I have an original CIJ 1998 Geddy Lee. I put Pure Vintage 74 pickups in it with a custom wiring harness (CTS pots, linear taper for volumes and audio taper for tone), and .022uf capacitor. Also switched out the tuners for the Fender 70s reissue that are on the US model. Sounds remarkable. Great bass!
I had a MIJ for years as my main and the neck was like Ibanez Wizard thin... well maybe not that thin but definitely very thin for a Jazz bass. However it was too thin and needed adjustment every time the weather changed. I loved it but I'm really particular about my action and relief so I eventually sold it... and I have missed it every since. Been playing an SR2600 for a while now and have an 82 P Bass in Candy Apple Green (NAMN special it was never made for production, owned by my best friend who passed away) but missing a Jazz bass. After watching I plan to order one of these today or Monday! Thank you for the video and demo!
I had a CIJ Geddy back in 1999, or maybe it was 2000. It was well built, but I could not get comfortable with the shaved-down thin neck. The stock pickups also sounded really polite. No growl or grind whatsoever. So I sold it. . I have a 2016 USA Geddy on the way to me now. The rounder back on the neck is exactly what I want on a Jazz Bass. From what other owners have told me, it's more like the back of the neck shape from my Player Precision, but much narrower from nut to 12th fret. . Excited to get my hands on it!
I love this bass. Thank you for the video. I'm a little disappointed there is no 70's Jazz Bass in the American Vintage II or upcoming Vintera II line and that worries me because this bass isn't cheap in Canada hehe cheers 🍺
The thing so they have so many 70s inspired instruments In the vintera II, Strat, Tele, Tele deluxe, Jaguar, and even the Mustang and Tele bass, but no 70’s. They still have the Geddy Lee MIM Jazz but if you don’t want a maple board or a high mass bridge you have no other option for a non American 70s style fender
@@itzjustboris7395 yes, it's a vintage accent. all three versions of the Geddy Lee Signature Jazz Bass are adjusted at the bottom despite the plug at the top. There is also a Limited Edition USA model in Trans Crimson (100 made) Fender released in 2015 which is the sickest Finish of them all.
It’s not the same, I have both and the American original is smoother sounding and chunkier overall neck and body, I prefer the geddy lee pickups bit I like the american original built and feel and look better, I put antiquity ii pickups and badass bridge and now is way better than the geddy lee, however they just sound very different, the swamp ash is very soft on the original compared to the geddy lee alder which is snappier brighter, the ash have more lows and more depth but not as cutting as the geddy, but definitely do not worth inflated prices
Great video, Sono. I have one of these as well and love it. I bought a set of Tom Brantley rewinds with the intent of dropping them in my USA Geddy, but I decided I liked the stock ones well enough. I put the TB's in a parts build J instead. But it's a 60s spacing sunburst J with lacquer finish. Not sure how much difference all that makes though. You should do a comparison video with this bass stock vs TB rewinds! 😁
I had one and felt it did not the get Funk tone I associate with a Jazz Bass, but it was outstanding as a Rock bass. This is a great review you have posted.
Rotos do sound amazing on a jazz bass, I wouldn't put them on a bass for everyday use though, they wear away frets faster than other brands...I'm sure Geddy don't worry about it as he can readily afford the repair bills
The Rotosound definitely sound amazing for like maybe 2 hours of play for me before they start to dull out. Perhaps this situation might be different. We shall see coming soon!
That's my opinion about Rotos too. I used them for decades and love the sound better than any other string, but the sound I love about them doesn't last very long and they eat frets like no other. I switched to Hi-Beams@@sonojon0
Last year I got Fender J Bass 2022 Limited Edition but Mexican it has noise cancelation on the pick ups real quit like NS system pickups. I have to get my Fender P Bass 73 original to sound as Quite.
You haven't reviewed the bass with the Tom Brantley's in it! Was there any difference? Fender described the stock pickups as "Custom Voiced American Vintage '70s Geddy Lee", and folks on TalkBass are saying they are actually made for Fender by Tom Brantley.
After testing the Tom Brantleys. They were honestly no different from the stock pickups from Fender. Makes sense if they were made from Tom Brantley though!
