Rush - Vital Signs bass cover (Steinberger L2)

My favourite version of this song is from the Grace Under Pressure live album so I thought I would play it on my Steinberger. First time i've ever played it whilst sitting down (in around 8 years of owning it!) and it was a little strange but I made it through the song.
Really cool to listen to/play along to the full outro which you don't get to hear on the album version but can find on the master tracks on KZbin.
Original bass track removed and replaced with mine.
Played on Steinberger L2.

[@JohnSmith-up6rm]

Nice bass work. Really good technique. It's a fun bass line to play. It blows my mind that Geddy can play AND sing this live and makes it look easy.

[@hemibass]

Thanks for watching. Yeah and he did it for so many years making so few mistakes ever. Really incredible artist

[@tiffanysmith3950]

One of the best covers I have seen. Watching your performance made me truly appreciate how much work Geddy does on the bass. Awesome cover.

[@hemibass]

Wow thanks! That's very nice of you to say. Glad you liked my playing. Geddy is the man when it comes to bass playing in my opinion!

[@donaldschlosser6964]

Great job can't believe he can sing so good and play that much on the bass

[@petertromp8786]

I'm so glad I discovered your channel. Thank you for your passion and dedication.

[@hemibass]

My pleasure :) I'm glad you discovered it too!

[@reallife7235]

The "grace under pressure" with the Steinberger was the greatest tour. 1984 - Best musicianship I've seen anywhere I've seen Pat Metheny, Stanley Clarke, Stanley Jordan (notorious tapper), multiple's of Sting/Police and so on but that ETSU concert was not to be topped. Very good tone on that 'berger. You took me right back to that Spring concert.

[@hemibass]

Wow I'm envious of you for being able to have seen that tour! It would be near the top of destinations if I could time travel. Test for Echo tour, Grace Under Pressure Tour, Hemispheres Tour were all brilliant setlists that I would love to be able to see. Thanks I'm glad you liked it. This is pretty much just the bass with nothing added. I like beefing it up a bit with some distortion like I've done on more recent videos I think it sounds a little more like Geddy's tone on the live GuP footage (which is one of my favourite bass tones I've ever heard)!

[@arturoacosta6583]

There's only one RUSH!!!!!!.....man,thanks for sharing your talent!!....two thumbs up!!

[@hemibass]

Thanks for watching I'm glad you liked it!

[@GeddyRC]

Such a fun song to play. Great work! Love the tone and aggressive right hand style.

[@hemibass]

yep really fun one. thanks!

[@chrisbame4780]

Beautiful bass playing. Probably my favourite Rush song, also love the drums towards the end

[@hemibass]

Thanks for watching. It's a great song and a really creative bass part. I'd like to redo it with a better sound (this was just the bass with nothing added) but it's got too many views now :)

[@ricknicosia2015]

I used to listen to Vital Signs on the department store stereos and the displays used to dim when Neil did those double bass kicks!

[@dibber43]

The final song from one of THE greatest albums EVER recorded..."Moving Pictures"

[@hemibass]

Agreed. Musical perfection! Thanks for watching

[@avro66]

Always wanted a steinberger bass from the 80,90s, great bass playing.

[@hemibass]

Thanks. Me too after I saw the Grace Under Pressure live dvd

[@avro66]

@@hemibass only just descoverd the music of rush, fantastic band,

[@hemibass]

@@avro66 Oh right. You have about 40 years of awesome stuff to listen to now :). If you like the Steinberger check out Grace Under Pressure and also the live album of the same name

[@avro66]

I'm just watching the grace under pressure concert on KZbin, excellent concert,

[@alexlifeson8946]

Seen you guys twice now. Thanks for keeping Rush alive, fellas 👍 See you this Fall!

[@hemibass]

I think you might have me confused with someone else. I haven't played any gigs with my rush band yet! Glad that you enjoy rush cover bands though!

[@mikesmith1579]

Well, you're awesome! Geddy would be proud! Vital Signs is a tough song to play.

