Fender Aerodyne Club!

[Enrique M]

Loving my Aerodyne Special Jazz. I recently took the stock strings off (which I kind of liked) and put on a set of DR Sunbeams, I think I am going to like these. But I was quite surprised at how much they altered the sound and now I am back to square one with P/U balance, tone, and EQ settings. (Just shows what a novice I am).

I am curious how those of you with this same bass would describe the pick ups on the Special Jazz. And I am also curious what kinds of strings you are finding this bass likes.

I play everything from Reggae to Metal to New Wave to the Blues in a 4 piece (w/ 2 guitars). I mostly play finger style, but I use a pick when I am lead vocals (about 25% of the time). Probably most interested in rounds, but I am new to this journey and open to other string suggestions y'all have found this bass likes.

 

[Charlinho14]

What flats did you put on it? I’m looking for some now…but not too muddy.
Thx.

La Bella 760FS. They have the same ones in lower tension if you prefer.

 

[Cahamp]

After the shortest, hottest, brightest ball of GAS went critical over the weekend, I find myself in need of a number please!

I recently got my first paycheck from my new job after losing my old one in December. I've been wanting a P, and my local GC had the white one in stock during the presidents day sale. Thankfully it was locked up, up high and still in perfect condition. I was able to offload a 6 string that I no longer played and get out the door for just over $500. Not every GC experience is a good one, but this time it was great.

All I can say is DAMN, this thing is NICE! The fit and finish are impeccable and this definitely has the best feeling fretwork of any of my instruments. The neck feels amazing, the bridge is a super slick design and a huge improvement over the one on my MIM Jazz. At 7.7 lbs it's also my lightest bass by a pound. I'm totally smitten.

Jazz bass for scale:View attachment 5359651 View attachment 5359652 View attachment 5359653

I completely agree about the fit and finish. The fretwork is so great that I now need to get the fret edges rolled on my MIM Jazz. My Jazz isn’t bad but I can completely slide up and down the Aero P neck and not feel a fret at all until I wrap my fingers around the board. It basically highlights an issue I didn’t even know I had with my old bass.

The 9050’s are starting to break in a bit. I’ve probably put in 20 hours or so on them in the last week but I’m excited for when they really lose that metallic sound and start to thump. I was also pleasantly surprised by how low I could get the action without any fret buzz. The neck is almost flat and plays like a dream. I did the setup myself. The Babicz Bridge is also really easy to adjust. I did notice that you have to add a little force to lock them down after adjusting string height.

 

[musicman556]

Loving my Aerodyne Special Jazz. I recently took the stock strings off (which I kind of liked) and put on a set of DR Sunbeams, I think I am going to like these. But I was quite surprised at how much they altered the sound and now I am back to square one with P/U balance, tone, and EQ settings. (Just shows what a novice I am).

I am curious how those of you with this same bass would describe the pick ups on the Special Jazz. And I am also curious what kinds of strings you are finding this bass likes.

I play everything from Reggae to Metal to New Wave to the Blues in a 4 piece (w/ 2 guitars). I mostly play finger style, but I use a pick when I am lead vocals (about 25% of the time). Probably most interested in rounds, but I am new to this journey and open to other string suggestions y'all have found this bass likes.

Congrats! I have the blue Aerodyne Special Jazz, and the white Precision.

I am most impressed with the pickups in the Jazz. To me, they are beautiful in tonal response. Not overly "vintage" as in dark and wooly. Not terribly modern as in sharp or "edgy." To me they are a perfect "classic" Jazz sound. Growly enough when you dig in just right, tight and defined on the low end without any artificial low EQ boost/bump. Super clean and present mids and upper mids. This bass is just about the most neutral/beautiful tool I have to get the sound in my head converted and out to an amp. I am never changing out these pickups.

I have lots of cool things... a Jazz with Aero Type 1 pickups, another Jazz with the Dimarzio Relentless J set, etc. Each one does its own thing in a great way, but the Aerodyne Special Jazz is the most useful/versatile of all my basses. It works everywhere and in any type of music I play. It's the favorite bass of my primary drummer at church and the sound tech there.

