Geddy Lee w/ a 3001

Artists Who Use Rickenbackers

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leftybass
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Post by leftybass »

Mike, that's a great run-down, about the most thorough I've ever seen.

My .02: I have always believed that the 4001 was used on 'Red Barchetta' and 'The Camera Eye'.

The Wal used on Power Windows was loaned to Geddy by the Producer of the album, Peter Collins. It was a natural wood bass rather than having a polyester finish. After that he was hooked and ordered the black Wal 21-fret bass. I think the Red 24-fret bass was used to record 'Presto', maybe 'Roll the Bones' too. Geddy actually owns 4 or 5 Wal basses according to the Wal website; I've only ever seen the black 21-fret bass and the Red 24-fret model(mach II body style)....
mike_smith
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Post by mike_smith »

John,your right about the Wall, Peter Collins loaned Ged a natural walnut Wal for Power Windows, Ged got a black Wal ProII before the tour, he used the black Wal on hold your fire and also a five string Wal. During the Roll the Bones recording Ged got a new Red Wal bass with a larger body, this one was used on the 91-92 tour, both where then retired.
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atomic_punk
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Post by atomic_punk »

Just more info on the topic...Geddy played his Jazz Bass in the promo video for "Limelight", which was filmed in Le Studio in Morin Heights, Quebec during the recording sessions for Moving Pictures. (I'm watching it right now!) However, the Rickenbacker was proudly displayed during that tour. Could it be that he didn't want to risk taking his '72 Jazz on the road, then switched over when he had the signature model made by F****r?
"They make great f***'n basses". - Lemmy, NAMM 2009
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leftybass
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Post by leftybass »

The Jazz Bass was with Geddy while on tour in 1980-81, but the Rickenbacker was still his main stage bass.

When I saw them in 1981 while promoting 'Exit Stage Left' Geddy used the Jazz Bass for the encore, which was 'YYZ'.
mike_smith
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Post by mike_smith »

John, your right Ged did take the '72 Jazz on the road in '81

Steve, All of the images and video clips from the Le Studio- Moving Pictures recording has Ged using the Jazz, the 4001 and the 4080/12 are set-up and there, since Ged started recording with the '72 fender again he hasn't toured with it, he values it to much, for the '94 tour, Fender custom made 3 basses matching his '72 original Jazz, he has since added a couple of others, for the most recent tours, including a red one that is de-tuned for a track off Vapor Trails album which escapes me. The signature Jazz is a Japanese made model, based on the '72 model, but Ged has never used an actual signature one.

I do have some home pic's of the Ged with his basses, the 4002 and 4001 are pictured among his Fenders, I'll try and get them scanned.
mike_smith
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Post by mike_smith »

John/Steve, I have to correct myself, after a bit of checking, I see Ged's touring basses for the 2004 tour included the 1 '72 Fender Jazz Bass and 4 1996 Custom Shop Fender Jazz Basses.
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cheyenne
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Post by cheyenne »

Mike, If you dont mind me asking, how do you know all this information?

First let me say that everyone here on this forum has great respect for personal privacy. Image

You seem to know things that are above and beyond fan speculation. Can you share your association with the band ?

If not, thats fine too, by all means the last thing I want to do is scare you away from the forum.

And one last item,,,,,,,,,,,,,do you think Geddy would enjoy dropping in and posting a few lines???

We would be honored. And I think that I speak for everyone here.
"Knowledge is Power"
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atomic_punk
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Post by atomic_punk »

Mike, I think the red Jazz bass you mentioned that was de-tuned was used on "2112", which they now play tuned down to suit Geddy's voice better.
I think Geddy would actually be a little frightened by us! Image He would probably find this topic very amusing, why we dissect his basses like we do. I would say it is because a lot of us hold his playing in very high regard, and speaking for myself, his playing got me inspired to learn to play bass.
"They make great f***'n basses". - Lemmy, NAMM 2009
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loverickbass
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Post by loverickbass »

There is a live shot of Geddy playing the 3001 in the 30th aniversary tour book.

Cole
loendmaestro
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Post by loendmaestro »

Can someone get a scan of that pic & post it here?
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loverickbass
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Post by loverickbass »

Sorry, I don't have a scanner. I looked on the RUSH website but it's not on there. Still lookin' around the net for it.

Cole
mike_smith
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Post by mike_smith »

Steve, your right, well remembered.
Chris/Cole, The pic of Geddy playing the 3001 is very poor, dark in the middle and the bass is unclear, scanning it makes it worse, it was taken by Fin Costello on the 76-77 tour, I've contacted him to see if he has a better scan, it's a pretty rare pic, Ged must have had an equipment problem for it to come out on stage.
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loverickbass
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Post by loverickbass »

Mike,

You have a very nice web site! I wish you were here in the states. I bet shipping cost an arm/leg to America.

Cole
mike_smith
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Post by mike_smith »

Thanks Cole, with the exchange rate doing you no favours at the moment, shipping to the US from the UK is around $160. we rarely send anything to the States, you guys have such great choice of dealers. I usually get asked to send collectable items to the US, that we've found here in the UK.
spencer

Post by spencer »

Do a search for a 'rush archive' website - they've got alot of pictures on there. And there's also a web ring called 2112.net, Power Windows is a great site that has a complete rundown of ALL the gear they've used for every album. Mike may not be personal friends of the band, but did web research like I've done before, there's a ton of info out there.
I also got the R30 tour book that has great pictures in it.
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