Geddy Lee and Rickenbacker, "a show of hands"

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:00 pm

*** I'm a roundwound guy also. Distorted,grinding tone. ***

That is exactly my opinion also

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:49 pm

You all DO realize that Mr. Rath was just "rattling the cage" a little bit with his Beatles comment, don't you?

Knowing Jeff, he likes to do that occasionally.

Jeff played me a clip of the "Distorted grinding tone" of King Crimson, I believe its a live recording, don't know what song it is, but WOW. That's the tone! Jeff, what song is that from?

loverickbass · Post by **loverickbass** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:46 pm

...getting back to Geddy, wasn't someone here going to talk to Geddy over the holidays?

Cole

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 5:36 pm

here's the clip that Steve was talking about ... this is 70's King Crimson ... John Wetton on bass, Bill Bruford on drums ... the song is "Lark's tongues in Aspic part II"

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/kc.mp3

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 5:40 pm

now that is your hair on fire 90 miles an hour bass tone ...

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 6:37 pm

Wetton played a white P bass with Rotos, was a great bass player and vocalist, I have all those old albums. I saw him, Bruford, Allen Holdsworth and an electric violin player from Desolation Row live with a band called UK at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston.
A friend of mine saw that version of the Crimson band, said they were very soft and sat in chairs, told the audience to please be quiet so they could play their music right.
That sound you guys are talking about is more Rotosound RS66 Swingbass than anything else. It is easier with a Ric bass but you can get it with most single coil basses strung with Rots.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 7:12 pm

Yep I saw King Crimson with Robin Trower opening ... Wetton was into his p-basses ... a lot of distortion as well ... bruford was amazing ... what a drummer ... and Fripp is unique ...

so I like a bass that growls, I like round wound strings, I like distortion, I like fret buzz, I like a full bottom, I like mid punch, and I like treble bite ...

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 7:55 am

I have very clear strong opinions on what I want and don't want my bass to sound like ... I do not want to offend anyone who believes differently ... so when I post a strong opinion it is in no way meant cast dispersion on those who disagree with me ...

However pretty much everybody who sees me play says I have good or great bass tone ...

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 9:35 am

Jeff ... opinionated, say it ain't so !!!!

I'd say one of the reasons we all use Ric's is in part due to that wonderfully distinctive tone, and we're all opinionated about our Rics in one way or another.

I'm with you on a Ric that growls, and as I've said before, Fretbuzz is our friend

You and I share very differnt views on things like Ric-O-Sound, the Ric tail piece and the mute bar. End of the day we both like Ric's.

One of the reasons I like this Forum is we can all share vastly differnt opinions on a common theme we all hold close to our hearts, and for the vast majority of the time we do so without it turrning into a war, or wild flaming.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 8:30 pm

Fretbuzz is also going to be your luthier's friend, haha!
I think if you are good and your sound fits the music you are playing then you're going to get compliments no matter if your bass sounds like a buzzsaw or a washtub. I like the grind sound also, I have one ric set up with RW's on it, once in a while I take it out and crank the SVT, believe me it growls, even though I play mostly blues and stuff like that I'm an old rock n roller and still know how to and still love to rock and I get compliments on my sound and playing too. In fact my main rock band now is a very loud rock, rock a billy, blues band, just that they want upright most of the time. (I can even make the upright sound like an electric sometimes)
Wetton was great and had a great sound, I love those old Crimson albums.

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 5:50 am

Hey Jeff, what record is that Crimson clip from?!
My kinda bass tone.

Gotta have it...

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 7:59 am

King Crimson USA ... a live lp recodred in 1975 ... John Wetton - Bass and vocals, Robert Fripp - Guitar and Mellotron, Bill Bruford - Drums, David Cross Violin and keyboards ... the bass tone is a snarly distorted p-bass ...

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 8:18 am

Three King Crimson Albums with Wetton:
Red,
Larks' Tongue in Aspic,
Starless and Bible Black.
Mine are LP's they are probably on CD though.

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 1:56 pm

Oh, I've got 'Red', but I just ordered 'USA'. Thanks Rath...

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 1:57 pm

I thought this was about Geddy Lee.... He is the best bass player in the world! And he sounded the best when he played a Ric.