Rush Exit Stage Left Geddy Lee

[kiwi]

What really puzzles me is that people who put BADASS Bridges on their RICs have high action and can do nothing about it. You peak of Geddy's action being low, but I have seen it relatively high in some video shots. With the BAdass bridge installed.

Hi Todd,

depending on the exact production year of the bass, it may be necessary to countersink the BADASS bridge or any other bridge into the body to get the required low action. This is a common practice, and is also done in case of a "neck dive", which means that the neck in its entirety has moved forward due to string pull.

When I'm referring to a relatively low action, I'm not talking absolute figures. Generally speaking, the action has to be low enough(!) to produce just the right amount of rattle and buzz. In Geddy's case, his hard touch may justify a somewhat higher action, because this depends on the individual playing style.
If you analyze his technique, there is also a strong "vertical" component is his picking style, deliberately causing the strings to hit the frets or maybe even the PU pole pieces. This is rather uncommon, because usually we're told to do the exact opposite: hit the strings in a primarily "horizontal" direction to AVOID any fret buzz and other unwanted noises!

The bottom line is that no amp /amp setting and no effect pedal in the world will even remotely produce the G.L. tone when the action is set too high and /or one's touch is too soft.

Cheers,
Karsten

[jdogric12]

I can see the meme now:

(pic of Geddy Lee)

HIGH ACTION DUE TO BADASS BRIDGE

STILL DOES HIS JOB

[Oldworldman]

I can see the meme now:

(pic of Geddy Lee)

HIGH ACTION DUE TO BADASS BRIDGE

STILL DOES HIS JOB

That does not mean his fingers don't hurt at the end of the day! I saw in an interview that Geddy likes his action as low as he can get on his Fenders these days, but that is easy to do with a badass bridge and a detachable neck. I agree the badass bridge does wonders for Fender Jazz sustain, but On a RIC it is so subtle that it does not seem worth it to me to butcher the instrument to get what you get.

I have had instances where I can get the same sound with a RIC bridge on some basses with the action high, and then get a better feel and don't have to "dig" for the tone with a different bridge and the action low. Meaning like on my Autumn glow 4001 with the action set low and a different bridge, I do not have to play as hard to get the RIC tone I want, Probably because of the rattling of the strings, Whereas on Stock 4001's I have to play harder to get the instrument to growl. Like on my 73 Jetglow. Same amp settings and everything but I get a different tone. Disappointing at first but bear in mind that Geddy Lee had several RIC tones on different albums some of which never used the BADASS bridge like albums prior to A farewell to Kings.

This goes back to the instrument itself and like you said nothing to do with amp settings or setups, etc.

I believe about 40% of the tone does come from amp and preamp settings and configurations and the remainder comes from as stated finger style, strings, electronics and so forth.

[Blackstar]

I was bowled over by Squire and Yes on the Yes Album tour.(incidentally it was Chris's Telecaster Bass that caught my eyes and ears at those gigs)

I agree - tone is mostly in the hands. But the type of bass and strings do factor in.

Like most posting here, as a teen in the '70s I was trying to get that Squire sound and dutifully bought a '76 4001 and put Rotosounds on it, put the action low and played aggressively. But it sounded thin (and still does). (True life confession - until discovering this forum 6 years ago, I didn't realize he used distortion for his sound!)

Revisiting some of my favorite early Yes albums, it seems to me that the bass tone I was trying to replicate was the Telecaster bass and not the RM1999. Don't forget, CS was influenced by Entwistle and he played (primarily in the early days) a P-Bass with Rotos. I'm not trying to set off a Telecaster vs RM debate, just pointing out that different types of basses have characteristic sounds.

The Telecaster bass, from what little I could find, has a Jazz bass pickup installed in the bridge position and a Telecaster guitar control plate added next to the bass control plate. Does anyone know if it was a stock Telecaster plate or was it somehow modified?

Every so often I get the urge to buy an inexpensive T-bass and drop in a J pickup and Tele control plate.

[cheyenne]

I've never seen any proof that the extra pickup is really a Jazz pickup. I always thought maybe he dropped in another single coil Precision pickup. Here's a pic:

[Blackstar]

Thanks Cheyenne! Note the Rickenbacker knobs on both control plates.
About what's hidden under the Jazz Bass pickup cover - I read somewhere that it was a Jazz bass pickup. It was on the internet, so it must be true! Makes some sense - P/J conversions were all the rage at one time.
Interesting project to try - here comes the urge again!

[cheyenne]

I've never really heard what he has under that cover. I'd really like to know though.

[rickenbastard]

That "Spirit of Radio" cover is awesome.

Wanted to chime in with a tidbit that I've found valuable through the years.
Probably 12-14 years ago in an interview with Tim C. (Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave) in Bass Player he said that he heard Geddy say (extreme paraphrasing) "Don't play something with 2 fingers if you're able to play it with 1. It will be heavier and more driving played with 1 finger".
To me that's the key to Geddy's style and tone.

[Oldworldman]

That "Spirit of Radio" cover is awesome.

Wanted to chime in with a tidbit that I've found valuable through the years.
Probably 12-14 years ago in an interview with Tim C. (Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave) in Bass Player he said that he heard Geddy say (extreme paraphrasing) "Don't play something with 2 fingers if you're able to play it with 1. It will be heavier and more driving played with 1 finger".
To me that's the key to Geddy's style and tone.

Yup! I can believe that. I play with one finger most of the time and use a second when I want to do triplets or something fast and fancy.

I am glad you enjoyed the cover.

[Becky]

I've never really heard what he has under that cover. I'd really like to know though.

You can almost see it in one of the camera shots on the video for No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed. The original single coil pickup sits pretty low in the body. The pickup under the hand rest is just visible between the strings. It looks more like a Jazz pickup to me than Tele/P-bass.

[cheyenne]

cool pic.

[loverickbass]

What songs did Squire play the tele on?