Geezer Butler,anyone? Pics w/a Rick

nick · Post by **nick** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 7:51 am

Here's a link to some shots of one of my all time faves, Geezer Butler, playing a Rick in some video stills from a 1978 tour video.
http://s87889151.onlinehome.us/geezer/

This was posted in google groups,alt.guitar.rickenbacker

gstuadams · Post by **gstuadams** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 9:07 am

Great shots Nick. Looks like an old 4001 w/the PU close to the neck.

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 10:21 am

Thanks for the shots, Nick.
Geezer's 4001 looks to be a pre-mid '73 bass, with edge-to-edge inlays and, as Gordon pointed out, shorter toaster-to-neck distance. I believe she has checkered binding too.

Mike D, also a member here, owns a 4003 Shadow that once belonged to Geezer. The controls had been greatly altered to just one big volume knob and the remaining knob holes covered with black masking tape when Mike got her.

ricnbacker · Post by **ricnbacker** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 1:04 pm

he is the reason i play bass, glad to know he played one. i always thought geezer played gibson.

nick · Post by **nick** » Sat Nov 15, 2003 6:44 pm

He started with P-basses, i think-maybe a Jazz here and there-then he used Dan Armstrongs, A Rick,apparently, and at some point around the time of Dio being in Sabbath, he was using B C Rich basses-he has been playing Vigiers for quite a while-When I saw the Dio lineup's reunion in '92 he was playing a Vigier, and again in '99 with the full -on Ozzy-era lineup. I've seen pictures of him playing some pretty odd basses.
I love Geezer Butler, he's one of my all time faves, and also one of the reasons I play bass. When I saw the '92 ("Dehumanizer") tour, not too many people cared for Sabbath as much as they did a couple years later-due to poor attendance at that show, a friend of mine and I were able to get way up close -on Geezer's side of the stage. Now I love Ozzy-era Sabbath as much as the next guy (maybe even more!!!), but they opened with "The Mob Rules", and I thought the hall would explode- it was totally powerful-and there I was, about 40 feet away from Geezer himself! It was a treat. Gotta love Geezer Butler.

bear · Post by **bear** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 7:18 am

If memory serves correctly there was a period of Jay Dee involvement with Geezer's sound.
Not sure if it was a full Jay Dee bass or just the electronics in one of his basses.
I had received some literature from John Diggin's a long time back and IIRC there was a large blurb regarding Geezer's, along with Mark King's, help in the development of the Jay Dee basses and electronics. Don't remember the year though to help with the timeline on Geezer's gear.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 6:52 pm

Nick said: "I love Geezer Butler, he's one of my all time faves, and also one of the reasons I play bass".

Me too ! It's cool seeing him with a Rickenbacker.

jblakey · Post by **jblakey** » Tue Nov 18, 2003 6:49 pm

If you are a Sabbath fan you should check out Sabbatum.com , I got their cd.. it is truly great.