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calbowen's review against another edition
4.0
Not 100% what I was expecting, but still - it is a big and beautiful book of bass guitars. They are organized by style, and there are some interesting antidotes within. I sort of wish that this was more 'personal' to Geddy rather than here are the bass guitars, but it is a nice book all in all.
abigcoffeedragon's review against another edition
4.0
Not 100% what I was expecting, but still - it is a big and beautiful book of bass guitars. They are organized by style, and there are some interesting antidotes within. I sort of wish that this was more 'personal' to Geddy rather than here are the bass guitars, but it is a nice book all in all.
seanwpace's review
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.5
It feels a little weird to be rating and reviewing a special interest coffee table book, but I did flip through every page and read every bit of text. So I did, in fact, read this book.
This is pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. It's a big, beautiful book full of bass guitars. The photos are incredible, showing the unique details of each piece in Lee's collection. The little text blurbs are informative (especially with the Fender basses, noting the minute changes year after year), but they retain Lee's voice so it feels like he is showing you the instrument and pointing out the details himself. The book also goes beyond the technical details of the instruments. He shares interesting stories about where some of the specific instruments came from and if they had interesting owners or paths of ownership. There are also interviews with big names in bass musicianship like John Paul Jones, Bill Wyman, and Les Claypool that read like friends having conversations rather than journalism.
It's worth remembering that this book only represents Lee's own personal collection of basses and is not exhaustive. There are no Music Man or Alembic basses, for example. However, it still contained things that I didn't even know existed like the Fender Bass V and the Ampeg Devil Bass. And yes, since this is Geddy Lee's book, there is a section dedicated solely to his recording and touring instruments for Rush fans.
There are a few typos and errors and some questionable design choices (Red italic print on black pages? Really?), but it's overall a great book for fans of bass guitar, rock music, and/or Rush.
This is pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. It's a big, beautiful book full of bass guitars. The photos are incredible, showing the unique details of each piece in Lee's collection. The little text blurbs are informative (especially with the Fender basses, noting the minute changes year after year), but they retain Lee's voice so it feels like he is showing you the instrument and pointing out the details himself. The book also goes beyond the technical details of the instruments. He shares interesting stories about where some of the specific instruments came from and if they had interesting owners or paths of ownership. There are also interviews with big names in bass musicianship like John Paul Jones, Bill Wyman, and Les Claypool that read like friends having conversations rather than journalism.
It's worth remembering that this book only represents Lee's own personal collection of basses and is not exhaustive. There are no Music Man or Alembic basses, for example. However, it still contained things that I didn't even know existed like the Fender Bass V and the Ampeg Devil Bass. And yes, since this is Geddy Lee's book, there is a section dedicated solely to his recording and touring instruments for Rush fans.
There are a few typos and errors and some questionable design choices (Red italic print on black pages? Really?), but it's overall a great book for fans of bass guitar, rock music, and/or Rush.
joerichards90's review against another edition
5.0
Although bearing the appearance of a coffee table book, the Big Beautiful Book of Bass is so much more than a casual read. It's a documentation of an obsession, gorgeously laid out and packed full of wonderful factoids, fascinating tales and sumptuous photography.
Bursting with passion, these 400 pages bristle with childlike excitement as Rush's bassist extraordinaire takes the reader on a deeply personal journey through his fanatical collection, never shirking on the smaller details and somehow making every one of the 250+ featured basses seem uniquely interesting and totally individual.
Each instrumental sub-section is separated by a series of glorious interviews with famous bassists and collectors, each of which providing their own insight into the world of the bass guitar. Again, Geddy's passion is bursting at the seams as he chats joyfully with his subjects, revealing a new talent for drawing some wonderful, personal responses through his in-depth conversational interview style.
Less of a necessity for the casual Rush fan, this book is an absolute must-read for anyone with more than a fleeting interest in the bass guitar and its history. I've been playing bass for eight years but I've learnt more about my instrument of choice by simply poring over these pages for two months.
Beware, however; it certainly is big, and makes for a very cumbersome bedtime read!
