Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass

Features are pretty basic(which is what I like)2 vol nobs and 1 tone.The pick ups sound great,they're the 62 american series.The maple neck w/black inlays looks great and gives that midrange growl.

I play in a Rod Stewart trib. band a Motown soul band a rock band and church band.This Bass fits all genre of music,I own several Jazzes,Marcus Miller(A great Bass for slap)American Jazz and Fretless.This is the bass I grab when I go to my gigs,everyone in each band even the audience has commented on the sound.I've used it in the studio and actually came very close to Lee's sound.The action came set up perfectly for me.It's like your fingers are moving on there're own.The only way I can describe the feel and the sound of this Bass is like when trying on shoes.You keep going through a bunch of them till you come across that one that fits and feels good and you let out a sigh<Thats the way this Bass is to me.Being a Rush and Geddy Lee fan might have something to do w/it also.

.When I shop for a Bass if it is not setup perfectly from the factory I won't even spend time w/it.The action was right for me.That Badass bridge makes a huge difference w/sustain and easy to adjust.The only litlle flaw would be the tuning pegs.I think an original set of 72 tuning pegs would be better.These pegs seem a little loose when turning.I like the pegs to be tighter to turn.

A work horse.It's all there,Fender made a great Bass when they made this one.Sounds better than American made and vintage Basses.For the price can't go wrong.I added strap locks to mine.When these Basses first came out it came w/strap locks.Now they don't.

I'm a big Fender fan.I've never had to deal w/this Company but I know people that have and they never had any Problems.I've tried Warwick Basses the Stingray, Ibanez etc.I always come back to Fender.Ever since I got my first Fender(Precision)in 1979 I've never looked back.

All I can say is go into your nearest dealer and try one.You won't be disappointed.It should be noted I owned a Geddy Lee when they first came out I loved it,but I made a huge mistake when I sold it to buy a Vintage Jazz.I regretted doing that.Long story short I ended up selling the Vintage and got a new Geddy and have no regrets.

Made in Japan, 2004.
Pretty standard as far as features are concerned.
It never came with a case, strap or anything else. I bought a case for it and L&M threw in a set of strap locks.
The body is alder and the neck is maple.

This bass has a real bad attitude when driven hard. ;-)
Real bad ass growl that is so very sweet!
I play lots of classic Rush tunes, and this is THE bass for that venue.
I play usually with both volumes full and the tone full.
The bass mellows out considerably when you turn the tone down for less agressive tunes.

This bass was setup rather poorly when I got it. It had almost no relief in the neck at all! ( 0.002" tops)
I set my basses up to have 0.016" and had to loosen the truss 1/2 turn on this one before I got it just right. The intonation was a breeze to setup as the BadAss bridge is easy to adjust.
The action is very lively and addictive on this bass.
The Geddy bass truly has mojo.

I replaced the tuners about 2 months after I bought this bass.
I found the tuners to be pretty cheap and quite inconsistent. The E tuner was real loose and the D tuner grinded when turned. I didn't really care and went for a set of schallers. Sweet!

Recently I bought a couple of different color pickguards for this bass and discovered that the standard Jazz pickguards do not fit this bass. Beware... I plan on getting a couple made custom... No problem.

The fit and finish is very good on this bass. The neck is so very thin and fast, also straight as an arrow. Also the fit of the neck into the body is very snug, just as it should be.
I'm giving this bass an 9 because of the tuners. If it came with decent tuners, it would have been a 10.

This bass has replaced a Rickenbacker 4003 as my bass of choice. I would have no problems showing up to a gig with only this bass and no backup. I'd leave the rick in the basement! I don't anticipate having any kind of problems with it, unless a truck ran over it.
The only thing that may be less than ideal is the fact that Rotosound round strings really take a bite out of the frets. The frets could be made of a little harder material. Of course Rotos are notorious for eating frets...

Never had to deal with the company.

