Fender Aerodyne Club!

[Sterrrling]

Here's mine...I bought my Aerodyne off ebay last Fall, it was very worn out when I purchased it but I breathed some new life into it and have replaced most of the hardware with new black Hipshot stuff. Its a great bass used live a few weeks back, great light weight bass for longer sets.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I wish I could call this a "New Bass Day", but the truth is I managed to score this lovely 'Dyne late last year. Only now has the weather finally! gotten decent enough to do a proper photo-shoot. So, kick back…because it's story-time, kiddies!

Last October, I was randomly nosing around eBay (as I am wont to do) when I came across a listing for a Non-Export, Candy Apple Red Aerodyne, a bass which has been a major source of GAS for me ever since I was made aware of their existence. To be sure, I've seen them listed before. Usually they're available directly from Japan with a hefty shipping & handling fee attached. But, three things stood out about this particular bass;

1. For a 'Dyne that had been imported from Japan, it was reasonably priced.
2. It came with a tweed Fender gig bag. (If you've seen them…yikes! :***
3. The seller was only about half-an-hour away from me!

Figuring there was nothing to lose, I contacted him directly via eBay messaging. I asked if he'd be willing to meet for an inspection of the goods and if everything worked, would he do a cash-deal. I also mentioned how this would spare him the hassle and expense of shipping it, not to mention the inevitable percentage eBay would extract from him.

He suggested only a little more than my asking price. I said the diplomatic equivalent of "Hell yeah!".

After working out the details, we met up at a diner nearby him. I brought my handy-dandy Pocket Rock-It headphone amplifier (love that wee beastie!) and plugged it in. One of the pots was a little scratchy, there was some minor corrosion on the hardware, both of which were no big deal, and there were some minor dents and a couple of chips in the finish…also no big deal. After all, Aerodynes have a tendency to chip & ding rather easily, so I was impressed that it was in such good shape.

I stated my approval in the form of yet-another diplomatic "Hell yeah!". Cash changed hands and we went our separate ways. Which brings this story to a close. But, as an epilogue, I did make some minor mods.

Whenever I get a bass with a black pickguard, I always replace the screws with black ones. Also, I swapped out the strings for a set of DR Black Beauties, both because I rather dig their tone AND they look incredibly boss on that bass!

So, without any further ado, I present to you…"The Cherry Bomb"!

(The aforementioned pair of finish-chips. Like I said…no big deal)

 

[Catbuster]

Phew... Well, I can say that I'm finally back. It looks like I have some numbers to assign. I'll have it done Monday

 

[hookgrip]

That's a handsome bass, Malak. Looks like we have the same taste in color.

Here's mine, just got it today. Reminds me of a lollipop. So sweet I want to lick it.

Can I get a number on Monday, too, please?

 

[Malak the Mad]

That's a handsome bass, Malak. Looks like we have the same taste in color.

Here's mine, just got it today. Reminds me of a lollipop. So sweet I want to lick it.

Can I get a number on Monday, too, please?

Thanks, hook! The funny thing is, red is not my normal taste in instrument colors, so this is my only one that's not some dark and/or cool color. Something about all that red, offset with a tasteful amount of black just, I dunno…POPS, I guess.

I also noticed that all three instruments in your pic have matching headstocks. Good choice!

Oh, and on the "lollipop front"…forgive me if I make sure you're not left alone with CAR 'Dyne, 'kay? :***:

One thing I should mention to the rest of the club; I have an export-edition Aerodyne body for sale in the Classifieds. The neck (love 'em so effin' much!) is currently residing on my most-recent parts-bass project.

 

[AlexCD17]

Hi.

I have a question about the aerodyne...

Actually I have a modern player jaguar, I've tried to put a acg eq01 preamp, but the battery didn't fit... The jaguar uses a typical jazz control plate.

I can get the aerodyne(the one without pickguard) for about $500, I know that I have to drill a hole for the other pot.

So, anyone know if the aerodyne have more room than the jazz bass cavity?



Thanks.

Sorry for my bad english... XD

 

[Bass5150]

Picked up my CIJ Aerodyne for $500 on eBay from a local guy.
It came with a squier hardcase

Stripped it for painting & mods
Duncan 1/4 pounders, EMG B/T 18v control, removed a vol and installed a balance, Schaller bridge, Hipshot d-tuner.

