Jazz Basses - 60's vs 70's Pickup Spacing Geddy Lee Edition! - LowEndLobster Fresh Look

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Hey everyone! Today we're revisiting the age old question - 60's or 70's pickup spacing for Jazz basses? But this time.... we've added a little bit of a Geddy twist! Featuring my FGN Neo Classic "Geddyzilla" modified with a Hipshot Kickass bridge and Tom Brantley Geddy Lee spec pickups as well as my newly acquired Fender Geddy Lee Signature Jazz Bass (Made in Mexico). Is the pickup spacing the secret sauce to the Geddy tone? Let's find out!
This bass and all my other basses with rounds are strung with MJC Ironworks Nickel Plated Stainless Steel 45-105(125) unless otherwise noted. Check them out at www.mjcironworks.com
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[@ileutur6863]

Still a bigger difference than tonewood #roasted

[@LowEndLobster]

I like you

[@ileutur6863]

@@LowEndLobster 😉😉

[@JustSnowglow]

gottem

[@russellzauner]

Ash Alder You're not going to hear much difference, honestly. All the differences in frequency response and generation between those two woods are up in the high end and the attack response of an instrument is very much dependent on how you're playing it, so fingerstyle on a bass lol both those woods have very similar low end waveshaping and regeneration characteristics. If you want to hear something contrast in basses as tone woods go full passive and try a koa bass next to a maple, see what happens. And if you have your preamp on all the time then you may as well just go for the lightest wood that can handle the tension/stress well, because it literally doesn't matter - your guitar is just another control surface now. But, correct in this case - moving the pickups is going to change the timbre of this instrument quite significantly. I was actually surprised it wasn't more pronounced since it was the bridge pickup that moved inward. Thought of the day: *I mean, shouldn't basswood be the ultimate wood for basses? ONE WOULD THINK*

[@ileutur6863]

@@russellzauner I'm not feeling very argumentative today, but you're not seriously implying that a preamp negates any influence wood might have in the sound? Your signal has to go through a preamp at some point, even if you have a passive setup, its just gonna happen at the amplifier

[@jamesmarkham7489]

Always prefferred the 60's spacing for a rounder tone. But that 70's spacing does resemble the rick tone so i get why people like it.

[@cliffords2315]

Yep gets the Ricky sound for sure,

[@bakkhertz]

It's sad there aren't as many options when it comes to 70's spacing. 60s dominates the market :(

[@darrylmoore127]

The FGN is the one I like best , both were good though

[@albundy2239]

Sire has models with 70s spacing as well. They aren't even expensive. 😉

[@bakkhertz]

@@albundy2239 not where I am. Sires aren't as good of a value in Canada. Still good basses and worth the money, but they aren't a steal like in other countries, plus they are kinda hard to get your hands on in the first place. But yeah the V5 and the V7 vintage are solid 70's jazzes. Other ones that come to mind are the Classic Vibe, Vintera, Geddy Lee, American Original and maybe some FSR stuff. That's just from fender at least. But there are sooo many 60's jazzes.

[@BARTFUNKBASS]

The luthier changed my bridge pickup position for the 70's because my Fender MIJ 75 reissue had 60's spacing. Check the tone comparison: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqvOmXyln8xjg7c

[@lukie117]

@@bakkhertz ye same in usa. They seem much cheaper and plentiful in teh UK. I find their headstock so ugly though

[@wilfredovazquez2942]

Hard to pick one, but to my ears, 70's spacing gives more clarity. Awesome video. As a Rush fan I enjoy so much.

[@Lowendgenerator]

The FGN sounds miles better to my ears. More consistent note to note volume, less clack on the attack.

[@markblackstad8705]

I can't say "better" but the 70s spacing definitely gives more treble snap to my ears. I guess you could just dial it back for songs you don't want it so much so I would say 70s spacing for me. Both sound great!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Mark!

[@thecappy]

Yes. You can roll the tone back on the 70's to cut some treble, but can't turn up the tone anymore on the 60's.

[@timpayne8238]

I like the FGN. As the owner of a couple of 70s Jazz Basses I was suprised at the difference in sound and actually thought the Fender model had the 70s pickup spacing; it sounds harsher!

[@jacobsmith1877]

They're both fantastic for different reasons. I love the snap of the Fender, and the warmth of the FGN. Great playing by the way.

