Mexican vs USA fenders

mij/cij if you are getting a fender jazz imo

They are some threads about this already here

American's basically are higher quality than Mexican made ones, but that doesn't mean they're bad.

I've owned a few Am Fenders, both P and J and liked all of them. I have owned LOTS of Standard Mexi Ps and Js and liked most of them, some more than others. They need to be cherry picked, although I would say the general quality overall has improved over recent years. There is a major diff in price, first of all and that will usually determine what one buys. If you can afford an Am, get one. If not, look at several Mexis and pick out the best one. They are decent instruments and can be modified/upgraded easily and relatively cheaply without the feeling that you've destroyed a potential piece of history...

I think with any Fender (especially MIA), you need to test drive first. There are definitely good'ns... But there are also enough bad'ns as well!

On the CIJ ones, I don't think that's as much of an issue. I don't think I've ever heard anyone complain about the QC on a CIJ.

Both are good and slap well, the american has more options.

Just try before you buy.

Which models are MIJ/CIJ?

Geddy, Marcus sig, some of the reissues.

Here's my advice that can be applied to many basses (especially Fender's!!!!): Try it before you buy it!!! IF not, make sure there is a good return policy!

I've owned many Fender basses at one point or another and many have them were purchased sight unseen, which was a big mistake. There were a couple of instances though in which I went to a store, picked up a Fender and it spoke to me like no other. Those basses are the keepers. They really are rare though.

Marcus said:

Here's my advice that can be applied to many basses (especially Fender's!!!!): Try it before you buy it!!! IF not, make sure there is a good return policy!

Click to expand...

Marcus nailed this one. I picked up a 2002 MIM Jazz Standard that was in "like new" condition (one 1 mm "less-than-ding" on the back of the body) that led me to believe this was purchased for someone who wanted to play bass, and then sat in the closet or under a bed for 4 years. Besides the absolute killer condition it also resonated like a songbird unplugged, always a great sign. I grabbed it up for a price so low that a good deal of my friends here would throw a punch at me for ( ) but after upgrading the bridge, pickguard (White Pearloid on Midnight Wine = Tasty!), pickups to Bassline SJB-2 Hots, and a good set-up it's now become my fabulous "Passive 4-String" that my collection needed for both tone, recording purposes (sometimes you simply need a good passive bass) and the calling for a 4-string that my was being whispering to my brain for a while at that point. Next set is upgrading the tuners to a higher-quality set as well as a Hipshot Bass eXtender, but that can wait for a bit as I'm not gigging currently.

Point being, I had played a great deal of both MIM, MIJ, and MIA locally over the past few years and can totally agree. I played MIAs that were fantastic and in hindsight wished I had found a way to purchase (an amazing American Deluxe Precision 5, anyone? ) and MIMs that has no resonance whatsoever... but also the reverse, MIAs that had no buisness being so, and MIMs like mine that were great "platforms" to be upgraded (and honestly, was certainly gigable in it's purchase state). Just be prepared to "shop around", or if you're in the position like me where you have to shop via online store (in my cases, it's because I purchase on MF.com's credit and for the most part am stuck to them for my purchases) be ready to ship a bass back if you're not sastisfied (although it's all of $12 to ship back FedEx Ground, so that's hardly a backbreaker financially).

If the bass is configured in a way you like, I don't think the differences between an MIA and MIM are significant. Good ones are good ones, not-so-good ones aren't that great.

I'd buy CIJ over Mex or USA. I have played more CIJ Fenders that impressed me than USA or Mex ones.

if you want a good slap tone you might want to consider an active bass
gives you a little more pop to your sound

Buy an American Jazz or P for that matter and you'll be good to play in almost any situsation.

There are good MIM Jazzes to be had... after I set it up, my Jazz is one of the easiest playing basses I have ever played. The easiest playing bass was the Geddy Lee I would buy a Geddy Lee, it's the best sounding Jazz bass I have played.

Well, my philosophy is fairly straightforward. I like to buy US anytime I can. That's me. However, the best advice has been given: Try them all. Pick the one that works best for YOU! Don't take anyone's recommendation other than your own. If it happens to be MIA, then great! However, if the others work for you better, then so be it....

I was told that the Mexican basses have inferior pickups but i'm not sure if its true.

I have a Fender Deluxe Active Jazz and I like it more than any USA i've played (except a custom shop).

You can't tell without playing them. I like my buddy's Squier J better than I liked my pre CBS P and J. A dozen American made basses will probably be better on average than a dozen Mexican versions, but any single Mexican might knock your socks off. Play as many as you can without preset ideas, including non J's and non Fenders if you haven't played a bunch. If you don't spend all afternoon blasting the same licks over and over too loud in the store(s), everyone will still hate the dweeb impressing himself with a wankathon and you'll be fine. PLAY AS MANY AS YOU CAN.

Everyone pretty much covered it. As for jazz vs. precision, I would say the jazz bass is "better" for slap, but that's my opinion sound wise. You can get a wider range of sounds from the jazz also. Try and test each one out first.