I have the opportunity to pick up a Japanese Fender Aerodyne JP Bass, but I am a VERY newbie…like third BassBuzz lesson newbie…
I am currently learning on a Squier Paranormal Rascal HH (Short Scale)
First what would be the real difference beyond the scale and second, is it worth it to pick this up now? How lng before I am competent enough to know the difference? Also, I will want to try this out at a guitar center before purchase, what current Fender or Squier is a comparable?
Thanks guys!!
Anything Fender Japan is excellent. Aerodyne is an exceptional bass all are made in Japan but the non export/import are even better. @John_E is our residence expert as he owns a couple… more than the average hoarder, 
I believe he has all design and almost all colors
The most important thing right now is to enjoy playing — whether it’s on your Rascal or a shiny new Aerodyne. If a bass makes you want to pick it up and play every day, that’s already a win. Trust your gut, have fun, and let your ears and fingers grow with you.
Happy grooving!
Fully aligned, you have to love your bass.
Fender is always a good choice , there might be better ones and for sure worse ones but it will mostly depend on personnal taste
Go for it and enjoy the bass journey - I don’t regret any single day of the last 5 years
Don’t get a Fender simply because it says Fender on the headstock.
Hold and feel as many different bass brands as you can, then pick the one bass (regardless of brand) that makes you want to keep touching it.
As @Al1885 alluded, there a slew of Fender-branded basses, a whole lot made in different countries/factories around the world. As he suggested in particular, Japanese-made Fenders are pretty great, especially for the price.
Shop around and try as many basses as you are able, including Fender and especially other brands. The experience is worth it.
As was mentioned in another thread this morning, starting on a short scale and then moving to long can be disruptive to muscle memory and take some time to adjust (I did this and it took me a few weeks of retraining). However starting on long and then going to short scale seems to be a non-issue.
like [quote=“Al1885, post:2, topic:75335”]
more than the average hoarder,
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Why are you thinking of upgrading?
I think it will hold its value more. I trust Al1885 when he says it is an excellent bass. Very Newbi or not, if it is a fair price, and you want it and depending on the colour it is worth picking it up now. It will feel different than your short bass because of the scales lengths.
I think you should go for it if the cost isn’t an issue and you think it might bring you joy. You’re new enough at this point that you don’t really know what you’re going to like as far as basses. Worst case scenario imo is that you don’t care for it and flip it. I’d bet the vast majority who post on this board have done that at some point. Go for it.
You need a quality bass that makes you excited to play. That is the #1 criteria.
Also, the Rascal doesn’t play like a short scale. The placement of the bridge elongates the stretch for the neck, and it plays like a full scale. I doubt you will feel much difference if you move to a long scale.
Play it first before you buy it. I had the same opportunity as you when first starting out and I took the advice of the good folk on here and went and tried an Aerodyne … i did not like it at all, purely because the top of the bass dug into my forearm. They’re are not contoured on the top of the body like Fender Jazz or P basses are. I ended up spotting a 2nd hand Japanese made Fender Jazz in the store and everything felt right when playing it, so thats what I walked out of the store with that day, despite being hellbent that I’d be walking out with the Aerodyne!
So definitely try before you buy
This is the best advice for any instrument purchase. Feel matters more than anything else, and is completely subjective.
There are so many different guitars out there that I do not recognize either you mention, so I’m giving my experience for comparison. I started with a Squier ffinity V Jazz Bass Guitar, 20 frets, c shape neck, Rosewood Fingerboard, Polyurethane Blanck body. If you are serious about playing the Bass I’d dump anything with a short neck because all you are learning is a bad habit (the short reach) that will quicky hinder advancement. My Squier is a very god instrument and my desire to upgrade led me to a Fender Player II Jazz Bass, modified with noiseless pickups, flat wound strings and rolled edges on the neck. My color is orange. I’ve played twice with touring professional bass players and both thought that my guitar is as good as anyone could want with the exception of a 5th (B) string and extended neck with 24 frets. choose wisely Fender makes great guitars but the 2 professionals that I know use either Ibanez or Yamaha, both are paid for their selections I’ve tried both and will buy either brand, 5-string, extended neck when available used, I’ll add smooth wound strings and only change pickups if I must. My Fender was well under $1000. and now I need to improve to be as good as the guitar. Best of Luck and remember, people are impressed with what the guitar looks like for maybe 30 seconds but what it sounds like and your capabilities for all time.
Paul McCartney didn’t have his advancement hindered by playing a short scale bass (even when he switched to a long scale Rickenbacker). Neither have many other great artists who have played and created outstanding music with shorties.
It’s not clear if you’ve played a short scale and experienced problems with one, but, even if that were the case, the fact remains that short scales don’t harm or hinder any player’s ability. In fact, many would argue the exact opposite.
LoL! This is not how bass works.
How? The Beatles, Cream, and Rolling Stones. Talking Heads, Royal Blood. I don’t think any of these bands felt hindered by short scale.
I initially bought an Aerodyne, used, from GC, as my first bass (I was looking at others and spotted it). But it had problems. I couldn’t get rid of the buzz, took it to a tech I trust, who quickly saw the neck was bowed in the wrong place and a bit twisted. So I returned it, the GC rep said he saw the bow, but the bass was re-listed the next day in “good condition.” So I’m a little concerned it may be the same bass (I think it’s since been sold, though).
Anyway, after returning the Aerodyne–as cool as it looked and excited as I was about having a Fender Japan bass (to go with my Telecaster)–I found a used, well set up Squier Vintage Modified 77 from a small shop. While it cost considerably less, it’s a much better bass and learning experience.
So my point is to not worry too much about the brand/model in general, but to evaluate the individual instrument. If you can, find one properly set up from a good shop, if you’re fortunate to have one nearby.
Agree. I can’t play the Fender necks. I play a G&L, ESP and 2 Yamahas very well…but Fender? Nope.
