Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass

Geddy Lee Signature Limited Edition Jazz Bass. Aldar Body, Maple neck and fingerboard, black fingerboard binding and block inlays, and a Leo Quann Badass II Bridge. Also features two U.S. vintage pickups. Passive electronics, like all vintage Fenders. Tuners are vintage, bu very solid. The neck is shaved just like Geddy's, so it plays very fast.

I play a lot of slap style bass, and of all the basses I've tried out at music stores, this one has the best sound of all, honestly. It sounds just like Geddy's bass if you want it to, but you can also change your settings for a warmer tone. I like the overall sound of the instrument, but the single coils emmit some noise if they're not both in use.

I bought the bass used, so I can't say anything about the factory set-up. However, I've heard that Fender does not set things up well at the factory. Even though it was used, my Geddy bass had no flaws. The finish was pristine, the neck straight as an arrow, and the overall look was spectacular.

I've used this bass for several live performances, and I have no complaints. It looks great and sounds great both live and in the studio. I replaced the stock strap pins with Jim Dunlop strap locks, and have had no problems. I've only owned the bass a couple of months, but the truss rod has not needed any adjusting. From reading previous reviews, I understand that the neck is very solid, and can withstand temperature changes without needing a truss rod fixing.

I've never really contacted Fender Customer Support, but I've heard bad things about them.

I've been playing bass for five years now, and the Geddy bass is the best bass I've owned overall. For the price, it can't be beat. Try one out, and see what I mean.

I got this from a chain music store back in 2000. I usually buy from idependents, but I had to get this sucka when I found it. Made the store clerks a little mad because it was their favorite bass out of the 40 or so they had hanging. They liked it so much that one of the clerks even slipped a Fender Black Moto pickguard in my bag on my way out of the door and said, "We'll miss her!." Hot Tip ... got to put a Black Moto on that Badboy ... subtle flash.
It's got all of the stock seatures one would expect, with a few exceptions:
The neck is shaved a little thinner and does play faster. It's been through two Boston summer/winter cycles (with no heat or AC) and has not required any truss rod adjustments! I have to rebut what has been said in a prior review ... The binding and inlays are not painted on. Take a closer look - They're just cut better than what you've seen on the sloppy old Americans.
Geddy's sinature is on the back. Thanks for that.
The tuners are phat. Mine are steady as a rock. Only two years old but they already have a nickel patina similar to my '73 J. I can't explain this. Same goes for the neckplate.
Fender doesn't supply a case.
Limited Edition ... looks like a generous edition.

I can't add more than has already been stated. It has a great jazz tone and is all about the tone. I threw some Fender flats on mine and it still has a Geddy-esque tone. You can whittle it a bit ... but it's there to sound like a J, baby .. don't fight it.

Nice all around. Of my ten basses this one has required the least attention. It is set up like a dream. Not a flaw that I could locate. That's big, because I am a deatail freak.

Simply unbelievable! This sucka is down for decades. I won't use it on a gig because I value it too much personally. If some cog spit a hawker on it or chunked a bottle at it, I would have to catch a case for assault.

I haven't needed any support. but I know here to find them.

I have a bevy of solid basses and this is my favorite. It rocks harder than my stock '73 Fender Jazz (black) and my '74 Rickenbacker 4001 (black). It has more Geddy tone than either of those, in fact I think this is Geddy's bass! I am Geddy when I play it.
I all seriousness, I would have to sell all of vintage basses before I would sell this one. It may not be as worth as much financially, but it is the perfect J for me. I have played many vintage J's since I've bought this Geddy and I just have to laugh. Congratulations to those shrewd enough to pick up on these. The secret is ours.

Fender's Japanese-made Geddy Lee Artist Signature series Jazz Bass
was introduced early 1998 as a 'limited edition' instrument. Nearly
five years later, it is still being produced. Let's suppose why.

This instrument is one of the seventeen or so fretted four-string Fender logo Jazz Basses featuring on the company's 2002 Frontline
catalogue, and in my view,probably offers the best combination of price,sounds,features and looks.I would like to share with the reader
my experience of a Geddy Lee Jazz Bass manufactured in April 2002.

The body is the classic Jazz shape, with a sharply-defined forearm cutaway and generous rear cutaway. It is made of alder, a good
tonewood, and is lightweight. The black finish (the only colour available) is very well done and looks stunning. Visually, the major feature here is the large,but not overly so, Leo Quan Badass II bridge,a sensible addition.

The neck really looks and feels superb. It is of one-piece maple with
rear skunk-stripe, and has black binding and black block inlays. Comparing these to those found on the American Vintage reissue '75 Jazz. one gets the impression that both features are painted on to the neck -I may well be wrong, but on the US model the fret ends are covered somewhat by the binding. In any event, the effect is unusual and very strikingly different. Side by side with an American Series Jazz, the Japanese model looks much better in its livery,painted on or otherwise. The neck is the shallowest I've seen, and is easy to play. However, truss-rod access is very poor-the neck has to be removed to get at it- and although this basshas weathered well three months of an Irish summer,I will keep an eye on it. The rerlative lack of wood in the neck has so far resulted in no problems at all. The whole feel is of a well-built instrument. The neck is affixed to the body with a neck-plate bearing a large 'spaghetti-style 'F'' and
the legend'Limited Edition'

Frets are of medium size,well-crowned and with no sharp ends.