Had one but sold it as the older version didn’t hold up to my American Deluxe J basses. I would consider this one ☝️ I would drop in a set of Geddy’s Jazz pickups from Tom Brantley in to go all out ❤ I have them installed on another J style and they sizzle 😎
Very good video I was looking at this bass very closely but the allegedly thicker neck kind of scared me off and pushed me towards the ultra line very pleased with it. Also not gonna lie I needed the black block inlays cause I am blind as a bat lol.
The American version cost $2250 for this passive bass. In my opinion, that price is simply not reasonable. Every Geddy Lee bass I ever tried in the stores was guaranteed to need a badly needed set-up, of course. Not to mention that they didn't even sound that great to me. I'd rather stick to my Harley Bentons. Hell, you can practically buy 15 brand new Harley Benton JB-75 jazz bass models whose quality is better than the Fenders, in my opinion. A good bass shouldn't cost over four figures. You only want the bass, not a shareholder interest in the company where they were made.
I have a CIJ Geddy Lee Jazz 2007 and it’s done everything I’ve asked it to do! Best Jazz I ever ever played
I have an original CIJ 1998 Geddy Lee. I put Pure Vintage 74 pickups in it with a custom wiring harness (CTS pots, linear taper for volumes and audio taper for tone), and .022uf capacitor. Also switched out the tuners for the Fender 70s reissue that are on the US model. Sounds remarkable. Great bass!
I had a MIJ for years as my main and the neck was like Ibanez Wizard thin... well maybe not that thin but definitely very thin for a Jazz bass. However it was too thin and needed adjustment every time the weather changed. I loved it but I'm really particular about my action and relief so I eventually sold it... and I have missed it every since. Been playing an SR2600 for a while now and have an 82 P Bass in Candy Apple Green (NAMN special it was never made for production, owned by my best friend who passed away) but missing a Jazz bass. After watching I plan to order one of these today or Monday! Thank you for the video and demo!
Did you get the bass ? Thoughts!!!!
Thats the Sound Bro, 70s style Jazz bass with the heavy bridge sustain for days.
My kinda style!
I had a CIJ Geddy back in 1999, or maybe it was 2000.
It was well built, but I could not get comfortable with the shaved-down thin neck.
The stock pickups also sounded really polite. No growl or grind whatsoever.
So I sold it.
.
I have a 2016 USA Geddy on the way to me now. The rounder back on the neck is exactly what I want on a Jazz Bass.
From what other owners have told me, it's more like the back of the neck shape from my Player Precision, but much narrower from nut to 12th fret.
.
Excited to get my hands on it!
I love this bass. Thank you for the video. I'm a little disappointed there is no 70's Jazz Bass in the American Vintage II or upcoming Vintera II line and that worries me because this bass isn't cheap in Canada hehe cheers 🍺
Same! Hope that changes soon!
The thing so they have so many 70s inspired instruments In the vintera II, Strat, Tele, Tele deluxe, Jaguar, and even the Mustang and Tele bass, but no 70’s. They still have the Geddy Lee MIM Jazz but if you don’t want a maple board or a high mass bridge you have no other option for a non American 70s style fender
@@cash_lovell the Fake walnut plug on the Geddy Lee drives me crazy lol
@@christopherfidler3019maybe it's meant to be a replica of one of his and he modified his version? Otherwise that is pretty weird and pointless
@@itzjustboris7395 yes, it's a vintage accent. all three versions of the Geddy Lee Signature Jazz Bass are adjusted at the bottom despite the plug at the top. There is also a Limited Edition USA model in Trans Crimson (100 made) Fender released in 2015 which is the sickest Finish of them all.
Great bass. The American Original 70s Jazz Bass is lesser known but basically the same. Both are Jazz Bass perfection.
It’s not the same, I have both and the American original is smoother sounding and chunkier overall neck and body, I prefer the geddy lee pickups bit I like the american original built and feel and look better, I put antiquity ii pickups and badass bridge and now is way better than the geddy lee, however they just sound very different, the swamp ash is very soft on the original compared to the geddy lee alder which is snappier brighter, the ash have more lows and more depth but not as cutting as the geddy, but definitely do not worth inflated prices
At 2:45 was that a song titled Dear John Letter by Aggression?
