Geddy Lee's Rickenbackers

[rickaddict]

Hey guys
This fairly recent video of Geddy playing his Ric is pretty good.

That's his 4003 (see the split PG); as someone posted earlier, perhaps one of the earliest?

Look again, sir! I don't see a split pick guard in the video. I think it's the same 4001 as in the photo above, complete with bridge swap and Grover Titans.

And what's up with the dinosaur shot at 3:22?

Are Rush friends with the Emperor?

[bassduke49]

Red silks on both ends; what, Rotosounds?

Notice the groove in his thumb from anchoring on the E string.

I want this shot!

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

I found it on Flicker... There were more.

Paul I will pm you the page so that you can contact the photographer.

And an older shot of what I think is the same bass

[FretlessOnly]

Could've sworn it was a split guard, but clearly not.

[ricosound]

I found it on Flicker... There were more.

Paul I will pm you the page so that you can contact the photographer.

2823762682_2b7aea106b_b.jpg

2823203953_68fcb991a9_b.jpg

2583999238_de636d7804_b.jpg

And an older shot of what I think is the same bass

33254.jpg

Looks like the bass has weathered better than Geddy

[2112]

I found it on Flicker... There were more.

Paul I will pm you the page so that you can contact the photographer.

2823762682_2b7aea106b_b.jpg

2823203953_68fcb991a9_b.jpg

2583999238_de636d7804_b.jpg

And an older shot of what I think is the same bass

33254.jpg

Looks like the bass has weathered better than Geddy

Dont forget, it was retired for 24 years ( last shows of the Signals tour in 1983) before he brought it out of mothballs in 2007.

[jps]

Mothballs?

How did he get, um, never mind.

[2112]

I found it on Flicker... There were more.

Paul I will pm you the page so that you can contact the photographer.

2823762682_2b7aea106b_b.jpg

2823203953_68fcb991a9_b.jpg

2583999238_de636d7804_b.jpg

And an older shot of what I think is the same bass

33254.jpg

NICE pics!!
Thanks for posting those.

The Rickenbacker even looks better on Geddy than the Jazz Bass.
IMHO

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

his earlier 4001 jetglo was a '73 (good shot in the "caress of steel" lp that he later modified the bridge to a badarse w/ white surround. i'm waiting to hear back from his bass tech,(who used to be mine in the DWaRfS) to confirm the month and year of the current jetglo 4001 he's used since hemispheres which i believe to be a '77, due to the control layout. this one has the black surround on the badarse bridge. i've never seen this bass with its stock tailpiece.

[geddeeee]

I believe that Ged's 'main' Ricky (Hemispheres, ESL etc..) is a 1975, modded with Badass bridge and Grover 'wavy' Titans. The Titans were originally stock on a lot of BC Rich basses.
I've got a set of those Grovers, but went back to the normal Titans, as I think they are better.

Geddy has said that his Rick had a particular sound to it, a lot different to other 4001 basses. He seems to be lucky, as his Jazz has a particular sound to it too. Both are 'pawn shop' basses.

Oh, to have money and access to U.S. pawn shops in the 70s.....

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

geddy's rick was purchased from music shop in thornhill ontario. due to the control layout, it is more likely a '77, as the '75/'76 basses still had them arranged in a trapezoid. '77 or late '76 the bass volume control was moved upward. this is my observation from the basses i have seen with the year date on the jack plate.

[Fretjob]

Hey guys
This fairly recent video of Geddy playing his Ric is pretty good.

Quintesential Rick tone. The reason half the 50-somethings on this forum play bass is Geddy's early stuff like this.

Can't believe he gets that sound without using a pick. I love it though, just what you want to hear.

[jps]

I can get that sound, or close enough to it, with my fingers.

[2112]

I get that tone pretty much no problem with fingers as well.

[cjj]

OK, can you guys describe how you go about getting that tone? I've never quite managed to get there...