Geddy Lee's Bass Rig: The Heart of Rush's Unforgettable Music
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- Geddy Lee's Bass Rig has been THE most requested bassist on my channel. We go through Geddy's career with RUSH and take a look at his arsenal of basses, amplifiers and keyboards.
Geddy is known for using Rickenbackers, Fender Jazzes, Steinbergers and Wal basses. With regular changes to his amplifiers and countless additions of keyboards.
#geddylee #rush
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SHOW NOTES
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Head to the show notes for a list of all equipment mentioned today. This includes a full detailed timeline of all Geddy's basses, amplifiers, keyboards, strings, guitars. You name it. It's there.
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TECH 21 interview with Andrew Barta.
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I Also started playing bass because of Geddy, I met him and his wife years back after the release of his solo album , very nice humble man .
Geddy Lee It IS tall Guy?
Geddy Lee: Didn’t want to play bass, became the best bassist ever.
Must be a suck guitarist in that case!
Nah...you haven't heard best ..I won't tell you because if you don't know you'll never know.
I don't agree, but I certainly take your point.
@@antoniostubbs9962 cliff?
I agree.
I willingly became a bass player inspired by Geddy!
I became a bass player willingly!
Was never too bothered about guitars.
Go low or go home!
But I’m a guitarist and I tune low, so yeah, take that.
It's not the same! XD
I choose bass because it has less strings XD
I agree brother!!
SAME BROTHA!!
I willing chose to play bass because of Geddy Lee...
I willingly chose to play bass because of cliff burton, lol but later i discovered Geddy 👍🏼
Just a quick edit: The Rickenbacker made a return on the Snakes and Arrows tour for Passage to Bangkok not R40 tour.
The R40 tour had him playing Red Barchetta with the Rickenbacker.
Oh my, a hagstrom for a 69 Fender precision bass. I wish we could go back in time.
i feel like even then that guy was getting ripped off LOL
@@eric3198 absolutely
Eh, I like my Hagstrom, but I definitely like my jazz bass more.
My h8 lacks tonal options. Has a "mute" and "tone" switch that I never turn on, as both switches will ruin the sound.
I actually wanted to play bass. I started playing bass in 1968, and I asked my mom if she would buy me a bass. She was working at Sears at the time, and bought me a Silvertone Bass for my 14th birthday. I haven't stopped since. I've now been playing bass for 55 years.
When I went to the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame, I got to see his giant bass collection. It's amazing how many he has.
Ah many you're so lucky. I hope to see some sort of collection eventually! The Hardrock Cafe ain't exactly a museum! 😂
@@WhichBass yeah. It's basically the VSCO Girl of music places
Holy crap! Dude you took on an insurmountable task of going through Geddy's rig and successfully completed it. One word.....BRAVO!
Thanks Steve! It was a daunting project but I'm happy with how it turned out.
AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING! THIS is the most informative geddy lee equipment video. Again i so much enjoy your videos. I have seen all your video's from all my favorite bass players. Thank you for answering all my questions that i have had since i first saw RUSH in 1977 . Thank you .
Cruise! Good to see you back dude. You're most welcome, I'm happy to have answered all your questions. Nice to hear from you again.
@@WhichBass very happy to be back . just introduced your channel to 5 other bass players who enjoyed your channel just as much as i do.
@@Cruiseangel72 Ah Cruise, thanks a lot man! Every share is appreciated.
By Jove, you done it again! An excellent bass biography for Geddy, I am impressed! I am a true fan of your work!
Anyone who is interested, there is a DVD video concert of Clockwork Angels made in 2013, where they actually do close ups and let you see Geddy’s fingers on the bass. His fingering technique is unusual, to say the least.
Haha, thank you sir. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Happy to have you watching. I didn't get around to watching any live DVDs but I'll definitely check that out. Geddy's style is remarkable.