Overall this is one sweet bass, especially for the price. It can compete with the american fenders anyday in my opinion. If fact the same day I bought this bass, I tried several american jazz basses and none of them had the mojo that this bass has. It just speaks and is so 'alive' feeling. If this bass was stolen, I would replace it in a heartbeat.

Brand new! I would assume it to be a 2004. It is made.... oh excuse me crafted in Japan and has a Q------- serial number. I literaly just got it about 9 hours ago and have been playing it ever since.

It has all the same features as listed before me. Early 70's Jazz Bass design, 4 bolt, 1 piece maple neck with black binding and pos markers, alder body,2 Fender USA vintage J pickups, BadassII bridge etc.....

I bought mine through a mail order house Musicians Buy because they were still selling at the old price $899.99 list, $629.00 price shipped versus all the other guys who are now at the new $999.99 list, $699.00 shipped.

In addition to the cheaper price I also got a Fender deluxe gig-bag, a Fender stand, Fender Tuner, Fender cord and a Fender strap all free. Pretty cool considering this bass comes with nothing from the factory.

I was skeptical about the neck because I had read how thin it was. It is thin but just in a comfortable way totally unlike a late 80's Ibanez bass if you know what I mean. Most of my basses are either 60s-70s vintage or have a very vintage feel. This bass feels good. I can only assume it feels like a 71-72 Jazz Bass felt like when new, squeeky clean and with no wear. I own and have played old Jazzes but most are really loved and broken in.

Feature-wise it has all the essentials for me. If you are looking for a 12 band eq look elswhere. If you are looking for exotic wood that you have never heard of before look elsewhere.

Maple, alder, decent pickups and hardware those are my ingredients for a good bass!

It sounds like I like. Oldschool full and punchy. The pickups are supprisingly good even though I usually swap out the pickups on my Fenders. I have a bunch of old Fender guitars and basses with Fralins, Duncans,Vintage Vibes and even EMGs in them swapped for the originals. I think these ones will stay in.

It sounds like a Jazz bass. If you don't know what that is go to every store in your area and play every Jazz Bass you can find, preferably older than 83 and made in USA. this will give you a crash course in Jazz Bassology. In my opinion the Jazz is the most versitile and most perfect of all basses out there. Even my $5000 Fodera is a knock-off of a Jazz Bass. Albeit a super nice one!!!!

It is a nice sounding bass. I personally like the more complexity to an ash bodied Jazz but the alder is good at pumping out the tone.

From the factory it was supprisingly well set up. I'm not sure if I can give Fender the credit or if Musicians Buy did any adjustments. Either way I was pleasantly supprised. It was even in tune.

I play a half step down typically so I made the adjustments to the intonation and tension and am happy.

The bass seems very well made. The Geddy Lee has been out for a few years (98 I think) and the dudes in Japan obviously have their shit together. Sadly I feel Fender Japan has consistantly made better products than Fender USA for the last 20 years. I love 50s,60s,70s and a few early 80's USA Fenders but the Japanese Fenders ,since 83 or so,have always been good to me. Good sounding and playing at a decent price. Excellent gigging instruments.

I have no reservations with this bass. I haven't played live with it yet but I am not worried. The hardware, Badadd I bridge and vintage style (probably made by Gotoh) tuners are fine.

The finish seems tough and that it will hold up. I have a couple of older Japanese Fenders and they have held up great.

The warranty is 12 months.

I have been playing bass semi/pro or pro for 15 years. I have been playing Piano since 5 and guitar since 12 and a couple years of drums and trumpet. I'm a ripe old 36 now so I have been around but still not too old to learn new tricks. Currently my basses consist of this Geddy Lee, a recent Fender Marcus Miller (also very cool!), 78 Fender Jazz, 77 Fender Precision, 83 Yamaha BB1200s, 77 Rickenbacker 4001, 87 Steinberger XM-4, modified 01 Gibson Blackbird(no I am not a Nikki Sixx fan!)2 older USA Custom Schecter 5 strings one Jazz style 92 the other Tele with MM pickup 96, 99 Epiphone Jack Casady Sig, 68 Hofner 5001, 99 Peavey G-V, 91 Peavey TL-5, 93 Fodera Emp Elite, and 03 Ibanez RKB900.

