Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass

2004 Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass. Made in Japan. Very simple - two volume knobs (one per pickup) and a tone. No stacked knobs - no batteries - nothing exotic. A quality, straight-forward bass. Standard Jazz specs, passive pickups, extra-thin neck. Full specs can be found on the Fender site.

I play hard and progressive rock and this bass suits both styles very well. I run through a SansAmp RBI, into a Peavey TKO 115 and through the sound board. The pickups are very quiet - I could not detect any extra buzz through my setup. The sound is very good - very thick bottom end with a bit of growl, but no loss of high end dynamics. 'Pop' was the word my guitarist used. It certainly cuts through the mix, without overpowering any other instruments. The sound is well balanced over all four strings and from the top to the bottom of the neck. Tone is consistent and highlights (i.e., plucking, thumping, etc.) stand out.

The intonation was flat from the factory. Since it was ordered through the web, I figured I wouldn't have the advantage of having a shop pro set it up. No problem, really. I took about an hour to adjust the neck (too much relief for me), replace the strings (so-so stock Fenders) and adjust the intonation. The pickup heights were fine. Overall, the bass is easily ajustable and the action can be set very low.

It's not exactly a stunner (black and white), but what is there looks great. No discernible flaws. The binding and gloss finish on the neck is beautiful.

It's a brick - should stand up to any live gigs. Not terribly impressed with the tuners; they seem a little 'loose' for lack of a better word. The finish look good enough to last, particularly on the neck. (Always back to the neck!) The strap buttons are fine - no, they are not locking, but I don't plan on throwing this thing around my neck. I never gig without a backup - always plan for the worst.

Never dealt with Fender directly.

I've been playing bass for over 10 years. I also own a 1993 Fender P-Bass and a 2001 Ibanez SR800. The Geddy Lee will now replace the Ibanez as my main gig bass. It just has more 'cajones'. If it were stolen I would replace it immediately. I absolutely love the sound and feel of this bass. It plays like butter. The neck, the neck, the neck.

I compared this bass to the basses listed above as well as an American Standard Jazz Bass. The American Standard was comparable, but $300 more. No-brainer, really. I haven't seen a better bass for the price.

I wish it had a hard-case, but, for the price, it's very hard to really complain. I'll pick up an SKB case for $70.

This bass was on backorder for over a month, but it was well worth the wait.

Made in Japan. Standard jazz bass pickups and electronics....some say the pickups are American....I honestly don't know. Only comes in black (boringest color ever IMHO) Neck has black block inlays and black binding (neck looks fantastic) Rate an "8" because it needs to come in another color. Has a Badass II bridge (nice move on Fender's part) Tuners are nothing to write home about, but they hold a tune. The neck is a very pale maple color....not that antique yellow look at all. That actually makes the bass look better for some reason.

I play contemporary church music in the style of 70's rock and its all mostly finger style....no slapping, popping or using a pick. Lacks lows a bit. Didn't expect that. Great mids and highs....fantastic definition. I'm sure a boost on the amp will remedy what the bass lacks in low end punch. Sounds good with amp tweaking.....not terribly noisy at all, even with 1 single coil on. I expected outstanding growl. Nope. O.K. growl.....not outstanding at all. You do get that solid feel to the notes that you expect with a good bridge.....gobs of sustain.

Action was high. Taking the neck or pickguard off to adjust the truss rod is a pain. Neck came bowed somewhat out of the box. Saddle heights and intonation will need adjusted after the action problem and the bowed neck are fixed. It wasn't grossly bad at all....but I can't live with it. It would have been awesome if work on it wasn't necessary. The action really is quite high...too high to know if there is much fret buzz at this point. Frets appear to be polished and finished nicely......nicer than any guitar or bass I've ever known. The boring black color was finished quite adequately with no visible flaws. "7" because the action and neck will need a little work.

Everything seems solid. I don't play without a backup.....ever. Jacks and switches can go at any time.....though I'd be surprised with this one.....seems real solid. How about if Fender does the obvious and has it come with strap locks standard. (?) Isn't that a no-brainer by now? A hardshell case would have been nice as well. I'd have even paid a little more to get one. Another no-brainer IMHO.

The only Fender dealer around here hates the guts of people who buy anything on the internet....and they won't really honor Fender warrantees it seems. If they pretend to, they don't make it a priority, you wait forever, and you get back a poor job at best. Too bad for me....I won't pay their price (a measley 20% off), so I'll be fixing my own axe or sending it back for a replacement to Musician's Friend.

Many have said it, and I expect that after the bow in the neck is fixed and the action improves, I'll be saying it myself. The shape of the neck makes the whole bass guitar worth it. I've owned American Precisions and Japanese Precisions, a Rick 4001, and many other basses. Nothing beats the thin shape of this neck. One guy said "If God played the bass, this is the bass God would play." The neck is absolutely fabulous looking and feeling. I wish they made another color. I hate black.....boring except on a Les Paul Custom IMHO. Unless the neck fix reveals alot of fret problems (which I'm 98% sure it won't), I'm gonna love this bass even though its black. Geddy Lee had nothing to do with why I bought this bass. It was for the neck. 95% of the bass players that try it will be very impressed, I'm sure. If you get the chance, pick one up and play it. You'll see what I mean immediately. And yea, I'd replace it immediately if it disappeared.....because of the neck.

For-the-loveof-Pete, Fender, put this neck on another bass or offer a different color option.....no matter what Geddy played. And give us a case and some straplocks.

Feature-wise, this has everything most passive jazz basses have. Two passive jazz pickups, volume/volume/blend, etc. This model has a maple neck and fingerboard with black block inlays and neck binding, just like the early 70's ones. The tuners are vintage style "high post" tuners, which help the make the vibe of this bass great. My two favorite features however are that they come stock with Lee Quan Badass II bridges, an instant improvement from the crappy new stock fender bridges, and the fact it comes with US made pickups.

This is a japanese model, and the fact of the matter is that when fender had a large line of japanese guitars and basses (some of the late 80's japanese guitars are coming fairly collectible), they closed the shop down because the japanese had better quality control then the US Fender's, it was costing them too much. You can be as "I'm an American and I'll only buy American products" as much as you want to if you want to lie to your ears. Imports are great nowadays, you have the japanese Fenders, Sadowsky, G&L, and Lakland all starting import lines, and all of them sound better then American Fenders.

Bottom line, it's just a great jazz bass. Jazz basses aren't complicated and don't have a ton of features, they just sound great, it's pretty hard to make these sound bad! But, due to it's simplicity, I'm giving it a 7.

