Why did Geddy Lee stop using Ric's

[2112]

I don't buy most of the stories I've heard about why Geddy stopped using Ricks. Like the one that I'd heard where he couldn't get all the low end that he wanted out of the Rick.

That's one I cannot buy either. I have never - never - owned a bass from which I could not wrangle out enough bottom to do the job. I've owned much more than a handful, and every one of them was capable of delivering what I needed. Some certainly gave me more than I wanted in terms of bottom end, and some required a little more tweak from the amp's e.q. than others to get the bottom. But in the end, every Rick gave me what I needed to do the job as well as any other bass.

Perhaps he got enough low end but not the kind of low end he wanted??

I have no idea either.

[2112]

I highly doubt that the Rickenbacker would have even sounded decent on albums like Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows, Hold Your Fire (especially) Presto and Roll The Bones. Maybe it could have worked on Counterparts but those mid to late 80's and early 90's Rush albums had a thin sound to them and the amount of keyboards and Alex's guitar tone didn't support the crunchy, grinding tone of the Rickenbacker either.

I'd sure like to hear the Rickenbacker 4001 on a track or two from their next album, Clockwork Angels.
Their sound has gotten back to the older,.. guitar, bass, drums thing and I'm sure there's room for the Rickenbacker 4001 somewhere on the new album.

[Freez]

I always heard that Ged had 2 issues with his Rick - the wide (well, wider than a Jazz anyway) nut made the bass more difficult for him to play. I believe he stated in an interview once that the neck on the Rick was a "monster". And while he loved the upper-midrangey growl of the Rick, he wasn't getting the bass response he wanted (too bad he didn't know about the cap bypass, although that wouldn't have helped him with the neck issue). As far as him playing Jazzes to keep the endorsement deal, well that's nonsense. He doesn't need the pittance that Fender pays him (and compared to Rush money, it IS a pittance), and he was back to the Jazz long before the sig model came out, as part of a band goal to "sound heavier".

[gearhed289]

He bought the Jazz during the Hemispheres tour - 78/79. Used it on "Different Strings" off Permanent Waves, and as someone mentioned, most of Moving Pictures. Signals was mostly the Ric again, and then, bye bye! Too bad. Loved that tone, and the old rig was killer (thanks for the pic 2112). They tried it on Snakes and Arrows, but Ged claims the problem was somewhere with the low end. Lack of/too much/wrong kind - who knows?

[qwezirider]

Perhaps he got enough low end but not the kind of low end he wanted??

That I can understand and accept.

[s4001]

My 2¢.
I had a 76 jazz some years back that sounded amazing. In fact, I've been looking for another Jazz that has that kind of tone ever since and haven't found it. It has a tone similar to what I've heard on Permanent Waves. If I didn't sell that bass like a dumbass, it might still be my main bass.

[2112]

The older Geddy Lee signature Jazz Basses are really great tone wise. In fact they are excellent all the way around. The sound I get from mine (made in 1998) is about as exact to Geddy's Jazz Bass tone that I could ever hope to get.
It plays like a dream too.

[08 Ric 4003]

I have a Black '95 Fender American Standard Jazz Bass body with a Warmoth birdseye maple neck and birdseye maple fretboard with black block inlays and black binding and it is a sweet bass. I didn't get the slim taper neck like on the Geddy sig model. When ever I play one in a store it makes me wish I ponied up for the slim taper neck, but oh well. I only payed $550 for the bass and when the bass came the neck was warped and the truss rod nut was stripped and the sellers reimbursed me for the neck. It was win win for me.

[leftybass]

While recording Moving Pictures, Geddy was looking to change his sound around and was trying to get a different feel. He pulled out the Jazz and used it on several tracks. In fact, he used the Jazz on all the tracks except "Red Barchetta" and "The Camera Eye" with which he still used the RIC 4001.

My understanding is that Ged used the Rickenbacker 4001 for Signals as well as part of Grace Under Pressure.

He used the Jazz Bass on Permanent Waves too. Grace Under Pressure is all Steinberger.

It has been a while since I've given the LP a listen, but the track 'Kid Gloves' on Grace Under Pressure is the Fender Jazz

[RicOSoundMan]

WOW !!!! thanks for all the responses here. I really appreciate the insight given here.....

[2112]

While recording Moving Pictures, Geddy was looking to change his sound around and was trying to get a different feel. He pulled out the Jazz and used it on several tracks. In fact, he used the Jazz on all the tracks except "Red Barchetta" and "The Camera Eye" with which he still used the RIC 4001.

My understanding is that Ged used the Rickenbacker 4001 for Signals as well as part of Grace Under Pressure.

He used the Jazz Bass on Permanent Waves too. Grace Under Pressure is all Steinberger.

It has been a while since I've given the LP a listen, but the track 'Kid Gloves' on Grace Under Pressure is the Fender Jazz

OK, that's news to me. Where did you find out this info??

[leftybass]

OK, that's news to me. Where did you find out this info??

My ears... ---knowing what the basses sound like (because I own and play them), and being a 30+ year Rush fan.

Not something I read somewhere, it is simply my belief that it's the Jazz, from listening and having a familiarity with the sounds.

Also, on Signals, "New World Man" and (probably) "Digital Man" are the Jazz and not the Rick.

[gearhed289]

OK, that's news to me. Where did you find out this info??

My ears... ---knowing what the basses sound like (because I own and play them), and being a 30+ year Rush fan.

Not something I read somewhere, it is simply my belief that it's the Jazz, from listening and having a familiarity with the sounds.

Also, on Signals, "New World Man" and (probably) "Digital Man" are the Jazz and not the Rick.

Hmm... This is how rumors get started and facts get muddled. My ears tell me The Weapon is the Jazz (plus the fact that he used it on that song live), but I would never proclaim that it IS in fact the Jazz. I could have sworn Tom Sawyer was the Ric, and Red Barchetta the Jazz, but an interview with Ged a few years ago proved the opposite to be true.

[leftybass]

OK, that's news to me. Where did you find out this info??

My ears... ---knowing what the basses sound like (because I own and play them), and being a 30+ year Rush fan.

Not something I read somewhere, it is simply my belief that it's the Jazz, from listening and having a familiarity with the sounds.

Also, on Signals, "New World Man" and (probably) "Digital Man" are the Jazz and not the Rick.

Hmm... This is how rumors get started and facts get muddled. My ears tell me The Weapon is the Jazz (plus the fact that he used it on that song live), but I would never proclaim that it IS in fact the Jazz. I could have sworn Tom Sawyer was the Ric, and Red Barchetta the Jazz, but an interview with Ged a few years ago proved the opposite to be true.

Hi Tom....Thanks for your post. I never mentioned "The Weapon" in my above post, but I could agree with your assessment of it being the Jazz....another track I'll look forward to revisting.

As far as what Geddy Lee said about "Tom Sawyer"(Jazz) and "Red Barchetta"(4001), this is how I have heard it all along thru the years. There is also an interview somewhere where he is quoted as saying the 4001 was used on "Limelight", which is incorrect---it is Jazz all the way...to my own ears, which I have no reason to doubt.

As I also said in my post above, it merely states my belief, that I am comfortable with stating my opinion and believe it to be accurate. Hey, I can't help it if I'm always right.. Cheers.!

[weemac]

I heard somewhere that "The Weapon" was the 4002....

Eden.