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A Mexi thing

Cygnus X-1

Cygnus X-1

May 8, 2008
248
22
Bethlehem, PA
#1
Over the last few months I have received some pretty good advice from many TB'ers. The one that sticks out the most is bass value. Some have stated "you get what you pay for" while others believe that a more inexpensive (or modestly priced) instrument can be as good, if not even better than a more expensive bass. In my case, I am referring to my MIAs vs my MIM Classic 60's Jazz. While for all intents and purposes, the MIAs are said to be made of better components. I find that my Classic 60s is my go to bass. It is the one who has the tone I desire, the feel and playability that I love and the classic look that warms my heart.

Now this is not to say that my MIA 08 Jazz and P are not great, they are. It's just something special about my little mexican buddy that makes her worthy of hanging with the pack.

Anyone else?


Here is my Mexi
IMG_Jazz60.gif
 
#3
I keep going back to Mexican Jazzes. I want to paint my headstock black to match my body and get the right decal to make it an F-Off if I ever switch out the pickups and make any mods to it.

Not any time soon, but it's at least a reason to keep my Mexi Standard.
 
#4
Do a search here, and you'll find that lots of folks speak well of thier MIM fenders. They aren't the greatest basses, but they tend to be well made, good playing, workhorse instruments. I've never met the MIM that could convince me it was MIA, but that shouldn't detract from the nice instruments that they are. My first bass was a MIM precision, and it is still (in it's modded state) one of my main go-to basses for gigging.
 
#5
I have a mim and a mia. I will agree the newer Mexican basses are great and I love mine but I think the American ones are made better. My mia just feels more solid and the neck is more comfortable and doesn't need to be adjusted as much as my mim.
Both are great but you do get what you pay for.
 
#6
I've got a Dirnt Sig., which is MIM. Amazing bass, and not just for the money. And my Geddy Sig., also an amazing bass. Both can hang with any MIA fender out there.

Used to have a MIM standard P... definately not up to par with a MIA fender. You win some, you lose some.

Considering that QC can vary within any trim level, MIA's are generally better, but there are for sure some MIM fenders out there that have the right mojo.
 
#7
I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of NYC's go-to luthiers this summer for a long talk. In his opinion, if purchasing a production instrument (his wasn't big on coffee table bass either) he'd buy a MIM Fender. I can't remember the names, but he rattled off Fender guys from the pre CBS era who were from Mexico as well as a good amount of the Fullerton crowd.

With a little bit of love, is his opinion, they can be a heck of a bass. That was just after I bought my MIA, so I wasn't able to cash in on his advice.
 
#8
I have a '63 P and a 2000 MIM J. The J feels as good, is as well made, and overall performs and looks every bit as good. My ONLY complaint about the J is that it's about 1.5 pounds heavier than the P.

I haven't owned a new MIA, but since the '63 P is supposed to be one of the holy grails of Fender-dom and the MIM J is every bit as good, wouldn't you say that's a pretty complementary comparison? :cool:
 
#9
FWIW, with the quality variation that exists on MIMs and MIAs, I haven't really seen the MIAs to be significantly better on a regular basis. IMHO, MIA's main edge is offering various features and models that aren't always available on the MIM series.

No matter how much or little a bass costs, what matters is that YOU are happy with it.
 
#11
I had a burgundy MIM Fretless Jazz and a sunburst MIM P and they were both solid basses. Both were well under $300 used also.

I did find that MIA (and even a CIJ Geddy Lee) were MUCH better on gigs. They cut better and sounded better IMO. Both of my basses were given BAII bridges and SD Basslines pickups. Made a huge difference and sounded great.
 
#14
I have a fretless mexi jazz and it has been a nightmare- lots of great tone but the neck warped bad right away and american made parts don't fit it-slight diffferences in calibrations all over the instrument. Fine when I was a beginner but I moved on to a Schecter and it was better built and is a better workhorse in my opinion. :bassist:
 
#15
I've played excellent Fenders at every price point. One of the two best P-Basses I've ever played was an MIM Hoppus. I even played a 5-string Squier the other day that I'd have no qualms about owning if I were in the market for one.

I do believe in "you get what you pay for" for the most part, but there are a lot of variables when it comes to wooden musical instruments. Paying more will usually get you some nicer amenities, and your chances are probably higher of getting a better bass, but it doesn't guarantee a winner every time. I also believe in "try before you buy" wherever possible.
 
#18
My sunburst MIM Jazz 4-string is all modded up and worn in, but it's still my go-to bass for playing around the house and even some recording! I've had it for years now, and even though I've amassed a pile of Warwicks and a vintage Stingray, "Chester" is still the one bass that will never be sold for any reason, whatsoever.
 
#19
There's not too much difference between a bass made in Mexico by Mexicans, and one made in California... by Mexicans. ;)

I have found some decent MIM guitars and basses. Some have been very average (decent, but nothing special), and some others have really struck me as special - but those were usually not the standard models. I play my MIM's just as much (if not more) than my MIA Fenders. (I do like my MIJ P bass too - it was made in Japan... by Mexicans! hahaha - j/k!!)
 
#20
I found this "Special Edition 60th Ann." in GC, used for under $300. A little more heavy than my MIAs, but still plays and sounds terrific.

Plus I'm not sure what the difference is between Mexicans in Corona, Cal. and Mexicans in Ensenada, BC Mexico. About two hundred miles, I expect. :hiding:

IMG_0122.jpg
 

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