Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass

This review is for a 2004 Fender "Geddy Lee" Jazz Bass. This is the second one I've owned (2002). The features are the same but the build and feel is better on this one. See below...

Great growl, awesome for both funk and fingerstyle. Not quite as bassy or organic as my 2003 US standard jazz. The Geddy has a snappier sound , more harmonic ring, problably due to the maple neck and different bridge. Very even sounding up and down and across the neck. Great pickups, very little noise..there's a brass plate on the bottom of the control cavity..my US and Mexican jazz basses don't have that...might be a factor?

This is the second Geddy I've owned. The first one (2002) had a thinner neck and cheaper/loser tuners. The 2004 has a slighlty larger neck and the tuners are solid. The finish on this is better than my 2003 Black US Jazz. Maybe they have changed a few specs over the years I don't know, but I recommend trying a few different ones before buying. The 2002 Geddy I had did not like Rototsound strings the action had to be constantly adjusted. A little thicker neck might help. Also the finish on the 2004 neck and body is better than the 2002. The action/playability on this bass is awesome I wouldn't change anything. The Japanese Geddy is slightly under the build quality and playability of my Modulus Genesis Jazz ($2,000 +) and is better than my 03 Fender US($1,100) and Mexican 60's Burgundy Mist Ltd Jazz bass ($800). The Japanese are buiding a great product.

Fender jazz basses are players. The Geddy is definately one well built bass. Only time will tell how the neck holds up but as far as everything else that is why Leo Fender designed his instruments so parts could be changed.

I have emailed fender about the different types of jazz bass pickups...but no reply...too busy taking our money.

Great bass a little different flavour than some of the other Fenders I own..great for funk and rock. For the price IMHO Fender doesn't have a better value in a bass. Just be aware that a thinner neck and certain types of higher tension roundwound strings (ROTOSOUND)can cause problems.

2004/2005 Fender Japan, features as listed. Bought new in late 2005 as a replacement for a "well gigged" 20-yr-old Aria Pro II. Fantastic finish and very easy to play. I've bought an ABS case to replace the included gig bag, a black scratchplate for vanity reasons, Dunlop Straploks to prevent accidents and put a new set of fender 7350M's (the OEM strings) on it. I might change the machine heads to a set of Hipshot Ultralites purely to shave some more weight off the already anorexic neck, but the originals stay in tune even after a right pounding.

Sounds and plays like all basses should and a soundman says the DI sound is louder than some active basses. Plays country, funk, punk and metal beautifully and growls, pops and slaps in all the right places. I use this bass, a Boss TU-2 and a Peavey Combo 300.

Action a little high and a little too much neck relief when it arrived, but a 1/4 (maximum) turn of the truss rod and an Allen key to the Bad-Ass II sorted that out nicely. G string intonation was slightly out, but otherwise a perfect set-up. There is a tiny (2mm)laquer bubble on the fingerboard binding, otherwise the bass is flawless. The neck needs to come off to adjust the truss rod, but hopefully I won't need to do this again. This is the only thing prohibiting a 10!

Gigged a few times, rehearsed plenty and played everyday (yes, everyday). Nice light bass, stayed in tune throughout. Finish still flawless despite the odd "meeting" with the guitarists SG during some on stage japes. Strap buttons replaced with Dunlop Straploks 'cos I really don't want to break it. Only needed to adjust the neck & bridge once. I have no backup bass and I can't see me needing one.

I emailed Fender UK about a replacement scratchplate about 3 weeks ago and have had no reply. eBay sorted me out though!

Been playing over 20 years and only Wal basses are equal to tone and playability of this bass. I would replace this bass tomorrow with 2 more in case they ever stop making them.

Standard Fender Jazz bass made in Japan. The Jazz bass is versatile but when compared to the latest stuff with actives electronics etc. any Jazz bass could only mamange an 8.

As a straight forward solid Jazz bass, this is hard to beat at any price.