I play jazz, blues, funk, rock, and hardcore, but recently (for the last year) I've put off paying gigs to play in an all original catchy indie rock band, like the shins or the new pornographers (www.thosetransatlantics.com). Originally I was playing a Musicman Stingray 3EQ through a Gallien Krueger 1001RB, 410 RBH, and 115 RBH. I liked the sound alot but a little too "modern" sounding for our style. Then, I purchased and Ampeg SVT CL head with an Ampeg SVT 610-HLF (the 8-10's are TOO BIG, the 6-10 doesn't sound exactly the same but it at least has handles. I'm not getting the 8-10 until we get our road crew together for the winter tour). This was a HUGE tonal improvement, the head is just a straight-up, plug and play 300 watt all tube monster, but with the tubes i hated the stingray preamp.
I went to a Samash with our drummer and keyboard player and played everything I was interested in, and then came across this and fell in love.

This bass is extremely versatile, it can go everywhere from a flatter sounding bassy growl, which I use for our alt-country and slower songs, to a great tasteful, biting ringy treble tone which i use for our higher energy songs. It sounds like every jazz bass should. I have not used it for recording yet but have played out with it several times and it sounds amazing!

Suprisingly, the set up job was phenomenol! The neck on this thing just begs to be played, it's so thin depth and width-wise, I was amazed this was a factory setup job by fender.

This bass WILL take a beating! All the hardware seems as though it will stand up through the long haul, however I may replace the tuners with some vintage style hipshots. The neck and truss rod seem great so far, I've only been through one whole season with it, but it's held in different climates. I will be gigging without a backup, simply because I don't break strings, and I don't beat on my gear.

Haven't talked to Fender, although I'm not expecting them to be great.

I've been playing bass for 12 years, I've owned basses from, Musicman, Rickenbacker, G&L, and other Fenders, and honestly, this is my favorite bass I've ever owned. Although I completely respect his musicianship, Geddy Lee is not the coolest person in the world, but this bass is the jam! I can't believe you can get these new for $650!!!

If this were stolen I would replace it. Although, I might go higher end eventually and get a Lakland Joe Osborn.

My favorite thing about this bass is the bridge, neck, pickups, and the vintage vibe you get from it. I'm poor and play in an original band, so I won't get my hands on a clean vintage early 70's jazz any time soon. I don't hate anything on this bass, but if I had to pick my least favorite thing, it'd be the tuners.

I compared this to a Rickenbacker 4003 and Fender American Jazz's and Precision's. I picked this one because it sounded and played the best, hands down! I wish it came in more colors maybe, like the common colors of 70's jazz basses, your natural's, subursts, candy apple red, just all the classic colors, of course it is modeled after Geddy's old one, and if it came in more colors I'd probably own at least one more, and that's unnecessary!

This is a great bass to add to your arsenal, and as of now, it's the only bass IN mine, I have a ton of faith in it.

This is a 2003 Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, manufactured in Japan. It has all the standard configurations of the famed Jazz bass: Passive Vintage pick-ups, maple neck, vintage tuners, what apperas to be bacl block inlays, and a Leo Quan BAII bridge.

This bass should have a case included, it is a high quality instument at least on a par with Fender American and Rickenbacker products. I quite honestly don't know how Fender price points this bass, I'm not complaining, but it is indeed a value.

This bass lists at $629.00 US, but Guitar Center will work with you.

I play mostly rock and blues, and this instrument perfectly fits the bill. It has lots of punch and clarity, and can attain a great bottom end with proper amp setings. I play thru a GK 1001RBII head with RBH cabinets in the 2x10 and 1x15 configuaration, no effects. The strings I exclusiveley use are Rotosound Swing Bass, 45 65 80 105 (the BEST round wound avaialable IMHO). My pertricular model is extremly quiet, quieter than my 2000 American made Jazz. This bass doesn't achive a plethora of tones, but what it does is excellent and can be utilized by most any musician playing rock, pop, etc.

The action was set a nice medium level, approx 3/32. Pickups were a bit low, but that was an easy adjustment. I had read prior reviews indicating that the neck needed to be removed to adjust the truss rod, not so, at least on mine. The truss screw can be accessed by removing the pickguard and using a smaller, standard screw driver to make the adjustment...no sweat. The neck is the amazing part of this instrument, very well finished and lightning fast. The frets are of the medium jumbo variety and finished well, no sharp edges or high points. All controls functioned smoothly and were properly aligned. I did adjust the action ever so slightly, but this was out of personal preference and not a necessity. The neck is not so much narrower than a standard Jazz Bass, but it is indeed shallower, allowing for fast movement around the fretboard. This neck should be available on all J basses (even if it is a custom type option). This is the best neck curently out there in bass guitar land, at least for those that play more melodic patterns. The BAII bridge is also a welcome addition. The finifh of the instrument was excellent, deep black with no noticable swirls or imperfections.

I've only had the instrument a little over 2 monts and it has been rock solid. One minor preferential truss adjustment when I switched to Rotosound Swing Bass 45 65 80 105. Other than that, the tuners have held tune, and the bass perfoms as a true road warrior. I think the BAII bridge eliminates some string breakage issues I've encountered with string thru the body bridge. The only minor addition was the replacement of the stock strap buttons with Schaller Strap Locks.

I'd read that this bass came with a "limited edition" neck plate, mine didn't. I was planning on contacting Fender to see what gives, but I haven't. I pretty much do all my own set-up and maintenance work...so we'll see how Fender responds to the neck plate issue.

I've been playing the better part of 25 years and have grown up on J and P basses, they just always felt good to me. In addition to this I currently own a Fender American J-Bass, a Rickenbacker 4003, and an Epiphone Viola (better in my opinion than the Hofner). The GL J Bass is played through a GK 1001RBII 2x10 and 1x15 GK RBH cabs. No toys in between the instrument and the amp. Strings are the aforementioned Rotosound Swing bass, the only roundwound for me. If this bass were stolen I would definitely buy another, the neck is just so darn comfortable, and the sound so clear.

Japanese made, standard options. Not the greatest of pots or tuning gears but adequate.

Stock pickups are kind of weak. Good range of jazz and rock tones. Lacks bottom end. Clear cutting mids and highs. I use through Ampeg SVP preamp into Blue tube compressor, Crest 1100W power and 2 1-15" Bag Ends and 2 2-12" Bag End Cabs (with Sans Amp foot pedal which brings any rig to life!).

Amazing Neck!!! Can't rave enough about the neck! Sleek and FAST!! Set up at Guitar Center with very clean finish overall.

Overall solid but haven't gigged it enough. Past experience with Fender has been great.

No experience

Excellent bass but I have already ordered a set of Seymour Duncan Antiquity II pickups which should bring it to life! May get a new set of tuning gears but the BadAss bridge is great. I'd buy another one in a snap if it was stolen. I've played for 32 years, many years as a pro and have had numerous different basses (wish I'd held on to some of them I've gotten rid of over the years!). This is a quality instrument that will be perfected with the right pickups (and possible replacement pots for smoother control/tuning gears).

