Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I play at the neck pickup, I smash the strings and, when it's appropriate, do that strumming thing. I like Geddy's strum. It works really well with a long chord at the end of a song. I can do that one note as long and fast as the guitarist.

I agree it's where you play. I can get my Rick to sound like his did when I play at the neck pickup. I can also get it to sound like his J a bit. The j bass sound on YYZ is easy to get if I play over the bridge pickup. It's all technique. Sure, having the right amp and stings help, but I can almost get the "Farewell To Kings" out of my little combo amp if I play at the neck.

This should help. The answer is fifth from the bottom.

Enjoy....Mike
http://www.guitarcenter.com/interview/geddylee/index.cfm

All you have to do is buy or rent 'Exit Stage Left', this was before his additional 'finger flick' style. He DOES have a technique that's unique to him.

Jeff Rath wrote: "..2 - low action, hard attack, and fret buzz..."

Also VERY important.

"That's when I started realizing that the Fender was capable of giving me similar sound but a better bottom end. That was the main reason for changing from a Rick"

That's weird. I had a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass that was beautifully built and played like a dream, and the reason I sold it is because it didn't have enough bottom end. It was thin-sounding, and the reason, as far as I can tell, is the BA bridge and the treble pickup's early-70's position (closer to the bridge than on vintage or later versions). My Rics have much more bottom end than the Geddy Jazz.

Maybe he just didn't remove the cap!

I think we all agree that if he tried out a new 4003, he'd love it and switch back . . . except he obviously likes thin necks . . . he played a 70s Ric and then that crazy-thin-necked J-bass and the Steinberger . . . I dunno about the Wal. But still, 4003 necks are very comfortable . . . someone should just buy a Jetglo 4003 with a Hipshot bridge (or the new bridge), string it with RS66 strings and send it to Geddy.

In an interview I've read somewhere, Geddy said that the GL Sig Jazz had almost nailed the sound of his 'pawn shop' Jazz, except for the bottom end, so that may explain why you found the GL Jazz thin.

I find I have to roll off the tone a lot on it to thicken it up. It seems to have a bit of a scoop out of the mid-lows which may give the illusion of providing more of the very low frequencies.

That interview was in Bass Guitar magazine (or at least, that's where I read it). He basically said that the signature bass was ALMOST the same, that it was just slightly tonally different, but the feel and look were exactly the same.

Blah.. I want a GL sig jazz, but if the low end sucks then that's gonna bother me.

I read on the FDP that if you swap the BA-II bridge on the GL Sig for a standard Fender bridge, you get the lows back. It's a direct replacement, same screw holes etc., totally reversible.

Nate: you should definitely try one, they are very nice basses and not too expensive. It's basically a MIJ '73 reissue with a BA-II bridge. Geddy's signature is neatly hidden behind the headstock, and not on a tacky 12th fret inlay like the Sting Sig. I hope the painted black blocks aren't a turn-off for you (yes they are painted on, not inlaid). Just make sure you check the neck carefully, some GL Sig's have serious neck issues, with the truss rod maxxing out. The GL necks really are shaved ridiculously thin. Mine didn't have such issues but it's a crapshoot.

every time I see a Geddy Lee Jazz bass in a music store I play it and every time I am dissapointed ... most of them a slightly inferior to mim jazz ... if you want a good fender get a made in America jazz bass ... I build my own jazz and p-basses ... that way I can control what goes into it ...

Nate, I would say the bottom end is different to a 4003, but it's not actually lacking. I've just used mine for six hours at a Rush tribute rehearsal (owing to the fact that I cant't get my awful non-Ric doubleneck and two other basses in the car along with the keys, bass pedals etc.) and today was mainly an 80s onwards rehearsal except for Xanadu & By-Tor. With a little amp tweaking it had plenty low end. I did miss my 4003 though...

I played one and wasnt impressed. Iv only played 2 new jazz basses that I liked. Ones my aerodyne and another is the Jazz 24 that they had up at a local store. All the other ones I didnt like the feel of.

Jon, what's your setup for that band? Just curious, do you do the change from Ric to Steinberger to Wal, and do you have any dryers onstage? Amp setup?

If I were to do a Rush band I'd want the correct bass for the song.. so a Steinberger and a Wal would screw me over.

I like the black blocks.. painted or not. BTW Geddy's bass is a '72.

Actually Fender Japan has some pretty cool stuff.. they have a Geddy style J without the badass or sig on the back, but it comes in a few colors.. it just has that maple fret board with the blocks. I though about getting one of those and adding the badass 2 myself.. but the shipping charges would be terrible.