NBD Fender Aerodyne Precision Bass

[Shirobon]

I still can't believe I actually got one, guys. Holy ship.

Couple more pics, just cuz I can't get enough:

Deep mesmerizing blue.

You can really see the flame on the headstock on this one.

 

[2F/2F]

It's been strung with Rotosound flatwounds 105s. There are no Precision basses without the flame top, but there are Jazz basses without the flame top.

Hi,

I was asking about the fret size, not the strings.

 

[Shirobon]

Hi,

I was asking about the fret size, not the strings.

Oh, brain fart.
No these are medium jumbo. 6130.

 

[2F/2F]

Oh, brain fart.
No these are medium jumbo. 6130.

Thanks.

 

[Runnerman]

Congrats! Been on my list for at least 5 years.

 

[FollowMeDown]

How does it play/sound compared to a US precision?

 

[ZuluFoxtrot]

Is the difference between the Jazz and Precision only the body shape? Same pup position a between them too?

 

[ChrisWright]

Great buy and hope you have many happy hours playing it. I have a black with cream Aerodyne Jazz bass, no scratcher and the smoked chrome iron work. Its my go to bass now, great sound, very fast neck, thinner than a standard Jazz bass and very light.

I’ve had my eye on a similar black/cream-bound Aerodyne Jazz for a couple years and just haven’t pulled the trigger yet. I absolutely love the way this bass looks with the smoked hardware and no pick guard, and it is lightweight (matters to me). There have been some criticisms about the basswood’s tendency to ‘dent’ easily. Have you had any issues during regular gigging/heavy use?

 

[jonro]

What is the difference between these and the Fender Aerodynes that are current production? Except for the color, they look the same.

 

[Shirobon]

How does it play/sound compared to a US precision?

At the moment, I can't give an accurate comparison as my AmStd Precision has rounds and the Aerodyne has flats. But from what I hear now, the AmStd has a more balanced output with a more thumpy kind of sound, and the Aerodyne has a more boomy bass with some "twang" on the high end. I'll have to make a comparison when I get some rounds for the Aerodyne.

Is the difference between the Jazz and Precision only the body shape? Same pup position a between them too?

What is the difference between these and the Fender Aerodynes that are current production? Except for the color, they look the same.

They're the same. Only the body shape changes. Basswood body, modern bridge pup position, maple Jazz neck.
The Precision might have a maple cap on top of the basswood, but I think it's just a thin veneer.

 

[Doug P]

Question for all who “like” Fender ... would a nice collection of Aerodyne P and J Basses in a few colors give a boost to their bottom line. Wake up Fender. Make something “kinda” new at least for the US market ! Someone with Fender must read these things right ?

 

[ZuluFoxtrot]

What I like about Fender is they are "affordable" for their "high end" basses and it's always easy to roll in and get the sound engineer happy in a moment or two with the mix. And yes, if they offered stuff like the Aerodyne I would and will buy one.

Question for all who “like” Fender ... would a nice collection of Aerodyne P and J Basses in a few colors give a boost to their bottom line. Wake up Fender. Make something “kinda” new at least for the US market ! Someone with Fender must read these things right ?

 

[Shirobon]

Question for all who “like” Fender ... would a nice collection of Aerodyne P and J Basses in a few colors give a boost to their bottom line. Wake up Fender. Make something “kinda” new at least for the US market ! Someone with Fender must read these things right ?

What I like about Fender is they are "affordable" for their "high end" basses and it's always easy to roll in and get the sound engineer happy in a moment or two with the mix. And yes, if they offered stuff like the Aerodyne I would and will buy one.

Honestly Fender needs to spice it up a little. All they have now is vintage vintage vintage...It's getting boring. If they could do like Gibson and do a traditional line up with all the usual stuff, and a modern line up with stuff like Aerodynes and such, I think they'd attract a bigger customer base, instead of the ones who only fall for boomerbursts and tort guards.

 

[B-Mac]

Well, that's another one I can cross off my bucket list. This to me, is the most beautiful Precision Bass out there, and I've been searching for one as early as 2010. But they're so freaking rare it's not even funny. Yesterday, I finally found one in blue close to me in Europe. It took me 10 friggin years to find one.
View attachment 4006323
View attachment 4006324
The Aerodyne Precision Bass is a bound, arch top basswood body with a flamed maple veneer offered in 3 colors for the export version: blue, crimson and natural. These were made in Japan from 2006 to 2008. The domestic japanese ones were referred to as the APJ-DMC, featured DiMarzio pickups (which we didn't get) and other finish options like violet and sunburst.