2003 Geedy Lee Model, Jazz bass styling. everything is simple but it actually works well. Instead of either on or off, you can hear the differnces. Impressive for Fender basses. I'll give this a ten because the tone pots work. There aren't a lot of features.

Ever been in a fight with Muhammed Ali? Well this can pack that kind of PUNCH! I play through a Behringer V-Amp pro rack mount and a QSC power amp 1400 series and a Hartke 1x15 and 2x10 cabs. this can blow dust in your face and rattle the neighborhood. This guitar can easily get that Rush/ Prog Rock sound. Easy to play, sound for days and this thing just seems to have a soul. You can feel it as you play. No dislikes here.

Bought this from a guy off of Ebay. It was in very good shape. I played the bass the day I got it. How is that for timing. The bass was very easy to get used to. 4 hours later and I was making noise in public and didn't feel awkward at all. I haven't notice anything for flaws.

Durability? You can use this for a baseball bat, an oar, a crutch, an axe, maybe even a spatula and it would still play that night's gig. Reliable, it better be, this stuff pays the rent and keeps the wife in the lifestyle she has grown accustomed to.

Nah.

If it was stolen, I'd hunt you down and let my sound man take care of you. I love playing this guitar. It gets the seat instead of the groupies. Sorry girls. Don't tell the wife ;) I'll take it home with me instead of packing it in a truck after a gig. I also own two Made in Mexico Deluxe Jazz as well and a Yamaha. Those are good, too.

Japanese made and you know the specs. Originally a bit leary of the Japanese origin, but after reading about the quality and talking to some folks I decided to try one out. Also, considering the many quality Yamaha basses out there the Japanese are no slouches at being able to produce a quality instrument.Only an 8 because the features are all so basic and stock. Nothing bad at all, just very average. Sometimes less is more.For what I paid for this instrument, with Bartolinis, and a great SKB FULL case, I don't think I could have done better.

Wel, it originally came with Bartolini passive pickups installed, which I thought would be the cat's behind. After geting it home, plugging it in and trying a variety of things it sounded a bit tame for my liking. So I took it out to gig at full speed to see if there was any difference. While the overall tone was bassy and warm it lacked the life I have grown used to. NOw, thankfully the original owner included the stok pickups with the deal and since I have read rave things about the sound I decided to take a couple of hours to put things back to stock. Not a direction that one would normally go but worth a try. Let me tell you, what a difference! The output was so much better, the overall tone was akin to what I was hoping, the combo of deep bass and balanced overtones was just great, So the stock pickups were the winner for me. I find that the tone control is actually useful on this guitar unlike so many that I just turn to full and forget it. Fingerstyle i scomplexly big, slap and finger pops are great, and the bridge P/U gets the Jazz sound that we all know and love. Again, it came right from the factory. Nice.

The nec k is by far the thinnest I have ever played. It's a fantastic feel. The action as I received it with 45-105's is perfect for me, no buzzing or deadness. The only finish flaw I could find are some noticeable grain valleys that run the lower length of the body. This was a miss in QC but it's an effort to see and at this price level, nothing to concern myself with. The tuners are the worst part though. BMFL size tuners that feel crappy in use. They seem to hold tune but I have every intention of replacing them as soon as I can. Otherwise, the electronice are solid with what I believe are switchcraft, or at the least, Switchcraft quality components. No noise, solid feeling pots. I replaced the white pickguard with a blck MOTO style pearlized pickguard and it's beautiful. It makes the maple neck and black blocks look much more balances in my opinion.

This appears to be solid guitar that will easily stand up to the rigors of regular play. All the parts are there to place it on par with much more expensive instruments. I expect no issues. I replaced the strap buttons with Schaller straplocks as I do on everything I own. Call me crazy, but I never gig with a back up guitar or bass, especially a passive instrument. There's just so little to go wrong to justify the extra equipment for me.

No experience.

I have been playing for over 25 years, bass and guitar for 10. I play publicly very often. I have owned a huge variety of guitars and basses. I have high expectations from my instruments and and equipment. If they don't suit me then they are gone. I had a USA Jazz back in the early 80's and love this one as much or more than that one. It's a keeper. If it were lost or stolen I would certainly consider a replacement but for the reasons of variety I might look for a Modulus Q4, but I ain't getting it for $600.00 complete in this condition. It is a great piece. If I could change 2 things it would be the "autograph" on the back of the headstock and the tuners. God love Geddy but I don't love that print. The tuners are an easy enough fix. Favorite feature has to be the beck. Solid and skinny. Just great.

The features have been adaquately covered already. Mine is a middle weight as Basses go. I have not read much in the reviews here pertaining to this. I did notice quite a bit of weight variations between the Fender models on the wall at the local stores. The features on this model fall into the K.I.S.S. catagory. Versitility and ease of play are indicated in the overall high ratings on the Geddy Lee model. Wanting more features is simply splitting hairs. For me it was love at first note. The fun factor playing this instrument is at the top of the heap!

I have found that this Bass will make any sound I want. Playing it straight thru my Peavey amp or whatever amp I connect it to it sounds consistantly good. Regardless of style of music, a little adjustment on the controls and you're good to go. My ears tell me this Bass runs the gammit of tones, light to dark, bright to dull and always warm.

Here's where I was most surprised. I haven't been too impressed with the QC on fit, i.e. neck pockets, etc. with Fender for a couple years now. Their finishes are very good overall, though. This Bass I have exceeds in all catagories from intonation to set-up to fit and finish. Perhaps it's because it was built in Japan.

No need for a back up here. This catagory is why people buy Fenders in the first place.

Although I've never needed help from Fender on their products they have always returned emails promptly and are very helpful. I don't use their authorized repair centers that I know of. I rely on the best craftsperson in my area. In my case I have the luxury of having Mike Lull close by.

I'm a converted guitar player of twenty years. Over the years I've bought and sold several basses. One Guild Pilot, a Kramer Forum III and Fenders. My main criteria for owning this Bass is the neck. It's absolutely perfect for people with small hands or beginners. I can't imagine anyone outgrowing this Bass and would highly recommend it to anyone.

enough of it posted already...loved the Badass II bridge and neck though

ok, i was in guitar center with nothing in my pocket at the time. i just went to look around because i already was having an active deluxe jazz bass sent to me through the music store i work for. well, make a long story short, i picked the bass up and just started tooling around with it. i immediately fell in love with the way it plays, the neck feels so comfortable. right after i got done playing it, i ran over to the nearest bank and took out 600 bucks to pay for it so i can use it that night for my gig. i play progressive/hard rock (tool/a perfect circle) and i love the way it sounded with my rig. mesa boogie m-pulse 600, ampeg pr410hlf cab, and a small board of effects including delay, distortion, and chorus. i got the sound ive been looking for for a long time, i am now stuck on fender because of this bass.

well the action was OK, i was able to due with it for that night and the intonation sounded fine. but with any bass i get, ill set it up to the way i like it.

everything seems good so far, pretty solidly built.

i used the same bass for 3 years without a back-up so, yes i would use it without one.

nothing yet, just about my other bass, they didnt give me any information at all except they didnt send it out yet because everything wasnt for sale for about two weeks because of changes they were making. i ordered it 3 weeks ago and i still havent gotten anything, and i still have to wait those two extra weeks...not fun

ive been playing in a bands for about 5 years now...my old bass is a schecter elite 5 and that held up fine. very easy to play live with, i didnt have to get used to it at all, i felt comfortable enough to play a show with it just hours after i bought it. so far, buying it was a very good idea and i have no regrets.