The tuners,however, are awful. They look cheap,and the posts are loose when string tension is relaxed. They just don't fit with the overall high quality of the rest of the instrument. Thet are very easily knocked out of tune, unlike those fitted to US reissue Fenders.
I intend to replace mine soon.

Pickups are US Vintage '62 models, yet the beveled magnet slugs are silvery in colour and are look quite unlike those found in either the American-made standard or '62 -reissue basses!

Pots are US Switchcraft-type (large) and wiring is 'cloth'covered,the passive circuitry being grounded to a brass plate. All very reassuring.

Because of the tuners, I'll give this section an 8

I play a mixture of jazz,rock, pop and country and the Geddy Lee never fails to do the business. All the usual Jazz Bass sounds are there, and it delivers a throaty growl especially with one of the pots rolled back. The tendency is towards bright,because of the maple board, but with amp EQ correctly set, a warm,yet punchy,well-defined
grainy tone is there. This bass sounds very good indeed, and the sheer mass of the Badass bridge adds sustain. This bass sings-even unamplified, those notes ring out, alaways a good sign. I have not tried it in the studio,so I can't comment. On stage, its light weight and shallow neck profile make it a pleasure to play. I have four other
Jazz Basses, but this is increasing the one I take to the gig.

When delivered, the GLJB was strung with Fender 105's and fret buzz was evident. I dislike Fender strings and immediately replaced these with UK-made Rotosound 90s-my favourite. An excellent action has resulted from this one change, and onky a slight modification of intonation was required. 10 minutes work had this bass in excellent playing order. Pickup adjustment is good, with good 'travel'.
I have aleady referred to the tuners......

This is one solidly-built Fender with a good deal of US componentry.
Finishand 'fit'are good, and the whole thing exudes an air of competence. It has proven totally dependent with no adjustments required since my initial set-up. I never bring a second bass to a gig. Many reviwers of this instrument on this site have complained
about many features of this bass, and it seems to me that Fender may have been listening to them. This bass purportedly emulates Geddy Lee's early 70s Jazz Bass and from a marketing perspective would have appealed to Rush fans. I think,however, that one should view this instrument as a general-purpose Jazz Bass that,given its reasonable price, sits quite rightly at the upper end of Fender's confusing range of Jazz Basses bearing its logo.

This instrument is not available in Europe and I imported it from the US where i'd bought it from Music123.com
When I ordered it it wasn't in stock-within a week Angela had sourced one for me. very good people to deal with, and I recommend them.
I have no worries regarding warranty.

I've been a player-collector for quite some time and if this bass were lost/stolen, I'd go for another. It is a fine instrument, and
it is good to see that Japanese manufacture of Fenders continues.
With globalisation,the combination of product/quality/price has to count- don't get me wrong, but if you're in the market for a top-class Jazz Bass, this one won't disappoint. Just budget for a case, as none is supplied.

The Geddy Lee Jazz Bass is a collectable. If you are a Rush fan then it makes the bass more special. I am and always will be a Rush fan. They are only one of a handful of successful Rock bands that has managed to stay together with all the original members and that really means something to me. They have consistently shown musical integrity throughout their long carreer. This Fender Artists signature Geddy Lee bass is yet another example of then giving their fans exactly what they want and I love this bass. It has all the quality and details of a 70's jazz bass.Alder body with a maple neck. passive electronics. It's only available in black but thats what makes it cool. The badass bridge gives it a better sound and playability. The neck feels like it has been shaved compared to other jazz basses of it's era but I was told thats because Mr. Lee has his necks shaved and the Fender custom shop made an exact replica of his bass to design this series.

The sound is classic Fender Jazz bass tone. This bass is great for playing Rock N Roll and to my surprise it was fantastic for funk slap style playing......I LOVE IT ! I've heard people complain this bass doesn't have enough bottom end but I have to disagree. This bass is cool.The maple neck and midrange tone are great for slap style.

The action was great the people at the Fender factory know their stuff. I don't have to adjust anything. The vintage Fender jazz bass pickups give it the classic Fender tone.One cool thing is that unlike other Fender jazz basses, the single coil pick ups do not buzz when you only have one on. This is cool and unique. The finish is sharp looking. The black binding and black block inlays contrast well with the black body.

This bass is perfect for playing live Rock N Roll like I do. I play in a covers band and this bass can adapt to all the various styles we play. Our drummer is a Neil Peart fanatic and we have that bass and drummer commeraderie thing going on. IN THE POCKET!! The hardware and finish are both professional. Strap buttons are solid and I can depend on this bass for every gig. I don't need a back up bass because this bass is made so well.

