- Jul 3, 2020
- 2
- 1
- Disclosures
- Ex Preppie turned hippie turned day-trader turned retired old goat
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Aerodyne vs P Lyte
- Thread starter Eric Dunivan
- Start date
I've never played a P Bass Lyte, but my Aerodyne is fantastic. I roll the bridge pickup off just a bit and it roars! Super light weight and easy to play.
For reference, I play in a Stoner Rock/Psych Blues band and I've never had issues cutting through a mix with 2 high gain/fuzz guitars and a really loud drummer.
For reference, I play in a Stoner Rock/Psych Blues band and I've never had issues cutting through a mix with 2 high gain/fuzz guitars and a really loud drummer.
the Lytes I've seen were of just ok quality and typically needed upgraded electronics, but the Deluxe and Japan issued versions fare far better. those at least can compete well with an Aerodyne.
- Jul 3, 2020
- 2
- 1
- Disclosures
- Ex Preppie turned hippie turned day-trader turned retired old goat
everything both of you have said is what I've been reading but just want to be sure so I don't make a mistake. Not likely anyway now since GC made an underwhelming offer for my 1962 Jazz Bass reissue.
Aerodynes are really solid rock machines. No arrows. Lasers! pew-pew
I'm not a big fan of the Lyte's electronics. Build quality and playability on both is outstanding in my view. The Aerodyne just feels like a good jazz bass to me. The Lyte feels different but still comfy.
I have owned the lite, Jazz bass special, Jazz bass power special, p bass special active and passive, and 3 aerodynes. Two of the aerodynes are the p bass version and one is the jazz all imports. In my opinion the aerodyne slays them all. Jazz bass special comes in second and is honestly more comfortable for me to play.
Never played an Aerodyne (been tempted to grab one a few times over the years), and own a Precision Lyte. It's a superb instrument, as most/all MIJ Fenders are. Mine tips the scales at 7 lbs, 3 oz. And yes, the stock electronics are boxed up, in my parts drawer. My personal arguments for why one should choose a Lyte over an Aerodyne are this: 1) more lightweight; 2) smaller size; 3) not offset. The Lyte pulls off the Precision Bass vibe well, and has a woody, raw tone to it that I find unique (speaking after owning 60+ basses). The Aerodyne, though lightweight, still has the large Jazz Bass body. The Lyte is essentially a 3/4 size Precision Bass body.
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Lyte = P bass body
Aerodyne = Jazz Bass body
That’s how I see this comparison.
Aerodyne = Jazz Bass body
That’s how I see this comparison.
Never played a P-Lyte but I love my Aerodyne. It's a joy to play. Sounds great, looks awesome (I love the no-pick guard look and the dark fretboard with no markers), build quality is very good (if you're OK that it's "basswood" which is quite soft, so can dent easily if you're not really careful) and the neck is so fast.
Pickup / electronic differences aside, while thinner, an Aerodyne feels the same size as a typical Jazz Bass, while a PB Lyte seems a size smaller, like an Ibanez Soundgear.
I didn't know there was a basic lyte. As far as I know there's one kind and they're all Japanese. I could be wrong.
my P-lyte had EMG actives because (as others have stated) the original electronics were so-so. lightweight = comfort, IME, so that's a plus. i have no experience with the aerodynes --- though i have admired them for years.
GC was never in business to pay a lot for a used bass - they flip them for a profit, that starts with not paying you a lot when they buy it. Int todays's climate, where things are probably moving really slow, I'm sure they're even more reluctant to put money into something they'll probably own for a while. I wouldn't expect them to 'whelm" you with an offer on pretty much anything at this point.
I can't compare the two; I haven't played the P-lyte. But I can vouch for the Aerodyne! That bass has a great neck and feel, it's light, it sounds good with the stock pickups. It is really comfortable to play. Looks are in the eye and all, but I think the Aerodyne is a gorgeous bass. I like the other colors available in the Japan market, but the black ones they make for export to the US are dead sexy!
During the pandemic, I've been playing a little bit more often but rarely for more than an hour 2-4 times a week. Then we had our first practice in 4 months last week, and we played for over 3 hours (Singer curtained off, band spread out). Frankly, I was a little tired, but the bass (and my shoulder) felt fine that night and the next day, too.
