Geddy Lee has been performing without onstage amps and speakers since the Test for Echo Tour in 1996, favoring major household appliances instead. Known for using a variety of gear to create interesting layered tones, Geddy has included the SansAmp RBI and/or the SansAmp RPM in his rig since 2001. Wanting to streamline and simplify his gear for new projects, Geddy partnered with Tech 21 to design a signature SansAmp, the GED-2112.
According to Geddy, “The GED-2112 is really a continuation of my long-time approach to bass tone. A ‘deep clean’ tone coupled with the ‘edgy crunch’ I get from the SansAmp RPM now all in one box. With selectable A/B inputs, and separate balanced and unbalanced direct outputs, this box is the foundation for great bass tone in any setup. Plus it’s green!”
This challenging endeavor involved distilling a rackload of equipment into a single rackspace. It resulted in a new format for Parallel Pre-Amping --having two separate internal pre-amps that run in parallel. The Drive pre-amp section is based upon the versatile SansAmp RPM, for a wide range of sonic possibilities. The Deep pre-amp section covers low end boost for thick, meaty tones. Saturation goes from clean in lower settings to increased harmonics and tube-like compression in higher settings. To keep things lean and efficient, the EQ curve is pre-set to Geddy’s personal specs. You can use either section independently or blend them externally direct to a mixing board as well as to two amplifiers.
Features include dual, all-analog SansAmp circuits; Drive for gain and overdrive; Blend to adjust the ratio of SansAmp tube amp emulation and direct signal; sweepable semi-parametric EQ; Saturation dials in the warmth of an inductor/transformer-based DI; dedicated ¼-inch and XLR direct outputs for each pre-amp section; Effect Loop with Mix 50/50 switch; tuner output; uneffected ¼-inch output; and front panel A/B switching to have 2 basses ready to go.
Manufactured by Tech 21 USA, Inc., 790 Bloomfield Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07012. Tel: 973-777-6996. Fax: 973-777-9899. E-mail: info@tech21nyc.com. Website: www.tech21nyc.com.