[@chrismorris3897]

I totally agree, the FGN was far superior, but I enjoyed the Fender snap more than I thought I would. Excellent playing as always Lobster!

[@sr60030]

they are both great for sure. i love the sound of the bridge pickup on the 60's but the slap on the 70's it's so iconic

[@jdmarino]

It's Wednesday, and I think I like the FGN a little better because it's a little warmer. But tomorrow, I might like the Fender better. Really, they both sound great. (FWIW, I too like the FGN neck finish better.)

[@pdbass]

LOOOOOOVE my MIJ Geddy. I've heard that there are substantial differences between MIJ and MIM Geddy series instruments. Enjoyed this one, Lobster!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks man! The MIJs are the Geddy holy grail IMO, and I think the rising prices of the MIM's will only lead to rising prices for the superior MIJs!

[@175kva]

I own a MIJ and have played the MIM , There is a difference !

[@SCVM__]

Lucked out and bought an excellent condition 2007 CiJ for $750 because of some of the quality chatter ...Wow, its amazing paired with the Sansamp MP40 limited. (which svcked when paired with an active pickup Ibanez SR500)

[@MarbsMusic]

The 70s spacing definitely gives more of the Rush sound but both sound amazing, good to have both for different uses!

[@bassclef1962]

Definitely the Fender. But I am a bit bias since I play a real ‘72 Jazz! Mine is loaded with Nordstrand NJ4SV pickups.

[@josephpbrown]

Nice! I'm thinking of getting the BigMan to replace my SUB's pickup

[@mingustheduck]

Thanks much for this video. There were previously no good videos answering this age old question.

[@LEH1347]

The FGN with the 60's spacing sounds much more like what I'm going for when I pick up a Jazz bass. It sounds rounder with a slight more of an inverted tone. I can hear the sound of those 60's era rock bass players.

[@secretjourney4815]

Lobster. While you played classic rush tracks, only Tom Sawyer was recorded with the J bass. That said, Geddy played the Jazz extensively through the latter 90’s-“the end”. Just using my ears, the Fender has better “throaty-ness” to it. Also cuts through more in the highs. They are both good sounding but in this case I would say the fender. I purchased one of the early GLee fenders from the first year run in 1998. The CIJ’s were excellent, at least mine is. The neck profile is soooo thin and fast, the CIJ’s came with Vintage ‘62 pickups. That said, I played a US GLee a few years back and did not like it at all. The neck was a baseball bat. Anyway, I like your MIM. Edit: Both pickups on, I like the Fender. But..... solo’d the 60’s bridge position rocks. A lot “thicker” sounding.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you! I lusted (and still lust) over a nice clean CIJ/MIJ Geddy. They had the unique neck profile, and seemed much more special. The MIM feels a bit more mass produced, hard to describe. It's not a bad bass by any means, but definitely harder to justify the $1100 price point.

[@secretjourney4815]

@@LowEndLobster CIJ’s are over 1000 now? (I know they aren’t produced any longer) Wow. I lucked out with mine. I ordered it in either April or May of 1998 from Musicians Friend for $620.00 Still had to wait to the end of June 98’ to receive it. I never planned to let it go, so at some point I stripped the paint off and my buddys auto shop shot it with a pearl(very little sparkle) white. I then added a tortoise shell pick guard. The bass is all Geddy but the white with red pick guard is an homage to Alex Lifesons Gibson 355.

[@LowEndLobster]

@@secretjourney4815 Yup, that $629 price tag haunts me to this day hahahah. Dude, that mod sounds killer! Please share pics on the discord server or via talkbass or email :)

[@scottnickerson2]

The Geddyzilla sounded better to my ears (on a good sound system here). Nice work once again maestro!!

[@quincyberman5629]

Both sound great and have their place. Personal preference id the FGN, a bit warmer sound, more my style.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Quincy!

[@osodelcity]

They both sound good, 🦞. I’m a 70’s spacing in ash, 60’s spacing in alder preferences. Great video, again.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you Ozzie!

