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Post subject: MIM Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 1:28 pm
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So I just received my MIM Geddy Lee Jazz Bass and all I can say so far, is that I have never been more disappointed.
I chose the 3 Tone Sunburst finish and I wish I hadn't. I have seen better finishes on MANY Squier basses. There only appears to be one real color and it is brown.
The neck on my bass is nice to look at from a distance, but when you get unclose, you can see just how awful the fret ends were dressed. Running my hand along the neck leaves small scrapes in my flesh.

Beside being poorly finished, the bass had small chips of some silicone like material ALL OVER the body when I unpacked it. I thought it may have bee the silica pack was leaking, but I found no leaks and I have no idea what this material is. I can tell you that is is difficult to remove because it has clung to the extra glossy surface of the body.

The bass as is, is totally unplayable. I have never seen poorer action on any instrument from any manufacturer. It will take a few days to get the truss rod adjusted (allowing the neck time to settle in between adjustments). At the end of that time I will reevaluate and see if this thing is worth keeping.

Both my MIM Standard Precision and my Indonesian Squier Jazz Bass'77 arrived with a far better setup than this "Premium" line instrument.

I have decided to put it back in its gig bag for the rest of the day as I can't bare to look at it. I feel ashamed and foolish for having been so excited to receive it. Hopefully my opinion and review will change once I get a proper setup, but I feel like I have been slapped in the face by a fat man's rear end for now.


Has onyone else experienced similar issues from a MIM product? This is the first one I have seen that is quite lacking from the factory. I have been impressed by almost all other MIM instruments i have had the pleasure of seeing and playing.

As my time with this bass increases, I will update this thread, that is if I decide to keep it. It could very well be going back in a week.


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Post subject: Re: MIM Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 10:05 pm
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I have a Japan made Geddy. It has to be one of the nicest finished and built basses I have had. EXCEPT for one thing. VERY sharp fret ends. I debated bringing it back.
I tell you it would make you bleed. That sharp, yes. And many of them. Really bad quality control. For such a beautifully put together instrument it was wierd. And inexcusable, really, come on Fender.

I have a nice file set and just did the work myself.

Sorry to hear about your QC issue.


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Post subject: Re: MIM Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 11:37 pm
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I also have files and tools for doing sit-ups, so that won't be a problem for me, I was just so disappoint in the actual product I received, compared to my 2011 MIM standard precision.

I can tell you that the GED has some serious top end sizzle when compared to my Squier '77
And I am really digging the pickups too. I have been thinking of replacing the Duncan Designed pups in the squier, but I am unsure what to replace them with.
The CS pups in the GED sound like a tasty option


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Post subject: Re: MIM Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 10:49 am
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Yeah, I guess the point is when you buya somewhat pricey product you just don't expect that kind of workmanship. A set-up?...pickup height adjust?..yes. Filing down sharp frets? Not really acceptable.

You may know this...if changing out the pups in a Squier, make sure the replacements fit. I think the Duncan Designs are identical in size to each other. Usually on non-Squier Fenders the bridge pickup is longer than the neck pup.
I am not terribly versed in pickup size but I do own a Squier with Duncans and they did not compare size wise to my other Jazz basses.

-JBJO


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Post subject: Re: MIM Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 1:09 pm
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The product page does not longer mention the country of manufacture.

GL Jazz Basses are Japanese since their introduction in 1998 (except for his own alchemical basses which are made in the USA).

Never saw a GL Jazz having a Mexican serial number.


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Post subject: Re: MIM Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 3:51 pm
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chromeface wrote:
The product page does not longer mention the country of manufacture.

GL Jazz Basses are Japanese since their introduction in 1998 (except for his own alchemical basses which are made in the USA).

Never saw a GL Jazz having a Mexican serial number.

The Geddy Lee switched to Mexico a while ago - go to Sweetwater and you can see it printed on the back of the neck by the body.

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Post subject: Re: MIM Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 3:52 pm
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Japanese-made Geddy Lee basses carried the Fender model number of 025-7702. Current Geddy Lee's are manufactured at Ensenada and are assigned the Fender model number 0147702300.