It was a lengthy process
I still wanna put a decal on the headstock that says
Fender FrankinJazz

It's a lil noisey, so we need to go back through it & shield the cavities. Currently she's down for a tusq nut install, old nut the strings kept popping out of the nut while playing, someone had shaved the top of the nut

 

[Malak the Mad]

View attachment 656160 Picked up my CIJ Aerodyne for $500 on eBay from a local guy.
It came with a squier hardcase

Stripped it for painting & mods
Duncan 1/4 pounders, EMG B/T 18v control, removed a vol and installed a balance, Schaller bridge, Hipshot d-tuner.

It was a lengthy process
I still wanna put a decal on the headstock that says
Fender FrankinJazz

It's a lil noisey, so we need to go back through it & shield the cavities. Currently she's down for a tusq nut install, old nut the strings kept popping out of the nut while playing, someone had shaved the top of the nut

DR Green Neons anybody?

 

[Malak the Mad]

DR Green Neons anybody?

Hell…I'd even be willing to chip in on a set of green Neons, if only to see the final results. Who's with me?!

 

[bonz - darrell]

View attachment 656160 Picked up my CIJ Aerodyne for $500 on eBay from a local guy.
It came with a squier hardcase

Stripped it for painting & mods
Duncan 1/4 pounders, EMG B/T 18v control, removed a vol and installed a balance, Schaller bridge, Hipshot d-tuner.

It was a lengthy process
I still wanna put a decal on the headstock that says
Fender FrankinJazz

It's a lil noisey, so we need to go back through it & shield the cavities. Currently she's down for a tusq nut install, old nut the strings kept popping out of the nut while playing, someone had shaved the top of the nut

Its kind of interesting: I mod every instrument I own - - pickups, electronics, hipshot d-tuner, body refinish, even swap necks. My Aero-P has a hipshot d-tuner, schaller strap locks and that's it. Its about the only bass I've ever owned where I was just content with as-is. Admittedly I did tidy up the fret ends, set-up and intonate. Beyond that, I just play it.

Something I should mull over, and then buy the black medium scale Aero-J that just showed up on the 'bay..............

 

[Malak the Mad]

Something I should mull over, and then buy the black medium scale Aero-J that just showed up on the 'bay..............

Just out of curiosity, is it the medium-scale size or the J/J configuration you're interested in? I ask because there's a full-scale [citation needed] 'Dyne up on Ishibashi's U-Box that was made with the standard Jazz electronics. To be specific, it's listed as an "AJB-80M/DJ". It's stand-out feature was the paired, single-coil DiMarzio pickups that came standard.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Just thought I'd mention it, as a "just in case".

 

[bonz - darrell]

If the one you're looking at is a full scale, with two Jazz pickups, I think that's a non-export model. It's been a while since I researched this...

I was looking at a Medium scale, with pickguard, J and J pickups. That's what the picture shows, however the description says P and J pickups. It's listed as model AJB/M BLK.

I would need to do some research, and the $1036.72 CDN price tag ($799.20 US) slows me down somewhat.

 

[Malak the Mad]

If the one you're looking at is a full scale, with two Jazz pickups, I think that's a non-export model. It's been a while since I researched this...

I was looking at a Medium scale, with pickguard, J and J pickups. That's what the picture shows, however the description says P and J pickups. It's listed as model AJB/M BLK.

I would need to do some research, and the $1036.72 CDN price tag ($799.20 US) slows me down somewhat.

The only Export-Model is the black, sans-pickguard, Strat-jack'd model. Everything else is Non-Export. Furthermore and to the best of my knowledge (aka: please correct me if I'm wrong ), the only J/J Aerodynes are the medium-scales, the DiMarzio Editions and the five-stringer.

Speaking of the DiMarzio Editions, this lovely gem popped up on "da Bay" recently…a AJB-DM with a quilted top and trans-blue finish. So…effin'…SWEEEEEET!!! drool

The AJB-M most-certainly is the medium-scale model with a pickguard, control plate and J/J config. Without knowing which one you're looking at, they're probably using the ad-copy from the standard 'Dynes.