I play through Trace Elliott, Ampeg, GK and SWR amps depending on gig although I am looking into a Bergantino right now. I own various Trace, Peavey, Eden, Hartke and SWR cabs.

If stolen or lost I would just get another one, That is the beauty with this bass, consistancy at a reasonable price. Honestly, this bass is much cooler than any new squire, Mexican and even USA series basses. Possibly the only equal are the vintage series USAs. They are cool but there are lots on inconsistancies. Trust me LOTS! Yeah they come with pickup covers and a hardshell case but they are twice the price +.

You can get a cover set if you really what to for around $25. They are called ashtrays for a reason and you will soon find yourself removing them. A top line Fender bass case is roughly $125. So if you add up the cost of this bass $629, pickup covers $25 and a Fender Tolex or tweed case $125 you have $779. You can't even touch a true American Fender Jazz for that. The Highway 1's yeah but they are Mexican/American and kinda suck.

For the money you just can't beat it. It's a cool looking, playing, and sounding bass. I just caught the Killers Live Somebody Told Me on a TRL replay one night when MTV was actually playing videos and the bass player was playing a Geddy Lee. I'm sure he too has a few choices in what to play.
What is the best value in an early 70's Fender?????? The Geddy Lee Signature.

Features are standard for a passive J-bass, two volume (for eatch pick-up) and master tone. 70's Jazz Bass style black block inlay postion markers/neck binding. THIN neck, 70's Headstock decals.
Simple, but thats the way I like basses. The real Geddy Lee bass that this is a replica of is a 1972, so machine heads are the old style.
I noticed from looking at Rush concert footage that Geddy's real bass has holes where the pickup covers and finger rest where attached, and since I'm obessesed with detail, I had my freind who is a professional luthier add these holes, also added a "F" backplate, since I think this would be correct for a '72 J-bass. Alder Body, maple neck/fretboard

Being that I play old school rock and metal, this bass can cover all basses great. Pickups have no noise, sound ranges from almost a P-bass low to a growly punchy treble and everywhere in between. Aftermarket BadAss bridge also helps.(Geddys real bass has one) Playing trough my Ampeg 4x10 can do almost everything, from Metal to funk, Jazz anything. Probobaly the most versitle bass I have owned

No complaints, Fender's Japan facility makes great stuff. Black finish nice and deep, maple fingerboard perfect as was binding and hardware. I like a low action, so I had that adjusted.

Its a fender, as long as you dont play Ted Nugent and shoot the thing with an arrow or throw it off a 90-story building, chances are it will be around long after your demise.

Fender customer suppot is hit or miss, get work done locally, most everyone deals with Fender anyway, better than arguing with Fender then sending it out to get it back who knows when.

GREAT bass, eventhough I'm a Rickenbacker man, I must say this bass is one of the best I have owned. Purchased it just because I'm a Geddy Lee fan, but I think this thing will be on stage duty very soon, may even hog the light from my Rick since it is sutch a great bass, and it does not hum so mutch sitting!

features as stated below by all the other bassists no reason to be redundant

this thing sounds great. I like the sound unpluged as well as plugged in. there is a good deal of versatility in how the pickups are blended and the use of the single tone control... as with any Jazz bass...

it has a great sound.

this is were it shines in my mind. I have 72 Fender PJ and i thought IT had a niceneck and feel.... The Geddy bass blows it away. my PJ actaully feels too chunky now. I love the neck on the Geddy Jazz. it is effortless to use, smooth to transision, and just the right size for my hands. My fingers are not at all super long, so it is just right.

the thing is asuper solid bass. It fell to the floor not a day after I bouhgt it... BUY STRAP LOCKS!!!! The stock buttons SUCK and I will have a scar where the tuning peg hit me.... but the Bass is SOLID. it didn't even lose its tuning! dead on.