Bass model: 2003 Geddy Lee Artist series Jazz Bass by Fender (Japan)
Frets: 22, I think
Strings:4
Controls: Volume/volume/tone
Pickups: Fender vintage J/J single coil
Body:?Alder or ?Poplar- not sure.Trad J shape. Finish is a lustrous black. White 3-ply scratchplate
Bridge: Badass II
Tuners: Vintage Fender style
Neck: 70's style, all Maple with block markers in black, thick and glossy finish to fingerboard. Neck is shaped to a slimmer than standard profile, which makes it a Geddy Lee bass!
Accessories:none

I bought my Geddy Lee Jass Bass via the net about 5 months ago and have used it for about a dozen gigs as well as in rehearsal studio countless times. To be honest, I bought it as a good priced early 70's reissue rather than as a Geddy Lee Bass!
My previous main bass was a US'90 Fender Precision Plus. I play mostly vintage RnB (Motown,Stax etc.) and 70's funk as well as classis Santana and some work with an Afro-Cuban outfit.
I bought this bass because I wanted an authentic vintage jazz sound without the high price tag.It contains all the features I would look for in a retro Fender Bass.The badass II bridge is nice extra for me.
I really liked the neck profile and action, I find it a little faster than my P-plus bass. The 70's style colour sceme is just perfect for the kind of music I play. I give it 8 in this category, simply because there are other, better featured J-basses at a similar price (Marcus Miller signature which I nearly bought, but didn't)

The Geddy Lee bass sounds very different from a previously owned Mexican active deluxe J-bass which I didn't like that much.It almost has as much bottom as my P-bass but in addition, the bridge pickup is really excellent for slapping and popping.I would have to say that this bass is more dynamic throughout most of the range than my P/J configured precision (which is also passive)I was surprised by the output of the passive pickups, however the sound quality demands frequent string changes to keep it up there.
(I use Fender nickel 7250's which luckily, were fitted as standard)
I feel that I can really get that authentic 60's funky J-tone without any effort. I use a SWR amp with a Celestion quadbox,but I nearly always play D.I.
Other guys in the band seem to think that my overall tone is darker and a little smoother than with my previous P-bass, with more definition and brightness in the mid and higher range. Live recordings seem to confirm this. I have also found myself slapping a lot more as a result of this.

The ability to sound like a P-bass makes it easy to get a Jamersonlike tone- ballsy, warm(ish) and well rounded, but crank up that brige pickup and, with fresh strings, you can be Larry Graham! Oompa-Oompa-da-ra-ba!I use a P-bass as a studio standard and haven't yet used the Geddy Lee in this situation.

In conclusion, like all good J-basses, the Geddy Lee can really cut through the mix. Oh, and it was really quiet when both tone knobs were in "phase"

I think that the Geddy Lee J-Bass (a la '72 J-bass, which is what it looks like)is a beautiful instrument, it always draws compliments on it's appearance.

First impression after the glorious finish is the sheer playability of this J-Bass with a slim neck and low action it seemed a breeze after my P-bass!
I particulaly liked the finish on the fingerboard, except that it's already begun to lift a little immediately next to the frets.
My overall impression is that the bass was very well setup straight from the box with a low action which I liked.
I do feel, however, that my P-bass plus (now 14 years old) is tanklike in comparison to the J-Bass, the machineheads on the P-bass are fantastic, whereas the vintage style items on the Geddy Lee just lack that 100% solidity feel.Likewise, though the finish on the Geddy Lee is a gem to view, I don't feel, somehow, that it will look quite as good given the same treatment that my P-bass has had over time.(We'll see!)Still, the bass was flawless as supplied, I have had a tone knob work loose as well as the jack socket. Both easily fixed.

Mine is standing up to regular live playing (in some very sweaty situations!) no problems. As per my previous comments I will wait and see if it lives up to the legendary reliability and durability of finish of my P-bass.
I reckon that all the usual J-bass things will happen as we go along,the strap buttons will work loose, certain frets will buzz etc. etc. I hope that the finish on the fingerboard will standup.I also wonder if the slimmer than standard neck will retain it's shape, in other words, ask me in 5 years time!
Adjustment of the neck appears inconvenient, but not a concern for me as I find I rarely have had to do this with the Fenders I have been lucky enough to own. All other hardware just seems like standard stuff to me (except that bridge which has to be an improvement on Fender's effort and is a nice touch as that's what many players customfitted back in the 70's)

I have to tell you a story here.

I live in Melbourne, Australia. Fender want $Aus2300.00 for the Geddy Lee Bass,case excluded, here in Australia. I bought mine for$Aus1000.00 (about $US750.00)on the web.I was initially told that I couldn't have the bass shipped directly to me as Fender wouldn't permit it! (the guy at Musician 123.com told me that Fender have instructed them not to ship product to Australia) Luckily, I have a cousin in New York who took delivery for me and onshipped it to me here in Melbourne. I had it shipped by UPS and with import duty, fully landed, case included,it cost me $Aus1500.00, still more than $800.00 cheaper, well worth the trouble! As a result of this,I feel letdown by Fender on 3 counts!

1. That there is a gross price differential between here and the USA which I can't reconcile (over 120%markup)shipping alone cannot explain this as the bass was made in Japan anyhow!

2. That Fender oppose free trade by trying to prevent me from purchasing my bass where I like and at what price I can get.

3. That Fender will now "punish" me by not providing any warranty as I have purchased my bass in this manner.

Sorry Fender, I love your products, but you have to learn to treat your increasingly mobile customer base a little better than this!

I've back playing for 4 years now after a break of some 25 years! I would like to try the new Stingray SUB active as well as I'm currently playing a lot more funk. My other basses include a 90 P-bass plus, an OLP stingray and an upright.
I bought this bass after reading the reviews on this page and have found them to be accurate.If it were stolen or lost, I would have to try and replace it. I love the tone from low and ballsy through to the bright and strong high end, the style, the finish and the sheer presence of the thing on stage.It is a prince of J-basses.And extremely playable too.The only other J-basses I would like to own would be an original 62 or maybe a highend G&L.

