Geddy Lee's Bass/Guitar Doubleneck

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Sat Sep 09, 2000 4:29 am

Inside my old "Exit Stage Left" live RUSH album is a great photo of Geddy from the back playing a Ric dbl neck.. a bass and six str. guitar. My question is..what model would that be? was it a special order? or.... was this in production to some degree?

J Blakey
Virginia USA

admin · Post by **admin** » Sat Sep 09, 2000 4:52 am

Joel: Geddy Lee has played several Rickenbacker basses including: 4001 Jetglo; 4080/12 Jetglo; 4080 White; 4002; and 3001. I would not at all be surprised if others surface as more is known about his Rickenbacker history. Unfortunately I do not have the Album of which you speak. However, it can safely be said that the doublneck basses that he played were indeed in regular production by Rickenbacker for a period of time. Although I am not completely confident of the start date, it would seem that doublenecks were available through custom orders as early as 1961. The Model 4080 was produced from 1975-92 and the Model 4080/12 from 1977-1992. Geddy is a Rickenbacker and Rock Icon and I am surprised that there has not been a Geddy Lee Signature model to date. I can only speculate that this is because Geddy is not particularly interested in the idea. For photos of Geddy see Geddy Lee's Doublenecks

chris_berg · Post by **chris_berg** » Mon Oct 16, 2000 3:21 pm

The likely reason there is no Geddy Lee model Rickenbacker, is because there is currently a Geddy Lee signature Fender Jazz Bass. My guess is that such deals are exclusive to one manufacturer and Fender probably has a little bit more money to throw around. Not to advertise Fender on a Ric site but for any big Rush fans, here's the link...
Geddy Lee signature bass

Dr_the_MD · Post by **Dr_the_MD** » Thu Oct 19, 2000 1:24 am

Take a 1972 re-issue Fender jazz bass and add a Leo (Glenn)Quan BadassII and you get a signature model!

Wow! marketing at it's finest hour.

And an amazing difference in tone!
I must have one ...i'll bet thru a Trynor amp you can really get that frozen north tone !

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Oct 20, 2000 1:56 pm

Mark: Are you referring to Minneapolis, St. Paul or Seattle? Also, it may be of interest to some that Traynor is known these days as Yorkville Sound.

Bassman_4080 · Post by **Bassman_4080** » Fri Feb 09, 2001 11:49 pm

Chris- that and he doesn't even USE them much anymore, I bet. CS still uses his Ricks quite a bit, so the logic there seems to fit.

Peter- thanks for the update on Traynor. Keep up the great work!!

billcarroll · Post by **billcarroll** » Tue Feb 13, 2001 8:22 am

Geddy hasn't used a a Rick live since 1984, although after a show in the late 80s I was lucky enough to meet him, and he said he ALMOST pulled the 4001 out that night, as I recall.

Bassman_4080 · Post by **Bassman_4080** » Wed Feb 14, 2001 3:33 pm

Bill: I agree....I've seen them every show in the DC/Philly/Hampton area since '83, and you're observations are right on......it'll be interesting to see IF and when they (Rush) tour again or if he takes his solo show on the road if he stays with the Jazz.....that seems to be his thing the last few years.....

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Wed Feb 14, 2001 3:58 pm

In an interview done back in the 80's during his Wal period (ca. Power Windows) Geddy had stated that he went through a process of trying out numerous basses on tracks to see which one sat the best in the mix and suited the track the best; even at that stage the 4001 was still in the running; he may not have used the Wal if the producer of the 'Power Windows' album hadn't had one for himself and suggested to try it. Even though he used the Rick pretty much all the time live to about 1984 most of 'Moving Pictures' was done on the Jazz Bass he uses now except for 'Red Barchetta' and 'The Camera Eye'....on 'Signals' the 4001 was split with the Jazz about 50-50.