View attachment 4006331
It has a Jazz bass neck (39mm nud width), one piece maple with walnut skunk stripe (semi-gloss finish) and matching headstock, rosewood fretboard with white acrylic inlays.
View attachment 4006332
But mine has a neat bonus to it. It came with a flamed maple neck. Super lucky with this, not every one can boast about having this on one of the rarest Precisions out there. There's even some figuring on the headstock.

View attachment 4006337
View attachment 4006338
View attachment 4006339
It's very thin on the sides thanks to its arch top. Note the bridge has its own recess so that it can sit straight. It still has the belly cut, and sort of still has the forearm cut. Along with the really light weight, it makes this a really comfortable bass for gigging.
View attachment 4006344
Thickness of the body compared to a normal P bass body.


This bass was played heavily so it isn't really in great shape. I had to replace the pickguard as the previous owners drilled so many holes for a thumb rest. Its finish has also gone dull, so if anyone has tips for reviving the color, I'd appreciate it.
Previous owner strung it with flatwounds, and I gotta say, the vintage tones you can get with it are godly. It doesn't quite fit my style, bass is kinda boomy, but for fingerstyle playing it sounds really good.

Great score!
Good things come to those who wait.....and search for 10 years!
Enjoy it!

 

[amper]

Well, that's another one I can cross off my bucket list. This to me, is the most beautiful Precision Bass out there, and I've been searching for one as early as 2010. But they're so freaking rare it's not even funny. Yesterday, I finally found one in blue close to me in Europe. It took me 10 friggin years to find one.
View attachment 4006323
View attachment 4006324
The Aerodyne Precision Bass is a bound, arch top basswood body with a flamed maple veneer offered in 3 colors for the export version: blue, crimson and natural. These were made in Japan from 2006 to 2008. The domestic japanese ones were referred to as the APJ-DMC, featured DiMarzio pickups (which we didn't get) and other finish options like violet and sunburst.

View attachment 4006331
It has a Jazz bass neck (39mm nud width), one piece maple with walnut skunk stripe (semi-gloss finish) and matching headstock, rosewood fretboard with white acrylic inlays.
View attachment 4006332
But mine has a neat bonus to it. It came with a flamed maple neck. Super lucky with this, not every one can boast about having this on one of the rarest Precisions out there. There's even some figuring on the headstock.

View attachment 4006337
View attachment 4006338
View attachment 4006339
It's very thin on the sides thanks to its arch top. Note the bridge has its own recess so that it can sit straight. It still has the belly cut, and sort of still has the forearm cut. Along with the really light weight, it makes this a really comfortable bass for gigging.
View attachment 4006344
Thickness of the body compared to a normal P bass body.


This bass was played heavily so it isn't really in great shape. I had to replace the pickguard as the previous owners drilled so many holes for a thumb rest. Its finish has also gone dull, so if anyone has tips for reviving the color, I'd appreciate it.
Previous owner strung it with flatwounds, and I gotta say, the vintage tones you can get with it are godly. It doesn't quite fit my style, bass is kinda boomy, but for fingerstyle playing it sounds really good.

32" scale, or 34"?

 

[amper]

Honestly, this is as modern as I'll ever need Fender to be. Wish they would bring this one back, last seen in 2009…

Other than finish options, the only changes this bass needs is a HipShot KickAss bridge and stainless frets. Everything else is PERFECT.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Given how desirable they've become, I don't get why Fender doesn't reissue the Aerodyne P and J models in the "with pick guard" non export Japanese variant. Were they just not good sellers the first time?

 

[gln1955]

Given how desirable they've become, I don't get why Fender doesn't reissue the Aerodyne P and J models in the "with pick guard" non export Japanese variant. Were they just not good sellers the first time?

The P's were never sold in the US, at least not through normal channels. I got mine through a gray market brand new, but stamped "Used" and with the serial number partly obliterated.

 

[Shirobon]

32" scale, or 34"?

34"

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I’m not normally a P guy, but THAT is a damn fine looking bass. I love bound bodies, but they dig into your forearm a little, not so on the Aerodynes.