Geddy Lee's Rick setup

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Tue Feb 06, 2001 4:01 pm

If you look inside the album cover to Rush's
first live L.P. "All The World's a Stage"
there is a picture of Geddy with a JG 4001
that has crushed pearl inlay and a toaster
pickup which is cool. In 1981 I can remember
being close enough to stage left I could almost
spit on his basses ( perish the thought--I would
never do that ) but he had with him as follows:
2 JG 4001's, 1 JG 4080-12, 1 white 4080, 1 4002
and 1 1972 black Fender Jazz, if my memory serves
me. I think it would be cool to have him record/
play live with the Rick again, so we can only
wait and see what happens. It all sounds pretty
great to me!!!!!!

Dane_Terry · Post by **Dane_Terry** » Wed Feb 07, 2001 4:34 pm

Hey there! ..thought I'd jump in with some related info...I have a '76 4080/12 and wanted to report on an interesting effect I stumbled across which other double-neck players might want to check out. Like Bassman 4080, I have the factory set-up with one neck "active" at a time. I discovered during experimental recording that one can play the "inactive" neck while boosting the signal from the "active" one (by means of distortion box or the like). The "active" strings will vibrate sympathetically producing an out-of-this-world effect. It's wierd and cool! Anybody ever try this?

Bassman_4080 · Post by **Bassman_4080** » Wed Feb 07, 2001 10:59 pm

Yea- I've used this a bunch in my home studio- tune the 12-string to an open tuning, (say, G for example) and it'll resonate at given bass notes and really give a nice little 'ambiance'. But it's most definately NOT for everything- the 4080 tends to sound a bit darker to me than my 4001's as it is (not having any other Rick 6 or 12-strings guitars, I can't speak for how the 12 compares). My favorite feature is the 'blend' knob, personally- wish all my Ricks had that!! Dane- what's the finish on your 4080? I have a Fireglo that I may end up refinishing in Mapleglo at some point(if I can get a black pickguard made, that is). I'm also considering having the playing area on the 12 widened as described by Mark the MD somewhere in here. What's your experience??

Dane_Terry · Post by **Dane_Terry** » Thu Feb 08, 2001 3:12 pm

Yo,Bassman...my 4080 is Jetglo (hey, I was calling it 'black' before I found this forum)..my main bass these days is a 4001F which actually sounds 'darker' than the 4080 bass, but I know what you mean: I've owned other fretted 4001's and the 4080's not quite as present (doesn't have the balls, in rock-n-roll terminology). A great guitar nonetheless, and the 12-string compares well with other Rics, although playing it feels a bit like reaching around a lamp post to tie your shoe. The factory said they had wanted to put the 12 neck on top (ala Rutherford) but that the physics proved impractical (maybe Mark the MD has some recollection of this). While on the topic, my 4080's in perfect shape EXCEPT for a belt-buckle scratch on the back (ah, the 70's...). Would I affect the long-term value if I have it refinished...and would having it done by Ric preserve said value?

Dane_Terry · Post by **Dane_Terry** » Thu Feb 08, 2001 3:17 pm

Concerning Geddy Lee, I have to confess I'm coming to this discussion from a slightly different direction...I bought the thing so I could play Cinema Show (Genesis, "Selling England by the Pound") in a prog band I was in...Yes, and my back was that of a younger man then...

Bassman_4080 · Post by **Bassman_4080** » Sun Feb 11, 2001 9:23 pm

Great album, 'Selling England'.....never played that tune tho I always wanted to.....good analogy for the necks tho- I'll have to try that sometime

...as for affecting overall value.....I'd double check with John Williams about that, but my guess is that you're probably better served to leave it be if that's all there is......to go thru all the effort for just a buckle scratch area-- is it thru to the wood or just the paint itself?....you may be able to have that area touched up without redoing the whole thing......to be honest, personally, I'm less inclined to be overly concerned about intrinsic value, and focus more on overall functionality- to a point, mind you. I'm not afraid to rewire or 'hot-rod' the thing a bit, as long as, as Mark the MD likes to say, ultimately, it's reversible. I have no plans of EVER parting with it directly, only after the inevitable, really.

Here's to MANY more years of enjoying our prize!!

sasullivan · Post by **sasullivan** » Thu Nov 15, 2001 9:06 am

Regrding Squire getting tired of playing Ricks -- on last year's tour (the non-symphonic one) he played nothing *but* his trusty main Rick 4001 , for the whole set.

