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 inter- esting 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 result- ed 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 pos- sibilities. 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 1?4-inch and XLR direct outputs for each pre-amp section; Effect Loop with Mix 50/50 switch; tuner output; uneffected 1?4-inch output; and front panel A/B switching to have 2 basses ready to go.

Manufactured by Tech 21 USA, Inc.

For more information go to www.tech21nyc.com.