Fender American Standard Precision or Fender Aerodyne?

That's a pretty open-ended question, mainly because it'll invite an equal amount of opinion and fact. But one thing I think some of us can agree upon, MIA's and MIJ/CIJ's are pretty different creatures. There are significant differences in design doctrine that really set them apart from each other, especially when you bring Fender Japan's Aerodyne lines into the mix.

I own an Aerodyne, but I haven't had the pleasure of owning an American-made bass yet. I can't say which is "better", especially without knowing what would make one superior to another for you. Maybe if you give us a little more to work with? But what I can tell you is what makes my Aerodyne special to me.

• It was my very first bass (re: shamefully biased )
• I like the versatility of the Precision/Jazz pickup configuration (the neck pickup solo'd can cop a pretty decent P-bass sound, but the two together bring out something neither "P" nor "J")
• The neck, with it's Jazz-width (1.5") and tighter-than-normal radius (7.25"), feels great in my hands
• It's light without feeling like a toy (mine's 8.5lbs)
• I was able to install a Drop-D tuner with zero-hassle
• Oh, and it's super-sexy lookin'!

Hopefully someone who owns both, or did at one time, will weigh in. I'm always eager to hear objective comparisons to the few basses I own.

 

I've had an Aerodyne since 2006. Terrific bass. Love the look and the CIJ build quality is very good. I upgraded the tuners, pickups and bridge because the Aerodyne's were not performing as well as I liked. Haven't played it much of late as I'm exclusively using an acoustic bass in a jazz project so I put it up for sale. All the quality of a MIA product for less $.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/...s-p-j-pre-loved-players-dream-28-pics-995219/

 

I wouldn't be surprised if it were detailed better, being a MIJ, but I don't see any passive V/V/T P/J being a good answer to any question.

 

Didn't know this was a debate between active and passive basses!

With my Aerodyne, I prefer using it with the P pickups full on and the J pickup off. Never was a jazz bass guy, always preferred the P tone. To each his own. At least the P/J gives you the option to have either - or a mixture of the two.

 

Passive V/V/T just doesn't work worth squat for mixing. It's simply a boneheaded electronic circuit. The more different the pickups are the worse it is. In a lot of cases (like the notorious Fender HRPB) it flat won't work at all.

So, people do what you do, P or J or both full-on. It would be much better switched, and now that Fender does this on the pricey Tony Franklin, people are starting to listen to me about this.

 

I have a 2011 MIA Precision. Its a really great one. Plays like butter and sounds amazing. Coming from a G&L asat, the electronics are so simple, but it sits in the mix better than any bass Ive owned.
I really wanted a Aerodyne before I got this P. Now im not so sure anymore.But, if anyone has an aerodyne and is looking to trade for an 2011 P, Pm me. I like the option of having the J neck pickup. Single coil sounds great with effects, which I am fond of.

 

I think that in general terms of detailing and QC, this is often (and maybe usually) true, but that doesn't always mean that everything else is better, and in the case of FMIC imports it usually isn't, as they don't contract as nice of product as FJ does for their domestic market.

 

I have owned and gigged with both models over the years. I still own the MIA Deluxe. RBTL