Very quiet. Shines at the upper registers, but not at the bottom end. My P pup is 60s. J pup is HC.
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Very quiet. Shines at the upper registers, but not at the bottom end. My P pup is 60s. J pup is HC.
Hey, Aerodyne experts, I want to join the Club. Here's my entry:
I just have a question.
Is mine an export or non-export model? It has no pg or control plate, but the output jack isn't the Strat-style of the export model. I know some export models had the standard output jack, though. Also, I thought the export model was only available in black, while mine is candy apple red with dark cream-colored binding. Any help is appreciated!
I just have a question.
Is mine an export or non-export model? It has no pg or control plate, but the output jack isn't the Strat-style of the export model. I know some export models had the standard output jack, though. Also, I thought the export model was only available in black, while mine is candy apple red with dark cream-colored binding. Any help is appreciated!
It's a "Non-Export Aerodyne Deluxe" in Candy Apple Red (CAR). Only the exported Aerodynes had the no-pickguard/strat-jack design.
Thanks, as always, Malak! The Fender serial number page shows that it was made between 2004-2006 ("Q" with 6 digits following). It's not overly lightweight, even with the thinner basswood body, but I'm guessing it's around 9lbs or so.
Sounds about the higher-side of average.
Great find, Tbone! Of all the 'Dynes out there, I dare say it's one of the most rarely-seen models on this side of the pond.
drool 
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Thanks! I'm lucky that one of my local shops tends to get in some different basses on the used-side, and after playing it, I had to take it home. I traded my fretless Jazz Bass Special for it, and I don't regret it! They had a MIJ FSR '75 P/J Jazz in aged candy-apple red a couple of weeks ago, but it got scooped up within a day. It looked similar to this bass, but it had a blocked/bound fretboard, standard unbound Jazz body, and white pg. There were only a few that were imported for sale in the US. There are a couple of TB'ers that have one, but it's definitely a rare bird.Sounds about the higher-side average.
Great find, Tbone! Of all the 'Dynes out there, I dare say it's one of the most rarely-seen models on this side of the pond.
I think it sucks that the Aerodynes are no longer made (along with all the other MIJ/CIJ models), because it really offers something slightly different from the run-of-the-mill Jazz offerings. The binding adds a touch of class, too.
Ugh…that rumor again!
Don't worry, Aerodynes are still being produced, just not as many models right now.
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For now, it looks like your model might be discontinued, so again…great score, dude!
Thanks! I'm also really liking the neck shape and fretboard radius. I'm normally most comfortable with a P-width neck, and the American Special P neck shape is my favorite, but I'm finding that the Aerodyne neck is slightly rounder front-to-back, so the narrower nut width doesn't bother me. The rounder 7.25" fretboard radius may help contribute to the nice feel overall of the neck, too. Malak the Mad might be on to something with the fb radius!
[QUOTE="Tbone76, post: 18677914, member: 248521] The rounder 7.25" fretboard radius may help contribute to the nice feel overall of the neck, too. Malak the Mad might be on to something with the fb radius![/QUOTE]
HA! And they dare call me "Mad"?! But someday I'll show them...show them all, I say!!
HA! And they dare call me "Mad"?! But someday I'll show them...show them all, I say!!
HA! And they dare call me "Mad"?! But someday I'll show them...show them all, I say!!
It's "Frahnk-en-steen"
Got it in one! Yessiree, they only make one version of the Aerodyne family for us here in The States and that ain't it.
Great score, Groovin! As a former CAR 'Dyne owner, I can attest to how gorgeous they are "in the flesh". drool
I can't help but notice the black pickguard screws. It makes me wonder if you somehow ended up with the one I sold to a fellow TB'er last year. Wouldn't that be funny!
Just weighed mine today... I thought part of the deal was that these were supposed to be light... That's sort of why I went with it (and didn't really ask questions about the weight). It weighs in at 9.7 lbs, making it my heaviest bass at the moment.
I wonder how much ultra light tuners will help with that.
I wonder how much ultra light tuners will help with that.
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Ultralites can certainly help, but only by about 5-6 oz. Replacing heavy steel knobs with plastic knobs can shave another couple of ounces. Lastly, you can replace the steel neck plate with an aluminum one for another 1 to 1.5 ounces. All-in-all, you can get yours under 9 lbs. Unfortunately, you seem to be starting out with an unusually heavy one. Most seem to start at about a pound lighter than that.
I've never seen a high-mass bridge like yours on an Aerodyne. I don't think that bridge is original. That's adding a good 3 ounces or so.
I thought the same thing, but I found that this particular model did come with the high-mass bridge. It uses 5 screws near the string-end side, and another 2 on the opposite corners. There's almost no info out there on this version of the 'Dyne, but I did find an old sale thread from a shop in the U.K., and in their official photo you can see the bridge that's on my bass, and it also mentioned it in their description, from what I recall.
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The Ultralites will almost certainly help with the neck dive. Improving the balance sometimes can make the whole bass feel lighter than it actually is.
My non-export 'Dyne was about 9.5lbs. I have a theory that the standard non-exports (AJB's) are a bit heavier than the export and rear-routed, non-exports (AJB-D's, for "Deluxe"). I suspect the combination of the pickguard, control plate and smaller control route (as opposed to the more invasive rear-route) causes them to be heavier.
On a related note, if you want to go all-black with every scrap o' hardware while shaving off a tad more weight, you could have a one-piece pickguard and control plate cut for it, yes?
He goes by the TB handle "Reuben Hernandez". Mine had a little chipping by the bottom-edge binding. Here's a pic…
Zoom in on the pic. It's not a high-mass bridge, but the standard, vintage-style/bent-plate bridge. For comparison's sake, here's my old one…completely stock except for the strings and pickguard screws.
@GroovinOnFunk; Now that I'm looking at it on my desktop instead of my phone, I'm 99% certain that you indeed have my "Cherry Bomb" from last year. Even from your head-on photograph, I can see a nearly-identical chip just below the control plate. That, combined with the nearly identical weight (my old, analog UPS scale said 9lbs 9oz), leads me to believe it even more. Funny that, ja? 
If I'm right, I hope you love it too! I can say in all honesty, it was an excellent bass. I only sold it out of dire financial need, not due to any deficiency on it's part.
If I'm right, I hope you love it too! I can say in all honesty, it was an excellent bass. I only sold it out of dire financial need, not due to any deficiency on it's part.
Yup! Looks like the same bass. Somewhere along the way the control knobs got changed.@GroovinOnFunk; Now that I'm looking at it on my desktop instead of my phone, I'm 99% certain that you indeed have my "Cherry Bomb" from last year. Even from your head-on photograph, I can see a nearly-identical chip just below the control plate. That, combined with the nearly identical weight (my old, analog UPS scale said 9lbs 9oz), leads me to believe it even more. Funny that, ja?
If I'm right, I hope you love it too! I can say in all honesty, it was an excellent bass. I only sold it out of dire financial need, not due to any deficiency on it's part.
Definitely a great bass. I'm giving it a good home for you. But I have way too many basses. So if you ever want it back, just let me know.