All Mexican Fender's whether guitar or bass use the "013" or "014" prefix.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: MIM Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 9:30 pm
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DGFreeman wrote:
Has onyone else experienced similar issues from a MIM product? This is the first one I have seen that is quite lacking from the factory. I have been impressed by almost all other MIM instruments i have had the pleasure of seeing and playing.


Back in September I ordered a MIM 3 tone Sunburst Reggie Hamilton Jazz bass that took only 2 weeks to arrive at my local music store..... I have to say that right out of the box it was set up nice & they did a nice job on the sunburst finish .....I remember the sales rep commenting that he thought the finish on my bass was nicer than the finish on the now made in Mexico Geddy Lee sunburst jazz basses......... we placed them next to each other & the difference was noticeable ......but that being said.. while the sales rep was getting my bass I played the MIM Geddy bass to see how it compared to my CIJ Geddy Lee bass(Black finish) & it played pretty good, though all basses at my local music store get the once over & are playable.
However I wasn't impressed with changes Fender has made to the now MIM Marcus Miller Jazz Bass IMO I preffer my MIJ Marcus Miller Jazz bass.
Fender moved production of the Geddy & Marcus jazz basses to Mexico last year (around June 2012)


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Post subject: Re: MIM Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 10:30 pm
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hieronymous wrote:
The Geddy Lee switched to Mexico a while ago - go to Sweetwater and you can see it printed on the back of the neck by the body.


YEP, TRUE :P

Image


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Post subject: Re: MIM Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 2:41 pm
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James Coderre wrote:
Fender moved production of the Geddy & Marcus jazz basses to Mexico last year (around June 2012)

Also the '70s P with maple fretboard/black blocks from the Classic Series.

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Post subject: Re: MIM Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 6:23 pm
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hieronymous wrote:
Also the '70s P with maple fretboard/black blocks from the Classic Series.


Yes I know,....... seems like all of Fenders basses with the exception of the Steve Harris P-Bass & the Deluxe Jaguar bass have been moved from Japan to Mexico......makes sense dollar wise at the end of the day.


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Post subject: Re: MIM Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 9:57 pm
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And the Sting Bass?


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Post subject: Re: MIM Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 9:06 am
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I forgot about the Sting Bass...... Nice bass by the way!!...... I recently got to check one out.....at the moment it's still Made in Japan....


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Post subject: Re: MIM Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 10:31 pm
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I can say after spending more time with the Ged,that it is really a nice instrument. The neck adjustment took a while, as I though it would as I don't like to rush a large neck adjustment. I typically make a small adjustment to the truss rod, then give it a day or so to acclimate, then recheck and re adjust.
The frets are now dressed and feel fine. The tuners are ok, but again not anything special.They seem to hold their tuning pretty well, but are quite tight tension wise

I wish they were still using the Custom Shop PUPs though. The vintage PUPs in the Ged aren't bad, but they are not anything special either. They definitely have a some shiny top end on them, but sound somewhat sterile to my ear. I am contemplating some Nordstrand's, but Im in no rush for a pickup swap really. the Vintage PUPs get the job done. I can say the Duncan Designed PUPs in my Squier VM '77 have a bit more low end grunt compared to the GED's vintage pups, but are not nearly as "sizzly". The Duncan Designed are also a lot quieter.

The Badass II bridge is simple enough to setup and seems to stay put, unlike the vintage type bridges I have dealt with in the past. I have Babicz Full Contact Bridges on my Squier and MIM Precision and love em, though they are not for everyone. Their look is far from traditional.

I can confidently say the the MIM Geddy Lee will be in my arsenal for some time. I have no intention of returning it now that I finally have the neck finished, though I feel that more work should have been done at the factory to get it ready for a consumer.

I am curious to see how more of the "Signature" MIM instruments will be comparing to a Japanese made brother.


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Post subject: Re: MIM Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 10:37 pm
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SKcoppertele wrote:
where did you buy it from? can you show pics?


I got it from ZZounds.com as they quoted me a price far less than anyone else could match. Perhaps there is a reason why... :shock:


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