Which Bass it really is a great concert video, the audio is great! And they made a short funny video at the beginning showing off their time machine/sausage maker. The videography is great, they don’t flash around too much, and do close ups of all 3 playing. A must see for any Rush fan!
Haha I did actually see the video shorts! I wanted to figure out what "Rash" mean't" And it's in those videos. I'll have to watch the whole thing now!
Quite. He mostly played with one finger in the right hand and in The Sweet Spot between the 5th and 12th frets. Sometimes he even used all four fingers of the left hand. The point is it doesn't matter how you get there. there are famous bassplayers that have the worst technique in the world. "You're not doing what the teacher said to do" lol. The harmonic notation and Rush bass lines aren't that complicated really but the rhythmical subdivision in things as they shift meter in parts of the arrangement that are difficult. He did what he needed to do to decrease resistance in playing. I have a lot of respect for him. Then there was this John Entwistle guy... He was pretty good too...
Excellent video! I only noticed one mistake: the 1972 Jazz was the main bass on Moving Pictures. Only Red Barchetta, Limelight and the Camera Eye were done with the Rick.
I was stoked just hearing he used a jazz because I own one . Now about the average price of a Rick ❓
Ah I didn't know that. Do you have a link I can read and update the show notes?
Red Barchetta doesn't sound like a Rick to me.
If a 4 string bass was good enough for Geddy Lee , it's good enough for me ❗
Another great video. Al you asked for feedback in a previous video. I hope you don't mind if put it here. One thing, you hit the nail on the head, getting a Ric didn't make Geddy sound like Chris. For many bass players the technique they use during there recording may have as much to do with there sound as all the gear. I would love to know more about technique used, and what's influencing them at the time (since there tone can change so greatly form album to album and even song to song). But I'm a bass geek. And I do love your videos just they way they are. Keep up the hard work.
Thank you Rattbones, I love hearing feedback. Have you watched some of my earlier videos where I talk about their technique ... Mainly Flea and Steve Harris. Would you like to see something like that?
There needs to be a spinoff of this series covering guitar players
If you guys would be into that I won't rule it out. Anyone else up for that?
@@WhichBass I'd be down for it if I had your research skills
This video is on two tabs being played at the same time making a cool effect for me
That's pretty trippy Ryddex, I like it lol.
I listened with amusement as my younger-by-17 months brother announced in 1976, at eleven years old, "I'm going to be a professional musician." He took every music class available through junior high & high school, becoming an excellent, world-class drummer (eventually, also playing keys, bass, guitar, and singing) and followed his dream. He asked me in 1978, when I was 14, to learn to play bass, as his current bass player wasn't good. When Moving Pictures came out, I was learning Red Barchetta with my bandmates, and started singing it to help us keep our place. 42 years later, I have an audition for a Rush tribute band coming up in 2 weeks... no more moving the needle back 300 times to learn a bass part: thanks for Playback Speed, TH-cam! And thanks to the players who make strong efforts on videos to show the musical parts accurately. We love you, Geddy, Alex, and Neil, you helped shape our musical lives with positivity, energy, creativity, and beautiful music. Thank you.
Good luck in your audition! Let me know how it goes!
I love this show.. which bass. ! So much fantastic bass hero info. Very informative n educational..
miss. rush. so. much.
People keep saying they willingly chose bass because of Geddy, see... He broke that tradition of the infamous line "You play bass"
Oh! Well spotted I didn't even realise that. Nice catch!
I play piano and drums since i was 8 but....Geddy turned me into the bass. I love when he plays the Ricky!!
I don’t get the cracks about who wants to be the bass player. Maybe that was the case 50 years ago. Players like Geddy, the Ox and others, I think, made many of us choose the bass as our primary instrument.
Excellent video! Loved all the info on Geddy's rigs and basses over the years.
I'm a huge fan of Tech 21. Love my GED 2112 rack so much, I bought 2. I also have the DP3X. Great gear and it always gets the job done.
Great video! Detailed and engaging.
Thanks Aero, glad to have you watching.
