Geddy Lee Age

[SkinnyP411]

Hey guys! First let me say that j appreciate all the help that I've always gotten from the people on this site, thank you!!
Ok, so my question is this: How old is my geddy Lee bass? The serial on the neck plate corresponds to the numbers on the Japanese fender dating chart, suggesting it's from the years '85-86. But wasn't the geddy model first made in 98? Thanks in advance!

 

[Hank Scorpio]

Invalid Link Removed - scroll down to the bottom of the chart

A 'Made In Japan' bass with a serial number starting with B, would be 85-86

A 'Crafted In Japan', or CIJ, bass with a serial number starting with B, would be 98-99

Another poster has just had this same query yesterday, with exactly the same year confusion, by the sounds of it. For whatever reason, they seemed to basically 'restart' the serial numbers for a few years when the MIJ/CIJ switch happened.

 

[Winfred]

Anything involving Geddy Lee is immortal.

 

[DigitalMan]

Anything involving Geddy Lee is immortal.

... for a limited time

 

[OldDirtyBassist]

I was about to say: Geddy is in his 60's but his hands are 19.

 

[wraub]

I'm pretty sure he's 61.
But just until July.

 

[john_g]

... for a limited time

I see what you did there.....

 

[Spectrum]

When I saw the title of this thread I thought it was about the part of history we are living in, the Age of Geddy Lee.

 

[SkinnyP411]

Thanks guys!! Side Q: does anyone know what pickups are these basses?

 

[MovingPitchers]

Invalid Link Removed - scroll down to the bottom of the chart

A 'Made In Japan' bass with a serial number starting with B, would be 85-86

A 'Crafted In Japan', or CIJ, bass with a serial number starting with B, would be 98-99

Another poster has just had this same query yesterday, with exactly the same year confusion, by the sounds of it. For whatever reason, they seemed to basically 'restart' the serial numbers for a few years when the MIJ/CIJ switch happened.

That would probably be me. HAHAHA

 

[MovingPitchers]

Thanks guys!! Side Q: does anyone know what pickups are these basses?

Whatever it says on the Fender website. The only thing that changed is that the Geddy basses are now made in Mexico, not Japan. All the hardware (except the BAII this year) is same.

 

[PortlandBass77]

Whatever it says on the Fender website. The only thing that changed is that the Geddy basses are now made in Mexico, not Japan. All the hardware (except the BAII this year) is same.

Not quite.... I have found the MIM Geddy Lees to be lower quality and more inconsistent the CIJs.

 

[MovingPitchers]

Not quite.... I have found the MIM Geddy Lees to be lower quality and more inconsistent the CIJs.

For sure, yeah. Japanese Fenders IN GENERAL are much better QC than MIMs, but that's not saying much nowadays since MIM is very very consistent with QC. Sure, there are bad apples too but all models do, even the MIAs.

I'm very happy I got a well crafted CIJ Geddy. The frets are a bit worn but that was from the previous owner. IT doesn't affect intonation or fretting so I leave it.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Thanks guys!! Side Q: does anyone know what pickups are these basses?

I thought the Geddys always came with USA Fender single coils AKA "Fender Original Jazz Bass Pickups".