Author Topic: Geddy Lee's "Backline" (Read 536 times)

dtrice · « **Reply #15 on:** April 17, 2007, 11:49:29 AM »

The first album he is used the jazz on was Moving Pictures. Limelight was all jazz, but Tom Sawyer, Red Barchetta, etc. were Ricks. He bought those used 72-74 Jazzes used a few years after thad had been made. He did own the Jazzes for a while before really settling on them later, that is why Limelight stands out as being unique for that period. Now Geddy was using an old P-bass before Rush and for years afterwards. You can hear it on By-Tor and the Snowdog (the growling sounds) and on their live album All the World's a Stage. He later shaved the body, painted it like a blueburst, added a treble pickup, and rewired it run in stereo. Yes he had been using fender sporadically throughout the early years. He used the Stein not very much in the studio. He used it(them) live more than in the studio to allow him to move more easily among the keyboards. He recorded a lot of songs with the Ricks and Wals, but toured with the Steinberger. So that can be confusing. I wish I could find those old articles where he explained a lot of this.

dtrice · « **Reply #16 on:** April 17, 2007, 11:50:53 AM »

By the way, I like Geddy. I've bought a few basses because of him.

jbybj · « **Reply #17 on:** April 17, 2007, 03:21:15 PM »

I would not dream of disrespecting Geddy Lee's bass playing, I am quite fond of it, but why, in the name of all that is holy, do they let him sing? Sometime in the late 70's, last time I saw Rush, I had to sit out the last half of the set at Winterland, I thought I was going to faint from the pain. fly by night might as well have been an icepick in my brain.

dtrice · « **Reply #18 on:** April 18, 2007, 12:28:37 PM »

Most people don't understand how I became a Rush fan. My first exposure to Rush was the Caress of Steel album, which is unexplainably infamous. The first time I heard it I COULD NOT STAND that witch-like shrieking and wouldn't listen to it. But luckily my dad strongly encouraged me to listen to it, because it would teach me a lot about playing bass. He was right! I learned almost the entire album, except the Fountain of Lamneth. Now I've come to actually like Geddy's voice, because of its uniqueness. And I can't really imagine anyone else singing those songs. So I know where your coming from jbybj, but he really has grown on me and now he is one of my main idols in all of bass playing.

dtrice · « **Reply #19 on:** April 18, 2007, 12:34:50 PM »

Oh yeah Bee, I did more reading and Geddy did own at least one Jazz at the time of the Permanent Waves tour. But he did now own it at the time of the Hemispheres tour. I'll look for more detailed information. Don't get me wrong he is so good that he can make any bass sound awesome. But I think that the Rickenbackers (especially) and the Wals were the best tones for the music. The Jazzes are great because they are very versitile passive basses and are much more comfortable to play than the Ricks (that's what my right hand tells me). So I believe that has something to do with why he now favors the Jazzes.

dannobasso · « **Reply #20 on:** April 18, 2007, 02:35:07 PM »

I always dug Geddy's voice. I had to cover quite a few Rush tunes in my day ala Geddy. Sing, play bass and play Taurus2 and or Roland PK5 pedals. It's a lot of fun and surprisingly easy for me to nail, considering I have a Tate, Lake, Wetton regular voice. Now the late Brad Delp was too high to go even in falsetto.

I always picture the Ric when I listen to Rush. On the Rio DVD the Jazz looks odd to me though I do remember his teardrop bass from the ATWAS album I bought in Canada on Anthem Records while on an exchange trip in high school in 81. Co'mon didn't you want to run around on plush white carpeting like them barefoot? I know I did.

jbybj · « **Reply #21 on:** April 18, 2007, 07:43:49 PM »

Daniel, I admit that Geddy Lee's recorded vocals are not always annoying, but that live mix, I have never heard anything like it before or since. Granted, the FOH engineer was probably mixing through a steep cocaine curve, which always produces a shrill result. I wince just thinking about it, 30 years ago........

dtrice · « **Reply #22 on:** April 18, 2007, 10:05:08 PM »

Haha. You and Danny can tell those good stories about life and music in the 70's, but I wasn't alive yet. I can definately appreciate what your saying though. By the way Danno, I'm actually interested in some bass pedals. Do you recommend any current models? (Taurus are hard to find, expensive, and require a good amount of upkeep)

dannobasso · « **Reply #23 on:** April 19, 2007, 08:49:21 AM »

I have 2 sets of Roland PK5's, one with roadcase.
Modules roland jv 1010 and korg N1R. Check current prices and make me an offer if you would like.
The pk5 is an easy to use trigger unit. You need an external sound source.
At one time I had the Taurus 2's with a PK5 mounted on top triggering a half space roland unit I can't remember the name of (MT?) with Juno 106 and Moog Source on an Invisible rack. Way over the top for original gigs. Now no one will let me bring them on a gig!
jbybj, I'm sure the lens horns didn't help combined with super tweets. Everyone is completely free and entitled to what their ears tell them. I would never argue that point at all. What about Zebra?

dtrice · « **Reply #24 on:** April 21, 2007, 12:10:28 PM »

Roland Mt-32 module? I am interested in your PK5's. I'd probably prefer the one in the road case, for the obvious protection. List on a new PK5 is $500, and they retail between $4-450.I'd also be interested in the jv 1010. I looked at what other owners have paid for the JV 1010 and that was between $100-179. So with that in consideration do you think you would be interested with possibly parting with them and for what price? I won't tell you I'm ready to buy right now because I'm a little behind on some bills. Over the course of the summer I will be able to catch up quickly. But I'd definately be interested, because bands I usually play with could benefit from the strings or brass sounds I could get with the pedals. And a bonus would be I could do more accurate Rush covers which are always fun.

dannobasso · « **Reply #25 on:** April 22, 2007, 10:05:17 AM »

I found the mt32 after all these years. I'm sure the stuff will be here when you are ready. The road case set is a little rough looking and needs to be cleaned up but still works. The road case will accomodate the pedals cables and module. All in a yellow-easy-to-be-seen roadcase by Calzone. If you want it all for $300 plus shipping I'll throw in the mt32 as well. I'm going to keep my studio set and other modules for when the Subdivisions urge hits me. Used to do a great version of Touch and Go and Alaska in an ELP type band. No black basses then!

dtrice · « **Reply #26 on:** April 22, 2007, 12:08:46 PM »

So the $300 include a PK5 + case + the necessary cables. Is the JV 1010 for sale? Do you prefer to run them through the P.A. usually or a separate miced amp?

dtrice · « **Reply #27 on:** April 22, 2007, 12:09:11 PM »

Sorry for double post.

(Message edited by dtrice on April 23, 2007)

dannobasso · « **Reply #28 on:** April 22, 2007, 08:28:26 PM »

pk5 case jv1010 mt32 $300. I always ran them into the korg multi channel tuner, theninto the 2nd input of the f1x and blended the sounds. Soundman got one line out of the f1x.

dtrice · « **Reply #29 on:** April 24, 2007, 01:22:36 PM »

Cool, cool. Do you think you could set something up through paypal? Maybe with pics. That would be cool.