VERY well done. Absolutely high level presentation. Professional, entertaining, seriously informative and INTERESTING. YOU do your homework sir. Greatly appreciated! Thank you.
Thank you Lawrence, my pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it!
Head to the show notes for a FULL list of all basses, effects, amplifiers, synths and keyboards ✅www.whichbass.co.uk/GeddyLee
The man, the myth, the legend.
Yes I'm back ... Oh Geddy ... Never mind, carry on ;)
Great job! Thank you, I enjoyed it very much and cleared up some dark tidbits
Thanks Alonso, glad you enjoyed it.
2:52 Story I heard was the white 4001 in that video belonged to Alex Lifeson, who later gave it to Les Claypool, who still has it today.
I just bought my first Jazz bass (a very well made Japanese import, actually) and there is absolutely a reason Ged wants to own so many of the things. I’ve stayed up literally til sunrise playing the thing, they’re effortless.
Awesome man, that makes me happy to hear that. A Jazz with a perfect tone is heavenly. Tweet me some pictures! @AlfieWilliamsUK
I paid $75 for a 1973 jazz bass with a bound Maple neck and mother-of-pearl block inlays. After a Leo Quan bridge and Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders that thing running like about hadlow action not a lot of string noise and great sustain. It had a Mojo but I've never felt in any other jazz bass. I hate myself jelly for having sold it. I had played many others I assumed they all played that way
Lol
A 16" to 18" wash tube, a wooden broomstick, and a clothesline make a Great one-string fretless acoustic bass.
Correction, Geddy used his red Wal bass on the Roll The Bones album and tour in 1992-93.
Ah you're right. Mixed up my sources there.
www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19920600bassplayer.htm
First time watching, great video! Subbed.
Abraço!
De Sapucaia do Sul RS Brasil.
Obrigado cara, obrigado por assistir (I hope that's right, blame Google!)
I wasn't that great at guitar the chord shapes were difficult, so I asked my mom for a bass in 1994 on Christmas I got one. And stayed up all night playing to nirvana nevermind. Its 2020 I still play I've never had issues with getting gigs seems bassists are hard to find!
Bassists and drummers are gold dust. Don't forget that!
Nice. Thanks. However, the In Ear Monitor system Geddy Lee uses onstage didn't get enough explanation
I was voted to be the bassist. We lived in a small town, one guy got guitar lessons, one guy drums...so
I became a bass player willingly...
Never cared for guitar
Awesome video. Thanks for share this.
Thanks Wilfredo, glad you enjoyed it.
Realy good info....thanks for this mate!
You're welcome Jon Jon, glad you enjoyed it.
Frick yes
I love this stuff, and I really appreciate the effort you make to put it all together
Thanks Justin! Glad you're enjoying it!
I don't know why but you are such a likeable person :)
Thanks Mr Hedgehog, that's very kind of you! You can comment again.
Now roughly 280 as of two weeks ago when I met him in Manchester.
One thing you forgot was that the ‘72 jazz bass was actually first used on Permanent Waves - The Spirit Of Radio and Entre Nous
Next time you listen to those two tracks, listen closely, and you can definitely tell that’s the jazz bass
I had an uncle that played bass, when they would practice, he would let me sit on his bass guitar amp. The room is so crowded. That was the only place I could be. I chose to become a bass player. I loved the feel of the instrument. I was heartbroken when I heard about Neil’s passing.
Great job on Geddy's complicated bass and keyboard rigs.
Thanks Larry! Keyboards aren't my forte so I hope you got something out of it.
Hell yeah
OH YES
Another quick comment. Some of us bassists, actually wanted to play bass; there are more people to jam with and guitarists are a dime a dozen.
It is funny, why buying so many basses , when in stage filtering and modifiying the original sound of the bass? in this case any crap bass quality will sound good. so dont even need to buy so many basses to get a pure Fender or Rickenbacker sound after all.
