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Post subject: Squier sound BEATS Geddy Lee Jazz bass
Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 11:04 pm
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Greetings fellow "Bottom End-ers"!

I'm a newbie to the forum but not to playing. Proud to be a new member here.

Been a player for 30 years, Engineered in studios for 20 and many other gigs in between.
I consider my 'ears' pretty well seasoned also. I am just a little dissapointed with my latest purchase.

Bought a brand new Geddy Lee signature series Jazz bass. Blown away with the feel of the neck as well as the body and quality of the build. It has a nice bright, growly tone as expected from the namesake but where it lacks is in the low end/punch.
The low end side of its tone is just not quite there,if you know what I mean.

Now at first this was not very noticable.

I had picked up a Squier affinity series Jazz bass for $100.00 at Guitar Center for a back up. (My Geddy is black/white pickguard...Squier is black/white pickguard also)

Well I decided to plug the old Squier in and WOW! What tone! It has a perfect blend of deep powerful (and I mean POWERFUL) low end bass and classic Jazz bass growl. It has a certain EQ curve to it that is really amazing. Just about every note on her is strong and sustaining. It could cut through any mix. I have never owned a bass that sounded this good.

To hold the Squier Affinity, it just does not have the feel of a "real" Fender (Mexican,Japanese or American). The neck also leaves a lot to be desired. Just feels a bit 'cheap' if you know what I mean.

Honestly, it just is not fun to play from a 'feel' point of view. And I know for $100.00 maybe it shouldn't but that sound...WOW. And of course it was used and i don't know anything about the pickups ETC. Looks like all stock to me. I also put the same strings on both instruments just in case!

Any suggestions on why or what I could do to make the "Geddy" sound like her? (pathetic huh?)

I also own an all 'maple' Vintage Modified Squier Jazz,Squier VM fretless Jazz, Fender Standard Jazz. And none sound like the Affinity Squier Jazz. Amplification is Hartke Systems.

Thanks for the input


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Post subject: Re: Squier sound BEATS Geddy Lee Jazz bass
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:35 pm
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If the Geddy is less than a year old, return it to the dealer and complain that the pickups or electronics are not allowing the proper frequency response, wheras your other bass into the same amplifier does. A shorted tone cap or an out of tollerance pickup winding can do what you are mentioning. If it is OUT of warranty, inspect things carefully yourself for anything that doesn't look right - like pinched wires or broken solder joints on the pots.

If that's all OK, you may wish to go with after market pickups that have more frequency response such as those from DiMarzio...

CLICK >>> http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/bass


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Post subject: Re: Squier sound BEATS Geddy Lee Jazz bass
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 3:28 pm
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I just read and posted about how the Geddy is lacking in low end and sustain. Sorry -- like I said I had 2 GL basses and both of them had the same deal going on. I want the Geddy to be the one because it has such a nice neck but now I'm reading on here that I'm not nuts. The Geddy just doesn't cut it for me. I think there are more who like than dislike the GL. But when I hear about how a oerson thinks it lacks low end and sustain.... well that's not killer tone for a bass.,,, and that's what I think also-- but then-- who cares? I know I'm not alone though. I would recommend a Classic or a Roadworn MIM before I'd tell someone to get a Jeddy Lee. Actually a USA Fender is your best bet in allmost all cases IMO and that's all I know.

So now I hear about how a Squire puts a Geddy to shame. What's that doin' to ya'? :D


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Post subject: Re: Squier sound BEATS Geddy Lee Jazz bass
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 3:45 pm
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Posting on The Fender Forums is no indicaton of ones mental health or their degree of insanity.


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Post subject: Re: Squier sound BEATS Geddy Lee Jazz bass
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 3:46 pm
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At least that's what the voices keep telling me. :D


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Post subject: Re: Squier sound BEATS Geddy Lee Jazz bass
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 7:06 pm
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oxfan wrote:
Posting on The Fender Forums is no indicaton of ones mental health or their degree of insanity.