Over the years I have owned an eighties Squire, a 60s re-issue, a 62 stack nob re-issue & still own an original 72, a Mexican fretless, an Overwater J5 & a cheep no name jazz copy with EMGs. The only jazz that tops the Geddy Lee is the hand built Overwater with active electronics. Not bad for a mid priced instrument.

The bass has a very agresive, punch about it and cuts thro the mix well with strong mids. It can be pulled back on the tone control to give a warmer sound when needed.

I find that some of my previous (passive) jazz basses required a bit of boost in the bass department to keep up in a live situation, not with this one. It does still have a bit of pickup buzz but that is single coils for you. It is good for any type of music.

I use either a Hartke 3500 or an Eden WT500 amplifier via EBS & Euphonic Auidio cabinets. The Eden proves to be an excellent match to this bass. The Hartke is already a very punchy amp so it all depends how much punch you need.

The bass arrived from a mail order shop and was set up perfectly. A number of other reviews mentioned the tuners, I have had no problem with this bass so it may only be certail instruments.

Finish is completely flawless, everything lines up properly and the badass bridge is a welcome adition.

Only time will tell but I reckon this is built better than my original 72 Jazz and that is still going strong after 34 years. I think this one will be the same........

Never needed to use them.

Been playing 36 years and owned all kinds of basses and equipment during this time. I will always have room for a decent Jazz bass and this is certainly a decent bass. Straight out of the box, this bass delivers.

Bought my Getty Lee Bass used from a dealer got a great deal. The original owner made a few minor changes. The pickgaurge was repalced with a Moto Gray one, and the control knobs where replaced with Crome "skull" knobs. But the main change was the pickups were replaced with EMG active electronics. These mods where done professionaly so the bass looks excellent, body and neck were "like New". I'm usely not so yep on modified basses but this one was a rare find very professionaly done.

It is louder than any other Bass I have every owned, and I've had at least ten basses over the past 25 years. Must be the EMG's. It's very articulate and clean sounding, nice highs or just roll off the tone knob and hear it growl.

Jappaness workmanship can not be beat. The thing that impressed me the most was the great feel to the neck. The black body finish is purfect. NOW the tunners, well they seem to slip and don't always stay in tune. Which is a first because I have owned 7 other Fenders and they always stay solid in tune. I don't know what the problem is but this is the only shortcomming of the bass. Once you tune it up it stays though the gig but as soon as you put it in the gig bag it slips out of tune. Oh and the gig bag looks well paded but the zippers are cheap. Maybe I'm to picky because this is still a great bass but I have never had a Fender before that had any tunner problems. It's a minor flaw to an otherwise AWSOME bass.

Will I replace the tunners? No I think this will get better with age.
Typical Fender durablity is expected. Can't beat it with a stick.

Take good care and it shouldn't need anything.

Been playing 25 years, semi-pro. Own 6 other basses including Carvin 6 string, Yamaha 5 string, and 4 other Fenders. Not sure if I will take this one to my grave with me like my old P-Bass but it's good enough to give to my children when I retire. In consideration of the price I paid, I think this is a GREAT value, that's why it gets a 10 here.

I got my Geddy Lee in 04 and it has enough frets to keep my happy and way more tone options than i could shake a stick at.
I love it i have allways been a jazz bass fan but this model is so much more diverse than any other and the neck is like butter it is all most effortless with its tiny little frets and anorxic neck.

as I said the tone of this beast is so nice i cant decide wether i want to go with high tone or a thundering groove sound it all depends on my mood i change my mind more than my ... well what ever sound i want it has it.
on stage this bass mops the floor with any other i have played live for clarity AND all round good sound from thick low end to ratteling highs

the bad ass bridge was a god send but i had it set up at the shop
and i had some warwick reds put on it and it was awsome
but factory set up i cant really say

never broken yet

same as above so no complaints to fender yet

AWSOME!!! any one who is thinking of getting one do or you will regret it its a bargin and it should be worth so much more.