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

‘70s all day. The US Geddy Jazz is the best Fender I’ve ever played by MILES, and I desperately want a US Geddy neck for my fretted ‘Jazzcision’ (‘87 Japanese Jazz Bass Special neck on a flamed maple over alder Warmoth Dinky J body with an EMG GZR-P pickup and hipshot ‘A’ bridge). When I think about a Jazz Bass, I think about a ‘70s-spaced ash body maple fingerboard with blocks. That’s ‘the’ Jazz sound for me. Way punchier and more in-your-face, more defined, too. I’m a US Music Man Sterling kinda guy, so of course I like the brighter, more aggressive-sounding one, haha!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Jim! I've been talking to a dude who has CIJ and MIA Geddys that I'll hopefully be able to borrow so we can revisit this as a four way comparo! :)

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

@@LowEndLobster The Japanese Geddy basses are pretty odd, with the weirdo noodle-neck profile and everything. They play just as well as the US ones, they just feel a little different from the US and Mexican models. I used to have a Japanese one, solid instrument.

[@andersonrowland]

60's spacing for me. Great video!

[@whitemeadowsounds7198]

I loooove me some Rush man. Especially "Hold Your Fire" material. Such a good album and so rarely mentioned. Keep up the good stuff!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you!

[@secretjourney4815]

Hold your fire was one of their lowest selling albums. However. It is the album that got me into rush as a 16 year old living in 1987. Some great song structures and some of Geddy most challenging bass lines. But it’s like Rush ‘Lite’ lol. Lock and Key was my fave.

[@Nesohneppals]

Put me solidly in the “both” column ! The 70s has more attack and is that sound I find myself with most often but man the 60s would sound so good on those classic R&B numbers. Thanks for the comparison 👍 …..and, thanks for inspiring me to learn Distant Early Warning lol

[@jeffjones1143]

Love that Alder! More growl and a bit more edge. Cool comparison Low.

[@markpickardlife]

I think... you're an awesome bassist. Loved all those licks! I love FujiGen, but that Fender sounded good too. The pickup position does make a different in tone.

[@GozhouCS]

I'm more into the 70s spacing sound, even because I mostly play my jbass with both pickups open. Both are great basses and look awesome too. One of the best reviews so far!

[@jameshawkins6760]

I enjoyed watching you play those riffs. I like both but kind of like the snap and growl of the Fender.

[@JohnAldenDavis]

I got super excited when you put "(and one YES)" on screen. My dad's a big fan of that band! Also, I'm pretty preferential when it comes to 70's spacing, especially when the pickups are wound like they were during that time period. I'm a sucker for the "burpiest" of bridge tones (lol), which is why I really like the sound that one can get from the 70's position, just from the base passive tone.

[@rmccain99]

The Fender is brighter with more definition. I like the Fender sound.

[@josephjordan2883]

The mexi-ged was noisy as heck! As for preferred sound... I was shocked that I liked the 60s best. I fully expected to prefer the 70s sound. Oh well.

[@LowEndLobster]

Yep, MexiGed is a noisy boy. Zero shielding!

[@Dinozzo1995]

I prefer the sound of 70s spacing, the midrange and snarl of the tone sounds more musical and sweet to me than 60s spacing. However, the 60s spacing does have more substantial sounding bass, a little more definition.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Dino!

[@MrSparks54]

I preferred the way the Fender sounded but both sounded great. Thanks for the comparison Lobster! 🦞

[@ramshaar2597]

Enjoy your way of playing 2 cool lovley basses

[@russellzauner]

0:00 unrelated: sweetwater just dropped announcement clip they've got Sire on their brand list now.

[@russellzauner]

also, I'd like to put them against the Vintage Icon Series relic'd black jazz bass (clearly Geddy's, as they also have Jaco's)

[@russellzauner]

I never realized just how close the Mighty Bass looks to an original Fender body shape - holy crabclaws if not for the headstock they may as well be clones.

[@russellzauner]

Actually that pickup positioning explains why we're getting some extra boom out of the FGN. Moving the bridge pickup in modulates the top end subharmonics a bit and brings it a little more thiccness and a bit less chonk on fingerstrikes, but just enough. I could still take a pick and grab stupid pinch harmonics out of either of those bad bois, it's actually a fun thing to do - and ash nor alder is going to suck up those upper multiples so they should be squortchy and rich with noisy dithered goodness without being overtly scrapey on your cochlear bits

[@ettolla1]

I like the sound of the Fender, seamed more piano like.