[@hemibass]

Thanks that's really nice of you to say. He's my favourite player. Glad you liked the video!

[@Soquetes222]

Superb! More!

[@hemibass]

Thanks!

[@nigelclements7367]

Nice job on vital signs

[@hemibass]

Thanks dude

[@scunion66]

Great playing. I've never seen right hand technique quite like yours. Impressive

[@hemibass]

Thanks glad you liked it. I kind of just tried to copy footage of geddy playing and it ended up like this haha

[@CTTH100]

Can't believe it to me this long to find your channel!! Outstanding work!

[@hemibass]

Thanks! Glad you found your way here:)

[@AnubisXII]

Granny always said that there's no burger like a Steinberger. Well, no. She never said that. Good job, man. That is a fun song to play. Sounds like you might have been slightly influenced by the Grace Under Pressure Tour video? I think I could hear it in the solo. And that solo was played perfectly.

[@hemibass]

Haha thanks man. Yes I love that live show it's the reason I spent years hunting down a steinberger! Love your channel btw your covers were some of my most watched KZbin videos when I was a kid it's awesome you watched one of mine!

[@43loudman]

You are a mind blowing player, i am lost as to how you sound so good, i ref to the actual song and you are spot on, you have an amazing talent, i wish i had this ability, i struggle to learn the simplest of the parts, and as i try to play them, there are no simple parts, i spent a whole saturday watching your videos, i am amazed, you are so very excellent, an exceptionally talented player, thank you for sharing your skills with all of us,......

[@hemibass]

Just keep breaking them down into small sections and slowly build up the whole song. I still try and approach Rush songs one section at a time when I'm learning new ones and start by playing the parts slowly lots of times. My pleasure glad you are enjoying my videos thanks for all the nice comments :)

[@43loudman]

@@hemibass thank you,..

[@pujols2112]

Fantastic tone. I love how you keep proving that it's all in the touch.

[@hemibass]

Thanks! I defiinitely think a lot of the tone is from the hands. Gear matters but only to an extent

[@TheSuccessfulHuman]

Love it!!!!

[@hemibass]

Thanks! Got a new video to upload tonight too :)

[@RottenPoliticians]

Aaaahhhh big daawwwggg...brought back memories. Thanks, spectacular performance. Something about a Steinberger I just love. I always wondered if the body was normal size what it would sound like. Little more low end? I had one, it was easier to run the neck and pluck my ass off. Loved it.

[@hemibass]

Haha glad you liked it. I actually think the Steinberger is really beefy in the low end compared to my other basses. It's probably my favourite thing about the bass. It's the higher stuff which I find a little thin at times! Would be interested to know what effect the body shape has on tone. I imagine it's more the materials used as well

[@emmanuelboulianne3088]

wow great tone and i love the agressi vital sign of right hand good job very well!!!

[@hemibass]

Thanks! Working on a new sound for the Steinberger in Cakewalk look out for my Big Money cover I'll do soon

[@SANDIEGOPB]

Congratulations!

[@hemibass]

Thanks!

[@gorillatrx9110]

Wonderful. Loved it 👍

[@hemibass]

Thanks!

[@Augfordpdoggie]

just came across your channel....incredible. Always been my fave off of MP

[@hemibass]

Mine too. 3rd behind limelight/yyz. Thx for watching

[@mfiorotti96]

Awesome!

[@hemibass]

Thanks for watching!

[@hemibass]

Thanks :)

[@joshuahenry7482]

Oooh thats an early one too, you have the screws on the top of the faceplate. Awesome bass, awesome playing and awesome song.

[@hemibass]

Thanks! The L2s are really cool basses. It's a shame so few were made

[@joshuahenry7482]

​@@hemibass I love my Steinbergers.

[@timsmith6688]

Awesome! …. love it!

[@hemibass]

Thanks for watching!

