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Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass
Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI
VS
Playability
72
Sound
80
Build
67
Value
78
Score
73
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Playability
75
Sound
82
Build
75
Value
77
Score
77
FIND IT ON:
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Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass vs Vintera II '60s Bass VI Specs Comparison
Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass Vintera II '60s Bass VI
General
Brand: Fender Fender
Year: 2022 2023
Configuration: Split S SSS
Strings: 4 6
Made in: Japan United States
Series: Aerodyne Special Vintera II
Colors: White, Green, Burst Blue, Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Alder
Bridge: Babicz Z-Series FCH-4 Bass 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Adjustable with “Floating” Tremolo Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Standard Open-Gear Fender Vintage-Style
Fretboard: Maple Slab Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Black Pearloid Dots White Dot
Scale Size: 34" 30"
Shape: Bass Modern C Bass Mid '60s C
Frets: 20 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Vintage Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 7.25"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 41.3mm (1.625'') 41.9mm (1.65'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Fender Vintage-Style Bass VI Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Vintage-Style Bass VI Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Vintage-Style Bass VI Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 0 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Chrome Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI's switch options

Reasons to Get
Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass over Vintera II '60s Bass VI

Strings
4 vs 6
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Pickups
Split S vs SSS
Reduced interference, warm tone, and strong midrange presence for versatile bass sounds.
Nut Width
1.625'' (41.3mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
34'' (863.6mm) vs 30'' (762mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 7.25'' (184.2mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
78 vs 77
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI over Aerodyne Special Precision Bass

Release Year
2023 vs 2022
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Strings
6 vs 4
Allows you to play lower notes
Switch Positions
3 vs 0
More tone options
Pickups
SSS vs Split S
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Number of Frets
21 vs 20
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.625'' (41.3mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
30'' (762mm) vs 34'' (863.6mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
7.25'' (184.2mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass vs Vintera II '60s Bass VI

Middle Pickup
Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass vs Fender Vintage-Style Bass VI Single-Coil
Different Middle Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
4 vs 6
Different Headstock

Shared Features
Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass vs Vintera II '60s Bass VI

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone
Same Nut Material
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Vintage Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Retainer Bar
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass Prices

SET PRICE ALERT
SET PRICE ALERT

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Hand Size Comfortability

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass favors large hands more than the Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI.

Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI meets 5 out of our 6 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass meets only 3. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Woods Used in the Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass

Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

Woods Used in the Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Winner: Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass has an Split S configuration while the Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI has SSS pickups.

A Split S, or split single-coil pickup, has a classic, warm, and punchy tone, characterized by a strong midrange presence and noise reduction. Its design cancels out interference, making it suitable for various musical styles and ideal for live performances and studio recording.

On the other hand, SSS is perfect for players who like to play clean. The definition you get between notes and the crispiness is unmatched by most other configurations. You can still use it for distortion, but you won't get the same kind of output and power compared to a humbucker, and the hum they produce also makes them less adequate for high gain.

Pickups Quality

Both come with some of the top pickups on the market. You can't go wrong with either of them. You'll probably never need a pickup upgrade.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Preamp Circuit

A preamp in an electric bass functions as an electronic circuit that acts as an interface between the bass's pickups and the amplifier. Its main purpose is to amplify and customize the bass's initial signal before it reaches the amplifier, offering enhanced control over factors like tone, volume, and sound attributes. Preamps typically come equipped with tone adjustments, equalization options, and sometimes built-in effects, empowering bass players to fine-tune their sound to suit their personal preferences and the musical environment.

Both basses have a Passive preamp.

Passive: A bass with a passive preamp lacks an onboard electronic circuit for tone shaping and signal boosting. Instead, it relies solely on passive pickups and basic tone controls, typically consisting of volume and tone knobs. Passive preamps don't require an external power source like batteries, making them low-maintenance and dependable. While they offer a simpler and more straightforward tonal character, passive basses are appreciated for their warm and vintage sound, often favored in genres like classic rock, blues, and funk. They are an excellent choice for musicians who value the simplicity and timeless appeal of their instrument's tone without the need for active electronic components.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

The Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI gives you 3 switch options while the Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass gives you 0. This means that the Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass
Pickups 100
Sustain 65
Versatility 75
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 80
Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 93
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 82

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass compares to the Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass is built in Japan while the Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI is made in United States.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your bass to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Synthetic Bone nuts. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass's are Standard Open-Gear while the Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI's are Fender Vintage-Style

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a bass is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass
  • Made in Japan
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Active Preamp
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Active Preamp
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass
Quality of materials 51
Features 70
Quality Control 80
Build Quality 67
Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI
Quality of materials 66
Features 75
Quality Control 85
Build Quality 75

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a bass might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a bass feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass Nut Width
Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass Nut Width
Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI Nut Width
Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI has the wider nut with 41.9mm (1.65'') vs 41.3mm (1.625''). This is a 0.6mm (0.025'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass's Scale Length
Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass's Scale Length
Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI's Scale Length
Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI's Scale Length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

The Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass has the longest scale: 34". The Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI is only 30" long. This is a 4'' (101.6mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the bass sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass Neck Profile
Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass's neck profile
Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI Neck Profile
Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass and the Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass Fingerboard Radius
Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass's Fingerboard radius
Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI Fingerboard Radius
Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI's Fingerboard radius

Most bass fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass.

Fret Size

Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass Frets Size
Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass's Frets Size
Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI Frets Size
Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI's Frets Size

The Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI has Vintage Tall frets, which should be taller than the Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass's Medium Jumbo frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72
Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 75