[@CC-ks3tj]

The Fender model has more of the clank and aggressiveness that I love (when using both PUPs). Although, for bridge PU only playing, I would take the 60’s spacing because the bridge tone isn’t nearly as harsh.

[@jaxonvictoria4345]

Another good thing to note is that 99% of 70s inspired Jazz Basses have pickups wound with plain enamel wire, which is where a lot of the tone comes from too. In your example, you used the 70s pickups (Tom Brantley) in a bass with 60s spacing. (Sounds excellent though)

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you Jaxon!

[@jaxonvictoria4345]

@@LowEndLobster i LOVE hearing the Tom Brantleys though. So much more defined and punchier than the stock Fender. And at $152 it’s a great value for money.

[@ejjacinto5014]

Yeah! This is the video that I was waiting for Thank you Lobster 😍😍 I personally prefer the 70's jazz bass tone than anything else, that tone to me is like home since I use a lot of thumbing technique That's why I chose the Sire V7 vintage just to have that 70's jazz bass slap tone 😊

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks EJ!

[@michaelkeefer4293]

Personally, I preferred the tone of the FGN with the 60s spacing better. However, if I were playing in a Rush tribute band I would choose the Fender with 70s spacing, the brighter tone sounded a lot more like Geddy's sound to me.

[@ProfessorGroyper]

Funny because Geddy doesn't use the bridge pickup.

[@timothinev9444]

@@ProfessorGroyper he used a Rickenbacker for all of their albums before 84', so it might be that it sounded more like that

[@willthomas3122]

@@ProfessorGroyper He did use the bridge pickup but it was faulty when recording Moving Pictures, so its output was quite low in comparison to the neck pickup. He since had it fixed and you can hear both pickups on full blast from Counterparts onwards.

[@ninovalenti96]

Very cool. Personally, I liked the sound of the FGN with both pu's over the Fender. I like the sound of the Fender's Bridge pu over the FGN. I felt the bridge was pretty close on both basses. Great video!!!

[@keithpasculli7465]

Really liked both but to my ear the FGN was clearer and had better clarity. I will add that the difference was subtle but it was there.

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Excellent Lobster cheers 👍

[@dinardo72]

Woah! Distance Early Warning, Xanadu and Tom Sawyer riffs makes me wanna cry it sounds so good and makes me miss Neil! Well done! Oh then Roundabout, YES YES!! Big differences and I distinctly like FGN for some songs and Fender for others....can't keep up though when switching pick ups....keep up the great work....

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Joe! Always great to see your name in the comments :)

[@ianvaughan9028]

I've owned and loved my FGN neo-classic jazz for 13 years now, but I have to say I REALLY like the tones from the Fender.

[@91cog]

That fgn is my kinda jam! Love it!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you my friend!

[@josephwalton487]

That is so funny...I live in the same town as Tom Brantly. Dude is a legend.

[@LowEndLobster]

That's awesome!

[@josephwalton487]

@@LowEndLobster Your's and Bully Tha Kidd shows are awesome...coffee, bass and...bass😂😂. Thank you guys!!!

[@Metalbass10000]

I prefer the Fender, which surprised me. Aside from my 83 American P Bass I haven't been highly impressed by many modern Fender. The FGN sounded compressed a bit, and seemed to let through less of the transient, particularly above 4k or 6k.

[@ignaciomeyerp]

Great comparison! I really prefer de 70's position, with both pickups makes a huge difference in tone that it's a lot more to my liking, that's why I recently bought the Sire U5, being the bridge pickup in that position sounds a lot more similar to a jazz bass than a typical PJ. Cheers!

[@samsmelser_]

YESSSS sorry I'm late but this is awesome because rush is my favorite band and Geddy is one of my favorite bassists!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Cardo! Yeah man, Geddy rules :)

[@ricardog.s2505]

I prefer the 60s spacing because it reminds me of John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin as he used a 60s Jazz Bass until 76 (Physical Graffiti tour) when he switched to Alembic

[@spynae]

As far as I know, the MIJ and MIM Geddy Lees use vintage-voiced pups that aren't specifically made to mimic his actual JB's voicing, whereas the MIA model's are. Obviously the Brantleys are based directly on his rewind of Geddy's famously shorted bridge pup.

