Fender MIJ Geddy Lee VS JB-75

[Zak TMD]

Hey all! Need some advice:

So I'll likely be buying a "new" bass around the end of the month.

There are a few basses I'm currently looking at, and as the title suggests, whatever I pick will be one of the above. My current main is an Aerodyne. I love the neck so much. I swapped out the factory Pups for some geezer humbuckers, and it sounds good. What I don't love is the lightness of the body in reference to the tone - I'm playing through a meatsmoke, so don't get me wrong, it sounds good, but it's missing a little bit of the meat. Ideally my secondary bass would be in that sweet 10lb range. Also, I def want single coils to give me a little more tone flexibility in my arsenal, swapping back and forth as needed.

So I've read endlessly about the MIJ GL necks, and they sound right up my ally. What I don't want is another black bass, and I love the finish options available on the JB-75s. Unfortunately, most of the ones available are showing their age (chips, dings, etc.), but that's something I can live with.

So - my big concern is the necks on the JBs. I've read a number of conflicting stories about these, so I'm curious as to hearing from people who have hands on experience.

Also would love to hear some pros/cons. The price ranges of the ones I'm looking at are pretty close, so that's not really relevant. Thanks in advance and I appreciate any kind advice I receive.

 

[stefanb]

What would your concern be? You can compare them to a Vintera 70's Jazz also. They'd be a little thicker than the GL and have the 3 bolt attachment.

My biggest concern would not the be the necks at all, it's that some years of the JB-75 are routed in a traditional 60s pickup spacing and the Geddy's are all 70s spacing, which is a huge decision factor (I had a Geddy, because I couldn't find a local JB-75 without importing one) and certain years have the correct spacing, so you'd have to look at each one.

 

[Zak TMD]

some years of the JB-75 are routed in a traditional 60s pickup spacing and the Geddy's are all 70s spacing.

I thought all the JB-75s had the correct spacing as opposed to the previous reissues, but it appears I was wrong - def something I'll have to consider. Help me out though, what's the huge difference in the spacing of the pups in real world terms? Sometimes I'm not super savvy about stuff like that.

I've seen some variance in the neck measurements of the JB-75s... some look to be really similar to the GLs, others a little fatter - more akin to the Vinteras based on the available measurements.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

If it were me , I would buy a Geddy Lee and have it refinished if just couldn't live with the black finish. Find one that has a lot of battle scars , haggle on the price and take the saved $ and do a refinish .

I spent the last hour and half playing my US Geddy. There is just nothing else out there that compares . These basses are so special . So much so that I'm considering buying a Japan model and doing just what I suggested to you.

My answer to any question of Geddy vs whatever is always the Geddy Lee.

 

[Zak TMD]

It just so happens I'm looking at one with that exact same intent right now ha!

 

[Picton]

I've never had a GL, but here's what I can tell you.

I used to play a JB75 and LOVED it. I replaced it with an actual 1975 Jazz, and I'm still surprised when I pick up the '75 at how faithful the MIJ version was (pickup spacing aside, and it does make a difference). The necks are very very close. So to the extent that the GL is based on Lee's actual bass, and to the extent that Geddy played an actual mid-70s Jazz, the neck should be similar.

The Aerodyne necks I've played are perceptibly shallower to me, but the JB75 neck is plenty fast.

 

[songwriter21]

Hey all! Need some advice:

So I'll likely be buying a "new" bass around the end of the month.

There are a few basses I'm currently looking at, and as the title suggests, whatever I pick will be one of the above. My current main is an Aerodyne. I love the neck so much. I swapped out the factory Pups for some geezer humbuckers, and it sounds good. What I don't love is the lightness of the body in reference to the tone - I'm playing through a meatsmoke, so don't get me wrong, it sounds good, but it's missing a little bit of the meat. Ideally my secondary bass would be in that sweet 10lb range. Also, I def want single coils to give me a little more tone flexibility in my arsenal, swapping back and forth as needed.

So I've read endlessly about the MIJ GL necks, and they sound right up my ally. What I don't want is another black bass, and I love the finish options available on the JB-75s. Unfortunately, most of the ones available are showing their age (chips, dings, etc.), but that's something I can live with.

So - my big concern is the necks on the JBs. I've read a number of conflicting stories about these, so I'm curious as to hearing from people who have hands on experience.

Also would love to hear some pros/cons. The price ranges of the ones I'm looking at are pretty close, so that's not really relevant. Thanks in advance and I appreciate any kind advice I receive.

Especially on a solidbody electric, weight will not impact the tone much, at least not even as close to how much the electronics, pickups, and strings (and of course effects) will. The only reason I don't like light bodies, is the fact that the neck is usually heavier...neck dive.

I've never played a '75 Jazz, but tried a MIJ Geddy. The Geddy was really nice...easy to play, barked and bit properly.

 

[Zak TMD]

Awesome feedback! Thanks!

Looks like the JB75's post 00 have the correct spacing, if the internet is to be trusted. I guess another thing I didn't consider is the JBs have the regular Fender bridge, whereas the GLs come with the Badass
standard. On the other hand, most of the GL's look to be under that 10lbs mark (if only just).

 

[Zak TMD]

The only reason I don't like light bodies, is the fact that the neck is usually heavier...neck dive.