Features are pretty standard - except for the slim neck - love it - it is very fast and sleek - I hate a bulky feeling neck - replaced the tuners with a set of Hip-shot with a D-tuner - I agree with other users the tuners are very lacking.

The sound is great - has the vintage pickups and if you love that tone it's an awesome bass - I have had Warwick, G&L, Lakland, Kubicki X-factor, Steinberger, Rick, etc... and I seem to come back to the Fender Jazz - I play Modern Worship music...ie. (Planet Shakers, Hillsongs United, etc...)

I am playing through a Behringer 450 watt head and an Ampeg 410 SVT HLF cabinet and I use a Tech 21 Bass Driver DI - that combo is supreme tone...Not great for every application but fits my style just fine.

I like my action LOW - so I had it set up to fit my style of playing the instrument looks great on stage - I have replaced the pick guard with a vintage tortise shell look - looks pretty cool. Every thing else was great - quailty craftsmanship.

I baby my instruments - so they last longer but I play a lot and has never given me any trouble - stays in tune through out gig - Nice...

Never needed any - But feel sure it would be good.

I have been playing Bass for about 27 years and have been blessed to play with some national recording artist as well as Youth Conventions, youth camps, rallys, many outdoor events, overseas, you name it. I love the Fender tone and this bass delivers - If lost or stolen I would probably buy another one but who knows.

October 2002 Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, Crafted in Japan. Body alder, neck and fretboard ash, black block inlays. Passive electronics, two single coil PUs. Simply meat and potatoes - Fender Jazz Bass. For me it's enough so I rate 10. I just added chrome pickup and bridge covers and the fingerpull below the G-string. It looks great.

I use this bass for playing classic rock. It suits well. When the rehearshal or gig begins, I turn all three knobs to the maximum and forget they are there. As i mentioned before - meat and potatoes. I replaced original BadAss II bridge with original Fender stock bridge. No change of sustain at all. No better, no worse. What is more, with the standard Fender bridge there are more mids and higs - that's how I like the sound. More vintage :-)

Factory setup was OK. NO complaints here.
BUT: the bass came in poor cardboard box, no gig bag at all. Weird. Other than that, this bass is not quite certain replica of 1972 Jazz Bass. The body shape is slightly different (sharp edges instead of round ones), block inlays are not inlayed into the fretboard - they are only painted. Tuning machines are not Fenders but no name ones. Damn operation savings!

This bass is really a workhorse. During the three years of heavy use there have been no problems. Pots, tuning machines and pickups have been working, no need to move with the truss rod, no need to open the electronic cavity. Never goes out of tune unless I go wild :-) Thick polysomething paint on the body cracks and wears but who cares?
If i could give a hundred points, I would do that.

No need to contact them.

I've been playing for 12 years. I own Gedy and lawsuit japanese Columbus jazz bass clone from the 1970's. This bass fits me like a glove - comfortable, reliable and well looking. Good job, japanese guys!

I recently purchased a 2005 Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass.As per features....it's basically an early 70's J-bass reissue with a badass bridge and U.S. vintage pickups. Made in Japan...which is not a minus when comes to Fender products.Came with a decent Fender gig bag .

This bass sounds incredible.I play a variety of styles and this thing is versatile enough to do it all. Has a great throaty presence and nice high end without that annoying zingy clang you often get in other basses. Also the lows can go from silky smooth to agressive and growly. The combination of a maple board and badass bridge also make this useful for slapping if you're so inclined.( which I'm not. )This bass cuts through nicely in the mix both live and in studio situations .

Here's where the Japanese put everyone to shame. The finish on this thing is flawless...can't say a bad thing about it. I love the period correct poly finished maple neck and black block inlays. The nect is slim yet solid with great sustain...no doubt the badass helps. Fretwork is impeccable.....better than U.S. standard models. Honestly, I've owned many high end to mid level basses and none of them perform any better than this. The neck pocket is fitted absolutely perfect to the neck.....not even a hairline gap anywhere. My only gripe is that the tuners could be of a bit higher quality, but that being said, they are period correct and seem to function as well as any vintage bass tuner. The action was set up perfect for me right out of the box....nice and low with no buzzes anywhere. The nut is cut as perfect as I've seen on a Sadowsky or my Lakland.