This is weird, but, I feel that there is an uncanny resemblance (in the feel) to the old "JV" series basses from Squier - I wonder if it's the Japanese way? Anybody who knows of those JV basses will realise that they were rather excellent (too much so, some would say, for Fender's liking)and current secondhand prices for those instruments reflect that!

There's really nothing I could say I dislike about this bass.

Won't go into the features, they're already covered.

I love the sound from this bass. The pickups seem very sensitive. If you pluck a string hard, It really comes out in the sound. The sound from using the Bridge pickup alone is just incredible. I wasn't used to the "hotness" of these pickups at first but now I've learned to use them and I really like having that option.

I had to do some tweaking with this bass when I first bought it. The strings were too low and the pickups were a touch to high. Once these were adjusted it was fine.

The reason I bought this was because I was breaking strings on my American J-Bass pretty frequently in a live situation so I needed something reliable.So I bought this bass and have used it for four months of gigging without any problems. This is a solid bass.I rely on it 100%

Never had to deal with them.

I've owned 6 Fender basses in my life other than this one and I must say that this is my favorite of them all

34" Scale
Alder Body
Maple neck with Black Block inlays
Medium Frets
Reissue 1962 J Pickups
Plain White pickguard

It is exactly what it is - a 70's reissue.

Provides the classic Jazz Bass sounds via SWR Working Man, Fender Bassman 100 and some nicer rigs at Guitar Center. IT sounded great through each. I primarily record with this and it sounds just fine direct into the board or via an Bass PoD or a Bass PoDxT. You just get more tonal capabilities via the PoD's.

Varying the volume levels of the individual pickups can really change the sound from nasty snarl to smooth and full. None of the settings were harsh or muddy.

If you are looking for a sweet smooth sound for Jazz then you may want to look at the Marcus Miller model - also a very nice bass.

Perfect from the factory although I am noticing some very small cracks in the clear coat on the fingerboard. I have never had a Maple neck instrument before and given the more aged ones I would say this is just the norm.

The neck is slim and easy to play. Normally I like an unfinished oiled neck as the gloss slows me down but the clearcoat on this neck causes no problems.

The factory action was a little low for my taste but that was easily resolved and it plays perfectly.

We'll see I have not had it long enough.

N/A

I played a boat load of basses before getting this one. All basses have their pluses and minuses. If you love the more aggresive sound of a Jazz Bass then this is your bass. It has snarl and growl built in.

I played no other bass that came close and they had plenty between Guitar Center and Sam Ash. The unique thing about a Fender is the tonal variety that you can get just by how you play it.

For the money paid for this bass it is a fantastic deal. Not fancy, no Phat knobs (LOL!). Simple elegance and a phenominal sound. Try and steal this and you are in for a serious bruising :-)

One thing that I have learned is that it pays long term to buy a decent instrument and this qualifies. When I was but a wee young'n I got a 1978 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe and it plays as nice as the day I got - possibly better. Not so for the dust collecting bargians that grace the back of my closest - Fender Squire J-Bass Special with a warped neck, Fender Squier Strat. Note that Squires only have a 1 year warranty.

Good Luck and you better one before their gone!

Japanese made bass with 20 frets. Maple neck w/ maple fretboard, black block inlays and black binding around neck. Fitted with Badass Bass II bridge (Geddy is known for fitting his basses with the Badass bridges.) Has a real vintage 1972 look, but modernized for today's standards (thumb-rest bar is nonexistant, as well as an absence of pickup/bridge covers.) The neck is very thin, more so than I've felt on any new Jazz basses. The controls: bridge pickup volume, neck pickup volume, master tone. The only accessory that came with this bass was a small Allen wrench for adjusting the bridge saddles and tone knobs. I give this a 10, this bass is absolutely MARVELOUS.

A very aggressive style, and is very well suited for Rock music (my style of music.) The amp I am running it to is a Peavey TNT115BW (15" Black Widow speaker), and it sounds great thru that. It sounded TERRIFYINGLY awesome on an Ampeg SVT Pro that went into a 4x10 Cabinet. It is a fairly noisy bass, the pickups are very responsive to the strings. Fairly rich sound with a good amount of sustain. As for the tonal variety, it lacks the Low end of a DELUXE Fender J-bass, but it certainly can hold its own. It's noticably better for the stage, probably just because of how noisy it can get; but that all depends on the type of music you play.

The bass came with very low action, but still had great sound. The pickups needed no further adjustments. No flaws on the bass that I can tell of (except a loose tone knob, that was easily adjusted with an Allen wrench.)

This bass feels like it is built like a rock, most Japanese Fenders are. The hardware seems very sturdy. I am not worried about the finish at ALL - Fender has always been very good with that. The finish on the fretboard seems to be a little thick, but that is not a downside at all; it actually contributes to the look of the bass. The strap buttons arent goin anywhere. When I got the bass, no neck adjustments needed to be made, and I dont think that there will be a need for adjustments any time soon. I wouldnt use it without a backup, because I never play without a backup. You never know when your adrenaline is going to pick up, and you start playing harder, and snapping strings. I have had that problem before.

I have never had to deal with Fender on issues concerning this bass.

I have been playing for about 4 years... I also own an American Deluxe Fender Jazz bass. If this bass were stolen, I would definitely buy another one, brand new. You just cant beat the price. My favorite feature is the WHOLE BASS. I compared it side by side by my American Deluxe Jazz bass... just out of curiousity. I love this bass as is, and I cant think of any adjustments it would need.

Features are STD and were decribed by others, It is a Japanese J-Bass with STD passive electronic and US Vintage pickups.

I believe the only special features are the Leo Quann Badass II brige, Black Binding and Black Block Position Markers,
Badass II Bridge.

The neck and the fingerboard are maple.

The neck plate is engraved "Fender Limited edition" but I believe it is made since '98 and it is not really hard to get.

Mine is a 2000.

I will rate features at 9 just because it is passive.

It is possible to get a sound close the the P-Bass using only the neck pickup, but the sounds is still more punchy. Using just the bridge pickup or a combination sounds very interesting, very punchy and aggressive. A lot brighter than a P-bass since mine did not feature a brigpe pickup. I like the sound a lot but I will still use my P-Bass for some specific songs that we are playing with the E string tuned down to C#. For some reason my Jazz Bass does not play well with that tuning.

I will have it tuned up with DR LoRider or SunBeam, I'm sure my sound will get better, but it is still awesome and the variety is a lot wider
with the 2 pickups.

Outstanding, and as I mentioned it is not even freshly tuned. I played a 70's US Made J-Bass before buying the Geddy Lee Model, and I believe the later was better.

