The Big Beautiful Book of Bass
Photography project
Created in close collaboration with Geddy Lee, The Big Beautiful Book of Bass is one of Richard Sibbald’s most ambitious photography projects. What began as a documentation of rare and historic bass guitars became a visual study of craft, culture, obsession, and sound.
“ It started as what seemed like a straightforward shoot of 300 of the rarest bass guitars in the world. Two years later, after a dozen flights around the world and more than 30,000 frames, the project became Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass, a best-selling release in three countries and one of the most rewarding projects I’ve ever worked on. ”
Tasked with photographing Geddy Lee’s extraordinary collection of vintage bass guitars, Richard Sibbald spent years capturing more than 250 instruments spanning decades of music history. From pristine collector pieces to road-worn basses shaped by performance, each instrument was photographed with the care and character of a portrait.
Working with Geddy Lee, arts journalist Daniel Richler, and John “Skully” McIntosh, Geddy’s trusted bass tech and curator, the project became more than a documentation of rare instruments. It evolved into a visual archive of craft, culture, and musical obsession, preserving the stories behind some of the world’s most significant bass guitars.
