Geddy Lee started on a Rickenbacker 4001 and has said he picked up a used Fender Jazz Bass in a pawn shop in the late '70s, which became his main bass. He has played without onstage amps since 1996, through Tech 21 SansAmps such as his GED-2112 rack, and Tech 21 showed two YYZ Shape-Shifters and an Amalgamation chorus on his 2026 tour pedalboard.
“in the late '70s I picked up a used Jazz in a pawn shop and started working it into our sound almost immediately.”
“it was really Squire's use of the 4001 that made me fall in love with it.”
“I used lighter-gauge Rotosound Funk Master strings, which allowed me to play chords without taking up so much space in the sound spectrum.”
“I went back to using an Ampeg SVT, and I rediscovered the glorious bottom-end of the Fender”
“The GED-2112 is really a continuation of my long-time approach to bass tone.”
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“in the late '70s I picked up a used Jazz in a pawn shop and started working it into our sound almost immediately.”
“it was really Squire's use of the 4001 that made me fall in love with it.”
“I used lighter-gauge Rotosound Funk Master strings, which allowed me to play chords without taking up so much space in the sound spectrum.”
“I went back to using an Ampeg SVT, and I rediscovered the glorious bottom-end of the Fender”
“The GED-2112 is really a continuation of my long-time approach to bass tone.”
“Who's Next was one of those albums that never left my turntable for years.”
“for me, it captures a moment.”
“It is a very playful and compelling record.”
“My favourite Jethro Tull album.”
“most important for me, the fluid bass lines of Jack Bruce.”
“It remains my favourite because of that timing.”
“Of course I loved Chris Squire's incredible bass”
“The songwriting is sublime and has never dated.”
“I had never heard anything like this before or, indeed, since.”
“Great music in every sense of the word.”
Mostly a Fender Jazz Bass he bought used in a pawn shop in the late '70s. He started on a Rickenbacker 4001 after Rush's first record deal in 1974, and he told Bass Player he has played the Jazz for many more years than the Ricky.
Tech 21 says he has played without onstage amps or speakers since the Test for Echo tour in 1996, using SansAmp RBI and RPM preamps and, since 2016, his GED-2112 rackmount. In the studio he has said he went back to an Ampeg SVT around Counterparts.
Tech 21's photo of his Fifty Something tour board shows two YYZ Shape-Shifter SansAmps and his Amalgamation Signature Chorus, powered by a Truetone 1 SPOT Pro CS6, with the GED-2112 rack in his backline.
He told Bass Player he used lighter-gauge Rotosound Funk Master strings in the Power Windows era, when he was playing more chords up the neck.
His Baker's Dozen for The Quietus included Who's Next, Led Zeppelin's debut, Nursery Cryme, Thick as a Brick, Disraeli Gears, Meddle, Blue, The Yes Album, Are You Experienced and OK Computer.
Geddy Lee is the bassist, singer and keyboard player of Rush, from 2112 and Moving Pictures to Clockwork Angels and the 2026 Fifty Something tour. This guide covers his Fender Jazz Bass and Rickenbacker 4001, the Ampeg SVT and Tech 21 SansAmp gear behind his tone, and the albums he named as favourites to The Quietus.
truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Geddy Lee didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.
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