Fender Updates Geddy Lee and Steve Harris Signature Basses
Rush’s Geddy Lee and Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris are having their Fender signature models spruced up for 2015. Each of the signature models have been around for years but will be getting new specs and features.
The USA Geddy Lee Jazz Bass is getting more of an update between the two. “[It] is a new version that combines the specs and features of Lee’s three favorite basses—two Fender Custom Shop versions of his signature model and the original sleek black ’72 Jazz Bass that Rush’s revered bassist/ vocalist has riffed away on in front of millions of devoted fans worldwide and on many a mega-selling album,” Fender states.
As a result, the neck has a thicker custom profile and is topped with a maple fingerboard decorated with white binding and pearloid block inlays. Other features include a pair of vintage-style single-coil custom jazz bass pickups, vintage-style reverse tuning machines, and a Geddy Lee Signature High-Mass bridge.
Steve Harris’s signature Precision Bass now comes in a gloss white finish with special pinstriping, a mirrored pickguard, and a West Ham United F.C. Crest on the body. It’s built with a 2-piece maple body matched with a maple neck and fingerboard. Fender fits the bass with a Seymour Duncan Steve Harris SPB-4 pickup. Hardware includes ’70s style Schaller tuners, flat-top knurled chrome control knobs, and a Fender high-mass bridge.
The Fender USA Geddy Lee Jazz Bass will be available in March with a street price of $1,599 while the Steve Harris Precision Bass will hit stores in February for $999.
Fender USA Geddy Lee Jazz Bass Specs:
Body Material: | Alder |
Body Finish: | Gloss Polyurethane |
Body Shape: | Jazz Bass |
Pickups: | Custom Voiced American Vintage ’70s Geddy Lee |
Controls: | Volume 1. (Middle Pickup), Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup), Master Tone |
Bridge: | Geddy Lee High Mass Bridge |
Hardware Finish: | Nickel/Chrome |
Tuning Machines: | Vintage-Style Open-Back |
Pickguard: | 4-Ply Aged White Pearloid |
Control Knobs: | Vintage Style Black Plastic Jazz Bass |
Neck Plate: | 4-Bolt |
Neck Material: | Maple |
Neck Finish: | Hand Rubbed Oil on Back, Gloss Urethane on Front |
Neck Shape: | Custom Thick “C” |
Scale Length: | 34″ (864 mm) |
Fingerboard Material: | Maple |
Fingerboard Radius: | 9.5″ (241 mm) |
Number of Frets: | 20 |
Fret Size: | Medium Jumbo |
Nut Material: | Bone |
Nut Width: | 1.5″ (38.1 mm) |
Position Inlays: | Pearloid Block |
Truss Rod: | Vintage-Style Heel Adjust |
Case/Gig Bag: | ABS Molded |
Fender Steve Harris Precision Bass Specs:
Body Material: | 2-Piece Maple |
Body Finish: | Gloss Polyester |
Body Shape: | Precision Bass |
Pickup: | Seymour Duncan Steve Harris Signature P-Bass SPB-4 |
Controls: | Master Volume, Master Tone |
Bridge: | Fender High Mass |
Hardware Finish: | Nickel/Chrome |
Tuning Machines: | Fender ’70s Vintage-Style Stamped Open-Gear |
Pickguard: | 1-Ply Chrome |
Control Knobs: | Knurled Flat-Top |
Switch Tip: | Aged White |
Neck Plate: | 4-Bolt |
Neck Material: | Maple |
Neck Finish: | Gloss Urethane |
Neck Shape: | “U” Shape |
Scale Length: | 34″ (864 mm) |
Fingerboard Material: | Maple |
Fingerboard Radius: | 7.25″ (184.1 mm) |
Number of Frets: | 20 |
Fret Size: | Jumbo |
Nut Material: | Synthetic Bone |
Nut Width: | 1.615″ (41.02 mm) |
Position Inlays: | Black Dot |
Other Features: | Pinstriped Body with Westham United F.C. Crest, Dunlop 6100 Frets, Black Synthetic Bone Nut, Darker Tint on Headstock |
Case/Gig Bag: | Deluxe Gig Bag |
For more information:
Fender
Ok and this why i hate fender and gibson any more the old steve harris was a killer bass with nice looks this new one complete junk and looks as bad as it plays just took possession of my new moniker bye bye fender
The Geddy Lee Bass was made in Japan for years. Like many Japanese products, production was moved to China, Indonesia, and in this case Mexico. I’d bet money the quality control can’t make the thinner neck of this Japanese G. Lee bass…reliably. So they made it thicker and tried spinning it as improved. Sounds like the other bass in this listing may be a downgrade too. Just my .02 after watching this trend for decades in many industries.
This is why I just bought a blue MIM standard P Bass that will eventually evolve into a sparkle finish and one piece gloss maple neck with 70s logo and badass ii bridge with the Steve Harris pick-up and 50s style 10 hole mirror pickguard so it looks more like the 09 model. I hate it when companies like Fender not only change the models, but change the country of manufacture to an inferior one, i.e. Japan to Mexico.