Fender and Geddy Lee are both professionals and they know what they are doing.

This bass is a dream come true. I really respect Geddy Lee as an accomplished musician but what I respect more is he and Fender figured out a way to build and deliver a high quality instrument at a very low costs and I tip my hat to both of them. Everything from the "Limited Edition" neck plate to the "Crafted in Japan" mark on the neck look cooler then the American made jazz basses. I think it sounds just as good as an American made jazz bass but plays and looks better. One thing I thought was really great is that if you take the pickguard off the bass does not have empty cavities like all the new American and Mexican made Fender Jazz basses.This means you can have the braless jazz bass look which I always loved.(E.G. Jaco Pastorius). If Geddy Lee reads this I want to say "Thank you".

Built 2002 Japan - read the other reviews for th specifics - or visit Fenders Site for the latest specifics on the bass!

Sounds great - if you are looking for a good 75 type re-issue and want to save about half the cost - then this is the bass to play. Run it through my Peavey Rig and can get all the tones I need - some people state that you do not have the bottom end sound because of the BAII bridge - but minor adjustments on your amp and variations on the volume controls take care of that nicely!

I was surprised at how well the bass was set up - I just had to adjust the intonation a bit on the strings and it was good to go - string height and action were great out of the box! (That is why I give this an 8.

The neck is shaved so it is a bit different (quicker) than what you might be used to - after a few hours of playing - the bass felt right at home in my hands.

The Black finish is just gorgeous!

Being a Fender - I imagine it will last and last. Some people complain that there are no strap locks installed - well I never liked them (Been playing for 30+ Years) and was happy to see that they were not on the bass! The neck was great right out of the box - but due to some comments regarding the neck, I am going to keep my eye on this. After a month - no problem!

I would not hesitate to use this without a bcakup and matter of fact - this is quickly becoming my primary bass!

Never had to deal with Fender so I could not tell you - I did special order the bass - and it was back ordered - but it came in 2 weeks earlier than comitted to by Fender so that is a good thing

Overall, I would state that this is a great bass - my only beef (as with other comments) is that Fender did not include a case - had to buy one seperately for this. I've been playing for 30+ years and would rate this bass as an excellent buy for the money! I would definately buy another if someone were to steal this from me.

Built January 2001, Japanese model, purchased in April 2001. The typical Jazz Bass features, passive pickups - '62 reissues. Alder body finished in black, maple neck with black block markers, polyurethane finish. Badass II bridge.

It was the looks that grabbed me. Not everyone has one of these, either. The price for a vintage 70s Jazz is ridiculous, this reissue is half-to-one third that cost. One bummer... the Badass Bridge doesn't accomodate using the old style chrome pickup covers, won't fit properly.

The neck feels different than the '65 I used to own years ago, and even my Made in Mexico model (which, remarkably had a very similar feel). The Geddy Jazz neck is more shallow. I took some getting used to, but I've learned to really enjoy it.

Another feature I like is the fact that The Geddy Lee signature is on the BACK of the headstock.

I wish Fender would include a case, or even a gigbag with these instruments, considering the cost. Really, how much could it possibly cost Fender to throw one in? $5? $10...?

Fenders are the epitome of versatility. Very user friendly instruments, for just about every musical style. I play funk/reggae/blues, so no problems there. I play through a Trace Elliot Commando 12, and an Acoustic 370 head from the 70s, and a Sunn single 15 cab, also from the 70s. I play with D'Addario chrome flatwounds, and the combination of this bass, with these strings, especially played throug the amp head/cab is superb.
I've heard people commenting on the '62 reissue pickups not having enough bottom end. I'm not the best when it comes to describing tone, but I've also had a '65 Jazz in the past, and I do remember it having a much meatier tone. Part of this may be due to the age of the instrument (the tonal characteristics change as the materials age).

The bass seemed competently assembled, as with any Japanese instrument I've ever seen. I was happy with the setup at the time, but recently decided to have the action lowered, which would ultimately involve a truss rod adjustment. I remember the older Fenders having spring loaded pickups, you turn the screws holding the pickups in, and they raise/lower. Not so on my bass. You turn the screws and nothing happens. In fact you could remove the screws completely, and the pickups would still be stuck in there. Maybe it will involve a little bit of filing on the pickguard, and/or pickup cavity. I don't know, but I figure something like that should have been accounted for at the factory, or dealer.

Fenders are reliable, however. I don't imagine I'd need to worry about a backup bass, other than if I broke a string (which very rarely happens).

The poly finish is very durable, able to absorb those little dings and scrapes.

Strap buttons... now, I remember a couple of years ago when I first heard about these basses, that they were advertised as having included straplocks. But, NO... not anymore. What gives? Is Fender getting chintzy?

