Search  for anything...
Harper

Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book of Bass

    • Based on 2,375 reviews
Condition: New
Checking for product changes
$43.29 Why this price?
Save $46.71 was $90.00

Buy Now, Pay Later

As low as $10 / mo
  • – 4-month term
  • – No impact on credit
  • – Instant approval decision
  • – Secure and straightforward checkout

Ready to go? Add this product to your cart and select a plan during checkout. Payment plans are offered through our trusted finance partners Klarna, PayTomorrow, Affirm, Afterpay, Apple Pay, and PayPal. No-credit-needed leasing options through Acima may also be available at checkout.

Learn more about financing & leasing here.

Free shipping on this product

30-day refund/replacement

To qualify for a full refund, items must be returned in their original, unused condition. If an item is returned in a used, damaged, or materially different state, you may be granted a partial refund.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

Availability: Only 5 left in stock, order soon!
Fulfilled by Follow Books
Arrives Saturday, Sep 28
Order within 5 hours and 2 minutes
Available payment plans shown during checkout

Description

“A treasure trove for any fan of the four-stringed (and occasionally more) instrument.” — Billboard"It's not surprising that sooner or later I'd dive down the proverbial rabbit hole into the world of vintage bass guitars."—Geddy LeeFrom Rush frontman Geddy Lee's personal collection of vintage electric bass guitars, dating from the 1950s to the 1980s, comes the definitive volume on the subject.Geddy's love of the bass has been nurtured over a lifetime spent in the limelight as one of the world's premier rock bassists. For the past seven years, he's dedicated himself to studying the history of the instrument that's been so essential to his career, collecting hundreds of basses from around the globe.Written with arts journalist Daniel Richler, gorgeously photographed in breathtaking detail by Richard Sibbald, and with insight from Geddy’s trusted bass tech and curator, John "Skully" McIntosh, Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass profiles over 250 classic basses from Geddy’s extensive collection. Representing every tone in the bass palette, every nuance of the rock and roll genre as well as blues, jazz, pop, and country, this one-of-a- kind collection features so-called "beauty queens"—pristine instruments never lifted from their cases—as well as "road warriors"—well-worn, sweat-soaked basses that proudly show their age and use. Complete with personal commentary from Geddy that showcases his knowledge both as a musician and an aficionado, this luxuriously produced volume is a revelatory look at the heavy hitters in the world of bass—Fender, Gibson/Epiphone, Rickenbacker, Höfner, Ampeg—and lesser known but influential global luthiers such as Antonio Wandr Pioli, Dan Armstrong, and Tony Zemaitis.The book also features interviews with John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin); Adam Clayton (U2); Robert Trujillo (Metallica); Jeff Tweedy (Wilco); Bill Wyman (The Rolling Stones); Les Claypool (Primus); Bob Daisley (Rainbow); Fender expert and owner of the legendary Gibson Explorer, Bass Ken Collins; veteran guitar tech for The Who, Alan Rogan; plus comments from many other great players across three decades of rock and roll.Written in Geddy's singular voice, this book reveals the stories, songs, and history behind the instruments of his inimitable collection. Complete with an index and a graphically designed timeline of the history of the bass, as well as an up-close look at Geddy's basses on Rush's final R40 Tour, his stage and recording gear from 1968 to 2017, and forewords by author and respected vintage expert, Terry Foster, and Rush band member, Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book of Bass is the ultimate compendium for the consummate collector, musician, Rush fan, and anyone who loves the bass guitar. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper (December 18, 2018)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 408 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062747835


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 39


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.36 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 11.7 x 1.6 x 11.7 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #45,421 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #4 in Musical Philosophy & Social Aspects #48 in Guitars (Books) #99 in Rock Music (Books)


#4 in Musical Philosophy & Social Aspects:


#48 in Guitars (Books):


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Saturday, Sep 28

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

  • Klarna Financing
  • Affirm Pay in 4
  • Affirm Financing
  • Afterpay Financing
  • PayTomorrow Financing
  • Apple Pay Later
Leasing options through Acima may also be available during checkout.

Learn more about financing & leasing here.