Solid as a rock. This is a straight forward, meat and potatoes workhorse. I would feel totally comfortable without a back-up . So far I haven't had to adjust a thing.

Haven't had to deal with Fender.

I've been playing bass for 20 years now on a semi-pro level and have owned many instruments. I currently own a Lakland, Peavey TL-5 and '67 P-bass....this bass fits right in. I consider myself extremely picky and am a vintage guitar enthusiast.....in my opinion, the Geddy Lee is simply the BEST VALUE in any Fender bass currently produced. I didn't buy it because Geddy's name is on it, (frankly I hate signature models, although Geddy is incredible ) I bought it because it plays as good or better than basses costing more than twice it's price.

I recently acquired a 2005 Fender Geddy Lee signature Jazz Bass. It is a four string, twenty fret bass. Body is alder, neck is maple with a lacquered maple fretboard, which contributes to both aesthetic appeal and tone. Finish is black on body only, while the neck is finished satin, and has a stripe on the back of the neck. The pickups are two vintage Jazz pickups, and the controls included are volumes for each pickup and a tone knob. The pickups are passive.

The pickguard is a 3-ply black/white/black, and there is ebony binding around the fretboard. The rectangular inlays are also ebony.

Other features include a Badass II bridge, open-gear vintage style tuners (which aren't the best, but still work fine), 34" scale length, a sleek "C" profile on the neck, and a gig bag included in the purchase price.

On my own time, I have been learning a lot of Rush tunes, so that is obviously a big help in getting the proper sound and technique there. As for style, I gravitate towards hard rock, preferably rock that is styled after the 1970s to early 1990s. Examples of influence include Metallica, Rush, ZZ Top, Billy Idol, Black Sabbath, and Led Zeppelin. However, I play in a band that appreciates a lot of country and blues as well, including bands like Uncle Tupelo and Wilco. The bass is versatile if you twiddle the knobs enough, and has a signature growl that cuts right through any guitar mud to give you a voice in the band.

There is a bit of hiss sometimes when I am running it with a lot of gain, and I have to turn the volumes down if I don't want to play for a particular amount of time. I am running it through an Ampeg SVT-3 Pro head into an SWR Workingman 4x10 and 2x12, and also run it through a Hartke 3500 with a Transporter 4x12 cabinet. I utilize the tube sections of both hybrids to their fullest. To get a bit of extra grit and growl, I use my Digitech BP8 valve processor with some extra gain and compression.

The sound can be described best as being full-range. It has a nice dark growl on the low end, but on the top end, there is plenty of bite to be had. I actually reccomend not setting the tone knob to 100% unless you have a really dark amp without a tweeter. This bass will take your face off if you aren't careful!

The best sound this bass makes, in my opinion, is the piano-like growl that can be found with the neck pickup at full volume, the bridge pickup at 75-85% volume, and the tone knob at anywhere from 60-85%. Other interesting combinations include having less neck pickup volume with full bridge volume, and having all knobs maxed. The variety is there if you fiddle with it, for sure. I'm going to have to try it with a Tubescreamer and wah pedal for the heck of it.

So far, it hasn't been to a gig yet, but it will be soon. My band does rehearse at rather high volumes, though, and it always sounds great. We also recorded a demo with a few ambient mics, and the bass sounds fabulous there as well.

The pros soundwise are many. Too many to list probably. As for dislikes, I can't think of any. This bass sounds as perfect as I've heard thus far. It sounds great whether you pick or play fingerstyle. The only thing it doesn't sound so good at is slap and pop. I would certainly not reccomend this bass for that style, but I don't use it much at all, so no sweat.