Truss rod... now here's where it gets a little silly. I realize that Fender stayed true to the original design of the 70s for this bass (it's a reissue), and admittedly the main reason I bought it was for the looks. But the truss rod adjuster can only be accessed by removing the neck. What a pain in the butt! So what my repair guy did was drill diagonally into the body to allow better access with out having to go through all the other baloney. But the pickguard still needs to be removed first (saving the aesthetics). Now, for the action to be lowered the the height that worked best for me, the truss rod had to be maxed out. What...? My repair guy was actually surprised, and not impressed. Is this a design flaw? I'm not really impressed either. So this is probably going to be a concern in the future. Maybe these things are built in a hurry. Same old story...

Haven't had to deal directly with Fender, or indirectly through the music shop, and I'm hoping I won't ever ahev to, but that truss rod will be on my mind...

I've been playing for about 15 years, and have owned 8 other basses - 4 of which were Fenders, and 3 of those Jazz Basses.

If my Geddy Lee Jazz Bass was lost or stolen I'd own another, but only if it was used.

First, I'll get my rants out:

Fender getting chintzy with the strap locks - no longer offered.

The possible future truss rod problem... I'm crossing my fingers. If it is a design flaw, then that tells me Fender is slipping again (like it did when CBS ran it into the ground in the early 80's).

No case or gigbag being offered, despite the price. Definitely chintzy.

I think Fender should consider reading some of the discussion forums on this website and others, there's a mounting hate campaign against Fender. It's the typical big business losing touch with its customer base (symptomatic with most companies that get to a certain size - case in point... in the last 2 years I've seen Made in Mexico Jazz Basses rise in price here 50%).

On the plus side, I do love my bass. It's a real beauty, plays nice, feels good, sounds like it should.

Its basically your run of the mill jazz bass, with deluxe features, such as 62' reissue pickups, Bad Ass II Bridge, Vintage tuners, Maple fretboard highly glossed over. Black finish.

IF YOU HATE GEDDY LEE'S TONE, then You will DESPISE this bass. It gets one tone and one only, and thats the tone of Rush's Bass prodigy Geddy Lee. Fortunately, Geddy lee has the best tone in the world, very dirty and growling. I am in love with the tone.

The bass set up from the factory wasnt the best they say, but i Still refuse to change it, because I might lose that geddy Tone. Its adjusted right for me, but Some would play it with higher action to avoid fret buzz. This bass Is notorious for that.

This bass Is a Fender. Nuff said. It will take anything you can dish out.

Havent dealt with em. the bastards at the music shop didnt give me my warranty card, so I should probably see if they can give me one.

This is my fourth bass, and I Can honestly say if this bass was stolen or lost, i would get it again. It has so much personallity and the best looks of anybass Ive ever seen. Great Geddy Tone. You can Hit this bass as hard as you can and it will stay in tune and sound great, because thats how geddy wanted his bass for his aggressive style. This is the best bass Ive played to me, But this is not for all people, but its worthy of a ten regardless

My model is brand new and made in the year 2000, with a 21 fret standard neck. It's basically a jazz bass with vintage pickups, a very cool maple neck, and a badass II bridge.

This bass has the best sound quality out of any bass ever! The best part is that it maintains the same sound no matter what amp you play through and sounds just like Geddy Lee's. In addition the neck is not fat and deep and it allows you to maove as fast as your fingers will go. It is great for the blues music I play.

The action couldn't be any better on this bass. There's nothing to stop your skill unless you just suck as a player. The only problem with mine were some buzzing frets high on the A-string. The finish is only black.

This bass is indestrucable ecspecially the neck which doesn't warp at all, even in my weird Utah weather.

Haven't dealt with them.

I've been playing for 6 years and this is my favorite so far. If it were stolen I would probably poop my pants. The only issue is if you wanted to get way from the Geddy Lee tone you couldn't. It's impossible. I don't have a prob;em with this because his tone is the best.

This is from Fender's Artist Series, a copy of Geddy Lee's 1972 Jazz Bass. The particulars of this instrument is an alder body, maple neck and fingerboard, and the Leo Quan Badass II bass bridge. As with any Jazz Bass there are the two single-coil pickups (62 Vintage), two volume and one tone control. If you're looking for a Jazz Bass, this has all you'll ever want, so I'll give it a 9.

I was in the market for a passive bass with a maple fingerboard. Every other bass I own had a rosewood board, so I was looking for some variety. As far as the sound, it sounds like a good Jazz Bass with a little more punch due to the maple board. It lacks a bit for lows, but that's why amps have EQ knobs. Currently I'm running through a bass pod, and the adam & eve with bass at 3 o'clock, mids at 11 o'clock, and treble at 2 o'clock sounds incredible to me.

I had the opportunity to try a new model before I saw the one I purchased, and the setup that comes from Fender stinks...so the first thing I would do in the store is ask to have the bass adjusted to your playing style. After all, if they want to make a sale, two minutes adjusting a truss rod shouldn't kill them from making a sale.
One of the tuning keys is loose, I'll try to adjust that. The only other nitpick I'd have is the finish on the neck. In my opinion, it's way too thick, almost like a baseball bat.