Even more sound advice. I love y'all.

Yea, I get a wee bit of dive on my current one (it's 7-8lbs I think), but not too too much. In terms of the weight, that's new info to me! It's possible that some of my issues might be my own EQing, in that case. I'll have to tweek things a bit and hear it out. Regardless, I'm still buying one of these two, but this is def good to know.

 

[songwriter21]

Even more sound advice. I love y'all.

Yea, I get a wee bit of dive on my current one (it's 7-8lbs I think), but not too too much. In terms of the weight, that's new info to me! It's possible that some of my issues might be my own EQing, in that case. I'll have to tweek things a bit and hear it out. Regardless, I'm still buying one of these two, but this is def good to know.

Whether weight or species, the type of wood is way more of a factor in acoustics/hollow bodies, because you're mainly playing unamplified and/or having resonance chambers to alter sound, relying more on the timber's voicing. Aging, especially, changes that voicing.

 

[Zak TMD]

Whether weight or species, the type of wood is way more of a factor in acoustics/hollow bodies, because you're mainly playing unamplified and/or having resonance chambers to alter sound, relying more on the timber's voicing. Aging, especially, changes that voicing.

Yea, that of course makes a ton of sense.

 

[bassdude51]

I used to have a MIJ Geddy Lee J Bass. I kept it for about 2 weeks. It had the most little thin neck I've ever played. I swear, it seemed like it was about half an inch thick at fret #1.

Also, it could barely handle string tension and the truss rod nut was maxed out.

It was the worst feeling bass neck I have experienced.

Now, that was my mileage and YMMV or someone else mileage may vary.

Also to note, the pickups used on the MIJ Geddy are Fender Original Jazz Bass pickups which use AlNiCo #2 magnets instead of the #5 magnets. The #2 magnets are softer and milder than the AlNiCo 5s which is what is used on just about 100% of Fender J Basses.

Other than the neck and pickups...........it's a great bass! ()

 

[Zak TMD]

Other than the neck and pickups...........it's a great bass! ()

hahahaha! Glowing review! The Aerodyne neck is pretty pretty thin/shallow, so I think I'm good with that. Obviously everything about our prefs is personal and subjective. This is my first time reading this about the pups, so that's food for thought.

 

[REV]

I've said this many times on this forum, the Geddy Lee jazz bass is the best jazz bass that Fender has ever made IMHO. The US Geddy's are a little different than the MIJ Geddy's but both are really good, each in their own way. The MIJ Geddy's are a little grindier. The MIA's feel more sturdy to me. The MIA necks are a little thicker than the MIJ's. As far as the color goes, IMHO you don't play the paint (but that's just me).

 

[Zak TMD]

As far as the color goes, IMHO you don't play the paint (but that's just me).

Good take, and yea man... I know - the paint thing is a little ego on my end. But, that said... might have found a nice lil' beater for a good price from a dude who does a custom finishing thing, so now I'm thinking I'll have him do a nice lil' silverburst, ship it to me, and be super happy.

 

[lfmn16]

I had two Geddy Lee MIJ basses. I stupidly sold them and am actually looking for another one now. Excellent build quality and the necks were thin, but after the initial setup I never had to touch either one again.

I'd buy the Geddy and live with it. One of my favorite basses was a G&L L-1500. I hated the way that bass looked. Hated the body shape, hated the color, but it sounded so good and played so easy that I just ignored the color and body shape.

 

[Zak TMD]

One of my favorite basses was a G&L L-1500. I hated the way that bass looked. Hated the body shape, hated the color, but it sounded so good and played so easy that I just ignored the color and body shape.

Haha the thing is I don't hate the look of the GL whatsoever, it's straight vanity that makes me want it to look a wee bit different than my current bass. I mean, I suppose I could play black basses forever and it would be fine. Aside from the guy selling this one, I know some other talented folks who do finishing too, so I could pretty much just buy one and have it spruced up whenever.

I'm legit not a hoarder/collector, so small cosmetic stuff doesn't matter to me if I'm playing the instrument - if the buckle rash on the back of my aerodyne is any indication...

 

[songwriter21]

Good take, and yea man... I know - the paint thing is a little ego on my end. But, that said... might have found a nice lil' beater for a good price from a dude who does a custom finishing thing, so now I'm thinking I'll have him do a nice lil' silverburst, ship it to me, and be super happy.

I had two Geddy Lee MIJ basses. I stupidly sold them and am actually looking for another one now. Excellent build quality and the necks were thin, but after the initial setup I never had to touch either one again.

I'd buy the Geddy and live with it. One of my favorite basses was a G&L L-1500. I hated the way that bass looked. Hated the body shape, hated the color, but it sounded so good and played so easy that I just ignored the color and body shape.

There's a guy somewhere on here that just posted about a rare red Geddy that he's looking to sell...price might be a little steep, buuuuut....

 

[Zak TMD]

There's a guy somewhere on here that just posted about a rare red Geddy that he's looking to sell...price might be a little steep, buuuuut....

I've never seen one of those! I scanned the classifieds and didn't see it...

 

[songwriter21]

I've never seen one of those! I scanned the classifieds and didn't see it...

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