Geddy's Bass Line on CTTH

[johnallg]

This is gonna sound like the typical Rick forum RickNut post, but Geddy should really be playing a RIck. The Jazz just doesn't have this presence and tone.

[Lost Coyotes]

This is gonna sound like the typical Rick forum RickNut post, but Geddy should really be playing a RIck. The Jazz just doesn't have this presence and tone.

Amen...again, brother!

Too bad he doesn't think so, not now, anyway.
Who knows; it is possible he'll someday make it his main bass again!
OK, a long shot - but still...

[nov_1981]

Perfect....

Do you think Geddy may have helped Ric sales in the 1970's

[bobcat]

Geddy played the Ric on the Snakes & Arrows Tour . . . albeit just for one song, but it was "A Passage to Bangkok", and they were talking about how Nick Raskulinecz (their producer) was encouraging them to bust out the Taurus pedals and so on, and now they're talking about a concept album/an epic song . . . if anything Mr. Raskulinecz is having a good influence! Not to say I didn't love their recent few albums; Vapor Trails is a masterpiece (other than the MASTERING of course), but god I wanna hear that Ric again.

The Farewell to Kings Rickenbacker tone is why I got a Ric.

[bobcat]

Also Raskulinecz produced the recent Coheed & Cambria album, the upcoming Mastodon album, Trivium's recent just-released album, and the Foo Fighter's "One By One" and "In Your Honor" albums . . . the guy knows his stuff!

[Lost Coyotes]

The Farewell to Kings Rickenbacker tone is why I got a Ric.

Wow...I didn't know so many were similarly inspired.

What do you think of the bass tone on Signals?
To me it's kinda like FWTK - perfected...

[rickenbrother]

This is gonna sound like the typical Rick forum RickNut post, but Geddy should really be playing a RIck. The Jazz just doesn't have this presence and tone.

No argument from me!

[tallpat1]

Geddy said that the Rick didn't give him the bottom he likes but the Jazz does that is why he switched

[bobcat]

The Farewell to Kings Rickenbacker tone is why I got a Ric.

Wow...I didn't know so many were similarly inspired.

What do you think of the bass tone on Signals?
To me it's kinda like FWTK - perfected...

Yes! Signals and A Farewell to Kings are easily my two favorite Rush albums, not least of which is because of the bass tone. Something about thickening up the Ric tone on "Subdivisions" just makes that song perfect. Though apparently he did use his Jazz on Signals for "Digital Man". But the entire rest of the album, as far as I know, is the Ric.

[fenbass]

Perfect....

Do you think Geddy may have helped Ric sales in the 1970's

a lot but not in just the 70s ......John

[qwezirider]

Geddy said that the Rick didn't give him the bottom he likes but the Jazz does that is why he switched

Just turn down the tone knobs and jack up the bass e.q. on the amp. Works every time! I get a kick out of playing a Rick in country bands.

[s4001]

His bass tech mentioned that weight was an issue for him with using the Ric as a main bass. His Jazz must be pretty light.

[qwezirider]

What I find interesting in these "bass only" clips is the relative sloppiness (for lack of a better term) in his playing and how well it translates in a full mix. Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely not trashing him. But there's a certain lack of preciseness in his playing that ends up not sounding that way in the context of a full mix. Just an interesting education on how he gets his sound.

I know in my old age I've become much less retentive about somethings having to be "just so" when recording them (for example, turning off every appliance and cuckoo clock in the house to record a mic'ed guitar cab) and just go with whatever else is happening in the house. Things usually sit well enough in the mix without being so picky about noises.

[stanislav]

This isn't the final mix that's on the record. Maybe he's just working out his parts.

I went to see them *again* last summer. Watching him play still amazes me.

[rickenbrother]

This isn't the final mix that's on the record. Maybe he's just working out his parts.

That's true, I did notice some changes in the way he plays on that track to what's on the album.

I forget who said that soloed bass tracks sound odd without the rest of the mix and that even with a bassist as great as Chuck Rainey, it sounds like someone is working on a Buick in the background of his soloed bass tracks.