LeftyBassist.com

never seen one of theese before looks sick but the price not so much imho
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FENDER-JAPAN-LE ... 3f102285fd

Mmmmmm, love the look of those Aerodynes... I have no idea how they play, or sound, but I like the look of them... especially the blue one. I didnt think they were made in Lefty though... or did Fender only do that in Japan?

--bm

Only sold in Asia.

I like the look of these too, but I've heard they're underwhelming.

- Basswood -

Why do I feel that my regular anti-basswood stances always piss off a whole bunch of peoples?

Never played a basswood bass, but I loved loved loved my basswood CIJ Strat (which was stolen).

This forum previously had some ad lib and heated threads on this subject. It appears that a lot of peeps share my un-favorable opinion about basses made with a Basswood body (to summerize the grievances: unfocused sound, bland, no punch) but some folks do love their Basswood instruments. The in-house expert, Rodent added that there can be different grades basswood or any wood so it is not all clear cut. In fact I was only comparing the exact same bass (MIM Jazz) and saying how different they were whether it was Alder (after 2004) or Basswood.
Anyhow, maybe this wood is actually better suited to a guitar sound and maybe the tree should be renamed Guitarwood.

I've never tried any of the Japanese lefties, but I have goofed around on a righty one here in the US. I actually really loved the sound: it's very loud and beefy. Think 75% Precision, 25% Thunderbird. But I have no idea how it plays in terms of action, intonation, stability etc as it wouldn't be fair to judge something upside down and backwards

BTW I have no idea why, but the domestic instruments Fender Japan builds (like this one) have a traditional Jazz Bass jack, but the export model sold in the US has a Strat style scooped jack which IMHO is way nicer.

I dunno. I've never found the EB Bongo to be lacking in tone with it's basswood body. Might be more noticeable in a passive instrument though, but I will harken the sentiment regarding guitars vs. basses. My MIJ '87 basswood Strat smokes nearly every MIA I've tried/owned. Sold off my MIAs and kept it. I personally feel that body wood is only one of several components that make up the end result, and won't have nearly the impact on tone that a bass's PUPs, electronics, etc. will. I'm not saying wood choice is immaterial, but what would you likely get more mileage out of, an el cheapo basswood instrument with killer PUPs or some bubinga, paduak, etc. instrument with crap PUPs? Obviously, the marriage of the best materials, electronics, etc. will yield an instrument that can convey the true character of it's wood and tonal range, but truth is I've heard some killer basswood instruments. Basswood is not my favorite wood, it's soft and prone to denting, but I wouldn't dismiss it outright just because it's basswood if I'm playing/hearing something special in my hands.

Grades of wood there are and different pieces resonate differently. I just finished putting together a frankenjazz five string and it absolutely kills any Fender I ever played hands down. Freaking Ken Smith Designs body and hell I think it’s made of compressed trash and a Warmoth neck that had to be shimmed on the side to fit properly and Nordstrand pickups and Audere preamp. I had to change the bridge because when I got it had a 17mm and needed a 19mm so I bought a real Fender high mass 5 string bridge and the bass absolutely smokes and it I don’t know why….

Hell I have the same strings on it that I bought it with just a few weeks ago..Crazy I was laughing when I was putting it together and I set it up and plugged it in and it floored me. I can’t get a bad tone out of it. Anyone knows what wood that is KSD bodies. When I drilled it looked dark like tuna fish...HA Ya just never know I don’t judge basses like I used too.

I've always been intringued by those KSD's, especially the 70's ones. I was considering getting one someday and just replacing the electronic which is pretty bad by a passive wiring. I like the Ash/Maple combo on a Jazz Bass and Fender does not really offer anything like it in lefty.
Now, you're saying it is more trAsh/Maple? darn! I am desappointed!
I am glad you lucked out on your FrankenFender project though!

Frenchy I just found out mine is the "60's" model and is Alder...

Listed right on the KSD site