The setup was great straight away. The action was nice and low for great playability and that signature growl. The pickups are at just about the right level. I haven't opened up the control cavity to check the quality of work in there, but there are no stray marks anywhere on the exterior of the instrument at all. I've read of a few problems with the tuners, and while they are flimsier than some of the tuners I have worked with, they work fine for me.

Other than the iffy tuning pegs, this thing is rock-solid. I have little doubt in my mind that this bass will remain in great playing condition for years. The finish seems to have plenty of layers, but that is probably because it is made in Japan, where the environmental laws on lacquer finish are different. The strap buttons were fine, but I immediately replaced them with Schaller straplock buttons because I would hate to drop this beauty.

This bass appears to be extremely dependable. I would probably never go to a gig without one backup, but I use a five-string sometimes, so that's part of it. The other thing is that I fingerpick really hard, and burn through G and D strings rapidly. However, the Badass bridge does seem to treat the strings better than the bridge on my other basses.

I haven't yet had to call for support, but I haven't had it long enough to need to anyway. The warranty is 6 years I believe, since I bought extended coverage at Guitar Center. Nice warranty, and certainly worth it.

I have been playing for 8 years, and play both bass and guitar. I have some other nice gear, like a Gibson Explorer '76, an Ibanez RG, a Line 6 Vetta II head, and an Ibanez Soundgear 5-string. I have had a bass stolen before, luckily it wasn't the greatest (just a fretless Ibanez), but if this bass were stolen, I would have to buy it when I had a chance. I would hunt down the guy who stole it, though.

I love plenty about this bass: great looks, great sound, and great playability for a reasonable price. My favorite feature is the solid tone. I compared this bass to a couple of other Fenders and a Warwick Corvette. None of them came close to what I was looking for. This bass is rock-solid.

Bought this as a back up for my 2003 model US series Jazz. Apart from looking like the mutt's nuts it sounds and plays fantastic!!! Not quite as clean and crisp sounding as my US series Jazz but easily sorted out with the introduction of a Bass Graphic into my pedalboard. Have to agree with a previous reviewer that the machine heads appear to be a bit cheap as they have become tarnished quite quickly......However it just makes them look vintage!!!! The BadAssII bridge is a great bit of kit, I like it that much that I have recently purchased a BadAssIII to fit to my US Jazz!!!

I run this puppy through a SansAmp Bass Driver pedal, Boss chorus, Boss octaver and a graphic equaliser into a Laney R4 bass combo and manage to get the most amazing overdriven tone!!! I play with both pick ups on full and use the pedals to shape my sound.

Straight out of the box this Bass was ready to play......as you'd expect from Fender!!! The action was al ittle too high for my liking but didn't take long to sort out. The quality of the finish is excellent. I have recently had a Hipshot D-tuner fitted to mainly use drop D tuning. The string tension remains good and allows for a consistent tone. I had to replace the strap buttons for Grover locking ones as the original buttons didn't look up to the job!!!

I play quite "Hard" so it takes quite a hammering when gigged but just keeps coming back for more!!! I have used this on a number of occasions thru a two hour set as my only bass....It's that good and reliable!!! It's a pity that the same can't be said for my strings!!!

Only dealt with Fender via Email, but have to say there response has been slow in coming!!!

I have been playing bass for twenty years and have to say that I have never owned a better Bass......I never thought I'd say that after I bought the US jazz but this is better!!!! And it looks it!!! If it was lost or stolen I would not hesitate to beg/ borrow/ steal another one!!!

This has been covered in the previous reviews. I really like the neck over the one on my old Fender Precision.

I play a weird mix of alternative, grunge, and Bowie/Beatles/Petty, and it sounds great for everything I need to do. I play through an Ampeg BA-115 and get plenty of low end punch. I even play in a drop-C tuning on occasion, and although the E string has a bit of give in it, I still get a great tone. I wasn't after a Rush sound when I purchased it, but it fits whatever I need to do.