[@RH-YT]

Quality cover as always! love the Steinberger

[@hemibass]

Thanks for watching! I think it's a really cool bass too I'm very pleased to own one. Unique design and tone

[@RH-YT]

@@hemibass A classic design, I was considering purchasing one How does it feel to play, can you get up and down the fret board quickly (play fast)?

[@hemibass]

@@RH-YT I love everything about how my left hand feels on it. The neck/fretboard feel really easy to play on to me. It takes a little bit of getting used to the fact there isn't a body pushing against you to anchor the neck, but that doesn't take long. My right hand feels a little strange after playing my jazz a lot, but again I get used to it very quickly. My only worry when playing it is that it's so close to being irreplacable that I don't want to ruin it's condition with the amount of use my 'main bass' has to endure haha

[@RH-YT]

@@hemibass Oh yeah I forget it doesnt have a body haha can imagine the being hard to get used to, your right arm has no where to rest on

[@hemibass]

@@RH-YT yes that's the thing that is strange. It's a bit difficult for a while but I can pick mine up after weeks without using it and be comfortable within a couple of songs

[@cookingforfools8691]

Great job! So cool you have a real Seinberger. I have a Spirit Steinberger guitar. I have other guitars that I play, but I always was a fanboy for the Steinberger.

[@hemibass]

Thanks for watching! It's a really cool bass I'm very lucky to have one. The spirits seem pretty good from what I can see. Hopefully one day the original graphite models will be produced again and be more available than the old L2s and XL2s which are rare and expensive...

[@DrNoClu]

I'm from Australia and recently acquired a Steinberger Sprirt bass Second hand from Sydney (it was the only steinberger available domestically at the time). It's a great bass, I would love to play a vintage 'Berger one day.

[@phildern6203]

Brilliant

[@hemibass]

Thanks :)

[@Tat2Dragons]

Sounded great. 👍

[@hemibass]

thanks! this was pretty much just the bass straight into my interface with no effects. Working on a new sound for the Steinberger now I'm a bit better with the software. Will use it for Big Money when I get round to doing it

[@Bassman1969]

Good play!

[@hemibass]

Thanks for watching!

[@lurocovideo]

EXCELENTE

[@hemibass]

Thanks!

[@leodarmawanleo]

👍

[@hemibass]

Thanks!

[@caryd67]

👍🏻👍🏻🤘🏻

[@hemibass]

Thanks 🤘

[@cryptosoreass14]

Nice.👍

[@hemibass]

thanks

[@Maximus091768]

Awesome! Do you have your action set real low?

[@hemibass]

Thanks. Nothing too crazy i think. But not really sure how other people have theirs set up in comparison. But low enough to get good contact between the strings and fretboard yeah

[@erich8465]

Fucking GREAT!!

[@hemibass]

Thanks! Newer covers much better too I promise :)

[@markblackman2542]

I wont write bull shit, just fucking brilliant !

[@hemibass]

Haha thanks! I'd do an updated one for this song but it has my most views! Thanks so much for watching

[@Darryl6636]

Nice bass I got the same one

[@hemibass]

We are lucky to own such a rare piece of bass history :) thanks for watching

[@kurtaaron9478]

Nicely done! I miss my Rick 4001!

[@hemibass]

Thanks. Did you sell it? I wanted a Ric for such a long time as a teenager. Finally got one when I was a bit older and never really got on with it. I'll use it for some 70's Rush stuff on here when I get to doing them.

[@kurtaaron9478]

@@hemibass Can you please play some Robert Palmer: Every Kind of People?

[@hemibass]

@@kurtaaron9478 Hi I'm currently just doing Rush stuff. Haven't decided whether I will do other covers maybe if I get through the large collection of Rush songs I want to do I'll mix it up, but currently just sticking with Rush. Thanks for commenting though if you like any Rush songs feel free to suggest them :)

[@kurtaaron9478]

@@hemibass Yes many years ago. Beautiful instruments.