[@spynae]

I've always said that it's likely that any given '70s voiced bridge pup could be made to mimic the pre-repair voicing of Geddy's '72 by doing a lot of trial and error with capacitor values wired in series with the bridge pickup (same as the "vintage mode" of a Ric 4003 that acts as a low-cut).

[@guyviola5359]

Red alert! Red alert! I think I prefer the FGN with the 60's spacing, thanks LowEndLobster for another great video!!!

[@alexmichaels523]

to make this a truly valid comparison you would need the same guitar with same strings and pickups, amp and amp settings.

[@LowEndLobster]

We are using the same strings, amp and amp settings on all my videos (occasionally strings vary). One of my goals on my channel is to create a static testing environment so we can have a "level" playing field

[@ampthebassplayer]

What we need is a Grabber style pickup that would allow you to slide the pickups around. That would be super interesting on a two pickup bass to have them both moveable.

[@LowEndLobster]

I was just thinking about this and some sort of modular design.

[@ampthebassplayer]

@@LowEndLobster I've seen photos of Leo Fender's test bench when he was doing G&L stuff so he could try different pickups and placements really quickly, and that would be really cool to mess around with.

[@LaFritePerreGoat]

Sadowsky does a double pickup with both 60 and 70 placement for exemple.

[@roycefaina1438]

I actually liked the Fender better. I have used MC strings before, however, you should consider using Rotosound's Swing-66 stainless steel strings like Geddy does. I have a MIM Fender Jazz Bass -Warmoth neck (5A flame maple with Indian Rosewood fretboard)- Seymour Duncan Custom Shop Weather Report (Jaco Pastorious) Pick-ups-Custom 920 prewired harnesses w/Orange drop cap-Period correct 60s bridge-Roto Swing 66 45-105. I'm hoping you did a review on SD Weather Report pups. They are F.I.N.E! Cheers

[@ryanrogers8923]

I'm feeling the 70's spacing. It's just a little more bassy? Both should great! Thank for the comparison!

[@Below-Average_Joe]

I am a Seventies guy. The bridge pickup soloed featured that brighter Seventies tone. My Geddy is US made version.

[@oskarus3]

Nice choice of songs, Distant Early Warning is one of my favourites. With only the neck pickup both basses sound very similar, but when the bridge pickup comes in everything changes. For me and my tone preferences, the FGN is much more suitable.

[@secretjourney4815]

I agree about the bridge pickup solo’d. FGN is fat sounding

[@57precision]

@@secretjourney4815 That's the main drawback of the 70s spacing, it sounds awesome with both pickups but the bridge is a little too far back to sound good solo.

[@secretjourney4815]

@@57precision I agree. MyFretless has the bridge pickup in the 60's position. I favor that pickup more than the neck.That fretless just oooozes mm mm mmmm goodness all over the place with nice bartolini J pickups

[@Joetime90]

I still have my 2007 CIJ Jazz. Love it apart from the neck needing constant adjustment and you gotta take the neck off to adjust it. Still love it but I do need those Tom Brantley pickups. I prefer the 70s spacing a little better. A bit more natural grit and clarity.

[@bustedfender]

Let’s not forget that ash and alder are basically firewood, there’s nothing magical about them. Duracell batteries do sound different from EverReady though 🤣

[@Rick_Petrone]

Mr. Lobster, I have a M.I.J. Geddy and I Think those basses Amazing.

[@jonsidell3338]

FGN for the F-NG win. Fender sounds good but I like the 60’s scoop much better. You could change my mind if you did the same shootout with 5 strings. I have an inkling that 70’s is better for a 5.

[@abenels]

There’s just a slight difference. when you play in a band, you don’t hear this differences anymore, because of all the other sounds you hear from other instruments. And when you add some tube distortion (or sansamp) they will sound practically the same. Thanks for the comparison and nice playing!

[@atquinn1975]

I like the 60's.placement 1000x more. Now I need to check my PJs and figure out how the J pickup is placed 😂

[@48streetrat]

FGN! Like it👍

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Ralph!

[@bevinmodrak4997]

As usual, great video. Both sound good. The thing with Geddy is he attacks the strings so hard I don't think in his hands you'd notice the difference between the 60's and 70's bridge pickup placement. I do think the 70's placement gives more.... how would you say... grit? I look forward to your review of the Fender Geddy... I've read mixed stuff about the quality control. I'm sure the FGN quality is excellent. IIRC FGN factory is one of the ones Ibanez uses and may have made the really under rated 80's Road Star series that came out during the post "lawsuit" era.

