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Fender Aerodyne Club!

Thanks

I’m just wondering why? Are we considered that boring to only want black? Not that the black isn’t sharp because it is, but why deprive the bass players in the USA market who might want a different Fender than the usual tried and true Precision and Jazz?

Does anyone know an official Fender answer? Is it just a sales/profitability thing? :meh:
I've never heard a stated, official answer. What I suspect is that the Aerodyne was actually a design created by Fender-Japan, the now-defunct joint venture between FMIC and Kanda-Shokai. I wouldn't be surprised if some kind of deal was brokered that kept the American/World market from being flooded by too many awesome CIJ/MIJ instruments.

While I would love it other Aerodyne models were more readily available, I rather dig that we get such a non-standard, oddball design. I mean, how many basses have a bound & radiused top, matching headstock and a Stratocaster jack all in one package? It sure ain't boring! ;)
 
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I've never heard a stated, official answer. What I suspect is that the Aerodyne was actually a design created by Fender-Japan, the now-defunct joint venture between FMIC and Kanda-Shokai. I wouldn't be surprised if some kind of deal was brokered that kept the American/World market from being flooded by too many awesome CIJ/MIJ instruments.

While I would love it other Aerodyne models were more readily available, I rather dig that we get such a non-standard, oddball design. I mean, how many basses have a bound & radiused top, matching headstock and a Stratocaster jack all in one package? It sure ain't boring! ;)
I didn’t say or infer it was boring. Only that one choice in color/finish is boring and assumes that the USA market is boring. I love chocolate ice cream but sometimes I have vanilla or strawberry....dig?

I think the Fender Aerodyne is one of the coolest looking Fender basses made while still having a familiar silhouette to it that says Fender at first glance.

They exude elegance and coolness all at once, and increased playability comfort from the contoured body.

I’ve been thinking about getting one for a while and have some how kept G.A.S. at bay, but there’s a few blue gun metal (correct color description?) models floating around that are wearing me down.
 
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I didn’t say or infer it was boring. Only that one choice in color/finish is boring and assumes that the USA market is boring. I love chocolate ice cream but sometimes I have vanilla or strawberry....dig?
No worries, B. I totally got where you were coming from. I was just agreeing with you and stating that they are far from boring. ;)
I’ve been thinking about getting one for a while and have some how kept G.A.S. at bay, but there’s a few blue gun metal (correct color description?) models floating around that are wearing me down.
If I were to ever get another Non-Export (I owned a Candy Apple Red one for a while :drool:), it would be a USG (U.S. Gunmetal Blue) model. I love dark blue tones and I really dig how it shifts between blues and greens depending upon the available light.

I really lucked out with this CAR Non-Export. Someone was selling it via eBay right over the bridge in South Jersey, so I contacted them and arranged for a cash-in-hand transaction. (Sorry-not-sorry, eBay! :whistle:) Sadly, I had to let it go when my car was ailing. Easy come, easy go, I guess. :crying:

vSVarDD.jpg
 
No worries, B. I totally got where you were coming from. I was just agreeing with you and stating that they are far from boring. ;)

If I were to ever get another Non-Export (I owned a Candy Apple Red one for a while :drool:), it would be a USG (U.S. Gunmetal Blue) model. I love dark blue tones and I really dig how it shifts between blues and greens depending upon the available light.

I really lucked out with this CAR Non-Export. Someone was selling it via eBay right over the bridge in South Jersey, so I contacted them and arranged for a cash-in-hand transaction. (Sorry-not-sorry, eBay! :whistle:) Sadly, I had to let it go when my car was ailing. Easy come, easy go, I guess. :crying:

vSVarDD.jpg
:drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool:
 
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At the moment you can get this special run

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Deep down inside, I'm still somewhat offended that Fender broke the Aerodyne's tradition of painted headstocks, no matter how nice that Cherry Burst body finish is. :meh:
 
Sorry if I.missed it in this thread but my aerodyne doesn't have the strat jack.
That's just because its older right?View attachment 3577243
Not necessarily. It means yours is, technically speaking, a “Non-Export Aerodyne Deluxe” aka an AJB-D. It’s a Deluxe model like the ones with the Strat-jack, but made specifically for the Japanese market. :bookworm:
 
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Not necessarily. It means yours is, technically speaking, a “Non-Export Aerodyne Deluxe” aka an AJB-D. It’s a Deluxe model like the ones with the Strat-jack, but made specifically for the Japanese market. :bookworm:

"The more you know..."
Thanks thats interesting stuff. I've been in love with this bass for years and didn't kniw this model had a Japanese version. Thanks again
 
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I've never heard a stated, official answer. What I suspect is that the Aerodyne was actually a design created by Fender-Japan, the now-defunct joint venture between FMIC and Kanda-Shokai. I wouldn't be surprised if some kind of deal was brokered that kept the American/World market from being flooded by too many awesome CIJ/MIJ instruments.
I thought that Fuji Gen (Fuji General) made the Aerodyne but I have no evidence to support it.



While I would love it other Aerodyne models were more readily available, I rather dig that we get such a non-standard, oddball design. I mean, how many basses have a bound & radiused top, matching headstock and a Stratocaster jack all in one package? It sure ain't boring! ;)
The non-export model I have has the original front mounted jack and a higher mass bridge than most of the BBOT fitted to later basses.

As for the painted headstock, it is essential to me. The things that makes my Aerodyne special , and this is personal to me are:

  1. Smoked Chrome/Cosmo Black hardware.
  2. Radiused top, cream bonding
  3. No pickguard
  4. No front inlays, only side dots.
  5. Painted headstock.
Not that I don’t like the other models but my black beauty is just so right.
 
I thought that Fuji Gen (Fuji General) made the Aerodyne but I have no evidence to support it.
If I remember correctly, Fuji-Gen was one of the factories they contracted to produce instruments. Kanda-Shokai was the firm FMIC was partnering up with to form Fender-Japan like a kind of "corporate Voltron Force" or something like that. Check the text at the bottom of this ad page…

OYBPhAM.jpg
 
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