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Fender Geddy Lee Jazz, which is better?

C

corbinator2112

Aug 24, 2010
2
0
#1
Hi

I am in the market for a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz and have seen different posts regarding MIJ or CIJ, but which is the better bass to buy? There are a few on craigslist that I am looking at but I don't know if I should be looking for an older model or just purchase a new one from a store? This bass won't be gigged at all, just will be company for the 80 Rickenbacker 4001 and 86 Steinberger. Thanks!

:hmm:
 
#4
masterfader87 said:
MIJ=Made In Japan
CIJ=Crafted In Japan

I believe they mean the same thing but I could be wrong. Someone correct me if I am please.
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I've always been confused with people's interpretation of these two terms. "Crafted" and "made" could be synonomous, no? Do they both imply the instrument was put together in Japan, with parts that may or may not have been manufactured there?
 
#9
Aspidites said:
MIJ and CIJ mean the same thing, it was manufactured and assembled in Japan in the same factory that has been doing it since the beginning of production. The only difference is in which term you prefer, made or crafted.
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Factory isn't the same.
MIJ were made in one factory, CIJ in another.
Recently it seems that they re-started using the MIJ formula, even if the factory wasn't' changed
 
#10
The early years of the Geddy used actual block inlays on the neck. Then they changed to doing painted on blocks on the neck. Now, they have gone back to doing actual block inlays again.

I'm not sure exactly what years they instituted these changes, though. But, if the blocks being inlays versus paint makes a difference to you, you might want to check into that a bit more. Or just buy a new one and know you're getting actual inlays and not painted on blocks.
 
#13
Aspidites said:
Not what I have read or been told by anyone including the Fender rep I know. I was told that MIJ was changed to CIJ for marketing purposes, nothing more.
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The factory changed.
More specifically, CIJ marked the return of Japanese Fenders to the first factory (where earlier Squiers were made).

In my experience MIJ Fenders are generally better looking than CIJ Fenders (better matching of different pieces of wood in bodies).
 
#14
My guess is that "crafted" versus "made" is just a marketing gimmick. Even if "crafted" means "better", there's going to be a certain amount of variance in the way any particular brand/model of bass is going to play/sound depending on the luck of the draw of the wood used, whether it was made on a Monday or Friday (old wive's tale suggesting that Monday units were made by hung over workers and Friday units were made by workers chomping at the bit to end their work week) or any number of factors. You just have to try a bunch of GLs to find "the one".
 
#15
maxbass said:
The factory changed.
More specifically, CIJ marked the return of Japanese Fenders to the first factory (where earlier Squiers were made).

In my experience MIJ Fenders are generally better looking than CIJ Fenders (better matching of different pieces of wood in bodies).
Click to expand...

So they switched factories and started using "CIJ."

But the instruments are still constructed (made, crafted, etc.) in Japan.

Did the quality change noticeably?
 
#16
maxbass said:
The factory changed.
More specifically, CIJ marked the return of Japanese Fenders to the first factory (where earlier Squiers were made).

In my experience MIJ Fenders are generally better looking than CIJ Fenders (better matching of different pieces of wood in bodies).
Click to expand...

FujigenGakki has never made Geddy Lee jazz basses which is where the original Japanese Squiers were made. Dyna Gakki is where the curent MIJ/CIJ Fender are made and they still to this day do not make the Geddy Lee Jazz Bass.

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