How did Geddy Lee select 26 bass guitars to put on display out of a collection of hundreds?
“My curator and I … beat each other’s brains out trying to select which basses would be important to display,” he told CKUA’s Lisa Wilton.
“But it’s almost impossible because there’s always things left out.”
The couple dozen guitars that Geddy and his curator decided on now make up a new exhibit in Calgary’s National Music Centre. Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Bass Exhibit focuses on the early years of the instrument in the 1950s and what Geddy calls “the Golden Age of instrument making” over the next 30 years. It also showcases some of the guitars that were personally important to him during his decades playing with Rush.
The exhibit, which opened last week, comes as Geddy tours the country to support his new book, Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass, that explores his full collection, as well examining the history of the bass and those who play it.
“I consider myself to be a spokesperson for the bass guitar, I love people being more clued into it,” he said.
“I think they are wonderful instruments and some of them are so rare that they never see the light of day.”
Listen to Lisa’s full interview with Geddy Lee on Soundcloud. Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Bass Exhibit will be on display at the NMC until January 2.