+1 Ya Got A Point There, oxfan, Ya Got A Point :idea:

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Post subject: Re: Squier sound BEATS Geddy Lee Jazz bass
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 8:24 pm
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PaducahLuke wrote:
If the Geddy is less than a year old, return it to the dealer and complain that the pickups or electronics are not allowing the proper frequency response, wheras your other bass into the same amplifier does. A shorted tone cap or an out of tollerance pickup winding can do what you are mentioning. If it is OUT of warranty, inspect things carefully yourself for anything that doesn't look right - like pinched wires or broken solder joints on the pots.

If that's all OK, you may wish to go with after market pickups that have more frequency response such as those from DiMarzio...

CLICK >>> http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/bass

The Geddy is only months old. Reading your response has tilted me in the direction of bringing back to dealer, thank you. Although... I have considered new pickups. (actually have considered the Squiers' if they'd fit!) I am going to give these options serious consideration these next couple of days. Thanks for your response.


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Post subject: Re: Squier sound BEATS Geddy Lee Jazz bass
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:11 pm
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stroker vance wrote:
I just read and posted about how the Geddy is lacking in low end and sustain. Sorry -- like I said I had 2 GL basses and both of them had the same deal going on. I want the Geddy to be the one because it has such a nice neck but now I'm reading on here that I'm not nuts. The Geddy just doesn't cut it for me. I think there are more who like than dislike the GL. But when I hear about how a oerson thinks it lacks low end and sustain.... well that's not killer tone for a bass.,,, and that's what I think also-- but then-- who cares? I know I'm not alone though. I would recommend a Classic or a Roadworn MIM before I'd tell someone to get a Jeddy Lee. Actually a USA Fender is your best bet in allmost all cases IMO and that's all I know.

So now I hear about how a Squire puts a Geddy to shame. What's that doin' to ya'? :D

I soooooo want that Geddy to be the one also. I would hate to part with it but if I do not find a resolution, it is gone.

I am considering Paducahluke's advise also.

I am wondering about that Badass bridge as well as the pickup's influence on the overall sound of this beast. I would not worry about small holes left exposed on the body if it would help the sound. Consider it a war wound! Sound first, looks later!

I actually played both for a guitarist friend in a blind 'test' and he said "what a difference there is between Squier and a 'real' Fender". Yes he picked the Squier!

If I cannot get the sound I want I will consider the USA Fender.

No you are not crazy. Thanks for your advice and good luck.


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Post subject: Re: Squier sound BEATS Geddy Lee Jazz bass
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 4:23 pm
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JO - you might want to hold off on the BA-II bridge swap. I have feedback from colleagues in the past year or so that have said that the finish on the newest ones isn't up to the old standards and the sustain isn't much better than standard Fender hardware. If you DO wish to go that route, find a bass that has that bridge installled already and test it before you lay out the cash. If your local shop has the Mike Dirnt Artist Series P-Bass, it has the BA-II bridge as standard equipment and might be a good indicator for you.

Good luck with the projects.

P-L


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Post subject: Re: Squier sound BEATS Geddy Lee Jazz bass
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 7:37 pm
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I put a vintage type Fender regular ole bridge on one of my Geddies and I thought it made it sound better. I maybe should have put a set of Dimarzios in the geddy but I didn't. A regular Fender bridge fits right on the body and no other holes needed BTW.


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Post subject: Re: Squier sound BEATS Geddy Lee Jazz bass
Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 11:35 am
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stroker vance wrote:
I put a vintage type Fender regular ole bridge on one of my Geddies and I thought it made it sound better. I maybe should have put a set of Dimarzios in the geddy but I didn't. A regular Fender bridge fits right on the body and no other holes needed BTW.


Wow the fact that the regular Fender bridge fits right on is a huge plus and good info.Thanks.
And ya know, I swore I read on a forum somewhere (maybe here) that someone removed the Badass and the bottom end punch came right back.

I am not satisfied with EQ-ing to get the correct bottom because 1) It does not sound as good as say my Squier's natural sound and 2) I shouldn't HAVE TO! Ha-Ha!

The Geddy's sound is not terrible. The high-end 'trebly' sound of this beast is actually quite impressive. I think it was designed to try and mimic Geddy's high-end bite. But I think they did not put enough into the low-end side.