Never needed Fender's help

I love this bass, and it is fast becoming my favorite axe. (my 72 Fender PJ was #1...and shows it....) I have a gob of basses, RIC 4003/5 RIC 4003FL, lightwave, Guild acoustic, 72 Fender PJ, RIC 4080. and all around like this bass A LOT.

I must say that I had no intention of becoming "one of those guys" that likes Rush, likes Geddy, and buys a bass because it looks like Geddy's, but I played it. I liked it. the neck should be a Fender standard option. Maybe even produce it in more colours... so now I am "one of those guys" BUT the bass is really well made, sounds great and plays just like I need it to for me to express myself musically. GReat bass. the price is good. and the workmanship wonderful. Bravo Fender Japan! Just get Strap locks!!! (yes.. I SHOULD have known better... I just excited to play the bass....

The Geddy Lee Fender jazz bass features are those of a 1972 jazz.Two volume controls and one tone control.Its a four string tone monster,and versitile enough for any style of music.The pickups are passive,the finger board is maple with black block inlays and jumbo frets.The neck is a bolt on neck,and crafted to Geddy Lee specs.

If you like the jazz bass sound,this bass brings the wood.Played through an ampeg svt,it's sound is very full and rich.I LOVE the warm yet bright sound,unlike that of my active musicman stingray,more organic and earthy.

The action on this neck is like butter,it's silly stupid.Best neck I have ever played,and I also own an american standard jazzand a Musicman stingray.I have also played Alembics,Gibsons,Washburns and Yamahas.I've been a player for over 35 years.The finish is very good,until you remove the pickguard,then it takes a nose dive.Around the screw holes,the finish is pitted and poorly done.This is bad for players who like to play without the pickguard.

I just got this bass,but from inspection and comparing and research,I tend to think there will be no problems with its durability.It's realy a very solid instrument.If I did'nt break so many G strings,I would have no problem using this bass without a backup.This is now my main axe,until,hopefuly not ever,it proves me wrong.

I have never had to deal with Fender on a support basis,and I've owned six jazzes and one p bass down through the years.

I would buy this bass again if it was stolen.I've played for over 35 years,and have, and have had many fine instruments.I'm a jazz bass nut and I know a good thing when I play it.This bass,besides the poor finish under the pickguard,if made in america,would cost much more.Made in japan.

2002 model Japanese-made instrument. If you've seen a picture of it, you know the features. The thin neck is great for those of us with small hands, and who have to play for long periods of time. The finish of the neck really reminds me of a rickenbacker neck, but i digress. Looks great, even though i think black is a little plain.

I'd like to state at this point that I don't particularly like Rush, I don't really like geddy lee, and I don't like the way he plays bass. That said, this bass sounds great, as it's just got vintage jazz bass pickups in it. The sound is classic fender jazz, and works great with my ampeg b2-r.

I had a full setup done when i bought it, so i dont know how the factory one was, but thats not too important anyway. There were no manufacturing flaws, all the geddy lee basses i've seen seem to be pretty consistent. Japan has good quality control for fender basses, it seems.

I've gigged with amp for 2 years without a backup. I play for 2 hours at a time usually, and this bass holds up pretty well. The bass has taken it's share of knicks, but has held up very well. The only problem is that the knobs fell off one-by-one, and now they're all off. This also happens on american basses i've seen (but not on squier jazz basses which use a different type of knob... go figure.) The knobs aren't that crucial, and im sure i could've reattached them if i cared. Also, due to the thin neck, setups are required more frequently than my mexican p-bass.

never talked to fender.

I have been playing 8 years. I started out on a used 80's p-bass. This bass is a great value for the money, and really a brilliant instrument to play, and it sounds good. This is a versitile instrument, and other than the name on the back of the headstock, it has little to do with geddy lee.

