After my recent search for a Fender Precision, I settled on a Fender Aerodyne jazz bass. I've had it for a few months now, thought I'd post my thoughts on what I believe to be a very good bass:

The Aerodyne jazz bass is a 2003 model, and is one of a long line of P-J configuration models which have been produced by Fender as well as other companies. What sets this one apart though, is the way it looks and sounds.

To begin with, it's only available in one colour, black. And that's not just black body, it's black headstock, fingerboard, pickup covers and black-chrome hardware. That plus no pickguard and cream body-binding makes for a very VERY handsome instrument. One of my fellow musicians at church said, "That has GOT to be the best looking bass I have ever seen!" You can have a look on the Fender website, but its specs are:

- Fender Jazz bass neck and body with 'C' shaped neck and 39" radius carved top. - Basswood body, 34" scale maple neck with 'skunk stripe' down the back where the trussrod is mounted. - Rosewood fingerboard that has been dyed black. No position markers on the fingerboard, but there are side neck markers in the usual places. - 20 medium jumbo frets. - Standard bridge, top load only. - One split coil and one single coil pickup - the split coil pickup is mounted where a normal precision pickup would be, and the single coil is mounted where a bridge pickup would be on a normal jazz bass. - All passive electronics, controls are 2 volume and one tone. - Very high gloss polyurethane finish. - Made in Japan

The best bit about this bass for me, next to the way it sounds, is the weight - it's only 7 pounds because of the basswood body and is the sort of thing you could wear for hours without fatigue.

And yes, how does it sound? Well the Bass Player review said that its tonal palette is "...like a Fender-tone greatest hits record - it's all there." I couldn't agree more. Coming from a six string bass with active electronics and 3-band EQ, the Aerodyne is a refreshing change. Not better or worse, but definitely different. This is one of those basses where virtually every possible pickup and tone combination is useful.

Starting with the split coil pickup, you can use this alone and get a classic precision bass sound. With the tone turned up it's full of growl and grind, as you roll the tone off the sound darkens and broadens until with the tone all the way off you have a rich, fat sound that would do any reggae bassist proud. Depending on where you play you can dub it up over the fingerboard, funk it up over the bridge or get a knockout rock tone with a pick. And that's just using ONE pickup!

When you add the bridge pickup the possibilities are enormous. Using this pickup alone gives a very midrangy tone which is perfect for cutting through. With the tone up full it does sound a bit honky, but this is easily solved with a slight rolloff. This setting really makes me want to change my middle name to Rocco and spray 16th notes with joyful abandon.

Using both pickups together gives a thicker sound which leaves you in no doubt that this bass means business. Both pickups up full reduces the low end somewhat and is the only pickup setting which I have not really found a use for. However it does give a very dense sound which I'm sure has applications in certain styles. From here, turning down the bridge pickup slightly gives a thick driving tone which is even more in-your-face than using the neck pickup. Turning down the neck pickup with the bridge pickup on full adds growl and punch while keeping the warmth and fullness of the split coil.

The Bass Player review describes this as "the perfect working player's bass" and I must agree with them. It sounds great, looks gorgeous and is a joy to play. The simplicity of the controls and lack of active electronics reduces the 'fiddle factor' and the bass has such great tone to start with that you cannot go far wrong. If it sounds bad, check your technique!

If you're looking for an affordable 4-string which will be at home in just about any style of music and any dress code, check out the Aerodyne.

God bless,

Bruno Goh Luse

PS: No affiliation with Fender, just a satisfied customer.

Construction	90%
(Finish has some irregularities, output jack socket comes loose occassionally
)
Appearance	100%
(Incredibly handsome and classy, at home in any dress code)
Playability	95%
(Plays like a jazz bass should)
Sound	90%
(Very versatile)
Value	95%
Overall	95%
(Sounds great, looks gorgeous, a joy to play)