New USA Geddy Lee v. MIJ

[Fender2015]

i have a MIJ, what's the deal with the new USA model? Is it just more fender marketing or is it something I should traded in for?

 

[Midak]

Logically there will be an uprise in quality (at least from the Mexican Geddy line) and the neck/pickups being different. I do own a CIJ Geddy that I am not planning trading/selling, but the thread is of interest to me, academically.

 

[Fender2015]

I have a CIJ too. I don't plan on selling it, but I thought of selling others to buy the new one...

 

[Midak]

Let us hope that they will start to pop-up so we could judge on our own. Until then of course, any hands-on experience by anyone is welcome.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

I have a 'burst CIJ and a black MIM and no plans of ditching either one. I think it looks nice and all but mine work fantastic, sound great, built well and I'm just not sure it would be worth the 2 for 1 in this case.

 

[The Chuck]

I really like my MIM (black). It is a very nice sounding and playing bass. No plans to sell or trade, even it the MIA is any better.

 

[DigitalMan]

Differences are:

• Made in US
• Thicker neck
• Pearl block inlays
• Geddy specific pickups
• Geddy specific high mass bridge

I'll be getting one as it has everything I wanted in the $7k model except the relic job and the price.

 

[shrimpflea]

I am interested in the thicker neck. I had an early Geddy Lee Jazz from 2002....great bass but the neck was too thin so I sold it. I should of just changed the neck, really great sounding bass.

 

[Doc Mojo]

The USA Geddy Lee comes with a glad baggy fully of Ged's finger nail clippings. Doesn't Fender usually come out with the USA model first and then come out with a more affordable model later?

 

[chiplexic]

If Geddy's original bass ,which this one is styled after, was a 72' why does this US Geddy have reverse Kluson style tuners that were used in the early 60's ?

 

[IronLung1986]

The USA Geddy Lee comes with a glad baggy fully of Ged's finger nail clippings. Doesn't Fender usually come out with the USA model first and then come out with a more affordable model later?

Funnily enough they seem to introduce new models at a lower price made in Asia, and then if they show promise they meander around the world and end up with a US line. Just look at the Dimension, Jaguar, Geddy, etc.

 

[Midak]

Differences are:

• Made in US
• Thicker neck
• Pearl block inlays
• Geddy specific pickups
• Geddy specific high mass bridge

I'll be getting one as it has everything I wanted in the $7k model except the relic job and the price.

Oh, and one more (crusial) thing: the back of the neck is hand-rubbed oil instead of gloss urethane.

 

[ModuMan]

I'll be getting one as it has everything I wanted in the $7k model except the relic job and the price.

Yep, I agree! I placed an order for the USA version. I have a CIJ as well and I made several mods to it... Hipshot tuners, had the neck refinished to an oil finish, different pickups, etc. The only other thing on the USA I would love to see different is better truss rod access. I really can't stand the school truss adjusts. I made an access route on my CIJ and I expect I might do the same with the USA.

 

[DigitalMan]

Oh, and one more (crusial) thing: the back of the neck is hand-rubbed oil instead of gloss urethane.

Yes, you are correct. Very happy about that too...

 

[Anastasios1964]

Hello Moduman, have you gotten the new model? I am interested in buying it as well and I would appreciate your feedback. Thanks in advance.

 

[ab2112]

I have a bad GAS problem and I am a huge Rush fan so I just now ordered a USA Geddy off Reverb. I have a MIM Sunburst Geddy that I may sell to offset this new one. I picked up a an MIM ASH FSR Jazz a while back, and it is the most comfortable and solid Fender I've played and I've grown accustomed to it's more smooth feeling neck and slightly larger profile. I'm hoping the US Geddy offers me the best of what I like from these two basses I already own.

 

[TolerancEJ]

Differences are:

• Made in US
• Thicker neck
• Pearl block inlays
• Geddy specific pickups
• Geddy specific high mass bridge

I'll be getting one as it has everything I wanted in the $7k model except the relic job and the price.

As each US Geddy Lee has completed construction, a Fender representative personally kisses each one good-bye with a tear in his/her eyes before placing it inside the case.

 

[El Quijote]

I just received my USA Geddy Lee Bass. I have used my CIJ (2001) Geddy Lee as my primary bass for the past 14 years and it has served me well. The USA one will now take its place (although I'm still keeping my CIJ for sentimental reasons). Both are very well built and sound great. They both weigh about the same, with the USA being about a half pound lighter. The USA bass feels a bit different to me. The biggest difference is the neck. It is much thicker than my CIJ, particularly in the mid-range of the neck around the 7th to 9th frets, it is not quite as thick as my old MIM P-Bass, but still much thicker than the CIJ Geddy. To my hands the thicker neck is actually more comfortable (the oil finish is excellent, makes the next very easy to play), also I hope the added thickness improves the neck stability, the neck on my CIJ is very thin and fast but I've had to adjust the truss-rod repeatedly over the years. The next big difference are the pick-ups. The USA p-ups are much hotter and louder than my CIJ. The other differences are mainly cosmetic, the pearloid pickguard, the pearloid block inlays, and the ivory/cream binding. Also the edge contours of the body are more rounded on my USA than the more angular cuts on the CIJ.

 

[Panther]

The US Geddy is better than the mij/mim...and to me better than the US standard jazz. A lot better feel. I'd trade up, unless the thin neck is your thing. I hated the neck on the old ones

 

[WRM]

If Geddy's original bass ,which this one is styled after, was a 72' why does this US Geddy have reverse Kluson style tuners that were used in the early 60's ?

I don't know what/who "Kluson" is, but they are reverse tuners. I'm very happy with mine!

Cheers,