[@stainless641]

I have the Japan Geddy Lee signature. Awesome bass.

[@honestbrute9216]

Didn’t find either bass very impressive sounding, but Great video and review..I really enjoy your stuff

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Adrian :)

[@cliffords2315]

I gotta Tell ya, i love Both of them, they are very differnt but i like the differnce, Very Nice color scheme on the FGN

[@bigbass421]

The TONE of the Fender, is to my ears, killer. I like both basses here, but the 70's spaced bass sounds much better to me.

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Have the Geddy with Tom's pups excellent 👍

[@TheChrist117]

I prefer the FGN tones. Overall, I thought the tones here had more depth and warmth than the Fender. Notwithstanding, the Fender in an isolated setting would obviously be able to be 'warmed up' with EQ. I suppose finally for me anyway, the choice would come down to playability. It was an interesting comparison between the 60s and 70s pickup spacing. I'm looking for a jazz and FGN is yet another name I'll have to investigate. Thanks for the review - much appreciated.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Chris! Glad you enjoyed this :)

[@leonardoperes6830]

Both are fantastic and sounds beautiful. A Jazz Bass is a Jazz Bass! IMHO, I think the 60s are a little more versatile, and playing with just the bridge pickup open sounds better. (Maybe because I'm a super Jaco fan, lol) I would say the 60s are better for pizzicato and fretless basses, and the 70s are better for slap and play with a pick!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you Leonardo!

[@bizibetiko9778]

I'm a big fan of FGN bass's, but that 70's spacing on the Fender has got the sound! The closest I have to a 70's Jazz is my Ash bodied Harley Benton. It's a beast for what it is, but the spacing is kind of right in between a 60's and a 70's spacing. I love that bass, especially for what it cost, but it doesn't quite have that 70's sound. I think the slab of alder I have hanging around may just have to become a 70's jazz bass.

[@thecappy]

I started singing Stone Temple Pilots everytime you ended Roundabout.

[@LowEndLobster]

:)

[@latonyahemingway3752]

I own the US Geddy Lee. I prefer 70’s pickup placement , alder bodies, and maple fingerboards . Pearl blocks for me too!!🎶❣️ . Both of those are nice jazz basses. Sometimes it’s the sum total of the bass not just the pickup placement .

[@chriswenkle2635]

Thanks Lobster. I'm a fan of 60's spacing because the bridge pickup is slightly less "honky" sounding - if that non-technical term can be used. I know that wood choice in the body makes a tiny bit of difference tone-wise, with swamp ash being a little more 'scooped' in the attack as opposed to alder. Nevertheless, 60's placement sounds a bit rounder overall to my ears. That FGN is making me drool a little. Cheers!

[@jokokelpaa]

FGN´s 60´s pickup position has enough clarity and sound is punchy. Not too warm or muddy at all. It´s got ash body but I think that it does not make big difference now. 70´s position back pickup is more nasal and also thinner. It might sometimes support both pickup combination to sound clearer but in this case I think that it is only thinner. I like more 60´s position this time.

[@danplaysbass6294]

I think I just like the FGN better as an entire bass.

[@etpslick100]

Wow! I like BOTH! But for fingerstyle and slap; 70’s ALL THE WAY! 60 is good for old school R&B or POP! IMHO. But that FGN does sounds cool.🤨🎶👍🏾

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks slick :)

[@fabianmartin7126]

The FGN would be my choice between those two.

[@Mr.Goldbar]

70's much better for both pickups on, but 60's is just as better for bridge only The solution is a humbucker in the bridge positioned in a way the north coil is in the 60's position and the south coil is in the 70's position, and have a split switch for both coils

[@budduggly7781]

I like the FGN sound better. Good comparison!

[@justinc246]

Nice comparison. Personally if I had to choose one spacing to be my only bass I'd get the 60s spacing jazz. It hits that nice overall mid range that I like in my own tone. However I'd say if I were to add a jazz to my existing collection I'd go with the 70s style jazz. The 70s spacing had a more unique tone that distinguishes itself a bit more (not to mention the now classic 70s bridge pickup tone)

[@jeffscott1006]

The difference was much more stark than I thought it would be. I liked the FGN much better overall.