I did upgrade the pickups to EMG Geezers, primarily because of the noisy and relatively anemic stock J. The Geezer J really growls and is noiseless. The P was fine before, and I didn't notice as much of a change with the P solo'd after the switch. The P in the Geezers is slightly hotter, but the tone is very similar to the stock P.
I also switched out the bridge for a Hipshot, mostly for cosmetics. The old bridge worked perfectly, easy to set-up/adjust. Capable of very low action, although I don't play with it set as low with my current (metal) band so I can dig in a little harder when needed. (I wouldn't claim that the Aerodyne is the best bass for metal, but it is capable in that genre.)
In true Fender fashion, it is easy to upgrade, setup, and maintain. I've done all work on it myself. Our singer, who also plays bass, LOVES the setup on my 'Dyne. The only way I can get it back from him is by starting to sing...
The 'Dyne does a great P-sound, but has the additional versatility of that J pickup. It was capable of a good range of tones before the upgrade, but I rarely solo'd the J before I upgraded. (I have a J for that.) But since I upgraded the pickups, I find myself favoring and even solo-ing the bridge for some stuff.
Complaints about the Aerodyne tend to be related to the more acute edge where the R forearm contacts the binding (for R-handed players), which some players find uncomfortable. I've never had an issue, but it is not rolled/rounded like most other basses. I think it's an issue related to how high you wear your bass. If you have a chance, you'd be wise to play one before you buy to see if that is an issue for you.
The other thing people talk about is the basswood body, which is a softer wood. I'm pretty sure the P-lyte is also basswood, so between these 2 basses, that would be a wash. I take good care of my instruments, but I don't baby them either. Mine is about 6 years old and still looks great. I've taken it to a lot of practices but it hasn't been gigged yet because I am just getting back into playing out again after a few decades off. But when I go, it will be there.
During the pandemic, I've been playing a little bit more often but rarely for more than an hour 2-4 times a week. Then we had our first practice in 4 months last week, and we played for over 3 hours (Singer curtained off, band spread out). Frankly, I was a little tired, but the bass (and my shoulder) felt fine that night and the next day, too.
I did upgrade the pickups to EMG Geezers, primarily because of the noisy and relatively anemic stock J. The Geezer J really growls and is noiseless. The P was fine before, and I didn't notice as much of a change with the P solo'd after the switch. The P in the Geezers is slightly hotter, but the tone is very similar to the stock P.
I also switched out the bridge for a Hipshot, mostly for cosmetics. The old bridge worked perfectly, easy to set-up/adjust. Capable of very low action, although I don't play with it set as low with my current (metal) band so I can dig in a little harder when needed. (I wouldn't claim that the Aerodyne is the best bass for metal, but it is capable in that genre.)
In true Fender fashion, it is easy to upgrade, setup, and maintain. I've done all work on it myself. Our singer, who also plays bass, LOVES the setup on my 'Dyne. The only way I can get it back from him is by starting to sing...
The 'Dyne does a great P-sound, but has the additional versatility of that J pickup. It was capable of a good range of tones before the upgrade, but I rarely solo'd the J before I upgraded. (I have a J for that.) But since I upgraded the pickups, I find myself favoring and even solo-ing the bridge for some stuff.
Complaints about the Aerodyne tend to be related to the more acute edge where the R forearm contacts the binding (for R-handed players), which some players find uncomfortable. I've never had an issue, but it is not rolled/rounded like most other basses. I think it's an issue related to how high you wear your bass. If you have a chance, you'd be wise to play one before you buy to see if that is an issue for you.
The other thing people talk about is the basswood body, which is a softer wood. I'm pretty sure the P-lyte is also basswood, so between these 2 basses, that would be a wash. I take good care of my instruments, but I don't baby them either. Mine is about 6 years old and still looks great. I've taken it to a lot of practices but it hasn't been gigged yet because I am just getting back into playing out again after a few decades off. But when I go, it will be there.
I recently had a second-hand P-Lyte, and more than a decade ago had a nice blue Aerodyne Jazz that I got brand new from Ishibashi... My impression is that the Aerodyne was more "refined". But as DrThumpenstein alludes to above, I had to move it along quickly due to the hard body edge binding 
being a major annoyance.
being a major annoyance.
