Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass - Post 2015 models

[TB24]

My luthier guy said the stock pups were pretty crappy on my areodyne. You can get some pretty good deals as I got my Aerodyne for $640 new at guitar center

The other reason why I may leave it as it Kresby is I already own a Fender Elite PJ with the N4 noiseless P/Us, a Deluxe Jazz w/ N3 noiseless, and the Select P & J, so it's more a collectors item for me to diversify my Fender collection... but you never know, I may get craxy and just upgrade it like crazy on a whim lol.

 

[5Bass5]

I have an Aerodyne from '04 and one from '13 and they are by far my favorite basses I own!

 

[Xandrell]

My luthier guy said the stock pups were pretty crappy on my areodyne.

I can see where a luthier would say that and I'm beginning to think the pups are the source of the slight idle noise. If changing them out, you probably wouldn't have to shield it, but shielding it with the stock pups would probably get rid of the slight noise. The problem is, I like the sound of the stock pups. Very distinctive. That's not to say I wouldn't like an EMG etc... but for me, the P low with the J bridge hi gives me the sound I like without that mid range honk. I have other basses with EMGs but this is my only Fender. If I only had the Aerodyne, I would be thinking real hard about changing them out though.

 

[Krebsy]

The other reason why I may leave it as it Kresby is I already own a Fender Elite PJ with the N4 noiseless P/Us, a Deluxe Jazz w/ N3 noiseless, and the Select P & J, so it's more a collectors item for me to diversify my Fender collection... but you never know, I may get craxy and just upgrade it like crazy on a whim lol.

Wow beautiful basses I'm loving that P in the third picture. I'd say leave the collectible ones you have alone lol I've got my collectors basses as well(Adam Clayton Fender Jazz, 2-G&L LB-100's Customs and a Ric 4004 Cheyenne) and figure the Aerodyne as the lowest cost of my group would be the one to slightly modify especially with the inherent issues it had.

Cheers

 

[Xandrell]

I've come to the conclusion that post 2015 models aren't any different than prior models. A matter of fact, their the same noisy basses of yesteryear. I guess a lot of people including me play at lower levels and the noise is not apparent, but I also play through a SVT 2 Pro and the noise is very apparent when cranked up. I've read others comments about this being somewhat normal for Fender and a shielding job is in order. This is from a TB post in 08.

I recently purchased a brand new Fender Stu Hamm Urge 2 bass from a reputable dealer for Fender. I've never owned a Fender, and this seems to be a custom shop bass, lists for about $2400 and I paid $1340 plus shipping. Well that buzz is awful. It is worse when I use my smaller amp a Fender Bassman 150, but controllable with my Peavy Bam 210 with the modeling abilities. Some have no horn, or much tweeters, etc. My local guitar tech is ordering replacement P bass pickups Seymour Duncans Bass lines 1/4 pounders, and when he's inside he'll tape shield the Jass stacked Pickups too. We'll see if that helps. No matter what I will never buy another Fender product period. This is unacceptable for a bass priced like that. I have owned Carvin, Pedulla, Warwick, Ernie Ball Music Man (newer), my current Benavente 5, and this new Fender Stu Hamm. NONE of those others had this problem. I picked up every bass in my friends shop and they are were worse than mine in the same amps in his shop. Shameful electronics! Thats just my opinon, take it as such as I don't want to offend any of you Fender believers out there.
When I can afford it, (if the changing out of the pickups doesn't work) I will get a Mike Lull 4 string with the same configuration of P and J bass pickups. I'll bet that does not buzz.

I feel that poster's pain but I really like everything about the new Aerodyne, the feel, the way it plays, the neck, fingerboard, sound, looks and build quality. If it were any other bass, I'd probably return it. Hopefully a shielding job will fix it and the bass will be perfect.

 

[TB24]

Yes... a love hate thing for sure. Thanks for sharing Xandrell.

 

[Nikol4ik]

Just received a new MIJ aerodyne and it's noisy on both pups and it goes away when I touch the strings or turn down the tone. The build quality seems good. I'm thinking about returning it for a replacement. I hope they're all not like this.

I played one today it was dead quiet on both pickups.

 

[Nikol4ik]

Agreed DirkP, that was my first reaction as well, surprised to see it was made out of Basswood. Most (not all) basses that I was familiar with that were basswood, were under $500 (New Retail). I def wont pay the $800 for it, but at $640, I am more inclined to consider it. All things considered, especially that I own other Fender basses, I probably won't mod this much, def not new pickups. At best, maybe a Fender Hi-mass bridge, and call it a day.

In Europe these Aerodyne basses cost $1100 quite expensive but the tone is sooo nice

 

[Nikol4ik]

My luthier guy said the stock pups were pretty crappy on my areodyne. You can get some pretty good deals as I got my Aerodyne for $640 new at guitar center

What 640$?In the Europe these new MIJ Aerodynes go for $1300.Thats double!!!!Jeeez.I really like how this bass felt while I was playing it,great clean sound the neck is superb but it's too expensive I think.Im still g.a.s.ing badly about it.To pull the trigger or not.