[@User-jk8wq]

70s all the way baby!

[@christocr]

Both sound good. I don't know that I could pick a favorite. Maybe the Fender for the slightly "drier" tone. But both have that great J-bass burpy tone. I guess the verdict is that I need both (I have a 70s spacing Fender Jazz). Perhaps the contrast would be a bit more distinct with, say, a 60 reissue Fender Custom Shop J-bass. Don't know. But I do know that is what I have my eye on for my next bass--Fender CS 60 RI relic in sparkle blue. Yummy...

[@tonymickens8803]

With the start of the "Age of Funk" when I Started playing in the early 70's, I'd have to go with the 70's Brother, the 60's version wasn't as Versatile imo. @LowEndLobster

[@monahantp3767]

Surprisingly I like the FGN better-- both sound & looks. However I have a real soft spot for the 70's Fender decals (LOL). Both are great, but that's my pick. I'm actually in the market for a budget friendly Jazz, so this is helping ;)

[@sebastiancabrol2014]

The FGN sounds brighter (at least in my speakers) with both pickups running, but once you started to isolate neck and bridge pickups the sound of both became pretty similar. I think i prefer the Fender.

[@nsiderultimaseth]

YOOOOOO SOMEBODY ELSE WHO LIKES DISTANT EARLY WARNING! Best track on Grace Under Pressure imo.

[@LowEndLobster]

It's such a great song!

[@KPJohnson]

I preferred the sound of the FGN, but the Fender sounded more authentic to the songs.

[@user-or1rl2ml9m]

FGN is warmer and rounder, new GL has clearer mids, prefer the FGN, just want to take a nap in it.

[@benking8665]

Both nice basses. I prefer the sound and finish on the FGN. I think the Fender does a better job capturing Geddy Lee’s sound.

[@davidlovellbass4761]

The pickup wire also changed from 60s to 70s as well as spacing. I’m guessing the Fender bass has era correct pickup wire(?) because it makes a huge difference. I was also fairly sure that Geddy’s bass was made from ash and not alder. Odd thing to overlook considering the attention to detail Fender have had on other Mexican made artist models

[@LowEndLobster]

Good point! The FGN is running the Brantley pickups which still should be 70s spec but pickup construction is absolutely a factor. Yeah it seems there's a few details that they miss the mark on with these mass production instruments

[@davidlovellbass4761]

@@LowEndLobster I’d really like to try mixing the two, 70’s pickup winds in 60’s spacing or visa-versa

[@secretjourney4815]

Geddy 72 bass was alder. It’s documented enough if you dig. The pickup spacing was the “70’s”. Ash was indeed used in the 70’s. I believe that ash was used more on sun bursts and clear coats than solid colors. The grain is more striking.

[@secretjourney4815]

@@davidlovellbass4761 I’ve got a warmoth j bass with 70’s spacing and Aguilar 60’s j pickups. The bridge pickup kills!

[@davidlovellbass4761]

@@secretjourney4815 that’s interesting, I wonder when they switched from alder to ash. I had a black ‘74 jazz bass which was ash and most of the other jazz basses from this era I’ve seen have also been ash so to hear that Geddy’s was alder is a real revelation. In a recent interview Steve Harris’s tech said his mid 70’s P bass was made from maple and weighed an absolute ton, so I guess Fender just used whatever was available

[@thefool2007]

FGN. Sounds sweet and have a better bite. The ash body is better and brighter.

[@billyhooks99]

I liked warmer tone of the FGN best.

[@tkotmk]

Love the 70s tone.

[@willisingo]

Hard to judge, my 2012 MIM Geddy sig sounds nothing like that one, but I use heavy gauge strings that are completely dead. Even Geddy says none of his own personal signature models sound the same, especially his original.

[@kevinlynch2248]

The FGN has a warmer tone and the Fender has a bit more punch to it’s tone. I prefer the tone of the Fender, but I will say that the pickups in the MIM are very noisy. Those in the FGN are nice and quiet.

[@pwokaren]

Overall I liked the 70’s tone the best. It really is that iconic Jazz Bass sound. I thought the neck pick up on the FGN sounded better though.