As with most Fenders, this should be a fine bass to take on a gig w/o backup. Although the first thing that should go on any gigging instrument is a set of Straplocks.

Haven't had to deal with them yet, but fortunately I bought the bass from a great dealer.

For the price, you can't beat it. If they offered the neck finished like the Mexico models it would be perfect. If it were stolen, I'd definitely look for a used one, and would probably drop the 700 for a new one. This bass was exactly what I was looking for, and I'm glad I found it.

Contrary to popular belief, the supposed "block inlays" are actually painted black blocks directly atop the raw fingerboard wood. Fender then coats the entire neck in a mildly heavy gloss. The binding seems very genuine however. I suppose Geddy wanted to keep the price reasonable which is typically thoughtful of any RUSH member. The rest of the features are as stated by others (V/V/T, Tuxedo finish, Alder body & a very comfortable maple neck).

Certainly a great "Geddy" tone, but can venture into Marcus Miller or Jaco territority as well. Warmer than the Marcus Bass, but punchier than the Jaco model. These vintage pickups let the player create the nuances, but with admirable boost support. Sounds amazing through any respectable bass rig (Eden, SWR, Ampeg...) In a live situation, tones can range from traditional blues and funk to a softer jazz and modern rock sound.

As a guitar technician, I was disgusted how horrible the factory setup was. There were multiple tags from various "inspections" including "playability", but the actual condition of the instrument was a disaster (typical Fender really). Besides needing a moderate truss-tightening and drastic saddle lowering, the frets needed to be releveled and the neck joint required a shim to optimize high register play at reasonable heights. Once these were addressed, the bass played as Geddy would probably have intended it to be.

Tuners a bit clunky, but they hold up nicely. A longterm bass for sure. Needs TLC like any other instrument. Once factory faults were remedied, the instrument really came together as a solid instrument.

Fender's customer service is a disaster. Nobody seemed to know whether or not the block inlays were real or not. I heard multiple opinions from the same office. Obviously, the employees do not actually spend much time with the instruments themselves. A solid musician/manufacturer relationsip is impossible.

I have been playing for 9 years and the Geddy Lee Jazz Bass is the seventh bass I've purchased. I bough it mainly as a backup, but actually use it half the time because of its friendly weight. Cheers to Geddy Lee for putting his autograph ON THE BACK of the headstock (I've never liked them on the front). For the money, the GL Jazz is definately a great buy and comparible to some of the higher end American series. I prefer it's punch and versatility to any of the American rosewood fingerboard basses. Good luck.

My instrument comes from the very first batch of Geddy Lee Signatures coming out from Japan in 1998. Alder body finished in jet black (absolutely flawless job), 3-ply (w/b/w) pickguard, a very slim maple neck with black block markers (very unusual even for 70's Jazzes, and probably Fender did not make such feature available for more than a couple of years), bound fretboard (also in black), vintage-style tuners, US '62 reissue pickups and a Leo Quann Badass II bridge. This bass sports a "Crafted in Japan" sign at the back end of the neck (denoting american parts assembled in Japan - alas, alder is a very unusual timber choice for japanese instruments), Geddy's own signature at the headstock's back, and finally, a "limited edition" engraving at the neck plate. The strap buttons are "straplock ready". Indeed, a very nice package for such a modest street price.

Controls are the usual Jazz Bass fare, two volume controls(neck & bridge pickups) and a single tone control. The knobs are traditional bakelite models. No case or gig bag was included.

The Geddy Lee Signature sports the characteristic "growl" of Jazz Basses from the early 70s, and that makes it a rather agressive sounding instrument that cuts well in a live band situation. Unfortunately, I don't think that Fender really nailed the the bottom end found in Geddy's own instrument - not a lot of subsonics going. However, I had the chance to experiment with this bass in about a dozen recording sessions, and despite its susceptibility to pick up noise from TV and computer monitors, it is possible to extract a wealth of useful bass tones messing a bit with the bass own volume and tone controls, and tasteful EQ from the board (or active DI boxes). On such occasions, I ran the bass direct, using a combination of a Demeter Tube DI and SansAmp Bass Driver. Live, I run the bass through either a vintage Ampeg SVT head/cabinet or a Trace-Elliot 122H 2x10 combo, getting very good results in both situations.

I bought this bass used, so I cannot comment on the factory settings. The body finish is pretty flawless, the fretwork is very good. However, some of the block inlays show some flaws in execution - but nothing that detracts the general feeling of attention to workmanship this instrument gives. I did have to redo the action setup to fit my tastes, but the inclusion of an original Badass bridge made the job pretty straightforward. I noticed that the pickups output is very sensitive to pickup height, so be sure to find an optimum position for both pickups, specially the bridge unit.

