Fender Aerodyne Club!

[DuluthDank]

I just pulled the trigger on a used Aerodyne from Guitar Center used. It has an EMG Geezer PJ set installed, comes with a hard case, and cost me a bit under 650 after tax and shipping. I'm pretty darn excited! How much do these basses typically weigh? I'm hoping close to or under 9 lbs, but we will see.

 

[StoutFellow]

Love to hear your thoughts on the EMG Geezer PJ pups. My Aero came with Seymour Duncan STK-J2 Hot Stack at the J neck position and an SPB-3 Quarter Pounder in the P bridge position. Each sounds lovely, but find it hard to get balance right - the P easily overwhelms the J, in this set. So, love to hear what you think about the EMGs.

The Aerodynes are about the 9lb mark.

 

[DennisO]

Gang - I'm selling the hardware and electronics (PJ) from my Aerodyne remodel project. I've gotten the tuners posted, will have the rest up today or tomorrow, if anyone is interested in parts!

For Sale - 4 Fender Aerodyne Tuners

What are you doing with your knobs? I need at least 1 knob for my Aerodyne Jazz.

 

[Jeff Elkins]

What are you doing with your knobs? I need at least 1 knob for my Aerodyne Jazz.

I almost messaged you right away when I saw you ask this originally - but my my Aerodyne knobs are/were the oilcan style, not the jazz hat style.

At the moment, what I have available is a silver oilcan, an old black oilcan and a new black oilcan (came as part of the set I replaced the old ones with). The domes don't match on any of them. They ARE all available if anyone wants to pay postage on them, but I don't think they're what you're looking for.

 

[Carlospescado]

"Malak the Mad, post: 21800878, member: 230898"]Recently, I had a "DIY/kit-bash brainstorm" about that issue, but I don't own an Aerodyne with a recessed bridge to try it out upon. I started wondering if that excess space could be filled by way of an index card that was trimmed to fit the recessed area. Once in place, use a slightly pointy implement…a pencil, toothpick or something similar…to pop small pilot holes for the bridge screws to work their way through. I mean, what is paper but pulped and compressed wood, right?

Anyway, it's just a little idea I had, so I thought I'd share it with all y'all. If someone tries it, please report your findings…pass or fail. [/QUOTE]

How about this, already premanufactured to fit. Just dremel off the bent edge of an old or original bridge, holes already where you need them!

 

[Malak the Mad]

How about this, already premanufactured to fit. Just dremel off the bent edge of an old or original bridge, holes already where you need them!
View attachment 3168436

That would work, especially if one already has a Dremel tool, an expendable bridge and the inclination to do some serious metalworking. As for my "DIY Index Card Trick™", it was meant to be a super-low effort workaround.

Now that I think about it, a small stack of copy paper cut to the right dimensions might work, too. And by adding or removing one piece at a time, one could be guaranteed a flat, flush fit.

However, since I haven't tried to replace the bridge on my CIJ Aerodyne, I can't say whether or not it would even work. Heck, I don't even know if mine has a recessed bridge (I'm fairly certain it doesn't), so I thought I'd chuck the idea out into the wild to see if anyone else would give it a try and report back with a tested conclusion.

 

[Ken J]

I once saw an Aerodyne for sale on a Japanese web site that can no longer find. Plain wood no paint looked to be walnut. Fretless and 32” scale. It was a lot of money but I’m still interested. Any leads?

 

[Jeff Elkins]

These folks are one of the best known shops in Japan: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
But I don’t see that instrument there.

I’ve also never seen an Aero in natural; I’m wondering if the original finish had been stripped? Was it bound?

 

[DennisO]

I almost messaged you right away when I saw you ask this originally - but my my Aerodyne knobs are/were the oilcan style, not the jazz hat style.

At the moment, what I have available is a silver oilcan, an old black oilcan and a new black oilcan (came as part of the set I replaced the old ones with). The domes don't match on any of them. They ARE all available if anyone wants to pay postage on them, but I don't think they're what you're looking for.

Thanks Jeff, but If I replace them I'd want 3 matching knobs.

 

[jmon]

Just got this beauty a week or so ago. I’ll take a number. The bridge was in rough shape so I tracked down a Gotoh 201b4 bridge in Cosmo Black. That’s what they call it anyway. It’s a fantasic match I think and works great. Very solid bridge. Action is good and it sits dead flat on the bass. I had read some concerns about having to shim and even route to fit a new bridge on an Aerodyne. Not the case here. Also seemed to thicken the tone a bit. Anyway have a look in case you have considered the same upgrade. I bought the bridge on Reverb at a good price.

 

[DennisO]

I just pulled the trigger on a used Aerodyne from Guitar Center used. It has an EMG Geezer PJ set installed, comes with a hard case, and cost me a bit under 650 after tax and shipping. I'm pretty darn excited! How much do these basses typically weigh? I'm hoping close to or under 9 lbs, but we will see.

