Fender Aerodyne Club!

[Interspace Station]

Split shaft but no problem.

Ditto, looks good.

 

[NoSlapForYou]

I don't have the money right now, but this seems like a good value on an uncommon color.

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[Malak the Mad]

I don't have the money right now, but this seems like a good value on an uncommon color.

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Definitely a good value!

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

I don't have the money right now, but this seems like a good value on an uncommon color.

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Best price I’ve seen for a white Aerodyne. Still trying to find one with a white pickguard. Thought that would look cool.

 

[xcliffyx]

I literally read through every single page before pulling the trigger on this beauty. Thank you to all the aerodyne players for your help. There is a lot of good stuff in here. I feel like I earned my first post by trudging through all of it.

 

[NoSlapForYou]

I literally read through every single page before pulling the trigger on this beauty. Thank you to all the aerodyne players for your help. There is a lot of good stuff in here. I feel like I earned my first post by trudging through all of it.

It's an amazing bass for the price. Very playable, sturdy, versatile. You won't regret it.

I've had mine for a couple years and before that it was owned for years by a serious touring musician. I can still leave it untouched for a week, come back to it, and find it in perfect tune. Only complaint is that the jazz pickup is really noisy even with the shielding someone put in. I may swap it out for a noiseless pickup eventually.

 

[jefff100]

I literally read through every single page before pulling the trigger on this beauty. Thank you to all the aerodyne players for your help. There is a lot of good stuff in here. I feel like I earned my first post by trudging through all of it.

Mine was my first bass, and I still have it. Other basses have come and gone but I still have this one. I've replaced the pickups with DiMarzios and shielded the cavities, that keeps the noise at bay.
Enjoy and welcome to the fold.

 

[Jeff Elkins]

I literally read through every single page before pulling the trigger on this beauty. Thank you to all the aerodyne players for your help. There is a lot of good stuff in here. I feel like I earned my first post by trudging through all of it.

You earned your first post just by joining 6 years ago, but we are VERY honored that you waited and shared it with us!

Congrats on the NBD. Someone else said this before me, but - Best Necks Ever. I have one in the closet for a future project.

 

[NoSlapForYou]

Mine was my first bass, and I still have it. Other basses have come and gone but I still have this one. I've replaced the pickups with DiMarzios and shielded the cavities, that keeps the noise at bay.
Enjoy and welcome to the fold.

How do the DiMarzios compare sonically? I see you can buy a complete PJ set for $129, which is totally within my budget.

 

[NoSlapForYou]

You earned your first post just by joining 6 years ago, but we are VERY honored that you waited and shared it with us!

Congrats on the NBD. Someone else said this before me, but - Best Necks Ever. I have one in the closet for a future project.

Only thing I don't like about the necks is that I sometimes get lost on the higher frets. Something about the black fretboard, maybe. I do absolutely love the feel and playability of it though.

I'd love to have a P bass with this neck, since I almost never use the bridge pickup on my Aerodyne anyway. But there are about five other basses I want first, so that may have to wait.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I literally read through every single page before pulling the trigger on this beauty. Thank you to all the aerodyne players for your help. There is a lot of good stuff in here. I feel like I earned my first post by trudging through all of it.

It's our pleasure, sir!

Mine was my first bass, and I still have it.

Me too, on both points!

Someone else said this before me, but - Best Necks Ever. I have one in the closet for a future project.

That sounds like me. Of course, getting me to shut the flippity-flap up about them is the real challenge.

Only thing I don't like about the necks is that I sometimes get lost on the higher frets. Something about the black fretboard, maybe. I do absolutely love the feel and playability of it though.

Problem solved!

• Inlay Stickers Jockomo

I'm starting to wonder how the Black Pearl blocks would look on an Aerodyne neck. Would it be snazzy as heck or would they simply vanish into those stained fretboards? I may get a set for my Aerodyne/Blacktop Jazz hybrid.

 

[jefff100]

It's our pleasure, sir!

I'm starting to wonder how the Black Pearl blocks would look on an Aerodyne neck. Would it be snazzy as heck or would they simply vanish into those stained fretboards? I may get a set for my Aerodyne/Blacktop Jazz hybrid.

