Geddy Finally Came Home!

[Frank Vozak]

After a ridiculously long layaway, I finally took my American Geddy Lee Fender Jazz home. It is great, but the fact I have to take the neck off to adjust the neck (just like a vintage Seventies Jazz,) is a pain in the butt because it could use a little tweak. Still, I am very happy because I have wanted a Seventies style Jazz since the actual Seventies. I will never forget when Bootsy’s RubberBand opened for Parliament, and Bootsy had a pretty white Jazz because his original Space Bass had been stolen. I remember War’s original bassist, B.B. Dickerson, on stage with a Jazz, and I remember the guy from Spain in Heatwave who had a Seventies Jazz too. Ironically, the one time I saw Larry Graham, he had an Alembic. Of course, the greatest bassist of my generation, Marcus Miller, rocked a Seventies Jazz, and his Fender is his number one till this day. The funny thing is that I always loved the Geddy Lee Signature Jazz much more than the Marcus Miller. I almost bought a CIJ Geddy about fifteen years ago. That said, I am a pretty big Geddy Lee fan too. I would like to unload my Music Man SUB5, but I may keep it since no one is biting in the classifieds. My Geddy is my four and my Pedulla and my Carvin are my fives.

I didn't know the Geddy Lee Jazz came with a bonded maple neck

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Interesting to know. I was under the impression it was the same pawnshop bass, but many years, mods, and necks (!) later.

The American is modeled after a Fender Custom Shop 1972 Jazz copy. So it is a copy of a copy.

 

[Frank Vozak]

After a ridiculously long layaway, I finally took my American Geddy Lee Fender Jazz home. It is great, but the fact I have to take the neck off to adjust the neck (just like a vintage Seventies Jazz,) is a pain in the butt because it could use a little tweak. Still, I am very happy because I have wanted a Seventies style Jazz since the actual Seventies. I will never forget when Bootsy’s RubberBand opened for Parliament, and Bootsy had a pretty white Jazz because his original Space Bass had been stolen. I remember War’s original bassist, B.B. Dickerson, on stage with a Jazz, and I remember the guy from Spain in Heatwave who had a Seventies Jazz too. Ironically, the one time I saw Larry Graham, he had an Alembic. Of course, the greatest bassist of my generation, Marcus Miller, rocked a Seventies Jazz, and his Fender is his number one till this day. The funny thing is that I always loved the Geddy Lee Signature Jazz much more than the Marcus Miller. I almost bought a CIJ Geddy about fifteen years ago. That said, I am a pretty big Geddy Lee fan too. I would like to unload my Music Man SUB5, but I may keep it since no one is biting in the classifieds. My Geddy is my four and my Pedulla and my Carvin are my fives.

I sold my 67 Mustang and '67 Jazz bass when I quit playing in the 70's. When I retired I opted to try a Fender Precision but it was too big for my hands and arms so I bought a Squier Jaguar SS Bass which has worked well except I now relize that a wider fretboard is a good thing and I reallymiss that 67 Mustang Bass. But hearing about the improvement with the truss rod for set up and neck adjustment does show that post Leo basses have some advantage over Leo=era baSSES AND fENDER ERA RECREATIONS.

 

[Doug P]

I take my gig basses to a great shop near our studio once a year for a full “check up”. All are Fender and never had the need to do anything other than changing strings in between those trips. Seems like I don’t even need to make that trip Every bass stays close to pitch even between long stays in the case, so ..... I find little reason to even think about anything other than string changes .... have had basses fall over, come “un-hooked” from strap lock just standing there... so except for things like that, just strings.

 

[Frank Vozak]

I really dislike it when they reproduce the design flaws. That is one thing I like about MusicMan, they include design tweaks in the reissues. Easy access to the truss rod is one of those must-haves.

That bass sounds and looks great. I tried an American Geddy once and it was really nice. The 70's pickup positions is the best slap sound in my opinion. Congratulations!

I think you have a valid point. It doesn't matter the manufacturer' not doing running improvements on good designs seems kind of foolish. After all, the Mustang Bass may have been considered a "Student Bass"in
1966 but a lot of small fingered and/or short arms the Mustang Bass has become the Precision Bass for people
like me. I only wish Fender would release a Mustang Bass with high end SeymorDuncan or Fender Precision pickups. The old Mustang had weak pickups and the PJ design of the current Mustangs gives people like me an unwanted Jazz Bass pickup at the bridge (I just turn of the J bridge pickup}

 

[JoshS]

The American is modeled after a Fender Custom Shop 1972 Jazz copy. So it is a copy of a copy.