Not that you asked, but by comparison the pickup in the Aerodyne Special Precision is VERY different! Super-hot and edgy. It's fun in its own way, and I love playing it in my rock band, but it sounds NOTHING like a traditional P bass to me. Similarly to Jazz basses, I have multiple P basses with very different pickups. The Aerodyne Special P is the FURTHEST outlier from a "basic Precision" sound in relation to the others.

I still have the stock strings on my Jazz, and I agree... they are nice! I have a few sets I am contemplating, but I'm afraid I won't like them as much! haha! I need to order a set of the stock Fender strings to have on hand in case of emergency.

 

[Enrique M]

Congrats! I have the blue Aerodyne Special Jazz, and the white Precision.

I am most impressed with the pickups in the Jazz. To me, they are beautiful in tonal response. Not overly "vintage" as in dark and wooly. Not terribly modern as in sharp or "edgy." To me they are a perfect "classic" Jazz sound. Growly enough when you dig in just right, tight and defined on the low end without any artificial low EQ boost/bump. Super clean and present mids and upper mids. This bass is just about the most neutral/beautiful tool I have to get the sound in my head converted and out to an amp. I am never changing out these pickups.

I have lots of cool things... a Jazz with Aero Type 1 pickups, another Jazz with the Dimarzio Relentless J set, etc. Each one does its own thing in a great way, but the Aerodyne Special Jazz is the most useful/versatile of all my basses. It works everywhere and in any type of music I play. It's the favorite bass of my primary drummer at church and the sound tech there.

Not that you asked, but by comparison the pickup in the Aerodyne Special Precision is VERY different! Super-hot and edgy. It's fun in its own way, and I love playing it in my rock band, but it sounds NOTHING like a traditional P bass to me. Similarly to Jazz basses, I have multiple P basses with very different pickups. The Aerodyne Special P is the FURTHEST outlier from a "basic Precision" sound in relation to the others.

I still have the stock strings on my Jazz, and I agree... they are nice! I have a few sets I am contemplating, but I'm afraid I won't like them as much! haha! I need to order a set of the stock Fender strings to have on hand in case of emergency.

Thanks for the detailed response, and part of my inquiry about the pick ups on the Jazz was prompted by someone describing the pick ups on the P as "Hot" and me realizing that I really did not know what the meant.

I do not thinking putting the DR Sunbeams on was a mistake, they certainly feel smoother than the stock fender strings. But, I had some of the eq and tones dialed with those fender strings and I have struggled to find some of those spots with the Sunbeams on this Jazz. I am thinking in particular soloing the neck pick up with the tone rolled all the way off and playing at the base of the neck for that deep Reggae sound. Sounded nice with the fender strings, seems muddy with the SBs.

But, its a chance for me to learn how my EQ works in more depth.

 

[Cahamp]

The p bass pickups are hot but they can also be tamed. Lowering the pickup height can really mellow them out.

 

[Malak the Mad]

What flats did you put on it? I’m looking for some now…but not too muddy.
Thx.

The first strings I had recommended to me for my 2007 Aerodyne Deluxe P/J were .100-gauge D'Addario Chromes. Definitely warm and plenty of "thump", but still had a bit of bite to them, especially when one really digs into the strings, like I do.

As an experiment, I put the same type of flats on a Fender-Japan Jazz bass. It gave that Jazz even more power and volume, not that it was lacking in the first place. Something about the Chromes just worked for it.

 

[Malak the Mad]

The Aerodyne Special P is the FURTHEST outlier from a "basic Precision" sound in relation to the others.

Ahem…

Joking, of course, but I just couldn't resist.

 

[musicman556]

Ahem…

Joking, of course, but I just couldn't resist.

haha! I meant in terms of relation to MY collection, but I get it lol! Super sweet bass, Bro!

One day I'm gunna build myself a PP too, haha! I am in the middle of another weird build right now... P body, J neck, MusicMan humbucker. I have everything else on hand, just waiting on Warmoth to finish and ship the body. I ordered it on Dec 9th... should ship any day now.