I haven't done of the conversion for Canadian dollars, but in 'Merican bucks, the first one I linked would be about $450+shipping/handling/insurance (usually another $150).

 

[bonz - darrell]

That trans-blue is sweet. My Aero P is trans red with the quilted maple top -- it's 'dead sexy'... I can't make his slideshow thingy work, but based on the pics I can see, if I was in a different financial spot, I would be hard pressed not to buy it!

It's been a couple of years since I had all Export/Non Export Aerodyne specs straight in my head -- at the time I was dead set on a black medium scale Aerodyne J, but my red Aerodyne P showed up locally for sale, and I had to buy it. Basically sight unseen. One grainy photo and I knew I had to have it. That's a purchase I don't regret.

The GAS for a black medium hits me now and again.

 

[Malak the Mad]

It's been a couple of years since I had all Export/Non Export Aerodyne specs straight in my head -- at the time I was dead set on a black medium scale Aerodyne J, but my red Aerodyne P showed up locally for sale, and I had to buy it. Basically sight unseen. One grainy photo and I knew I had to have it. That's a purchase I don't regret.

Huh! Talk about "history repeating itself"! That's exactly how I scored my "Cherry Bomb"!!

I've told the story before, but it's worth repeating, especially for those who're fed-up with eBay's new "bigger piece of the pie" business model.

I'd been GASing for a Candy Apple Red AJB ever since I'd first gazed upon Fender Japan's website. (Serious GAS-deposits on that site! drool) I'd seen more than a few on eBay, posted by Japanese sellers (re: huge shipping costs). But then this beauty was posted by a seller who was located a mere thirty minutes away. I contacted him directly, made a low-ball offer, got a counter-offer, took a little drive to check it out…and the rest is history! (Sorry, eBay…no egregious 10% fee for you! )

 

[mojomike001]

Here's my take on the Aerodyne. I had never seen an Aerodyne with a maple/maple neck before, so I decided to build one. This started with a loaded dolphin grey metallic non-export body and I added a Mighty Mite maple/maple precision neck. The tuners are Hipshot Ultralites. In order to tie the maple neck in with the cream-colored binding on the body, I replaced the stock black pickguard with a brushed gold one that looks exactly like gold anodized aluminum, but is actually plastic. The whole package weighs in at a perfectly balanced 8 lbs 2oz. I'm liking it a lot so far.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Here's a video of an Aerodyne in action!

 

[Malak the Mad]

Here's a video of an Aerodyne in action!

Very cool, Dave! Thanks for the vid!

 

[Malak the Mad]

I keep getting asked, "What's the difference between 'Export' and 'Non-Export' Aerodynes?", so I'm gonna make one picture-heavy post that I and others can link back to. It'll be much more efficient than doing it over and over again. Plus, there's a side benefit too…it keep up the appearance that I/we are not massively derailing a thread where questions about the Almighty 'Dyne isn't the main topic.

To the club; Please correct me if I'm in error or miss something. If it's a picture, preferably one of Fender Japan's stock photos, send a link or attach it and I'll add it to this posting. So, without any further ado…

I. Export Edition, aka Fender Deluxe Aerodyne

• Carved-top Jazz body
• Black finish
• Cream binding
• No pickguard or control plate (rear-routed controls)
• Precision/Jazz configuration
• Stratocaster-style output jack
• No face-dots on the fretboard

II. Non-Export Edition Aerodyne, aka "Everything Else". Here's ways to spot a Non-Export…

• Different color finish
• Pickguard & control plate
• Two Jazz pickups (medium-scale/DiMarzio edition/five-stringer)
• Aerodyne Precision (very rare birds…usually a limited edition)
• Any Aerodyne that looks like an Export Edition but with a flush-mounted output jack

Aerodyne Ad featuring Original Candy Apple Red (OCR), Vintage White (VWH) and Dolphin Grey (DFG) finishes [AJB]

32" Medium-Scale in U.S. Gunmetal Blue (UGB) [AJB-M]

Limited Edition Koa Aerodyne

Five-String Edition [AJB-V]

Non-Export Aerodyne Deluxe [AJB-D]

Aerodyne Precision

 

[bonz - darrell]

Two thumbs up Malak the Mad!