Inside Geddy Lee’s New Custom Rickenbacker 4000V Bass for Rush’s Return
Rush’s highly anticipated “50 Something” reunion tour is kicking off on June 7th, and clearly Geddy Lee is getting ready. Rickenbacker revealed an incredible bass they built for the icon ahead of the band’s historic return. We reached out to the company for the full spec list.
“The Rickenbacker 4000V CB TB was handcrafted by Richard Cannata here at the Rickenbacker factory to Geddy Lee’s requested specs,” they write.
It harkens back to the company’s earliest bass models while blending in aspects from throughout the years. The Turquoise Blue finish, originally offered on the late ’50s combo series instruments, is accented with checkerboard binding around the body. Another notable throwback is the bridge, which is the 425 style with four saddles as found in the early 4000 and 4005 models. Custom acrylic mounts accommodate the uber cool bridge cover. Rickenbacker also used old-stock knurled knobs found on the 650 and 4004L instruments that were introduced in 1992.
The maple body is matched with a maple-and-walnut neck. Although most Rickenbacker basses would continue the finish from the body to the back of the neck, Lee requested it be unfinished with a stinger finish transition at the base of the neck. Its bound rosewood fingerboard holds 20 frets with Triangle Pearlescent inlays.
The 4000V CB TB is fitted with a Vintage Single Coil Toaster Top and a Bass Horseshoe pickup. Rather than volume and tone controls, Lee requested two volume knobs (one for each pickup) that are wired to a mono output. Other unique features include gold-painted plastics, a 33.25-inch scale, vintage spec ½” neck pickup spacing, and a Vintage spec cloth wiring harness.
Keep an eye out for this incredible instrument as Rush tours the world this summer. Check out their itinerary here.
Geddy Lee’s Rickenbacker 4000V CB TB Photos:
Geddy Lee’s Rickenbacker 4000V CB TB Specs:
| Construction: | Thru Body |
| Scale length: | 33 1/4”(84.5cm) |
| Body type: | Solid |
| Body Wood: | Maple |
| Body Binding: | Checkerboard |
| Neck Wood: | Maple & Walnut |
| Neck Binding: | Yes |
| Neck Finish: | Hand rubbed oil finish on back of neck & headstock, Stinger finish transition at base of neck |
| Neck Width at Nut: | 1 11/16” (42.9 mm) |
| Neck Width at 12th fret: | 2 1/8” (54.0 mm) |
| Crown radius: | 10” (25.4 cm ) |
| Fingerboard: | Rosewood |
| Frets: | 20 |
| Inlays: | Triangle Pearlescent |
| Overall length: | 113.8 cm (44 13/16”) |
| Overall width: | 34.3 cm (13 1/2”) |
| Overall depth: | 31.8 mm (1 1/4”) |
| Pickups: | Vintage Single Coil Toaster Top™ & Bass Horseshoe |
| Controls: | Volume, Tone; Old stock 650/4004L knurled knobs |
| Output type: | mono |
| Tailpiece/Bridge: | 425 style with 4 saddle bridge à la the early model 4000 & 4005 |
| Machine heads: | Schaller |
| Finish: | Turquoise Blue |
| Weight: | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) |
| Other: | Gold painted plastics, Bridge Cover, Custom acrylic mounts to accommodate bridge cover, Vintage spec ½” neck pickup spacing, Vintage spec cloth wiring harness |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