This bass is very sturdy, and up till now it doesn't show any signs of gigging abuse. The straplock-ready strap buttons are a plus regarding safety, spaecially if you are an hyperactive player onstage (as I am :-)). After my initial setup work, no further adjustments were necessary, but please note that the truss rod is not readily accessible, like in all Jazz Basses from the period. Finally, I must state that I've played several gigs without any other backup instrument - and the Geddy lee Signature didn't let me down a single time.

Fender offers a lifetime warranty for the original purchaser, so that does not apply in my personal case. However, I've used their customer support several times for my other instruments, and they're very helpful and friendly.

I could compare this particular model with my other instruments, but I belive that a simple statement woul do a much better job: The Geddy Lee Signature, as some online vendor put, is simply the best passive, non-custom instrument Fender has put out in years. It's packed with features such as american-made pickups, an original Leo Quann Badass Bridge, and a truly distinctive finish to boot. Wether you're a fan of Geddy Lee or not, you can't ignore the awesome package of extras you get with this bass for such a price - with sonic results that are equally as impressive. Absolutely a deal.

Fretboard, which is produced in Japan, is slim. 2 black lines to go on sides of the fretboard define the *look* of this bass, which is simple yet unusual. Jazz bass body, which as we know is a solid shape for creating a solid rock. This bass is a "classic with a little bit of enforcement". Great for the price tag!

Sound can be solid or warm, depending on you tuning and amplifier. I use SWR Workingman and I get pretty much any tone I want. Well, to tell you the truth, I have 2 passive EMG pickups installed on it. These make it more suitable for rock, but the rich sound that this bass produces is far greater than any passive bass I can find in this price range. Be sure to use right effects and a good amplifier...

After all, this is a Fender Limited Edition. Everything was near perfect as of the moment I bought it... I had to change my pickup, cuz ... well, EMG kicks ass in my opinion...

It is not the lightest bass, but not the heaviest either. If you aren't like one of these skinny boys you'll be fine standing with it for a long time. This bass is so reliable that I use it everywhere. I wouldn't be scared to get on stage without any other back up bass. No, seriously...

I don't know. I don't even need to worry about it. I take a good care of it and every part of this Fender Limited Edition bass is built to stand a long time without repairs, I suppose.

I love this bass. If anyone asks me for recommendation on a passive 4 str bass under $1000, this is one of the first ones I'll tell them about. I don't know about Fender's active circuit bass or 5 str bass, but as far as 4 str passive bass goes, they proved to me with this bass that they've got what I want...

The features are of course as described in the other reviews... All in all, it's a fantastic "options package". To explain my rating: the neck is nice and slim, noticeably slimmer than on other jazz basses -- especially towards the headstock end. The block inlays are nifty. The Badass II bridge is a great feature that seems to me to give this bass more "snap" than other jazzes. The pickups -- US '62 Vintage -- are decent, but need some help from a preamp or something for a fuller bottom end. At least they're passive, as God intended.

I play in an alternative/retro rock band and have recently played around with a britpop/trip hop project as well. This bass has suited both. The Geddy Lee has the sweetest growl of any non-Rickenbacker I've ever played... I don't think the American made models can hold a candle to it in the midrange. And remember, midrange is the part of your tone that will punch through to the audience's ears, so it's important. You really get that late 70s/early 80s "flat" Geddy Lee/Adam Clayton sound with this bass.

The low end is not as full, on the other hand, which limits this bass' tonal variety. It's a matter of taste, though, so if you want a bright, in-yer-face growl and don't need a huge bottom, go for it (for this reason, someone who plays a p-bass, Gibson/Epiphone, Musicman or any other bottom-heavy bass might want to look into this bass as a handy punchy second for the studio...).

The action (some buzzing) and finish (a couple of nicks) had both been a bit... *abused* when I bought this bass. I've played others in stores without these problems. I'm sure these things were from being at the retailer I bought from, so I won't hold it against Fender.

This bass has been pretty solid overall, and I would have no problem using it as my sole instrument at a gig. Again, God bless passive pickups. Unfortunately, however, this bass has needed two truss rod adjustments in my 9 months of owning it. That's a bit high, but I am picky about action, which should be taken into account. One of the tuning keys is pretty loose already, though, which is inexcusable.

We'll see when I try to get that tuning peg fixed or replaced. It's still under warranty, so it shouldn't be a problem.

I've been playing for eight years and I've owned a few other basses including a '73 Rickenbacker 4001. It really says something about this bass that I've used it pretty much exclusively since I got it, at the expense of the Rick. This bass is not a jack-of-all trades. However, by not trying to be, it's great for what it is: a VERY playable bass with a silky growl. It's perfect for me and would probably suit a lot of people who try to play athletic and creative bass lines -- she can keep up with you.

I would have bought it for the features, sound, price and feel (not to mention look) even if I wasn't a Geddy Lee fan. IMHO, it's simply the only non-"vintage" jazz bass Fender still makes that has any personality. I had the money for an American Standard but opted for the Geddy Lee for the more assertive tone and faster neck, and let's be honest, block inlays are COOL.

