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Fender Aerodyne Club!

#2,781
Lucky Chuck said:
Yeah, the pickguard versions are around. It's not like the Border Patrol prevents people from buying them and having them shipped across the pond. I assume that's how mine got here. How about yours, oh angry one?

;->
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True. All one needs to get a Non-Export Aerodyne is either the means (re: able to spend a bit more, purchase while visiting Japan, find someone willing to ship overseas, etc…) or a little bit of luck. When it comes to two AJB models I've owned, it was the latter.

vSVarDD.jpg

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Come to think of it, I did blindly stumble upon my Export Edition 'Dyne on the website of a pawn shop that was halfway across the country, leading me to the first bass I ever owned. Perhaps I have a charmed existence when it comes to Aerodynes in general?
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For the record, here are the actual photos sent to me by said pawn shop, which was located way the hell away in Alabama…
ChBHE1W.jpg

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#2,785
bunky1998 said:
Educate this simpleton...what's the difference between the I and the II models?
Year of manufacture?
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The Aerodyne II models appeared a little while after FMIC (aka Fender America, if you will) took over control of all things "Fender" in Japan. I haven't had a chance to sample one, but the specs show they modernized the necks a bit by flattening the fretboard radius from 7.25" to 9.5". Furthermore, it appears they the same thing to a number of the Japan-only, non-export models.

On a personal note, I can't help but wonder if the Japanese buyers were actually clamoring for more modern necks on their Fender basses (from what I can tell, the majority of their pre-2015 models had vintage-style, 7.25" radius fretboards) or if FMIC's decision to institute American specs will end up biting them in the patootey. :unsure:
 
#2,786
Malak the Mad said:
On a personal note, I can't help but wonder if the Japanese buyers were actually clamoring for more modern necks on their Fender basses (from what I can tell, the majority of their pre-2015 models had vintage-style, 7.25" radius fretboards) or if FMIC's decision to institute American specs will end up biting them in the patootey. :unsure:
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That's a good question. It sure seems like japanese prefer 1.5" nut widths. I wonder if the 7.25" radius pairs well with skinnier neck widths for them.
 
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#2,787
hypercarrots said:
That's a good question. It sure seems like japanese prefer 1.5" nut widths. I wonder if the 7.25" radius pairs well with skinnier neck widths for them.
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If a standard, first-generation Aerodyne feels good in your own, two hands, then I'd say the answer is a resounding, "Yes!" ;)
 
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#2,788
I have been playing my Aerodyne II non-stop since I got it a month or two back. I just love everything about it, with the exception of the bridge. I replaced the saddles with some I pulled off an old Am Dlx bridge I had kicking around. Made a big difference, set-up wise. It's a fantastic bass.

Does anyone else here have one? I would love to compare notes with someone.
 
#2,790
NoSlapForYou said:
What can I do to get my Aerodyne volume knob to stop falling off? I know this is a pretty silly question. But I can't tell what was keeping it on in the first place.
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Assuming you have a jazz bass one, I think they just hold with the splines inside the knob. They might be damaged on yours if they keep falling off.

Mine's a P-bass so it has the usual set screw on the side of the knob. Even though the pots have split-splined shafts :/
 
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#2,795
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#2,798
jdcraignh said:
I thought those were 32" scale. Not sure the listing is entirely correct.
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Based upon my research, the special DiMarzio Editions were 34" scale. The "normal" AJB-M models, which also had a J/J configuration, had a 32" scale length.

Shirobon said:
View attachment 4583925
In my experience Fenders were always 34" apart from the Mustang, Bullet, PJ-535 and P Lytes.
But I could be wrong. Anyway, I have no idea what unit they use to measure scale length, because their system is about as illogical as the imperial one.
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It's a bit arcane, but it does make some sense. The "432 Scale" is in millimeters, which converts to just a hair over 17" (17.007874", to be exact). Double that number and you have a 34" scale length.
 
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