Geddy Lee VS. Aerodyne Jazz

Tuomas · November 16, 2003

First of all, i have pushed the magical "search" button and checked all those.. But, my english aint SO good so can someone tell me what is the deal with Geddy Lee truss rod?

And. Im going to buy Geddy Lee jazz or Aerodyne jazz and i dont know wich one should i buy? I know that "let your ears decide.." and so on, but the problem is that im not able to test those basses so it would be great if you just say wich one would you buy?

rumpelstiltskin. · November 16, 2003

the deal with the truss rod is that it is only accessible by removing the neck or routing an access slot in the body. it a reissue that reproduced every detail of the original bass, including the designs that were later improved. you can take the bass to a luthier who should be able to route an access slot in the body, but many people are uncomfortable with that.

i love both basses, but i think you're getting more value from a geddy lee jazz. however, i think you get more versatile tones from an aerodyne. personally i prefer the aerodyne because of its tones. but i think the geddy lee is more solidly built and will last longer. that, of course, is just a guess.

robb.

Tuomas · November 16, 2003

Hmm. I dont like the idea of removing the neck.. Maybe i should go with the Aerodyne and i would like that P/J pickup thing.

Geddy Lee has a Badass bridge. I've heard only good things about Badass, but i dont have one myself. How does Badass effect the sound? But of course i can replace Aerodynes bridge with Badass..

BigKahuna855 · November 16, 2003

why cant you test them? if its a music store, then im sure theres another one somewhere. you need to test em man, otherwise you might end up with a bass that just doesnt work for you. but if its gotta be one of those 2, id say aerodyne jazz. for a very simple reason: it looks prettier

Tuomas · November 16, 2003

Because i live in Finland. And even though here is many music shops they dont have Aerodyne or Geddy Lee..

So im going to order Geddy or Aero from Germany and take the risk like a man. And the price is about 100-150 euros less. I have ordered all my gear from germany (Ampeg amp and cab) without testing them.. so all you who are able to go and test your gear before buying them rotten in hell you lucky bastardos..

Mr. Phil · November 17, 2003

Well lets see. I would probably get the Aerodyne because:

You can get a semi P or J sound from it.

You have the advantage of the trussrod being adjusted at the peghead.

I think that its lighter, and it looks neat.

I think you should get the Geddy if you are looking for a good J sound.

I particularly don't like the glossy neck, but you might.

I would also rather have the Trussrod screw at the peghead, but if you have some router skills (or a Dremel) You can make a notch in the body and Pickguard for easier adjustment (meaning you dont have to take off the neck.)

Also I think the Geddy is more $$$ than the Aerodyne.

So first look at your budget, then decide.

Rik · November 17, 2003

Also I think the Geddy is more $$$ than the Aerodyne.

Nah, as far as I've seen, they're both $899 list, $629 street.

jeremy c · November 17, 2003

I vote for the Geddy Lee bass, but then again I'm a fan of Fender Jazz basses in general and Geddy's bass is very similar to my '71 jazz bass...including the awkward to get to trussrod adjustment.

I haven't touched the adjustment on my bass in many many years (it hasn't needed it) so it's not much of an issue.

Supposedly a Badass bridge will give you slightly more clarity and sustain. Supposedly.

I believe that the Geddy Lee will have more resale value than the Aerodyne. Besides the name sounds better to me.

doc taz · November 17, 2003

I'd go out on a limb here and go for the Aerodyne. Sure, it may not have the resale value later on, but I think you can do just as well. If you want Geddy's tone, then get the Geddy. But I've tried' em both, and I like the Aerodyne better for whatever reason. I'd probably swap the bridge pickup for a Duncan Basslines Classic Jazz stack for the bridge though, just to kill the noise. Maybe.

I realize your English isn't good, but try reading some of these reviews:

Harmony Central reviews of the Aerodyne

reviews for the Geddy Lee Jazz Bass

Tuomas · November 17, 2003

Thanks everybody.

But i thought that the Geddy Lee truss rod is at the head..

Look at this:

http://www.fender.com/new_repository/fender_guitars/images/0257702_xl.jpg

Or maybe I have misunderstood something.