I never weighed my Jazz, but it's supposed to be 7 pounds.

 

[Jeff Elkins]

Just got this beauty a week or so ago. I’ll take a number. The bridge was in rough shape so I tracked down a Gotoh 201b4 bridge in Cosmo Black. That’s what they call it anyway. It’s a fantasic match I think and works great. Very solid bridge. Action is good and it sits dead flat on the bass. I had read some concerns about having to shim and even route to fit a new bridge on an Aerodyne. Not the case here. Also seemed to thicken the tone a bit. Anyway have a look in case you have considered the same upgrade. I bought the bridge on Reverb at a good price.

Welcome to the club, @jmon ! You are number 165.

Great note about the bridge!

 

[Xandrell]

Just got this beauty a week or so ago. I’ll take a number. The bridge was in rough shape so I tracked down a Gotoh 201b4 bridge in Cosmo Black. That’s what they call it anyway. It’s a fantasic match I think and works great. Very solid bridge. Action is good and it sits dead flat on the bass. I had read some concerns about having to shim and even route to fit a new bridge on an Aerodyne. Not the case here. Also seemed to thicken the tone a bit. Anyway have a look in case you have considered the same upgrade. I bought the bridge on Reverb at a good price.

View attachment 3197812

View attachment 3197813

Looks like a nice bridge upgrade especially by just dropping it in.

 

[Ramonesfan59]

Just got this beauty a week or so ago. I’ll take a number. The bridge was in rough shape so I tracked down a Gotoh 201b4 bridge in Cosmo Black. That’s what they call it anyway. It’s a fantasic match I think and works great. Very solid bridge. Action is good and it sits dead flat on the bass. I had read some concerns about having to shim and even route to fit a new bridge on an Aerodyne. Not the case here. Also seemed to thicken the tone a bit. Anyway have a look in case you have considered the same upgrade. I bought the bridge on Reverb at a good price.

View attachment 3197812

View attachment 3197813

That bridge looks similar (albeit nicer) to the ones on the Fender Blacktop series.

 

[Malak the Mad]

That bridge looks similar (albeit nicer) to the ones on the Fender Blacktop series.

I have both of those, a Fender Deluxe bridge and Cosmo Black Gotoh. It's a great color match with the stock, Smoked Chrome hardware. Both are very nice. The Gotoh is a bit more elegant, but if it's higher mass and sustain one is looking for, I'd say the Fender Deluxe has the edge there.

GOTOH 201B-4 4-String Bass Bridge - Cosmo Black

 

[jmon]

I have both of those, a Fender Deluxe bridge and Cosmo Black Gotoh. It's a great color match with the stock, Smoked Chrome hardware. Both are very nice. The Gotoh is a bit more elegant, but if it's higher mass and sustain one is looking for, I'd say the Fender Deluxe has the edge there.

View attachment 3198767

GOTOH 201B-4 4-String Bass Bridge - Cosmo Black
View attachment 3198768

Yeah I’d be lying if I didn’t say looks played a part in it. Plus at 36 bucks shipped the price was to good to resist. I have the new style high mass bridge on my 2016 American Standard P and I like it a lot also. But they are 70 bucks. The Gotoh was to nice to pass up and matched perfectly to boot. What’s crazy is the action and intonation were spot on with no adjustment. I was very surprised at that. Props to Gotoh for making a great product that isn’t over priced. More cash for pickups if I decide to change them out. Time will tell on that. I’m gigging the Aerodyne for the first time tomorrow at an outdoor festival gig. Well see how she plays with my SVT CL!

 

[jefff100]

I never weighed my Jazz, but it's supposed to be 7 pounds.

Similarly my Aerodyne is just over 7 lbs. One of the lightest basses I own, and I’ve got some very light ones.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Similarly my Aerodyne is just over 7 lbs. One of the lightest basses I own, and I’ve got some very light ones.

Okay, Mouseketeers, why don't we poll the crowd to see how much our particular Aerodynes weigh? And since there may be a considerable difference between modded/un-modded and Export/Non-Export instruments, I'd ask any variables be included. For example, mine would look like…

• Export Edition Aerodyne + Hipshot BT10 Detuner: 8½ lbs.

 

[DennisO]

K. I just weighed myself and I'm exactly 149.2 pounds, ok I lied about that. Then I picked up my Aerodyne Jazz and it said my jazz is 8.2 pounds. A lil disappointed cuz I wanted it to be 7 like I heard it was.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Bonjour, Y'all!

Every now and then, I check YouTube for any interesting reviews and/or demos of our beloved 'Dynes. Today, I found a very nice one by Bruno Tauzin. It's in French, but the musical demonstration speaks for itself. As for the settings, "Manche" and "Chevalet" refer to the neck and bridge pickups respectively.



Also, I'd love to hear more club members report on the weights of their Aerodynes, complete with any modifications that might affect them (bridge, tuners, pickups, etc…). Even a "best estimate" would be cool.