Black Body
3-play white pickguard
Maple fingerboard with black block position markers
Black Binding around fingerboard
Two US Jazz Bass pickups
BadAss II bridge
70's style fender decaling at headstock
Basic J-bass knobs, two volume 1 tone
Very slim neck (may be an issue with players with leger hands)
Baisc Fender J-bass set-up, but thats all you really need!

GREAT SOUND!!. Has a grwol to it. Very cutting. I play old-school hard rock (Black Sabbath, Deep Purple style) and it cuts and sounds 100% for this type of work. I play it through Ampeg SVT-3PRO head and SVT-810 cab. I replced the factory strings with Rotosound swing bass,
the same that Geddy uses?. Really beefed up the sound from the factory ones, though those where OK too.

Crafted in Japan, but dont let this put you off, I once said "I wont play anything that isn't made in the USA" but the fact is that when it comes to musical instruments, sometimes the foreign made is equal or better to US stuff. This bass is just as nicely finished as my US precision bass. I had to re-ajust the action, set WAY too low.

As far as I can tell, its a typical Fender, tough as nails. My only gripe is the tuners, may be a problem down the road. I dont know if these are a copy of the 70's ones or what (the real bass Geddy Uses that this bass is a replica of was made in 1972, I recall reading)they seem a little cheesey.

Fender makes great products but having to deal with them on customer support sucks. But since almost almost all music stores under the sun carry Fender goods in some capaciy, its often better to have most problems taken care of localy. I would not send Fender anything unless I HAD to

GREAT bass. It has become my main bass, replacing my US P-bass. The slim neck may not be for those with large hands, but since I have small hands for a bass player, its a dream for me. In all honesty I got this bass mainly because its a Geddy Lee (I'm a HUGE rush fan) but I can say it was one of my better buys in my life

you all know the features. their 40+ reviews below if you dont

I have never turned more guitarists heads then with the sound from this bass, my ampeg svt III pro and sansamp rbi. "You cut through the mix so well" "I've never actually heard all the cool bass stuff in that song" bottom line everyone thinks this bass sounds awesome. chunky, raunchy, bright, thick. all at once. the only passive bass I've ever used the tone knob on. It was also better sounding then any american jazz bass in the store. including the $$$$ custom shop 62' reissue and half the price.

this neck is great. I have medium sized hands and they love the thin neck. feels just like my moses graphite jazz neck. my neck has very nice grain figure in the maple and areas of flame in the maple as well. action is the best of all my basses and I didn't touch a thing. It doesn't get much better in terms of looks for a jazz bass. block inlays w/binding over maple. black body, white pgaurd chrome badass, big ol jazz bass logo on the head stock.

its a fender for cryin out loud. the strap buttons will need matches/toothpicks and glue but it will work forever. if it dont anything can fixed or upgraded cheap enough. the tuners kinda suck. I might replace em with hipshots but thats when I got nothing better to buy.

you dont really need customer support with fender. everyone and their brother stocks/ sells parts. its all readily available.

I might buy another just in case something ever happens to this one. stolen, dropped, used to kill my guitarist. you cant go wrong with a jazz bass especially one of this quality for this price.

I originally reviewed this bass and gave it good reviews. But having spent some time with it found I was overly critical. I swapped the original pickups for Seymour Duncan Antiquity II's but found them rather boomy. Despite multiple attempts I reinstalled the originals and have been able to get the ultimate Geddy/Squire tone!

Factory setup was perfect (lucky me). No blems at all.

I've done multiple gigs now and have no worries about its durability.

Never needed customer support.

I've been playing for about 30 years now. While my taste has changed over the years, I think this is the best playing and sounding bass I've had to date (I must have owned over 25 basses over the years). I currently play through 2 2-12 Bag End cabs with 2 1-15 bottoms through an Ampeg svp pro preamp with a Presonus Blue max compressor, a Sansamp driver (the best sounding addition regardless of rig) and Crown 1200 amp. I've never had a better sound. I play mostly Jazz/rock fusion and constantly have other bass players rave about my sound (one of the best compliments I could get other than my playing). If it was stolen I'd not think twice about replacing it!