I have the money for Aerodyne and Geddy so money isnt the problem here..

doc taz · November 17, 2003

With the Geddy, the neck has to be removed for truss rod adjustment. Not so with the Aerodyne. Don't let that be a factor in buying the bass, though. If you're buying the bass new, it should come with a manual that will show you how to properly adjust the truss rod, or take it to a local tech guy/gal, and let them show you how to set it up properly.

You can get Fender manuals online from Mr. Gearhead .

LizzyD · November 17, 2003

Nope, that little brown spot isn't the truss rod. I think it's just a wooden plug for the hole where the truss rod is. The adjustment is done at the heel of the neck. I have one, and have made the adjustment a couple times now and it isn't difficult, but it is somewhat of a pain. It's a project, if you will, and you need to set aside some time to do it. I can do it without completely removing the neck, I just loosen the strings and unscrew the bolts enough to pop it out exposing the adjustment "screw" or whatever it's called. It looks like a big philips head screw.

I haven't played an Aerodyne, so I can't offer any comments on that. But I like my Geddy Lee. There is a recent thread about the Geddy Jazz somewhere on here.

dcr · November 17, 2003

A search will turn up at least one good-sized thread on the Aerodyne, and a whole lot of stuff on the Lee. Just click "search" in the upper right-hand corner of the page.

I too have a Geddy Lee & I've made no secret about my liking it. I wouldn't say that it's all about the "Geddy tone," and surely not just about that. I bought it because I thought it had a great Jazz Bass tone.

I haven't tried the Aerodyne, but would very much like to. It seems to be a good bass from what I can tell.

Tuomas · November 17, 2003

Originally posted by dcr:
A search will turn up at least one good-sized thread on the Aerodyne, and a whole lot of stuff on the Lee. Just click "search" in the upper right-hand corner of the page.

Yup. Check my first post on this thread..

but thanks, all of you.

Aerodyne has a 'Carved 39" Radius Top' what does this actually mean?

And also (this is a dumb question) what means Rear Mounted Controls?

dcr · November 17, 2003

Originally posted by Tuomas:

Originally posted by dcr:
A search will turn up at least one good-sized thread on the Aerodyne, and a whole lot of stuff on the Lee. Just click "search" in the upper right-hand corner of the page.

Yup. Check my first post on this thread..

Oh, yeah.

The 'Carved 39" Radius Top' means that the "face" of the body is not flat, but has an arc, being thicker through the middle, & thinner along the edges. (39" just tells you how much of an arc there is: the greater a circle's radius (here, 39"), the less pronounced an arc will be for a segment of fixed length.)

"Rear Mounted Controls" are housed in a cavity that opens from the back of the bass; unlike a standard Jazz Bass, which houses its control in a cavity in the front of the bass, covered by a chrome plate. Rear-mounting allows them to preserve the sleek, clean look of this bass (and to avoid having to shape a control plate to a contoured surface).

Tuomas · November 17, 2003

Thanks.

Damn it looks nice.

http://www.samedaymusic.com/media/brand,sameday/p20661M-c7754139c69c97cb3720f061a5266843.jpg

Im leaning towards Aerodyne..

dcr · November 17, 2003

Well, I doubt you'd go wrong! And yeah, that DOES look nice!

BigKahuna855 · November 17, 2003

told ya it was pretty

Mike R. · November 18, 2003

Originally posted by Tuomas:
Thanks everybody.
But i thought that the Geddy Lee truss rod is at the head..

Look at this:
http://www.fender.com/new_repository/fender_guitars/images/0257702_xl.jpg

Or maybe I have misunderstood something.

I have the money for Aerodyne and Geddy so money isnt the problem here..

WOW

I want a Geddy REAL bad now!

doc taz · November 18, 2003

Originally posted by Tuomas:
Thanks.
Damn it looks nice.

http://www.samedaymusic.com/media/brand,sameday/p20661M-c7754139c69c97cb3720f061a5266843.jpg

Im leaning towards Aerodyne..

Trust me, you'll love it. That thing is so sexy to hold and play...

g. · November 18, 2003

Hmmm, which one? I can't remember from the top of the page what the images look like, or what anybody said. So I better quote the images a few more times so I can remember what the thread was about. Good thing I know how to quote. I'll quote all the text, next time, too, so I can remember what was right above this post. Since I don't seem to know how to scroll up very well it might be awhile before I figure out how to do this.

http://www.samedaymusic.com/media/brand,sameday/p20661M-c7754139c69c97cb3720f061a5266843.jpg