The only way I want to change it is to drop in a J-Retro preamp so I can tweak the low end a bit more. Graphite reinforcement of the neck would be a plus, too, to prevent the need for more truss rod adjustments... it's kind of ironic that a bass named after a (fellow) Torontonian can't handle the local climate.


If this bass were stolen, I'd cry, cry some more and then go out and try to find another one. This bass is way more than the sum of its parts and in my book it gets a...

Yep its a jazz like many others but, this one came with a badass II bridge as well as passive 1962 vintage pickups! That matched with a maple neck, makes this bass growl. Seriously you can get an impressive growl out of this bass.. I bought this bass (1998) without a case. Being made in Japan caused some concern but those were laid to rest once I plugged it in. The only downside to this bass would be.. that fender made the truss rod unaccessable, I have since routed a small hole at the pickgaurd end to gain access, fortunately it hasnt needed any adjustments!The neck has remained true. For that i give it an 7.

This bass sits nicely with the music i currently play.. Im in a christian band http://fishoutofwater.iuma.com and when we recorded thats when I knew that this was the only bass for me. It tracked wonderfully being punchy, bright, and crisp, my parts really leaped out of the mix. On stage (when using my Eden 2X10, 4x10 combo) if I need to cut thru the mix I only need to raise the tone knob a bit. If your into Geddy Lee's sound from T4E, and Moving Pictures this may be the bass for you.

This bass came from the factory ready to play. No adjustments were needed. The action was set low and I found no fret buzz whatsoever. Also this bass possibly due to its maple neck has great sustain much better than my other 2 basses. Again the only flaw this bass has is access to the truss rod.. I have seen the Jaco Jazz and it too has this same flaw design. Aside from that, it finish, action , and fit were very good!

I've played this bass in numerous gigs for the last 3 years and so far it has stood the test of time and road. Its hardware has held up though the varnish on the frets has worn away in many spots, but then again I do play this bass alot. Only recently did I have to tighten the strap buttons and so far the neck has not needed any adjustments. For me this bass is dependable and yes I do play it without a back-up.

I havent had to deal with customer support yet..

Ive been playing for nine years, gone thru a couple of ampegs and 10" cones but have settled on 2 things. Eden amps/cones, and this G. Lee bass. It just sounds better than my G&L, and another fender jazz that I own. If I lost this bass, I would consider buying another but probably would just buy an american Jazz standard and install the 1962 vintage pickups, badass2 bridge myself. I think thats where the sound of this bass lies. Oh yeah, and a maple neck too! I love the sound of this bass it tracks very well in the studio and on stage, I just hate the lack of access to the truss rod. If thats something that would bother you.. then I wouldnt recomend it. Just remember that I've had mine three years now and it hasnt needed an adjustment, so I guess they did do something right over there.

I have been waiting for two years to get my hands on one of these.Alder body,maple neck and fretboard,passive vintage Jazz pickups,custom binding and inlays,Badass 2 bridge,and vintage tuners.
The Geddy Bass! That Moving Pictures growl! I haven't changed a thing on it(except the strings) I've been using DR Hi-beams because I can't find RotoSound SwingBass strings anywhere.They have that nice bright "piano string" sound to them. The last bass I will probably ever own.I'm monogamous and I see no further need to search any further,as I have found my soulmate bass!!

Being a student/fan of Geddy for the past 16 years,my heavily Rush influenced style of playing really comes through on this thing.That growling,single coil Fender Jazz tone is awesome.No dead spots mean I can venture further up the neck without sacrificing my bottom-end.The combination of this easy playing,no frills bass and my wall of SWR 10" speakers is capable of delivering one low-frequency orgasm after another.

The bass came from the factory in mint condition and was set up like they knew it was for myself.I only wish that they had let Ged beat on it for a while and possibly transfer some of that Geddy mojo to me.

I haven't owned it long enough to rate the durability factor. Judging from my past experiences with Fender instruments,I dont view this as being a problem.They have an impeccable reputation with this kid!

Fender rules. I got this bass directly from the factory. My contact at Cascio/Interstate Music in Milwaukee informed me that it was one of the last 2 that they had.They busted their butts getting it to me before it could get lost in the NAMM show traffic,which was happening a scant few days after I ordered it.Thanks Dave!!!

1998 Limited Edition bass, made in Japan, 20 frets, 4 string, volume/volume/tone, Vintage 1962 Jazz Bass pickups, passive electronics, alder body, maple neck, black finish only, Badass II bridge, vintage style tuners, maple fretboard with black lining and block inlays, hard case extra.

I bought this bass because I am a huge fan of Geddy Lee obviously. I play in a popular modern rock band. I play through an Ampeg SVP Pro preamp, Crown power amp, and SWR Goliath III and Son Of Bertha cabinets. This bass has that typical Jazz bass growl with a full round bottom, very light midrange, and decent high end. With the stock pickups, this bass doesn't have the punch to cut through high stage volume. I replaced the pickups with Bartolini 9E's which have greatly improved the sound of the bass. This bass has a hefty, very solid feel to it (due to the alder wood), compared to my 1990 American made Jazz Bass Plus.