The Steinberger bass guitar was brought in during the signals recording not Grace Under Pressure, even though he did use it for that album. I know because I saw the signals Tour live in Pittsburgh and he played the Steinberger on new world man digital man and a couple others. Oh yeah YYZ. A passage to Bangkok was not played on the R40 tour it was played on snakes and arrows tour. Just thought you may like to know.
I love your videos do you know if the bass bridges on his jazz basses have brass saddles and does brass make a big difference I would have thought it did other wise why make them hope you can reply thanks look forward to new videos
Thanks for watching Richard. I don't know for sure but looking at what Fender currently sell they are bass. So it is likely. In my opinion does brass make a difference? I don't think so. I think it's more a weight/cost thing. I could be wrong.
I have a Geddy Lee fender bass on order from Sweet Water music man they're saling out quick gotta have me one
Post me a clip when you get one!
Geddy Lee is one of my favourite bassists and one of my influences (and one reason why I'm now looking at getting a Rickenbacker for my next bass), as well as one reason why I'm both happy and proud to be Canadian. I also have Geddy's book, and it's both one of the heaviest and just plain coolest book I've ever heard
Geddy is a great influence to have for sure. I'm going to try and get that book shortly. Sounds amazing.
Which Bass You won’t be disappointed, my dude, and it’s good to have you back
FINALLY
YES!
That beast of a keyboard at 24:45 looks like an Oberheim 8-voice with an integrated Minimoog model D. That must have been fun to carry around. Also, I want one :)
Pfftt, can you imagine with these fuel prices?! Funny to think all that gear is in software these days.
Did you know that the tour books give you all the info you need to know?
I do indeed, I used them in the research.
Ngl tho
I actually chose to play bass
I’ve always wanted to because I’ve always been a fan of Cliff Burton and Lemmy
I think you're the first person to say they were a bassist first. My man, good job.
@@WhichBass Whenever I was first starting out, I didn’t want to play guitar because everyone else I knew did. The first setup I had was a First Act bass combo and a Peavey Milestone BXP
Own his signature, love the hell outta it.
Edit: Well I will be honest, Im a short guy and tend to strap it mid to high, and while Fenders have that massive headstock, it feels fantastic though and plays well.
Lucky man Shimi, you'll have to post me a clip to you playing.
Can you do Nikki Sixx? Or Gene Simmons? Would love to see those guys.
Great video bud I wasn't expecting geddy to own so many basses lol
Right ? I thought he only used a Rick and a Jazz ! 😕
If only lol
great video!
Thanks Owl bass, glad you enjoyed it.
absolutely well made, you're doing great !
Thank you dude, glad you enjoyed it!
Great history! My only complaint: Moog is pronounced incorrectly: it's a hard 'o' , like "Moge".
Great suggestion thanks Michael!
Geddy* hold my beer while I become the best bass player
Great vid man, love the detail! I just have a few corrections:
- 1:20 Peart's name is pronounced "Peeert" not "Pert"
- 4:59 A Passage to Bangkok was not played on the R40 tour - it was the Snakes and Arrows tour.
- 11:10 Nope, not correct! That highlighted paragraph is referring to Alex Lifeson, not Neil.
- 21:13 Contrary to what this vid suggests, the fridge appeared in 1996 not 2002. Also, the dryers appeared before the vending machine did.
- 29:18 The mellotron was used on Snakes and Arrows not Vapor Trails.
I say Neil's name a few different ways to cover all bases. I'm sure I've said it right at some point! Interesting, do you have sources for #4 and #5 so I can update my show notes?
I have to say, not only as a massive Rush and Geddy fan (I'm 49 and started playing bass around aged 12 because of Geddy) I really really enjoyed this video (despite a few mispronunciations !!!) cos it really gives an insight into the lengths players can and do go to try and find a unique sound and distinguish themselves from other players.
I'll watch your other "Know You Bass Player" vids now (not all at once, my spending list would be way beyond my means if I did that as I ca be quite compulsive).