[@BudderB0y2222]

Nice tone. Any pedals or was it just your right hand + rounds?

[@hemibass]

Thanks glad you liked it. I record the bass on cakewalk and I added some compression. Think the sound is mainly right hand with very high treble though since I can get that kind of sound on a lot of different amps/settings

[@RottenPoliticians]

Hold on there Captain Hemi...I've never heard this version...is it a live one?

[@hemibass]

It's actually not a live one, it's from the isolated tracks that were available on KZbin before the guy who ran the channel left the platform. I think this is the ending without the fadeout! Quite cool to hear it. Red Barchetta has a full outro too on the version from the same source

[@RottenPoliticians]

@@hemibass Cool...ok then. I know my Rush...if something cruises under my radar it signals a red alert with me. Better people, better food and better beer...you heard of the new Rush beer? Now available in America.

[@barryhaynes103]

you make it look easy man … 😎

[@hemibass]

Haha ty. It's actually a song I have to be very concentrated that verse riff can go wrong quite easily :). Thanks for watching

[@tacotele6819]

The vocal track is way different, where did this come from? Sounds like a different version.

[@hemibass]

It's from the stems from rock band iirc. I suspect it was an alternate recording from moving pictures recordings. Search rush musicians fan channel and you'll find it

[@dibber43]

Can you play AND sing the song?😉 Nice playing!😎👍

[@hemibass]

No sadly not but I can't sing without playing either haha. It would take a lot of practice to pull that off for rush songs the baselines are tricky enough on their own!

[@profjohnfrinks]

I have the same bass. I know Lee and Entwistle got them when they came out. Did Lee use it on this track?

[@hemibass]

Yep and sting had an early one too. Not a bad list of names! Geddy Lee didn't use his until the signals tour which was a few years after moving pictures. There is a great live version of the song from the grace under pressure live album though which is on the steinberger

[@profjohnfrinks]

Yes, we are in good company! I always loved this bass sound. My fav overall bass sound is Entwistle when he had the warwick buzzard, second being chris squires never changing sound. Geddy always had deceptively complicated bass lines, as you are playing! Nice job!

[@hemibass]

@@profjohnfrinks Three of the best/most creative players in my opinion too. Thanks for watching.

[@robputnam2049]

Dude that was Solid As Fuck!!

[@hemibass]

Thanks for watching!

[@bradhart6487]

What version of the song is the recording you're playing to? The vocal sounds like an alternate to the album track...

[@hemibass]

I think it's an alternative recording from moving pictures. If you search for 'vital signs without bass' it should come up. If that doesn't work I'll find the video and link it for you

[@nunoharris]

Hi what strings and pedais are you using? Thanks

[@hemibass]

Hi. I think this video was without any pedals, just the bass straight into my interface. The strings are rotosound swing bass 66s which I use on all my basses. Thanks for watching!

[@SuperCasotti1]

Nice! Rounds or flats?

[@hemibass]

Rounds. Rotosound swingbass 66 strings. Thanks for watching

[@paulocesargildelima7687]

🤘👍🇧🇷

[@hemibass]

Thanks for watching:)

[@paulocesargildelima7687]

@@hemibass I really like the Rush 👍👍👍🤘🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@turntabillist]

spidery bass line

[@hemibass]

Haha not heard that adjective before! It makes sense I think though:)

[@PUBHEAD1]

And to think he sings while playing this

[@hemibass]

Haha yep. Good luck to anyone trying to learn how to do that! Luckily not being able to sing gives me an excuse :) thanks for watching

[@warrengauthier4699]

Geddy is better than Alex on some Rush tracks and this is one of them.

[@hemibass]

I think the parts compliment each other really nicely. It's a great bass part for sure though

[@dominiccrimmings6925]

Pretty good, but there are several issues with that I'm afraid....

[@hemibass]

Yep. Normally are for me. Perfect playthroughs are rare! :)

[@Eric-tj3tg]

Awesome!

[@hemibass]

Thanks!