Action was great, and it arrived set up. The first one I received had a bad neck pickup. Once I received a fully operational model, everythig was perfect.

So far so good. I've only had it for a few months, and have had no problems to this point.

I bought mine from Musician's Friend. As I said earlier, the first one I received had a bad neck pickup. I contacted Musician's Friend and they were great. They emailed me a return shipping tag within an hour of my phone call, and had my replacement to me in 10 days after I sent off the defective one. Excellent service from Musician's Friend.

I have not dealt directly with Fender.

Played violin and double bass for 7 years in school, and eventually picked up the electric after graduating.

I used to play on a basic, 10 year old Fender Precision, and my Geddy Lee is far superior. After getting this instrument, I find myself playing better, perhaps because I can hear mistakes that I couldn't hear on my older bass.

If this bass were lost or stolen, I would immediately buy a new one to replace it.

Before my purchase, I looked at Thunderbirds, Standard Fender Jazz Basses, and Ibanezes. None of them seemed to have the positive reponse or features by cost as the Geddy does.

If you want a bass that has a professional look and feel, or want to step up to a new model, you really can't do better than to get the Geddy Lee model.

Great sounding bass. I cut out the pickguard so I can adjust the neck easily with a specific nice fitting flatblade screwdriver. When recording it is best to start with both pickups full on, set tone midrange, adjust board to tweak tone. For live set neck pickup almost all the way on, bring bridge pickup up just to give it bite, leave tone midrange and adjust to blend with other instruments. I only have a noise issue when using a compressor which is not really needed for my playing venues. Tuning keys, Just fix them. Take them apart and lightly sand in the gears with toothbrush and tooth paste. Clean completely. Apply Mobil 1 synthentic grease with a toothpick-lightly.(synthentic has lower odor) normal grease is ok. Vaseling works but gets black and dosn't last as long. I like the new Misfit strings, they are like rotos but don't make your fingers smell like feces.

Bass can do about anything but it likes newer strings.

Set up was ok but low E was hot. Angled pickups to balance string volume.

In St. louis I have to adjust neck during the high humidity part of the year, June through September. No backup needed can adjust neck instantly in a pinch at gig. Replaced strap buttons immediately.

Ben playing for 35 years. Own Aerodyne, Pbass, Fender 5 string Jazz. I probably wouldn't replace it just because I don't play for money any more. Aerodyne sounds fine but doesn't have the fun neck. I sometimes think the P bass is better live but it doesn't sound as good in the studio as the jazz. My wife and other band members think all my basses sound good, not a whole lot of difference in sound. They say just play the one you like to play the most.

Brand new Japanese made Geddy Lee repro. Two volume knobs and a tone knob, passive U.S. Vintage Jazz Pickups, and a Badass II bridge. It's a vintage jazz bass reproduction, what else do you need on it?

This bass suits me just fine. I play alternative rock. Didn't buy it for the "Rush" sound at all. It's just a great representation of a vintage Fender jazz bass. I run it through a Sans Amp RBI in front of an SWR workingman's 4004 Head and through 2 SWR cabs (1x15 and 4x10). This bass has little to no noise at all. Definitely has a very bright sound due to the maple fretboard and single coil pick ups. Very punchy and mid-rangey. Cuts through very well. Only dislike is it kind of lacks true bottom end. But that's why my amplifier has so many knobs. Easily remedied. But every note rings through loud and clear. I haven't found a dead spot on it yet. Great sustain with the Badass II bridge! One thing I noticed though is it forces you to play very precisely. This bass will make you pay for your mistakes because it does accentuate finger noise.

Everything on this bass was set up just as I like it right from the music store. Haven't touched the action. Usually when I buy a new bass I have it set up professionally. No need here. Low action. I thoroughly inspected the bass both prior and after I bought it and I have yet to find one finish flaw on it. It's almost too perfect, which kind of freaks me out a little. No extraneous noise when turning the volume and tone knobs. Haven't found any fret buzz at all. Tight joints. Everything seems really, really solid and well built.