Yea that’s it!!! 😃
Great video, Sono. I have one of these as well and love it. I bought a set of Tom Brantley rewinds with the intent of dropping them in my USA Geddy, but I decided I liked the stock ones well enough. I put the TB's in a parts build J instead. But it's a 60s spacing sunburst J with lacquer finish. Not sure how much difference all that makes though. You should do a comparison video with this bass stock vs TB rewinds! 😁
I’ve played the same bass and didn’t like the way it felt but I love my 60’s vintera jazz bass
Can’t go wrong with the 60s Vintera Jazzes. They play very nicely and feel so smooth for a MIM Fender 🤙🏾
I’ve Got an old Japanese Geddy Lee. Best Jazz I’ve ever played. And the neck is amazing
I had one and felt it did not the get Funk tone I associate with a Jazz Bass, but it was outstanding as a Rock bass. This is a great review you have posted.
After playing the Geddy, I agree. A fantastic rock bass for sure!
Rotos do sound amazing on a jazz bass, I wouldn't put them on a bass for everyday use though, they wear away frets faster than other brands...I'm sure Geddy don't worry about it as he can readily afford the repair bills
The Rotosound definitely sound amazing for like maybe 2 hours of play for me before they start to dull out. Perhaps this situation might be different. We shall see coming soon!
@@sonojon0 You can always try boiling them to restore some of that snappy brightness
That's my opinion about Rotos too. I used them for decades and love the sound better than any other string, but the sound I love about them doesn't last very long and they eat frets like no other. I switched to Hi-Beams@@sonojon0
this is an american original 70' with fender badass bridge
great video, great bass...w/ 1 caveat; no truss rod access, big mistake IMO leaving out the bullet truss rod.
Truss rod access under the pickguard!
Last year I got Fender J Bass 2022 Limited Edition but Mexican it has noise cancelation on the pick ups real quit like NS system pickups. I have to get my Fender P Bass 73 original to sound as Quite.
You haven't reviewed the bass with the Tom Brantley's in it! Was there any difference?
Fender described the stock pickups as "Custom Voiced American Vintage '70s Geddy Lee", and folks on TalkBass are saying they are actually made for Fender by Tom Brantley.
After testing the Tom Brantleys. They were honestly no different from the stock pickups from Fender. Makes sense if they were made from Tom Brantley though!
@@sonojon0That's great to know, since I have a 2016 USA Geddy on the way to me now!
Hey, great playing!
Had one but sold it as the older version didn’t hold up to my American Deluxe J basses. I would consider this one ☝️ I would drop in a set of Geddy’s Jazz pickups from Tom Brantley in to go all out ❤ I have them installed on another J style and they sizzle 😎
I’m hoping some time in 2024 I’ll do a follow up with the Tom Brantley pickups installed in the Geddy Lee 😅
I see what you did back there adding all Rush Vinyl 🤘 I have no experience with them but always heard the Japanese ones are the better pick,
I had one. I found that notes along the g string really didn't ring out for me. Traded for a Orange AD200.
Very good video I was looking at this bass very closely but the allegedly thicker neck kind of scared me off and pushed me towards the ultra line very pleased with it. Also not gonna lie I needed the black block inlays cause I am blind as a bat lol.
LMAO yeah ngl the Pearl block inlays are a bit hard to see on a dark stage and I’m already blind as it is 😩
This one bites
It’s a mean sounding bass!
@@sonojon0It better, it has big shoes to fill compared to a Ric
The American version cost $2250 for this passive bass. In my opinion, that price is simply not reasonable. Every Geddy Lee bass I ever tried in the stores was guaranteed to need a badly needed set-up, of course. Not to mention that they didn't even sound that great to me. I'd rather stick to my Harley Bentons. Hell, you can practically buy 15 brand new Harley Benton JB-75 jazz bass models whose quality is better than the Fenders, in my opinion. A good bass shouldn't cost over four figures. You only want the bass, not a shareholder interest in the company where they were made.
Yeah don’t buy it brand new, buy USED. Avoid Fender Flation!
You’re rushing in that intro. Pun intended.
Glad you caught the joke! 😅
Those don’t look like Rotosounds to me! 🤭
@@dwaynecarroll6098 🤫🤣
Bad Ass!😊
It really is a bad ass MF bass! 😅
Sounds awful. Sold mine two years ago. Too springy.