Of course you could help matters by properly shielding the bass, also if you run both pickups at equal volumes you cut a lot of the noise out as well. Good Luck and have fun

 

[SteveHeissner]

I replaced the pickups in my MIJ Geddy with Fender noiseless jazz pickups and was happy with the results.

 

[CallMeAl]

Many Jazz basses are used with pro bands. Seems kinda like an unfounded fear.

As mentioned, just be prepared to run both pickups full on if it’s an issue. Or install a series switch. It’ll give you another hum cancellation option that’s a little thicker and mid forward than the 2 singles full on. Cheap and elegant solution that won’t compromise the tones you already like

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I a currently looking at playing in a bunch of venues professionally--yay! That said, I was told that my Mexican Geddy Lee bass may be cause interefernece with the sound system or vice/versa. I was thinking of swapping the pickups for noiseless as I love the bass, but it knda kills the vibe.

Any ideas?

I've owned at least three geddy lee basses and played gigs in every type of venue imaginable and have had ZERO issues. Whoever told you this is peddling misinformation/disinformation.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

Geddy has nothing to do with it. It's a Jazz Bass.
The easiest thing to do would be to properly shield the bass.
Noiseless" pickups would be the next step, but it will change the characteristic of the bass slightly.

cause interefernece with the sound system or vice/versa

Technically - no. The sound system is amplifying the inherent noise of the single coil Pickups.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Who is telling you to get different pickups or that it is an issue? With a Jazz bass, you can either run both pickups at full (or equal) level or you will have some hum. Pick which is more important at the time, the hum or the tone. Most of the time, it will be both pickups on full, no hum. If you have a Jaco solo, you’ll want the bridge pickup. If you put in humbuckers, it will change the tone as well. It’s all a trade off.

 

[mrjim123]

Any jazz bass - no problem. They're the moat common bass out there. If you hear hum play both pups at equal volume.