 

[Malak the Mad]

What 640$?In the Europe these new MIJ Aerodynes go for $1300.Thats double!!!!Jeeez.I really like how this bass felt while I was playing it,great clean sound the neck is superb but it's too expensive I think.Im still g.a.s.ing badly about it.To pull the trigger or not.

It may or may not make a difference, but which specific model of Aerodyne are you looking at? Is it an "Export Model" (first picture) which are made to be shipped outside of Japan, or is it a "Non-Export Model" (second picture) which are the ones made for the Japanese domestic market? A Non-Export Aerodyne would probably have it's high shipping costs added to the total. (e.g.: I had to pay about $150 to have a Jazz bass shipped from Japan to the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.)

Export Edition

Non-Export Editions (These are the standard models. They also made even fancier Deluxe Aerodynes.)

 

[Nikol4ik]

It may or may not make a difference, but which specific model of Aerodyne are you looking at? Is it an "Export Model" (first picture) which are made to be shipped outside of Japan, or is it a "Non-Export Model" (second picture) which are the ones made for the Japanese domestic market? A Non-Export Aerodyne would probably have it's high shipping costs added to the total. (e.g.: I had to pay about $150 to have a Jazz bass shipped from Japan to the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.)

Export Edition

Non-Export Editions (These are the standard models. They also made even fancier Deluxe Aerodynes.)

The first picture the Export edition.What do you think is it worth buying one.Played one,felt great ,the tone I love.But I don't know maybe for a MIJ bass it's normal price.

 

[Malak the Mad]

The first picture the Export edition.What do you think is it worth buying one.Played one,felt great ,the tone I love.But I don't know maybe for a MIJ bass it's normal price.

I will admit that I'm quite biased because my first-ever bass was an Aerodyne, so any praise I give them should be taken as such.

I'm not sure why European dealers are charging so much. Maybe it's because the Export Editions were primarily made for the American market. Another reason could be because of the recent surge of enforcement regarding the exporting of anything with rosewood in it. Things like that give retailers an excuse to increase their prices, as if these instruments suddenly became incredibly rare overnight.

There are a couple of other options; see if you can find a used one locally or ask retailers on places like Reverb or eBay if they're willing to ship it to you.

 

[Krebsy]

What 640$?In the Europe these new MIJ Aerodynes go for $1300.Thats double!!!!Jeeez.I really like how this bass felt while I was playing it,great clean sound the neck is superb but it's too expensive I think.Im still g.a.s.ing badly about it.To pull the trigger or not.

Mine is the export edition and I got lucky I saw it on-line from guitar center for 160 bucks off and was able to locate one in stock in Long Island where I'd be for work a few days later. Used the savings for EMG. Geezer Butler pups and love them.

 

[Xandrell]

I played one today it was dead quiet on both pickups.

Hmm, Dead quiet with a single coil? Did you plug it into an all tube 300 watt amp, crank it up and let go of the strings? I received 2 different Aerodynes and also played one at Guitar Center, all had the same noise. I would buy it for that price in your location just for the fact it's dead quiet.

 

[Nikol4ik]

Hmm, Dead quiet with a single coil? Did you plug it into an all tube 300 watt amp, crank it up and let go of the strings? I received 2 different Aerodynes and also played one at Guitar Center, all had the same noise. I would buy it for that price in your location just for the fact it's dead quiet.

No, the guy plugged it straight into the mixer trough the PA,that's why maybe no hum,normally I got hum from the single bridge jazz pickup,but on that one none.

 

[painless66]

I played one of these and was impressed as well. I don't need another bass, but I could own one for sure.

I just got one MIJ N I LOVE IT.

 

[Nikol4ik]

I was almost about to buy the Aerodyne but then thought again and thank God I waited for this new BB734A in black,man that bass is killer sounding and built bass with killer features IMO it blows away every American Fender P and J basses and the deluxe series,and that one is also active and passive.And for an American Fender with the same features you'll have to pay like $2500+,not that the Aerodyne is bad,not at all I played one it's very good but for two times less the price of it you can get the Yammi and never look back.

 

[TB24]

I was almost about to buy the Aerodyne but then thought again and thank God I waited for this new BB734A in black,man that bass is killer sounding and built bass with killer features IMO it blows away every American Fender P and J basses and the deluxe series,and that one is also active and passive.And for an American Fender with the same features you'll have to pay like $2500+,not that the Aerodyne is bad,not at all I played one it's very good but for two times less the price of it you can get the Yammi and never look back.

Thanks Nikol4ik, good to know about the BB734A. I have not seen one yet, but looking forward to hearing and feeling one in person in the near future.

 

[BOOG]

I have the same issue with mine except only in the bridge pup. I'm figuring a set of Geezer Butler EMG's will fix all of View attachment 1084576 that.

Hello;
I am planning on putting the geezers in my Aerodyne.
Two problems with stock pickups:
1. Bridge p/u hum
2. Obnoxiously low output volume

Did you have the same issues with your Aerodyne?
Did they remedy the issues?

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I bought this one in May. I bought it at GC new.

It is a great bass. No complaints.