I was surprised that one of the machine heads had a little backlash , I'll have it verified.
For the balance it is good enough to sport the name of Fender.
My P-bass will still act as a back up (tuned down as explained), all basses need a backup...

Did not need it yet.

I'm playing guitar since '82, bass since '86 but I spent the 90's without serious playing (occasionnal on my Tak 12 acoustic that I still own). Do not let your job take over music, music is a therapy...

I use to play an Fender Precision (USA) in the late 80's, an I started over playing with a Squier Bass Pack in '99. No need to say it is an upgrade. I was considering my Squier as fair (may be I've been lucky with this chinese, the playability is still ok but the sound can't be compared) But now I believe that the sound of my previous Fender was too deep in my memory.

I am using a Fender Bassman 60 (recommended for rehersal in small rooms only). The amp was distorsioning a lot with the Squier, my sound is really better and the distorsion is minor now with my Geddy (with volume over 80%).

In my 2 months shopping process, I played a Peavey and a Yamaha (both Precision-like in the $4-500's), the fender Sting signature, an active 5str. Bass-Collection, an OLP (Chinese passive Stingray), a Mex. P-Bass, an active Washburn and a Rickenbaker 4003. Among these, I found that only the the Ric and the Geddy Lee were interesting soundwise and were a real upgrade compare to my Squier (playability were all better tough).

I really looked for a MM Stingray, but I lost a bid on one (you can't get $1000 from an ATM and banks bus.hours are a shame) and I purchased the Jazz Bass as a result of frustration and I have no regrets.

If it was stolen, I would try again to find a Stingray, try it and decide after.

My rate will be 9 because I am still a Stingray virgin player...


I do not

Made in early '98 I believe, bought new, so i've had it knog enough to know what it is going to do. It's a Jazz bass, but it is modeled after a '72. Maple board with black markers. Ash body. BadassII bridge. I give it an 8 because, well, it's a jazz bass, and they are not known to have all of the features that will blow you out of the water. However, I would only give several other jazz basses a 7.

I owned this bass for about four years before I even really used it much. I was in metal and funk bands, so a Hi-Fi Warwick 5 was my main axe. I recently joined a classic rock style band with a modern edge. Think Michelle Branch-ish. Bottom line, Jazz basses, in general, are a great bass if you are a sideman. They always sit well in the mix, but never draw attention away from the star. I haven't tried to get it to sound exactly like Geddy Lee, so I can't comment there, but it sounds as good as any american Jazz, which is I wanted it to do. The body could be a bit more resonant, but that is nobody's fault but the tree. Any production bass can vary like that.

All were fine, but as a '72 reissue, The tint of the finish on the maple could be a bit darker. Vintage fender guys will know what I am talking about. You do have to remove the neck to adjust the truss rod, but you wouldn't knock a '62 Jazz worth more than you car for this, so I won't knock this one. Again, as with any bass, spend time adjusting it to your liking. You should never think a bass is perfect out of the box, it helps if it is close, but you'll always have to tweak.

I gig with the bass a minimum of once a week. The only time I use a back up is when I am at a clean venue and I feel like taking my vintage P-Bass ('78) with me. 90% of the time, I have no back up and have never felt like I would need one....Knock on wood.

This bass was stolen once. I contacted AJ's Music in Las Vegas, where the bass was purchased, to see if they still had record of the serial # (always write these down, lesson learned). They contacted fender and were able to get it back, which in turn got me my bass back. I didn't deal with Fender directly, but the job got done. I am still going to leave this as NA.

I am a pro, L.A. studio and gig player with 12 years under my belt. I was always a "modern" bass guy, but I knew that I would need to get a Jazz or P bass if I wanted to do a lot of sideman work. I bought this bass because it was cheaper than the American bass, still had an Ash body, and had the BADASSII bridge. The bass just has a cooler vibe that the American Standard too. Bottom line, I love it. I have since played a ton of similar era Jazz basses, and some are better and some are not. No one engeneer in studio or soundman on stage has ever said anything bad, and it always sits great whereever I play or record it. Mabee I'll put some Fralin's in it some day, but I am always happy with the consitancy of the sound. This bass just always works, no fuss. If you want to be a studio guy, this is key. If it was stolen (again) I would collect the insurance money, and spend the difference on an origional '72, but only because of the investment value of a vintage insturment. The best value Jazz bass on the market, hands down.

Geddy Lee Limited Edition Jazz Bass, a replica of the instrument he has used for for years. Ok the bass features an alder body with a maple neck/fingerboard (34" scale length; 20 Medium Jumbo frets with black fingerboard binding), this J-Bass is custom-fit with two U.S. Vintage Bi-Pole pickups (neck & bridge), and a Bad AssTM II Bridge.

It's got a decent sound but not as full as my American made Jazz. It's quiet and records well. I will be replacing the pickups in time with a Dimarzio ultra jazz set.

Nice fit and finish. No gaps or other mishaps and fret work was well done. Action is pretty good but I hate the fact you have to remove the neck to access the truss rode. Sure it's a classic bass and sure you can have the body routed for access, but still!!. Also I find the neck a little to thin for my liking.

Should last a long time as it's well constructed and has few error prone parts. The inlays in the neck are not true inlays and this may become a problem in time as the maple board begins to show signs or wear.

I'd say for a big company Fender does a decent job at customer service.

A really cool and pleasing jazz with some nice extras. Still not as good as a U.S. made jazz, but still a very good buy.

I bought this bass brand new. It is actually the second one I bought. The first one (which I sold) was in perfect shape. My current one has a little of the laminating of the top of neck peeling off around the 3rd fret. No big deal. Also some small lines in 2 of the black fret markers. Cosmetics like that don't bother me. The thin neck is excellent, especially compared to the Fender Marcus Miller model. Overall, I am very pleased.

The sound is excellent. The reason I sold my first one is that I replaced the pickups with Active Bartolinis. It lost it's "Unique" sound, but gained absolute silence. I am leaving the original pickups in this one. The best way to describe the sound would be to listen to "New World Man" by Rush. Play along with that song, and you will know what I mean. Excellent.

The factory setup was just average. When I bought it, the bass tech took about 15 minutes to adjust the truss rod and the action. Since then it hasn't needed anything, even with drastic temperature changes. The neck is holding my preferred setting perfectly.

This bass seems ready for anything. It appears it could take a beating, a few spilled beers, or just about whatever abuse you have. I would only question the slight noise, but I guess most passive basses would do that. I'm used to playing a dead-silent Kubicki. I was spoiled with that.

Didn't need it.

I play this bass through a Trace Elliot 1x15 300 watt combo and a Hartke 2.5 XL extension cabinet. This is the best sounding combination I have ever owned. My only request would be a little more fine tuning control over the tone. It's just one small knob that controls both. 1 tone knob for each pickup would be outstanding! Anyway, I will NOT be selling this bass this time.

