American Standard vs. Geddy

First of all, the necks in the two are completely different. The geddy has a super slim neck with a black binding and maple fretboard. The american is goin to have a slightly fatter neck and you have the option of a maple or rosewood fretboard. Second, the pickups in the geddy are designed to deliver geddy's sound. The american pickups are goin to be a little more versatile and i can say from experience that they deliver way more bottom end. If it turns out that you like the feel of the geddy better, which you probably will, you might want to consider throwin some Bartolini or emg pickups into it.

 

I do own a 2008 Fender MIA Jazz V, I do not own a Geddy Lee Signature. As the post before me stated the necks are completely different. The tone of my MIA 08' Jazz V is down right monstrous, there is without a doubt nothing like it and I've been playing bass professionally for over 30+ years. The neck on the Jazz V is not nearly as quick as the GL, there's alot of girth to be reckoned with. Bass Player mag has given both basses excellent reviews with an Editor's Pick Award going to the new Jazz IV and V. The choice is yours, but just take into consideration that the two basses are from different worlds it's just a matter of which color you want the sky to be.

 

I honestly think if you like the neck on the MIM, you are going to love the neck on the US Standard. They are really close in diameter....

 

i've got a geddy, and i like the neck on the MIA 08's better.

 

I think the MIM Jazz necks are alot closer to feel when compared to an 08' MIA Jazz.

 

I traded my Geddy for a 08 MIA. Although I liked the Geddy very much I've never looked back since.

 

Had to smile when I saw this post. I went through the same dilema when buying another Jazz last year. I really love the look and feel of the Geddy, and don't doubt that I will end up owning one but, was totaly floored with the MIA Deluxe. The above posts are spot-on, tone wise the MIA is fuller and more well rounded.

The Lee bass has a fantasticly thin neck with beautiful black inlays coupled with a deep lacquer finish (the MIA a litter thicker and not as fancy). I noticed that when my hands got a bit sweaty, it started to feel sticky pulling a bit on this neck due to the finish. Geddy Lee mentions this too in his Bass TV interview. He has his tech sanding down the necks of his bassis. The rumor and correct me if I heard this wrong is that the next issue of these bassis will have the non-lacquered finsish on them.

All said and done, it will come down to what you really want. Play both and make your decision. Either way you cant go wrong.

 

I picked up a 2008 MIA recently and it rocks! I thought Geddy was what I truly wanted out of a bass, but the MIA is more of what I was hearing in my head. That being said, the Geddy is a great bass, but simply isn't for me.

 

You really have to play both. They're both perfect as far as fit and finish goes, but feel completely different.

 

Mellow, Did you go with the "08" Am. jazz?
I've had one for 8 or 9 weeks now. Much prefer it over my other jazz's, a "66", a fretless 4, and a Marcus Milller 4.
One of the better things Fender has done IMO.

 

I popped up to the Canton, MI GC yesterday and played the MIA Deluxe, new Am. Std and the Geddy. Both the Deluxe and the new Am. Std. felt lighter compared to the Geddy Lee. I like the bottom on the active deluxe but even with all things flat there was quite a bit of zing/sizzle that was a bit much for me. That Mid control was very cool. The new Am. Std was comfy, but wasn't much different from my 1996 Am. Std. Then I fired up the Geddy.
I will be buying one. Although it felt a bit heavier than the other two, I had that "sound in your head moment" running through a GK 700 RBII and GK NEO 410. (I even made the face). I've played a Geddy in the past but for what ever reason while playing it this time, I could tell that this was something I needed to add to the stable. There was a certain "grindy" thing going on there that the other two just didn't have. IMO.

 

I owned a Geddy.

Neck was to small for me. ( I have big hands.)
The Geddy sounds very good.

But, the new MIA 2008's are the best "off the rack" fenders in quite sometime.

I just sold the Geddy.

And a 2008 MIA is high on my gas list.

 

I thought the Geddy pickups were just MIA 62 RI Jazz pickups. If that's the case, my 62 RI sounds fuller (much better) that my MIA Jazz. Also, the Geddy is painted with poly not lacquer -- which is period correct. I suspect that the thin maple Geddy neck/fretboard and 70s pickup placement are thinning the sound a bit on the GL model.

 

Then don't. If you really like/love it, then keep it. If you having that much of a difficult time parting with it, then imagine how you will feel once it's gone. True, you can always get another one, but why? You already have it. My first bass I bought after a real long hiatus was the Geddy. I would not part with it for any reason (unless it were for my kids well being, then we could just eat and have plenty of fiber ).

I currently own a Geddy Lee sig, a Classic 60's Jazz mim and a new 08 American standard and love them all for different reasons. I even traded my classic 60's towards the '08 ASJ. After one night away I ended up buying it back. To me, it is really a good bass to have (though a bit heavy) and something my daughter may want some day.

Either way, enjoy!