Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Since many people consider this his best tone, I thought I would re-print this from their "Farewell to Kings" tour book so they know exactly how he set it up.

My Equipment

I use a Rickenbacker bass model 4001 primarily. I use this in stereo with my treble pickup going to an Ampeg SVT and two twin fifteen Sunn Cabinets with S.R.O. speakers placed on both sides of the stage. My bass pickup goes to an Ampeg SVT and two V4B cabinets with J.B. Lansing speakers also placed on both sides of the stage.

I also use a Rickenbacker double-neck guitar-bass, the bass is a model 4001 and the guitar is a standard Rickenbacker twelve string with humbucking pickups. I use a Fender twin Reverb with the twelve string. Other basses include a Rickenbacker model 3001 and a customized Fender Precision with a treble pickup added and wired in stereo and cut down to tear drop shape.

Ahhhhh,,,,,,the good old days.

That album does sound real nice.

Favorite bass tone of all time. I KNEW he was doing a stereo split somewhere . . . time to pick up a Ric-o-Sound splitter . . .

One of the best Rush albums ever. First time I saw Rush was the AFTK tour.

Do you think Geddy's partial to Rickenbackers?

Geddy is god!
If anyone is wondering what's missing from their ESL bass tone... Add just a touch of chorus, it helps bring out the 'bark' a lot more. You can hear it on YYZ, but I've noticed it's on EVERY single song to varying degrees.
I remember reading that Ged said the sound man added a wee bit of chorus to fill out the sound more.
Sounds excellent!!!

Kris - He USED to be, for sure. But now he doesn't even OWN one anymore - at least he doesn't list any in his possession on the RUSH site. The last studio album I'm aware of him using the Rickenbacker on was Permanent Waves, (my personal fav RUSH album) and I don't think he used it on the whole album. 'The Spirit Of Radio,' 'Different Strings,' and 'Entre Nous" sound like he used his Jazz or something else non-Rickenbacker. He used the 4001 on the Moving Pictures tour, but I don't think he recorded the album with it. I think it's a shame that he turned his back on the Rickenbackers altogether. To my ear, no bass he's played since has sounded as good. So now he uses and endorses Fender Jazz. Great... Geddy - we hardly knew ye...

Walker

On Moving Pictures he used the Rick on 'Red Barchetta' and 'The Camera Eye'. Also most of Signals...

He still owns most if not all of his Rickenbackers, just doesn't use 'em....there is a recent pic of him in his home studio and a JG 4001 and the MG 4002 were hanging on the wall behind him.

The Rush Replay DVD is more than worth the price of admission for the remix/ master of ESL alone.

Over on the official RIC site John Hall said Geddy recently bought a 4003.

Cole

Well, that would be sweet if he would start using one again. Maybe a sig model someday if he can ever get out of that F****r endorsement.

Yeah, most of "Signals" was the Ric, which is why "Subdivisions" and "The Weapon" sound so freaking amazing (actually, they sound freaking amazing because it's Rush).

I'm sure he makes quite a bit of money out of that Fender endorsement . . . you have to admit, his "2112" bass, the red flamed-maple custom shop Jazz, looks absolutely gorgeous. I wouldn't mind owning that bass.

If Geddy bought a 4003 he bought it too soon, he should have waited for the thin necks to show up, since it's one of his preferences. I'd even buy him one if he'd play it in concert.(sits back and waits for email from Geddy). I'd even give him one of my thin neck '73's, wait a minute, I forgot that he hates Grovers, never mind.

I don't think it's just the Fen*er endorsement. Unfortunately he reckoned that he took the Rick sound as far as he could, plus he 'rediscovered' the Jazz's 'bottom end'. Plus he says the Rick was a pain to get a decent live sound.
Whether any of that is true, Geddy will probably stick with the Jazz.
I personally hate his Jazz sound, all boom and no definition.
The day he picks up a Ricky again will be a day of great rejoicing for millions of his fans....
C'mon Mr Lee, get a grip... Rush's music deserves the finest... R I C!