 

[Jnagol]

Always liked this bass

 

[Shirobon]

After the shortest, hottest, brightest ball of GAS went critical over the weekend, I find myself in need of a number please!

I recently got my first paycheck from my new job after losing my old one in December. I've been wanting a P, and my local GC had the white one in stock during the presidents day sale. Thankfully it was locked up, up high and still in perfect condition. I was able to offload a 6 string that I no longer played and get out the door for just over $500. Not every GC experience is a good one, but this time it was great.

All I can say is DAMN, this thing is NICE! The fit and finish are impeccable and this definitely has the best feeling fretwork of any of my instruments. The neck feels amazing, the bridge is a super slick design and a huge improvement over the one on my MIM Jazz. At 7.7 lbs it's also my lightest bass by a pound. I'm totally smitten.

Jazz bass for scale:View attachment 5359651 View attachment 5359652 View attachment 5359653

Something something...losing your first paycheck to an aerodyne...something something Aerodyne effect.

Also, #196.

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[bluetex_]

Hey All. Just checking in as a proud and happy member of the Aerodyne Club. I got my Aerodyne last year in September. It was my first MIJ/CIJ bass and got me started on a bit of a gear frenzy.

My specs: 2014 Aerodyne AJP Lake Placid Blue FSR (non-export)
(omg this pic is big sorry)
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[bluetex_]

Hey All. Just checking in as a proud and happy member of the Aerodyne Club. I got my Aerodyne last year in September. It was my first MIJ/CIJ bass and got me started on a bit of a gear frenzy.

My specs: 2014 Aerodyne AJP Lake Placid Blue FSR (non-export)

Turns out -- I'm about to be the proud owner of another one as Fellow TB'er Mr. Elkins has agreed to sell his Crimson Red Aerodyne P(/J) to me.

 

[L0stfact]

Will a MiM P bass body fit the p bass special aerodyne neck?

I think this is my move because I like everything but the bridge and front body edge.

 

[Ramonesfan59]

Will a MiM P bass body fit the p bass special aerodyne neck?

I think this is my move because I like everything but the bridge and front body edge.

I never guarantee anything, but I have a MIM Blacktop Precision body with a MIJ Aerodyne Jazz neck. Neck went in with no issues.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Will a MiM P bass body fit the p bass special aerodyne neck?

I think this is my move because I like everything but the bridge and front body edge.

I've used Aerodyne necks, which are all Jazz-style necks (save for the five-stringers...they're quite the rare oddballs! ), on four or more parts-basses. They are definitely "Fender blueprint standardized". That includes two Warmoth bodies (one shown, one not yet photographed), a Fender Blacktop Jazz (an MIM) and a Mighty Mite J-body.

 

[L0stfact]

I've used Aerodyne necks, which are all Jazz-style necks (save for the five-stringers...they're quite the rare oddballs! ), on four or more parts-basses. They are definitely "Fender blueprint standardized". That includes two Warmoth bodies (one shown, one not yet photographed), a Fender Blacktop Jazz (an MIM) and a Mighty Mite J-body.

Thanks guys, seems this is a more common thing than I thought.

 

[L0stfact]

Can now unfortunately confirm, the Aerodyne special p bass neck atleast doesnt fit a mim p bass body or mic squire body. Atleast without plugging the neck and redrilling.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Can now unfortunately confirm, the Aerodyne special p bass neck atleast doesnt fit a mim p bass body or mic squire body. Atleast without plugging the neck and redrilling.

At the very least, does the neck heel fit in their bodies? Personally speaking, filling and re-drilling neck holes isn't nearly as big a deal as an ill-fitting neck pocket. I have a body with a big ol' crack in the finish that is living proof of that!

 

[L0stfact]

At the very least, does the neck heel fit in their bodies? Personally speaking, filling and re-drilling neck holes isn't nearly as big a deal as an ill-fitting neck pocket. I have a body with a big ol' crack in the finish that is living proof of that!

Yeah, it fit ok. Not as tight as it is on the aerodyne body but those are snug. I just dont have any exp filling and drilling a neck, that and it’s off by a small enough amount that there’d be like half the hole overlapping the fill.