I believe this bass will survive anything you throw at it. Although, I did lightly bang it off the metal corner of my practice amp and it put a nice nick in the clear coat. Kind of bubbled the clear coat around the ding. I am worried about it "spidering." Time will tell as to finish durability. Also, the fretboard is VERY heavily lacquered. Seems like I will have no problems, but also time will tell. Hopefully, the clear coat on the fretboard won't start to flake off. I replaced the strap buttons with strap locks but the stock ones seemed solid enough. I would definitely use it to gig withoug a back up but you're just asking for trouble in general without a back up. Gotta love Japanese manufacturing.

I e-mailed Fender about the pick guard and the position markers on the neck. Their responses were timely and informative. They were even honest about the position markers not being inlays but painted on and they don't know of any stock pickguards that will directly replace this one. They even gave me the web address for a custom pick guard manufacturer. Awesome!

I've been playing about 5 years (self taught), only gig about once a month and practice about twice a month as a band. I can only squeeze in practice and gigs between family time and work. I also own an Epiphone Thunderbird and a Schecter Model T 4 string. This bass is a whole different animal. If it were lost or stolen I would not hesitate to buy another one. I LOVE the neck on this thing. It is a work of art in it's own right. Both in looks and playability. The Badass II bridge is just the ticket as well. One thing is I wish it were offered in different colors or with different choices of pick guards. Also, I wish they would've splurged a little more on the tuners. Seem a bit cheap. But this is one outstanding value.

Purchased in early 2005. Made in Japan, 4 string 20 fret. Simple V/V/T control. Passive 'vintage' single coils. Alder body, maple neck with lovely black inlays. BADASSII Bridge. Comes with no extras (kinda odd huh).

I play a lot of classic rock and try my hand at some alternative more modern stuff. mmmmm soo growly, this thing sounds great! I admit i tried to avoid fender in my search for a new bass because everyone plays one but damn, this thing is great. Very rich sounding, lots of growl, a little dark sounding. Definitely better than the Highway-1 J and the american standard J. Only wish that the pickups were noiseless, but for the beautiful soudns they make they are fine the way they are.

Good action, everything fits nice and tight. Typical MIJ quality.

The frets have withstood the last couple of month with out a hint of wear. I can't see anything breakin as the electronics are quite simple. The neck is soo thin that i might be worried about warping, but i haven't heard of this happening yet to this model. The strap buttons are typical fender stuff. Strap locks are probably a great idea.

Haven't dealt yet.

Wow, this is replacing decent squire p-bass, and it just sounds great. A good professional quality instrument at a very good price. Compared it to most of Jazz basses in the store. And it came down to a used Ernieball Sterling , Warwick Corvette and this. Definitely the best sounding of the group, although the others sounded excellant as well. It also happened to be the cheapest of the bunch.

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!

What the other reviewers said is accurate. I've been told the body is alder, though. I'm not a big fan of the neck shape. I find the thin neck to be very fatiguing. I have large hands.

Great tone, the reason I bought it. Really very growly. Not too crazy about the neck only sound, but otherwise very good. I play it only with both pickups wide open and strung with roundwounds. Any changes in tone are done with my tone knob.

This is why I wrote. The neck on my instrument is very bowed. I have cranked the truss rod all the way right to tighten it. I am not using heavy strings (45-105) and I should expect that the action be of some acceptable height. I suspect this is a problem due to the very skinny neck. I am deciding on replaning the fingerboard or replacing the neck with a Warmoth. I suspect not all the basses are like this, so make sure this is something you check out before you buy.

It's a Fender. Anything that can break can be replaced. I am noticing that the bushing for the G-string tuner rattles when I play. This is easily fixed.

I am in love with the cosmetics as well as the sound. I would want to replace the neck, but otherwise am fairly pleased with the bass. I probably wouldn't by it again, though.