Bursting with passion, these 400 pages bristle with childlike excitement as Rush's bassist extraordinaire takes the reader on a deeply personal journey through his fanatical collection, never shirking on the smaller details and somehow making every one of the 250+ featured basses seem uniquely interesting and totally individual.
Each instrumental sub-section is separated by a series of glorious interviews with famous bassists and collectors, each of which providing their own insight into the world of the bass guitar. Again, Geddy's passion is bursting at the seams as he chats joyfully with his subjects, revealing a new talent for drawing some wonderful, personal responses through his in-depth conversational interview style.
Less of a necessity for the casual Rush fan, this book is an absolute must-read for anyone with more than a fleeting interest in the bass guitar and its history. I've been playing bass for eight years but I've learnt more about my instrument of choice by simply poring over these pages for two months.
Beware, however; it certainly is big, and makes for a very cumbersome bedtime read!
elturko64's review against another edition
5.0
This book really makes me want to play the bass guitar.
booksuperpower's review
5.0
Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass by by Geddy Lee, Daniel Richler (Text & Editorial Collaborator), Richard Sibbald (Photographer), Terry Foster (Contributor), Alex Lifeson (Contributor) is a 2018 Harper Design/HarperCollins Publishers L.L.C. Publication.
Gorgeous Book!
In hundred percent honesty, I never gave the bass the credit it was due until I heard RUSH, and then had the pleasure of seeing them perform live. MTV videos also allowed people to watch Geddy play the instrument, and believe me, he takes it to a whole new level.
Once I discovered RUSH, I started noticing the bass contributions in songs much more often,and grew to fully appreciate the instrument on the same level I had previous bestowed my praise on the guitar, vocals, keyboards or percussion.
This book is almost like a love letter to the instrument from a true maestro and dedicated collector. The book is presented like a coffee table book, therefore, it includes pages and pages of photographs.
The text is very interesting and informative, appealing to both the casual fan, and the aficionado. The interviews included with other prominent bassists was a fun treat too.
This would be a fun way to learn about the instrument if you aren’t all that knowledgeable about it. Diehard enthusiasts will really love this book, and collectors will salivate.
Lee’s exuberance is palpable, and it is obvious he is quite passionate about the bass, but also about collecting. It only makes sense that Geddy would get into collecting vintage bass guitars and it is obvious he takes pride in the collection and has generously shared it with all of us.
All music fans will appreciate the labor of love- Rush fans will feel a little bittersweet, and collectors will recognize the passion and obsession Geddy reveals in these pages.
Outstanding!!
Gorgeous Book!
In hundred percent honesty, I never gave the bass the credit it was due until I heard RUSH, and then had the pleasure of seeing them perform live. MTV videos also allowed people to watch Geddy play the instrument, and believe me, he takes it to a whole new level.
Once I discovered RUSH, I started noticing the bass contributions in songs much more often,and grew to fully appreciate the instrument on the same level I had previous bestowed my praise on the guitar, vocals, keyboards or percussion.
This book is almost like a love letter to the instrument from a true maestro and dedicated collector. The book is presented like a coffee table book, therefore, it includes pages and pages of photographs.
The text is very interesting and informative, appealing to both the casual fan, and the aficionado. The interviews included with other prominent bassists was a fun treat too.
This would be a fun way to learn about the instrument if you aren’t all that knowledgeable about it. Diehard enthusiasts will really love this book, and collectors will salivate.
Lee’s exuberance is palpable, and it is obvious he is quite passionate about the bass, but also about collecting. It only makes sense that Geddy would get into collecting vintage bass guitars and it is obvious he takes pride in the collection and has generously shared it with all of us.
All music fans will appreciate the labor of love- Rush fans will feel a little bittersweet, and collectors will recognize the passion and obsession Geddy reveals in these pages.
Outstanding!!
kat2112's review
5.0
Anybody who knows me is certain I intended to read this. This is a lovely microhistory of the bass guitar, coupled with a pictorial survey of Geddy's own collection and interviews with well-known bassists. It's best appreciated in print format for all the quality photos, and you don't have to be a Rush fan. It's not a Rush book, though Geddy injects his personal experiences with some of the guitars.
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