I wish It came with a cass. Fender puts thier basses in great cases.

I did not want geddys sound nor did expect it. You need alot of outboard gear to ound like that (or a ric). I use a mesa 400+ and two mesa 2x15s. I also have a fender 400 and a 2x10 with a 1x15. I run a good sized pedal board. OD, chorus, EH big muff, wah and delay. It is just like any jazz you have ever heard but for half the price. I dont know how fender got away with this, but if you know jazz basses, they could easily sell this for at least 1200 dollars. I

This bass was adjusted to my standards ten minuets after I got it. LOW and buzzing the frets. It came with no flaws, except for loose strap pegs.

The tone and pickup volumes have either came off or have turned past were they are actually supposed to stop at. But I have giged with this bass over 250 times and practiced a over 600 times with it. So I dont blame this bass for sorta falling apart. Some of the finish on the neck has chiped. But oh well, every thing that has gone bad is my fault. This bass is as tough as nails.

Never dealt with fender...........I should though.

Japanese-made 2002 Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass. 4 string Alder body, Flat black finish, black inlaid position markers, Leo Quann Badass II bridge, thin(FAST) neck, passive J-style US vintage pickups, vintage tuners, bound fingerboard, 20-fret maple neck, lusterous finish.

This instrument seems to have a very clear, distinct sound, unlike my old Ibanez bass. Whilst running both pickups with the tone turned down, this bass has a beautiful, bright tone, full of depth and sustain. It does get slightly "twangy" whilst soloing the bridge pickup with the tone turned up, but it doesent seem to receive much hum. Those who built the pickups and wired them did a decent job of avoiding single-coil hum. The only request that I would make would be to switch to the hotter, more modern pickups featured on the American-made jazz basses.

When I was trying out this bass at the store, I noticed the action was far too low for my playing style. It may have been set at a decent level for slap and pop, but it needed adjustment for melodic classical/jazz/alternative playing, where I sometimes use an altered tuning. The folks at the Guitar Center fixed it in a few minutes, and the bass was pretty close to optimal.

I regularly play this bass live with a symphony orchestra and jazz band, and it seems to hold up pretty well. I've owned it for a couple of months now, and there haven't been any problems, but time will be the true test. The finish seems hard and lusterous, and there are no scratches from its tenure as a floor instrument in a Guitar Center. I believe that I can depend on this bass, but on a major gig, I would still bring my trusty Ibanez axe.

Never dealt with Fender, but from the horror stories I've heard, I'm a little nervous.

I've been playing electric bass for a number of years now, and was classically trained as both a cello and electric bass player. I regularly play electric bass with a symphony orchestra and a jazz band. I also own a beat-up Ibanez GSR200 bass(Gets the job done, but mediocre tone), a Squier Standard Strat, an SWR amplifier, and a DigiTech effects pedal. I enjoy playing classical pieces, such as the Bach cello suites on the bass (Muddy on the Ibanez, beautiful on the Fender), old jazz tunes, and misc. Pastorius, Haslip and Stanley Clarke.
The only modifications I would do to the bass would be to install hotter Seymour Duncan or Fender pickups, and possible replace the pickguard with a pearl- or black colored one.
In the store, I compared it with various Mexican Fenders, American ones, and the Ibanez EDA900. This bass completely outclassed its Mexican counterparts, and also outdid many higher-priced American basses (Japanese work ethics, here). I liked many features of the similarly-priced EDA900, but preferred the Geddy's natural tone and better feel.
On an ending note, I would like to say that I did NOT buy this bass because I'm a Rush wannabe. Their music is decent, but I don't particularly like it. My decision was based solely on feel, quality, workmanship, bang-for-the-buck, but most of all, sound.

Brand new, 2002 issued. Refer to other reviews for specifics.

What first grabbed me about this bass was its looks. I have always loved the Fender jazz bass, but this one blew me away. The sound was great with the stock strings, but I play mainly 60's rock. The strings were horrendous for this, which I knew when I purchased it. As was the plan, I quickly put some Fender flatwounds, and the sound was moved away from the Rush sound, and to the standard jazz bass sound. Overall, the sound is gorgeous. It is fantastic in all respects!

Action was set up very nicely, and needed no adjustments. This was purchased "off the wall" from the store, were it had been hanging for a week. The staff all tried it and loved it, and I imagine a few others had tried it as well. Despite this, the finish is pristine. There is not a nick, scratch, or dull spot anywhere in the guitar. It is flawless. My only pet peave is the neck. The maple has many coats of varnish, to a high gloss. Overall, I think the shine on the nect detracts from the look of this fine guitar. It would have been nicer dull, in my opinion. The other reissues with maple necks have the same high gloss, but I'm not sure if this was the standard on the on the original issues. Another concern is over time, will the high gloss on the neck become dull and scratched, and detract? Despite the gloss neck, I give this catagory a 10, as the finish and action is superb. Oh yes, the thin neck is absolutely incredible!

Hardware does seem very durable. I agree that the tuners could be a little stronger, and more like the American issues. The knobs are hard plastic and nice, but they could have been a higher grade, as well. The finish is beautiful, and will last for years. I can't say enough about this aspect of the guitar. Strap buttons are there for life---solid as can be! You will not need a backup with this bass in hand!

My only problem was one of the volume knobs---it sort of grabbed once in a while around the half-way point. I messed with it, and turned with a little tension, and the problem seemed to me fixed. What an easy repair. Because of the volume knob problem the day I brought it home, I give this section a 9/

Haven't had to use them.

This bass is awesome for, most of all, its playability. It is smooth as silk, fast, and responsive. I have a Hofner and Jay Turser Beatle bass, and a Peavey T-40. When I was looking for a new bass, I wanted a long scale which would get rid of some of the weight of the T-40. I fell in love with this bass, and bought it, and it is about 2.4 ounces lighter than the T-40. I didn't gain a thing! Oh well, it is still a keeper. Let me tell you one thing more---I respect Geddy Lee, but am not a huge fan. I did not buy this bass because of Geddy Lee. I bought it because it was the coolest looking Fender Jazz bass with a traditional J sound. I am probably one of the only nuts who bought this without wanting it because of Geddy Lee. I am a McCartney, Entwhistle, and Squire fan above all other bassists, with John Paul Jones thrown in for good measure, and this bass can create the sounds of these greats. I am in awe of Geddy's playing, but am not a big fan, so if you are against buying this because it is Geddy's model, think again. It is a reissue of a Fender Jazz bass that Geddy happened to own, with some adjustments, most notably the thin neck and bridge. Thankfully the signature is on the back of the head stock, as it is unseen---heck, nobody can read the writing anyway! Buy it---you won't regret it.