This bass seemed to be well set-up from the factory and the action was decent albeit a little low. I discovered no noticeable flaws in the fit or finish of this bass upon delivery.

This is my main bass, and since I play at least one gig every weekend it gets a lot of use. After about three months, I noticed that the varnish coating the fretboard was starting to peel off at the most used frets. I took it back to the dealer where I bought it and he said that it would be covered under warranty but would take quite a long time to get it back. So since I need the bass, and since the warranty on all Fender basses built after 1998 is lifetime, I will wait to have it repaired. Also, I recently took it in to have it set-up, and the neck needed quite a lot of shimming to get it straight. I always carry a backup bass with me to every gig.

All Fender basses manufactured 1998 or later have a lifetime warranty.

I have been playing about 20 years, I also own, besides my two Jazz Basses, several Steinberger basses. I probably would try a different model of Jazz Bass if this one was lost or stolen. I love the heft of this bass, it just feels solid and it plays like a dream. With the addition of the Bartolini pickups, it now has more punch and volume than before.

1998 Limited edition made in japan. 20 frets, Alder body with 70's maple jazz neck. Two volume with master tone. Two vintage 62 passive jazz bass pickups. Beautiful black finish with white, black, white pickguard. Maple fretboard with black block inlays and black binding. Vintage style tuners chrome plated. Baddass II bridge. Did not come with case.

This is a reissue of the fender jazz Geddy Lee used to record the permanent waves and moving pictures albums. It is modeled after a 72 jazz bass. I play in a contemporary christian rock band so I needed a bass that can give me very diverse sounds. The sounds out of this one are the typical 70's and 80's bright growlly jazz bass sound. It sounds great unplugged and screams going through a ADA MB-1 preamp with crate 2X10 and Fender 1X15 cabinets. I usually play with tone knob all the way up and rely on the amp for drastic tone changes. I do other subtle tone changes using the two volume knobs. It is common fact that with jazz basses to get a midrange boost you just roll back one of the volume knobs. However a common occurence with jazz basses is that you get 60 cycle hum when you solo a pickup. On the Geddy Lee model this does not occur. I dont know why, since it has passive pickups. But since I was happy with it I did not bother to find out why. With the mable neck the sound is naturally brighter with a snappier top end. Sounds great for slapping. What I dislike about is that the bass is very light. It does not feel real solid like an american made bass. I think that it is very odd that all of fender's limited edition instruments are made in Japan. I am willing to bet that the original model that this is based on is an american made. If the bass had not played so well, I probabbly would not have bought it. I used this bass to record several songs on my bands CD and the sound on tape is very full and punchy. Overall my bass sound sat very well in the recording mix

When I first got it, I thought it was set up great. I could not believe how low the action was. It played like a hot rodded Ibanez guitar. however, after awhile when I really started digging in, I noticed that the E string was getting horrible fret buzz right around the third fret. The neck was set up very well so i simply corrected the problem by raising the action on the E string and it plays perfect now with higher action. The intonation was fine and everything else was put together real tight. The badass bridge is a nice alternative compared to the other bass bridges I have on my other basses. The extra weight at the end helps the sustain pretty good. The finish was gourgeous. The smooth feel of the maple fretboard makes fast runs easier to play. The only flaw probably happened in transport because I did not buy it with a case. The end of the headstock is a little scratched up but it is barely noticable. You think fender would have done a better job packing it up for shipping.

Since this is a passive instrument, I definately use it without a backup. I cant say about the strap buttons, because the first thing I did was put strap locks on it. I dont trust any regular strap buttons. I definatly think that the finish will last with proper care, but the pickguard will probably yellow over time. I dont like the open back tuners because I think they will be more prone to corrode than the newer closed tuners, I will give it a eight because of that.

The Geddy Lee limited edition was only available in 1998. I however was able to obtain one in mid 1999 at an awesome price. There was a price increase at fender recently. The customer service guys were awesome because they allowed me to get this bass at the original lower price. I also own a american deluxe jazz and american standard precision bass. One of the pots on my jazz deluxe grounded out and needed it to be replaced. The guys at fender immediatly fixed it and got it back to me within two weeks at no charge. Lifetime warranties are the way to go.

If you are able to still get a Geddy Lee model, go for it. If you can't and you want a Jazz, get an American standard and you will be happy. Whats awesome about this bass is is the baddass bridge and the neck. The neck is is thinner than the American standard necks and has a great feel to it. The only thing which would have been nice to have was a choice of different finishes. Dont get me wrong, the black finsh with the white pickguard looks awesome. However, it would have been nice to see what the bass would have looked like in a transparent blue with matching block inlays. The reason I got this bass is because I was looking for a jazz with passive pickups and a maple neck. I had always loved the tone Geddy got out of his jazz on the moving pictures tour and since I was able to get it at great price the choice was made.