Ah..all guesswork here anyway. I am not a guitar/bass designer by any means. I am not even a particularly good 'mod-er'! (Although I am semi-working on a fretless Jazz right now). I just mostly like to play.

I sometimes wish I never heard the Squier on my Hartke setup!

BTW does anyone know what type of pickups are in the Geddy Lee Jazz?

Thanks fellas..


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Post subject: Re: Squier sound BEATS Geddy Lee Jazz bass
Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 2:04 pm
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Few of the Japanese passive basses sound particularly great to me with the stock electronics even when compared to a comparable Mexican Standard version. Wasn't it James Carvelle who said, "It's the electronics stupid?"

Another example of this syndrome is the very limited Duck Dunn P-Bass. I've only ever seen two in person and both were equally blah sounding. I love the looks of them and my pupils dilated, but the sound is like, "WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED?" The Dunn is very collectible and way too scarce to mod in any respect so you are pretty much stuck with it being what it is, however the Geddy would definitely benefit from electronics upgrades. There are so many Geddy units that they probably won't be collectible in the lifetime of your children, or theirs.


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Post subject: Re: Squier sound BEATS Geddy Lee Jazz bass
Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 3:09 pm
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jazzbassjo wrote:
BTW does anyone know what type of pickups are in the Geddy Lee Jazz?

Thanks fellas..

Fender USA Vintage Jazz Bass, AKA "Original Jazz Bass" replacement pickups are a direct match for the Japanese Geddy Lee model. The Mexican pickups are different, probably the same ones that come in the Mexican Standards... At least the pole pieces look the same. They may be wound differently, but I doubt it. I bought a set from Ebay that were parted out of a new Geddy Lee, and they were visually identical to the mexican pickups in the MIM FSR Antigua Jazz Bass they were intended for... so they went back. I never installed them, so I can't say what they sounded like, but they were quite obviously built differently than the USA models used in the earlier Japanese made Geddy Lees.


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Post subject: Re: Squier sound BEATS Geddy Lee Jazz bass
Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 11:30 am
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Thanks guys for the 'food for thought'. I am sure doing a lot of thinking since I posted this.
In comparing pickups of my current basses (beside the 2 basses in this subject I own a Fender MIM fretless Standard,Squier VM fretless and Squier VM all maple w/ Duncan desined PUPs), I have found on close inspection of the Geddy, that the 'neck' pickup's pole pieces don't protrude up past the plastic housing of the pup. It almost looks like the pole piece's are printed on the plastic pickup cover. The bridge PUP has the pole pieces protruding through like I have seen on a lot of Jazz bass PUPs.

Not exactly sure of its birth date but the Geddy was purchased new a couple of months ago. Maybe Fender has changed something on the newer models. Hmm.

I will try to post pics tonight.

Not sure what kind of PUP it is as I have not torn the bass apart yet. Anyone ever notice the neck PUP on a Geddy?

As for the electronics, yes I think they have much to do with the sound of this bass. I am adding this to my list of what to replace.

I own probably too many basses for my budget but I did save up for the Geddy painfully! It is really such a dissapointment that I should be wondering if I should change pots,pickups or bridges. I, also, hate to think I have to spend $2,000 or more for a decent sound. I never read any negative posts on the Geddy until I noticed something missing in its sound. Maybe I am being too picky ya know?Thanks again guys for the priceless answers.

-Jo


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Post subject: Re: Squier sound BEATS Geddy Lee Jazz bass
Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 12:15 pm
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Honestly - I dumped the time and money into Geddies and other basses that started out sounding not so sweet as my others. All that stuff never really did much for the basses I was trying to make better. You can always just take the Geddy and when you plug it in your amp just turn all the knobs on ten and play it like that. That may help. I'm not trying to bum you out or do a misery loves company thing but-- yes the idea is no.

I think alot of the sour tone has to do with the body wood and finish and the neck wood and grain. Resonance and the wood yielding the resonance thru the body and neck is where I'm thinking. Call me nutz but that's all I know right now.

Brother Dave turned me on to the pitch fork ( A 440). This takes experimenting and a close ear towards understanding how the ringing goes thru the wood so you can tell if "yes" this is resonate or "no" it's not.


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