My very very wonderful girlfriend bought me Geddy's new "Big Beautiful Book of Bass" for my birthday in April and it's a wonderful thing altogether. I assume you've got one but if you don't, I can't recommend it highly enough.
I'll be trying the SansAmp YYZ pedal as I've not done that yet, though I have tried a SansAmp rack but not the Geddy 2112 version, I'm looking forward to that..
Currnt Bass: Candy Apple Red AM Fender Jazz Standard 2015 (can't afford a vintage just yet !!).
Thanks for your video, like I said, I really really enjoyed watching that and learned a lot. Cheers, peace.
Thanks Dominic, glad you liked the videos. I haven't got Geddy's book yet but I plan to!
Just goes to show, no matter how many basses you own, you will always sound the same lol.
Stopped watching after five minutes. I can let the fact that you mispronounced Neil's last name slide, but Rush never made an album called: "Pictures". You sir, know nothing about Rush.
Literally unwatchable.
It's about Geddys gear not rush knowledge but cool
Ooohh I say sir ooohhh do pa do pa dodo
He said Moving Pictures if you listened to him.
came here hoping to get at least 20 minutes of ric talk
Thanks for this: I'm a clasically trained percussionist who started playing drums in rock bands around 1976. RUSH is my favorite band, and Ged had a style & sound like no other bass player: bass lessons & collecting ensued. Alex, of course also has a sound & style like no-one else; as you may have guessed, guitar lessons & collecting ensued. All of this while still playing drums in rock bands. Oh, the correct pronunciation of Neil's last name is "peert", as in 'peer pressure' not "pert", as in; "she has really 'pert' -nipples".- Thanks for the crazy task of handling all Ged's gear. Amazing!
Thanks Substrate glad you enjoyed it. Bah I say his name a few different ways. One of them has to be right!
@@WhichBass That's cool; I didn't even know how to pronounce until I heard Neil say it himself in interviews & videos... I have all of his Instructional DVD/Blu-rays & same for every RUSH tour DVD/Blu-Ray as well. I can't wait to see more of my favorite bass players on your channel! Thanks! Rock On !!!
Thank you dude, I appreciate that!
Canada players awesome
Awesome video. Being from Toronto myself, I actually remember when the first album came out. Still a great listen. My vote, JJ Burnel.
Interesting suggestion John. I like it. I'll see what I can do.
I'm surprised you haven't done one of these on John entwistle yet. I for one would definitely like to see a video on him, he's the man who inspired me to pick up bass.
I'd love to at some point for sure. Just not enough time!
I was in college in 1977 and that summer I was asked by my friend if I wanted to use an extra ticket to see a band I never heard of. It was Weather Reports "Heavy Weather Tour at Beacon Theater, Brdwy-72st NY. I was 20 rows back from Jaco, and was totally amazed at what I heard him play. He even did his Teen Town solo where he ends it by putting the still vibrating bass on the stage floor and jumps from the darkness into the spot lighted bass to stop the note. There is a video of this done years later that I have seen. Went right out and bought 2 records, Heavy Weather, and Pastorius, Jacos 1st solo album.
After that I was a Jazz-Rock fusion fan. "Return to Forever" with one of the best bassists, Stanley Clark. "The Jan Hammer Group", who wrote and played "Miami Vice" theme song on TV.
Do Stanley Clark and Jaco, the Hendrix of the bass.
Bass Player magazine ranked Jaco 2nd best, influential bass player for the past 100 years. Maybe the mags name is wrong, but the ranking is right.
The most amazing part of the Weather Reports concert was everyone sat quietly and listened to the great music in this small venue, like an old time movie palace with 3 balconys and the ground level.
Wow, killer story Nobesse, I'll see what I can do for Stanley and Jaco, 2 classics there.
I started with guitars owning about 12 strats Les Pauls and 12 string Rickenbacker but Getty’s bass got me into bass about 10 years ago. I have Fender Jazz Bass Getty Lee signature and a Rickenbacker 4003.