This is just a good old Fender Jazz bass, no matter who signed the headstock...Volume/Volume/Master-tone knobs, standard Jazz bass set up..nothing more or less. This model does feature the old mid-to-late 70's Larry Graham style block inlays. I rate this guitar a 9 as I think the Fender Jazz bass is the best bass guitar ever created, & this is a very good Fender Jazz bass.

Sounds like a Jazz...'nufff said...

Bought it used, but the layed perfectly...

A+

Never dealt with Fender & hope never to from what I've heard...

I play pro guitar & bass for a living & this bass is one of the few times I've done well in a pawn shop purchase...( They didn't know what they had )I've played ffor over twenty years as a pro, guitar & bass, & feel I have at last found my "No. 1" bass. Very solid, very true intonation & good electronics...

Geddly Lee features have all been covered in prior reviews.

This is where it excels. Mine had almost no single coil hum when soloing either pick up. The tone is old school Fenderish, very hip, especially for slap (some one else elaborated on the slap tone and he was 100% correct). If you use the Fender nickels (super bass) it produces BIG/PHAT tones and lots of the Fender treblish slap accents. Too cool, way cool. Can you tell I love this bass? I am using a Aguilar DB 924 with it...Talk about clean boost and punch! I could go on but then I'd never get through the review.

Japanese quality...Its a Fender so the neck is unsurpassed in comfort, enough said? One more thing: Get a black MOTO pick guard...someone else in this string recommended it and he was right...this bass is awesome with a black MOTO pickguard.

Its a Japanese made Fender, I dont expect any problems

Who knows? I've never contacted them.

25 Years experience, I checked this bass out before I bought it and knew what it was capable of (I just wanted to get the hook up on a deal)I would buy it again 'fo sho' cause it captures the old school jazz tones (and it has the old school slap tones I hear in my head). The only other passive Fender that I might have considered in its place is the 75 reissue (similiar tones, more punch due to the ash body and bridge P/U position). One last thing to share: If you love Fender tones this bass delivers (IMHO better than some of the new Amercian Standards).

2001 Fender Geddy Lee MIJ Jazz Bass. I won't go into a description as it has been already covered in the other reviews. Except If the tuners were better ( I find them a little loose) I give it a 10 for features.

I own quite a few Fender P Basses. I always wanted a nice jazz but never found one that really grabbed me until I played this one. When I first started playing I owned an original 74/75 jazz with maple neck, black inlays and natural ash body, but it was super heavy, had a chunky neck (the bad type)and really didn't have that much character. The GD Jazz is one smokin' bass, great growl , great for funk, more versatile than a P Bass. It has the U.S sixties pickups which I find very smooth from string to string. I also adjusted them dowm a bit as I find them loud and full. I play it thru an Eden/Mesa Boogie system.

Made in Japan is a very good thing when it comes to this bass. The neck on my bass has a beautiful flame maple. The fretwork is excellent. As stated above the U.S pickups are great. The body is medium weight alder with an excellent black finish. Action from the store/factory is excellent. Strings stay in place with the Badass bridge. The only fault I find is the tuners are medium quality.

Fenders can take the use/abuse.

Never dealt with Fender.

This the best value in a maple neck jazz bass period. Actually I'm quite surprised Fender actually presently builds a bass of this quality for the price. I find most of their Mexican and U.S jazz basses don't match up in value. Most real players want the old Fenders (and I have a few) but this bass captures that Fender magic.

I just bought it new at muscians friend, i got a 15 % discount for a bad experience i had there so i got the bass at a great price.The bass is very nice,they sure make them good in japan, at least as good in the US!The finish,the neck,it is a very nice instrument . To be honest , i like this bass better than my American made Fender Jazz

Sounds very nice through my Carvin Pro Bass Amp

Finish is stunning,just beautiful,excellent craftsmanship

This thing is solid,and i dont need a backup for sure

Have not had to deal with Fender

I really like this bass and i have owned other Fenders, this one is sweet and very very attractive

This is a Japanese manufactured "Special Edition" (although these editions have been manufactured since early 2000) of the Geddy Lee Jazz Bass purchased by myself in late August of 2002. The body is made of alder and comes in the gloss Black with White pickguard/chrome electronics cover that "Rush" Bassist/singer/songwriter Geddy lee has been using as his exclusive Bass. The neck is slimmer than your typical J or P Bass and I'm told has been "Shaved" and modeled after Geddy's own Bass and specifications. The fingerboard inlays are not lacquered paint but actual inlays (material unknown). The pickups are American made Fender single coil "J" style. Electronics are passive. Machine heads are high quality items. Volume and Tone pots seem to be standard fare. The "Badass II" bridge is a welcome addition in lieu of the Fender bridge for intonation and height adjustments. Overall craftsmanship is excellent.

I have been playing Bass both for personal enjoyment and professionally and since 1973 (I'm showing my age here)and I own several Fender Basses as well as other Basses to include a 69 P- Bass, 99 "Hot Rodded" P- Bass, and a Tobias Toby 4. I have to admit, I was skeptical of purchasing what I thought would be just a signature "Knock off" copy of a performer's instrument but was I surprised! This Bass sounds GREAT! The tone generated by this instrument is surprisingly rich and deep. Running straight into my amp without any effects I was able to generate deep tones without a lot of treble or "Twang". However, I was able to get a varied amount of that Geddy "Thunk" out of it by running the instrument through my Line 6 Bass POD. The Bass came strung with Fender 105's and seem okay (I swapped them for medium "Blue Steel" Dean Markley's...seem to get better treble and sustain from them) but do yourself a favor and try a different set of your favorite strings. I have had no problem with noise from the pickups, even when just playing either the bridge or neck pickup exclusively.

The set-up as received was good but the action was a little too high for my tastes. The neck as received was metal-ruler straight but I had my local luthier give it a "Tune up" to adjust the bridge and set the action to my liking. A few slight bridge adjustments and this baby was ripping! The neck pickup as set from the factory needed a slight adjustment. Finish and craftmanship was excellent!

I have only owned this instrument a short while and have only played out with it once. I had only been using my "Hot Rodded" P- Bass as my main instrument, alternating with the Toby...until now! I'm playing mostly classic Rock now with the occasional Fusion session thrown in. The Geddy Lee J-Bass really fits the bill. I do not know how the instrument will do over the long haul but I'd put this model up against any Fender, Yamaha, Ibanez, Guild, and Rickenbacher product for the touring/working Bassist! It's totally dependable, built like a tank, and will take a knocking and still keep rocking!

This Bass is a keeper! If I had it ripped off, I'd purchase another! The only thing I may purchase during the long haul is some good quality metal volume and tone knobs (the plastic ones look like thy're the only weak links in the entire system). The price paid for a new one off the shelf is well worth it for a hybrid (Japanses/American) "Special Edition" Fender that lives up to Geddy's reputation!

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.