They will be lost.

I have a Kiesel Vader that has a variegated ebony fretboard. That is to say a natural ebony that has light colored streaks. The bass overall is dark and has a trans black finish on striped maple, and the lighter sections of the fretboard, while visible, Its really a very pretty bass if you like black but wanted some grain. Anyway it was built with solid black diamond shaped fretboard inlays. Most of them are nearly invisible unless you study it closely.

To be honest - who ever looks at fretboard inlays while playing anyway? They are just fluff, a decoration IHMO. It annoys some of my musically challenged guitar playing buddies at jam sessions when I use the Aerodyne unless I''m up in the first 3-4 frets they have idea of where I'm playing. Side markers are much more useful. Luminlay has a great product for this if you play dark stages.

photos below of my Kiesel: the flash made the fretboard lighter than it really is. In reality under natural lighting the black dots are nearly invisible on the darker sections of board. In the lighter sections they stand out.

 

[jefff100]

How do the DiMarzios compare sonically? I see you can buy a complete PJ set for $129, which is totally within my budget.

This is so subjective: but to me I seem to recall the stock pickups were slightly nasally sounding, the DiMarzios were meatier with more pronounced mids. They are humbuckers so that will contribute to that.

I use GK amps, and some say they (GK) have a built in mid scoop, but I find that the combination works well for me. I run a GK MB200 for small rooms and have a MB800 for larger rooms and outdoor / parades.
I can literally set the EQ flat on the MB amps, and run the Aerodyne wide open on all 3 knobs and it sounds fantastic. In smaller rooms I cut the bass EQ pot back to about 9:30 as a starting point, depending on what the band situation is like, how many AG's are playing etc I may need to do some more EQ on the amp to put more of an edge on the tone, boost the upper mids usually helps allot.

 

[Malak the Mad]

How do the DiMarzios compare sonically? I see you can buy a complete PJ set for $129, which is totally within my budget.

This is so subjective: but to me I seem to recall the stock pickups were slightly nasally sounding, the DiMarzios were meatier with more pronounced mids. They are humbuckers so that will contribute to that.

I dunno if this helps or not, but I recently had my attention grabbed by Bartolini pickups. I tried one of their BB "Classic" soapbars and really, REALLY liked the results. To that effect, I just bought one of their "Classic" Precision pickups for a P/J parts-bass. If it works out well, I'll report my findings to any/all who're interested.

On the aesthetic-front, the Barts could look pretty stealthy on an Aerodyne…

…not that anyone who owns an Aerodyne is in it for the aesthetics!

[/SARCASM]

 

[Birdbrain]

Aerodyne II?? When did that happen? Saw this on ebay.

 

[jefff100]

…not that anyone who owns an Aerodyne is in it for the aesthetics!

[/SARCASM]

OK - Everyone who’s ever strung their Aerodyne with DR Black Beauties raise your hand.

 

[Jeff Elkins]

OK - Everyone who’s ever strung their Aerodyne with DR Black Beauties raise your hand.

Or labella black tapes? Guilty!

 

[Malak the Mad]

OK - Everyone who’s ever strung their Aerodyne with DR Black Beauties raise your hand.

Or labella black tapes? Guilty!

…or Rotosound Nexus black polymer coated strings?

 

[Malak the Mad]

Aerodyne II?? When did that happen? Saw this on ebay.View attachment 3481653 View attachment 3481653

Apparently, it's legit…go fig!

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Two differences that stand out to me is the adoption of the current, FMIC-style serial number decal behind the headstock and the neck's specs. It seems the "Aerodyne II" has "C to D" neck shape and a Fender-standard 9.5" fretboard radius.

 

[bunky1998]

LOVE this thread!

I’ve wanted an Aerodyne for years. Waited until I could score the color I wanted from a US source.

Just picked up this beauty. Scored a NOS Leo Quan bridge on Reverb for it, thinking about adding some tuners & maybe new PUP’s (jury’s still out on the stock PUP’s).

First off, I love that this thing doesn’t weigh a ton. It’s comforable on this old neck. Comfortable to play & I love the neck!

Any suggestions on tuners/PUP’s? I’m looking for a vintage/standard P&J tone.