Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Unfortunately it's one of the mysteries of the universe!
That Rick sound was one of the things that defined Rush for me. Ever since then it's been downhill on the bass front. Their music is still good but doesn't have the same attack.
They seem to have come full circle in that they want to be known as a 'hard rock' band. Strap on the Rick Mr Lee and stop screwing around. We miss 'that' sound!!!

Apparently he says the J is easier for him to play. I've only played a J for short stretches at a time, but I find any Rick I've ever played to feel much more comfortable (that is why I own them).
Purely subjective, of course!
Geddy still sounds like Geddy, but after an hour or so of listening to the "new Fender Geddy" sound I just have to get out a Rick & play the hell out of it creating as much growl as I can muster.
Moving Pictures is my standard of all time for tone.

Yeah, I find Jazz basses give me an ache in my left shoulder, my 'fretting arm'. I reckon it's down to the width of the neck. Too thin.
With my Rick I can play for hours and I still feel fresh and loose.

I think this is what he might look like while reading this thread...

Nice one Steve... HA ha ha...

"Moving Pictures is my standard of all time for tone."

It's played on a Fender except for "Red Barchetta" and "The Camera Eye"

Yeah, I know, but still my favorite tone.
It's pretty much the player, not the gear. The guitar player in my band sounds very much the same no matter what guitar he plays.

Very true, Kevin.

I'm not saying there isn't a difference that's fairly noticeable. I loved the punch of the two Rick tunes on that album a tad more than the others before I knew which bass was used on them.
I do prefer the Jazz to the Wal & Steinberger sounds, but of course a Rick would sound even better.

IMO the closest thing to the ESL Rickenbacker sound on a studio record is 'Subdivisions'...same rig, same bass.

I've always loved the tone on "Red Barchetta" the most out of any song on that album, and I used to think it was all recorded with the Ric except for "Limelight" because they had that "studio video" thing of them playing that song, and Geddy has the Jazz.

"Subdivisions" has GORGEOUS bass tone. That was probably the song that really made me want to play a Ric . . . I saw the video and was like, "If that's the bass that makes that sound, I want it."

For me it was "Spirit of Radio" on Permanent Waves (again recorded with the J, I believe). I had heard the single on the radio, & it was the first album I ever bought.
I played that song over & over for about a week, then I listened to the rest of the album and "Freewill" & "Natural Science" blew me away. Still 2 of my favorites.

Yeah, Subdivisions is a lush tone!

Wasn't most of Permanent Waves recorded with the Ric?

About 50-50...here is the breakdown to my thinking on what was what:

The Spirit of Radio - Jazz
Freewill - 4001
Jacob's Ladder - 4001
Entre Nous - Jazz
Different Strings - 4001 ? (Maybe the Jazz)
Natural Science - 4001