I'll take it anyway. It has just the right sound and feel I was hoping for. Definitely a "forever bass" for me.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I'll take it anyway. It has just the right sound and feel I was hoping for. Definitely a "forever bass" for me.

Me too.

 

[ChaZam]

Congrats on bailing it out of layaway.
Money well spent...

 

[Doug4321]

The new precision basses are good, speaking of fixing design flaws. Accessible truss rod, and the nut width of 1 5/8 instead of 1 3/4”. The original is a little spread out in first position to me. But obviously not deal breakers to everyone!

Are 70s Jazz necks really deep/thick? I tried a Shure copy Jazz with that, felt odd to me.

Im really happy with my American standard jazz. Now if only I could play it like both John Entwistle and Marcus Miller.

 

[mrface2112]

Congrats! I have one and absolutely love it. It's my #1 and is the bass in my avatar. The pickups have a growl and snarl like nothing I've heard.

 

[Womber]

Based on a recommendation from a luthier I bought a Geddy Lee bass years ago. Definitely one of my favs.

 

[Doug4321]

Thanks, I finally got the bass I wanted as a teen.

hah hah. I wanted a Rickenbacker and a BC Rich Mockingbird. Spendy! Of course I just had an Aria.

 

[WillyW]

I am glad that I did not get that Tony Franklin fretless. It’s not that the Tony Franklin isn’t a fabulous bass, it’s that it is simply nice to have a high quality fretted four string, especially a nice, passive Jazz Bass for what it offers tonally and the joy of B string liberation when I want it.

you can stop by and borrow my Franklin anytime, unfortunately it has a heel adjust truss rod as well...

the body and original pickguard are slotted for access.

 

[ndukane65]

Congrats on finally bringing your US Geddy home! I just recently built a Geddy Lee bass earlier this year before the whole pandemic thing happened. The neck is an AllParts neck and the body is a Mexican Fender Geddy Lee. The tuners are Fender 70's style and the pickups are Geddy Lee pickups wound by Tom Brantley...the same ones in Geddy's bass. I bought Waterslide paper for my printer and printed the Geddy autograph for the headstock and the Alchemy symbol for the pick guard. I'm very pleased with it.

 

[mrface2112]

the pickups are Geddy Lee pickups wound by Tom Brantley...the same ones in Geddy's bass.

I've been looking at those for a different Jazz Bass in my fleet. How are they?

 

[ndukane65]

I've been looking at those for a different Jazz Bass in my fleet. How are they?

They're awesome! I had to wait about a week and a half to get them but it was totally worth it. When I first plugged in the bass I was taken aback at how good they sound. They definitely achieve the Geddy sound!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I didn't know the Geddy Lee Jazz came with a bonded maple neck

This is the American version.

 

[Eli Brockway]

As a side comment, I am baffled by Fender's method of slacking strings and unscrewing the neck to tweak the truss rod. As much as I love all things Fender, this seems to be a design flaw. A simple solution is to drill a 1" hole 1/2" deep (forstner bit) into the body at the end of neck for truss rod access without the need to unscrew anything.

This is why you get a precision bass with a good, thin, gold anodized pickguard, and never have to worry about even backing the neck out a little bit!

Just be careful not to scratch the pickguard while you're adjusting.

 

[BB Brian]

Congratulations, Dr. Cheese. I am excited by your happiness at finally getting a bass you clearly have dreamed of. Enjoy it in health!

 

[togril]

After a ridiculously long layaway, I finally took my American Geddy Lee Fender Jazz home. It is great, but the fact I have to take the neck off to adjust the neck (just like a vintage Seventies Jazz,) is a pain in the butt because it could use a little tweak. Still, I am very happy because I have wanted a Seventies style Jazz since the actual Seventies. I will never forget when Bootsy’s RubberBand opened for Parliament, and Bootsy had a pretty white Jazz because his original Space Bass had been stolen. I remember War’s original bassist, B.B. Dickerson, on stage with a Jazz, and I remember the guy from Spain in Heatwave who had a Seventies Jazz too. Ironically, the one time I saw Larry Graham, he had an Alembic. Of course, the greatest bassist of my generation, Marcus Miller, rocked a Seventies Jazz, and his Fender is his number one till this day. The funny thing is that I always loved the Geddy Lee Signature Jazz much more than the Marcus Miller. I almost bought a CIJ Geddy about fifteen years ago. That said, I am a pretty big Geddy Lee fan too. I would like to unload my Music Man SUB5, but I may keep it since no one is biting in the classifieds. My Geddy is my four and my Pedulla and my Carvin are my fives.

Keep the SUB.
MY FIRST REAL BASS? A 70’s White Jazz. Beautiful instrument. Beautiful. I wonder if it is still alive....