Similar Products

Top Amazon Reviews

    • Quite possibly the greatest musical instrument book ever published
I own a lot of instrument books--Immortal Axes, Guitars & Heroes, Pedal Crush, etc--and this one goes well beyond all of them in terms of scope, depth, and quality. Geddy Lee's knowledge and passion for the bass guitar can be wrung from every page of the book. The information is expansive and well-organized, the photographs are gorgeous, and the book itself pulls these elements together into a beautiful work of art unto itself. You don't have to be a Rush fan or a bass player or even a musician at all to appreciate all of the history, expertise, and beauty that this book offers. It's simply the best musical instrument book out there. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2024 by My public name
    • Big & Beautiful. Think I’ll make a bass guitar as a retirement project.
Nothing more I can say here that hasn’t already been covered. It is the biggest book about guitars (or basses) I think I ever seen. The biggest, most time consuming I’ve stuck my face into. Very informative, and the pictures are beauty (eh). For a guy that quit high school, he writes and researches really well. And plays the bass pretty darn good too. Man, I sure miss my 2 week vacations following Rush around the USA and Europe. Peace to all. ✌️ ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2023 by larry b
    • Insight from the maestro and a glimpse at his vast collection!
I began playing bass soon after I discovered Rush nearly 40 years ago.. and it was in large part due to the brilliant bass playing of Geddy Lee. I studied his bass parts.. acquired some of the same instruments from Rickenbackers and Jazz basses to Steinbergers and P basses and never missed a tour from Moving Pictures onward. I along with the Rush faithful, were all sad to see their touring career come to an end after the R40 tour.. so I was very excited to hear Geddy was not ready for retirement yet and was preparing something that would expand his creative palette and give his fans a glimpse into his vast bass collection. So.. is this a book for Rush fans or just bass players? This is a book that can be appreciated by fans, bassists, musicians and by anyone who has an appreciation for beautiful objets d’art... I have collected several books of this type over the years, including books by Steve Howe (Yes) and John Entwistle (The Who) on their respective collections. Each were excellent in their own way but Geddy’s BBBoB takes the medium to a whole new level. The production value of this book is top-notch from cover to cover! When my book arrived (and I had been anxiously awaiting that day) I took it out of the box and marveled at the intricate embossed cover. The weight of the book is substantial, as well.. weighing around 8 pounds. But what is to be found between the covers is truly marvelous. From a well laid out index to interviews with some of the bass world’s elite players including Bill Wyman (The Rolling Stones) and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin).. the book is a thorough investigation into some of the most important instruments in the history of the bass guitar. Fender, Rickenbacker, Hofner, Gibson and many other well known brands as well as a number of obscure makers time has marginalized. These beautiful instruments making up this collection are expertly photographed on a heavy mill paper that adds to the sumptuous feel of this book. Geddy Lee and his publisher’s attention to detail on how every page and every photo and written description are laid out, may be the most impressive aspect of the book! For those who are Geddy fans, Rush fans, bass fans or music fans.. there’s something for everyone to enjoy here in the clever and insightful writing, illustrations, historical facts, stories and observations. I’m proud to add this masterful book to my collection and will refer back to it for many years to come! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2018 by William D.
    • An outstanding work.
If you're a fan of Rush you will probably like this. If you're a bass player will love this. If you're a bass playing fan of Rush you will be thrilled. Geddy has done a great job of channeling an admittedly maniacal obsession with looking at the evolution of the bass guitar. As someone who had made a life out of playing one he brings some deep perspective to the table. What I think I loved most about the book, and it's hard to choose what aspect is the best, are the questions he posed to fellow bass players. I first "heard" the bass in music in the 80s after buying one and learning to play it. I had always been hearing it in music, but now it stood out and I could hear every note from players like Geddy and Chris Squire. It was really neat to hear some of the all time greats had a similar experience. The actual content of the book sheds light on some really neat history. Geddy and his crew really ran down some obscure details and the stories of the bass makers were all very different and fascinating. Finally there are the photos. For whatever reason I gave up on a hard copy (for now) as the delivery date kept getting pushed back farther and farther. Not wanting to wait I grabbed the Kindle version and read it on my iPad Pro. The photos really popped well on the screen and it was cool to be able to zoom in on some small details. I wish the book were longer because I ripped through it in what seemed like no time. It would be cool if Geddy did another book like this, but I'm not sure what the topic would be. The bass was his tool and given his lifelong relationship to it there's a depth I'm not sure could be reached on another topic, but I'd be in if he did a wine book knowing he's a rabid collector of that too. For me I found his writing tone to be perfect. It came across very light hearted and relaxed but underneath you could sense the obsessive madness of his collection addiction. If you think have any interest in the book just buy it. You won't be disappointed. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2019 by CNorris
    • This Book lives up to its title.
The photography is outstanding and as a longtime bassist I really enjoyed the backstories on the development and production of the various basses several of which I own, or have owned. Including interviews with legendary bass players was also a nice touch. Well done!
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2024 by jv1967

Can't find a product?

Find it on Amazon first, then paste the link below.