But while being mainly a Rick man, he's been 'promiscuous' in his choice of basses for much of his career. He used a Fender J-bass for 'Sweet Dreams' , from their second album, and on 'To Be Over' off Relayer. He also used a few different basses on teh Tales from Topographic Oceans album (inclduing a Guild fretless), and a Gibson on 'Release Release' from Tormato.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Thu Nov 15, 2001 10:12 am

Steve: If you get a chance take a look at the video that Chris Squire made with 'one of those companies', like 'Star Licks' or something similar...He is interviewed playing a number of basses, explaining what he used them for and on what track. He has quite a stable of instruments: His original 4001S, a 4001CS, a Tobias 5-string, an Electra bass with detatachable effects(remember those??) and his Mouradian CS-74 which I think he used mostly on '90125'. Today, I think he sticks to his Rickenbacker live due to his love and association with it in music history, which is quite cool.

I am hoping, since Rush is in the studio right now, that Geddy may break out the Jetglo 4001 once again for another round.

4003seagreen · Post by **4003seagreen** » Thu Nov 15, 2001 10:30 am

I read in a recent interview in Bass Player magazine that Geddy Lee mainly plays his 1972 Fender Jazz. He stated he loves the tone that the Jazz gives off. I also read somewhere else that he's looking for a Rickenbacker 4000. All-in-all, I think Geddy will be sticking with Fender for awhile

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Thu Nov 15, 2001 11:27 am

Yeah, except for the Wal period in the mid-late '80's he has pretty well stuck with the Fender up to the present. I saw a pic of him recently in a studio(maybe his own) not long before the release of 'My Favorite Headache' and his 4001 was hanging on the wall behind him. I like the Jazz Bass too--can't fault him there, but I would like to see him take the 4001 out again...Who knows? Maybe he might have a new angle to approach if he tried it again.

jal · Post by **jal** » Tue Dec 11, 2001 7:15 pm

Steve , I found your post interesting to say the least cause in the last month or so I was working out
"Sweet Dreams" and found that my 1982 '62 RI Jazzbass sounded a lot closer to the CD then my 4003,
now I know my 4003 is not like any of his Rick Basses, but just as a matter of course or just for fun,I
always try my 4003 to see how close I can get it to Squire's (or any Rick Bass that's on a CD), Steve
do you (or anyone else) have in print any listing of just what Basses were used on Yes's Albums?, I
mean where did you hear about his using a Jazzbass on "Sweet Dreams"?, I know live Squire has use a
number of other Basses & he seems to favor a few for certain songs , like his 3 neck Wal he lugs
around just for "Awaken", back on the 'Relayer" tour he used a 8 string Rick for "Roundabout", after
watching the Starlicks tape that John talks about, I think I know why , he doubled his Bass part with a
miked Gibson guitar when Yes originally recorded that song way back when & I think he's also
sometime used his Renny 8 string as well for "Roundabout" on later tours, years ago I kind of remember
hearing about him using a Jazzbass & even Gibson Thunderbirds on yes albums , any info would be
appreciated,
Cheers, Jaime

levykev · Post by **levykev** » Thu Dec 20, 2001 10:37 am

hey- I've never heard of Chris Squire using an 8-string on 'Roundabout'....is that true? I think he always sticks with his trusty cream 4001. As far as some other basses: Ranney 8-string, (red) Tobias 5-string (big generator), larger-scaled Tobias 4-string (tuned B/E/A/G), various other Rickenbacker basses...different years and colors, triple-necked Wal, 1972 Fender Jazz bass, (green) Mouridian (90125), a new Lakland Bob Glaub signature precision bass (for the new 'Magnification' cd and tour), recently a Warwick fretless, Carvin hollow-bodied fretless, Carvin 6-string (for the 'Open Your Eyes' tour), Guild fretless (Topographic Oceans), Photon synth bass, Westone Electra with built in effects (used around 'Drama' and '90125'), I've seen him photographed with a 70's Les Paul Triumph bass, and probably a few others over the years.....
Hoped that helped.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Thu Dec 20, 2001 11:51 am

Somewhere an interview exists from the early '70's (Guitar Player?) where I believe he is quoted as owning a custom-made 8-string Rickenbacker bass around the 'Fragile' era...wasn't he pictured with it in a booklet that came in the original 'Fragile' LP???

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Thu Dec 20, 2001 3:15 pm

I think it was more like the Tales of Topographic era ,it was after the Yessongs tour as I recall.

levykev · Post by **levykev** » Fri Dec 21, 2001 4:07 am

you can see the 8-string in the 'Yesshows' album booklet in 1980. Those photos representing the 'Going for the One' and 'Tormato' tours.