This is so informative, particularly because it's such a weird collection of bass amps and cabs. As much as people think there'll be a secret to Geddy's sound, what really shines here is the fact that the secret was, there's no secret--at least, not in the gear.
The Traynors at that time were made right here in Toronto, and he probably got them because they were convenient: I played guitar for years through a big Traynor solid-state keyboard amp because the price was right. But I get the feeling Geddy Lee could go into a pawnshop, buy a Squier precision bass and an old used Peavey amp, and in about five minutes of twisting dials sound just as good as he did on the records.
Went to this studio once, and they had a black MIJ Geddy Lee Jazz Bass with a black pickguard. Looked sexy, so I picked it up and plugged it into this Hartke head. Dealt the 5-band eq in and... HOLY FUCK, IT WAS THE MAN'S SOUND. I was so thrilled I just started playing "Circumstances". What an instrument, sounded fucking badass!
Begs the question, if the lion's share of respected players fork out the large initial outlay for a Rickenbacker and swap out the pups, what are we paying for in the first place???
That's a good question. I know Lemmy did the same. I think Ric's tend to have one sound so to get some more versatility out of it you'd have to change the pups.
Would love to see something on Tony Franklin! Great channel.
Thanks Roy! Interesting suggestion I like it. The Fretless Monster XD
How come you didn't mention RUSH 2112 the album and RUSH moving pictures the album you didn't mention those two albums at all
... nice cardigan laddie . . .
Thanks pal I like to look my best.
Hey man just so you know, you'll get demonized if you swear in the first 30 seconds of a video.
Just trying to keep the channel alive and growing!
Could be a lot worse than shiitee XD
I don't think the target audience of this channel is going to be offended by it :p
Geddy recorded with the Steinberger on one album "Grace Under Pressure". He started using the Wal bass on "Power Windows" but, used the Steinberger bass live on that tour.
Geddy also used the Rickenbacher on 2007-2008 "Snakes and Arrows" tour during "A Passage To Bangkok"
Love your videos, but there are a few glaring errors my friend. It clearly said in the tour boo that it was LIFESON that had anemia from bleeding ulcers-not Peart as you stated. Also, it's "P-EAR-t", not "Purt". That frequently drives fans nuts lol, and likewise did so to him (RIP). Now, where's my Phil Lesh video??!!!!
Great video as always. Now it's time for Timmy C!
Thank you Kyle! Let's see if Timmy C stays in the lead :D
Neil Peart (pronounced Peert NOT Pert) developed sores on his feet from getting wet in the rain, driving from venue to venue on his motorcycle. Basically swamp foot. Neil was struggling with tendinitis, and it was Alex who has arthritis.
Something about the fender jazz can't deny struggled with this instrument for decades had a german hofner, fender precision and a Warwick vampyre sn, beautiful basses finally got a feder jazz pro 2 and overall I like it best
Lol Jeff Jones: Thanks mom 😩
5:02 The original 4001 was never used on the R40 tour, as A Passage to Bangkok was never played on that tour. You got it mixed up with the Snakes & Arrows Tour, from 2008.
Great job on Geddy . !!!! Next how about the Guess Who? April Wine, & of course local band here in Kitchener Ontario HELIX.
My uncle played bass guitar in a band. I got the set on his amplifier during their practices because the room is so small. I love the guitar, I chose to become a bass guitarist.50 years later I’m now learning how to play guitar.
Really cool video, new comer here... Not sure what was a better segment, the bass or the keyboards? Wow, you really blew my mind with the details of all that equipment. Thanks for sharing.
That bottom end part had me dying
Bravo!!!!!! That was outstanding!!!! I couldn't wait for this!!! Amazing job on getting all THAT information!!! Bravo, mate!!!
Thanks Pat! I appreciate the good words, happy you enjoyed it. I hope you took away some new info :D
I would be tremendously grateful for a bass gear video on John Myung of Dreamtheater. Thanks so much for all the great content. Best wishes