Limited Edition Geddy Lee 1972 Jazz Bass Now Available through Fender Custom Shop

Fender Guitar's Custom Shop has just announced a limited edition run of Geddy Lee 1972 Jazz Bass guitars that are on sale now. From the announcement:

One of the world’s most recognizable Fender Jazz basses has to be Geddy Lee’s famous black ’72 Jazz Bass, purchased circa 1977 from a pawnshop in Kalamazoo, Mich. Lee bought it as is, with no original case, for $200.

Lee first used it for a couple songs on enormously successful 1981 Rush album Moving Pictures. At the sessions for that album, he used the Jazz Bass to record “Vital Signs,” “Witch Hunt,” and two of Rush’s biggest and most enduringly popular hits, classic rock staples “Limelight” and “Tom Sawyer” (the bass also appeared in the “Limelight” and Vital Signs” videos).

After that, Lee used the Jazz only sparingly on various Rush tracks throughout the rest of the ’80s and into the early 1990s. When it came time to record 1993’s Counterparts, however, engineer Kevin “the Caveman” Shirley insisted that Lee return to the black Jazz Bass rather than use the more contemporary basses of the era that Lee had experimented with. Lee fell in love with his Jazz Bass’s tone and feel all over again; this time for good—ever since, he’s played it full-time as his number-one bass on all Rush albums and tours. For Lee, it remains the benchmark against which all other basses are judged.

Lee’s beloved Jazz Bass is now on its third neck, crafted in the Fender Custom Shop and featuring white binding and pearl inlays (as opposed to the original black), and the original tuners, bushings and string tree. When the neck was replaced, Lee opted for an oil finish on the back (instead of poly) because it’s smoother and faster (and indeed all his touring basses are now set up that way).

Now, the Custom Shop has meticulously replicated every detail in neck shape, wiring, pickups and more in creating the Limited Edition Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, including the wear and tear of nearly 35 years of touring.

The Geddy Lee 1972 Jazz Bass has an MSRP of $8,000.00 and can be ordered at the Fender Custom Shop website. Additional information on this announcement is also available HERE.

Thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for the news.

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