• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

american fender VS. made in mexico

#21
I bought the MIM Jazz cuz it was the right price and I could see it was a setup issue that it had been traded in for. Got it like i want it and have played only one MIA that I would trade it for.

I do think I am going for a Pbass of some kind I like the sound.
Kind being Fender but MIA or MIM depends on the what I hear when I play.

Factories are just that and you find good workers in any factory as well as some that shouldn't be working there. IMHO. Play all the basses from any factory and I imagine it works out the same. Hopefully the good guys out produce the bad guys.

tk
 
#22
A few points:

First, opinions on subjective issues like tone, mojo and playability are relatively worthless to anyone but the guy making them. I consider this a waste of time. I'd rather stick to objective matters, such as QC, parts and materials, which are not matters of opinion.

The MIMs have parts and materials that are comprehensively cheaper and inferior to the corresponding MIA models. The last time I checked the parts lists, the only parts the MIM "Standard" and the MIA "American" (not "American Standard," which ceased production in 2000) had in common were the pots and jack. Does that mean that the MIMs can't sound and play well? No, but it means that the MIMs are cheaper for a reason and that they are different instruments from the corresponding MIA models - not the same instrument made in different factories. They are completely different instruments that superficially resemble each other.

That said, I don't know how Ensenada can possibly turn out worse QC than Corona currently has. Corona fret detailing is typically appalling - including the worst I have ever seen on any guitar or bass at any price point in over forty years - and the neck polyurethane finish is so ineptly applied will start peeling off within a couple of years, whether you actually play the instrument or not.

Fender will not warrant finish peeling, claiming that it's a climatic problem. It's about 10% climatic and about 90% poor prep, mix, application or curing. A Fujigen Gakki Fender Japan instrument sitting in a stand right next to the FMIC instrument will show none of these problems with its polyurethane neck finish.

QC is a management decision and can be turned up or down at any time, just like a thermostat. The current Corona output is worse than anything I ever saw come out of CBS, and it's because someone in FMIC's executive level decided it made good economic sense to ship trash for a while.

It appears that Fender Ensenada is attempting to better their QC while Corona is letting theirs slip. More and more production processes are moving to Ensenada from Corona. What does this all mean? Who knows?

Here is a very nice photo spread on the Invalid Link Removed done last month by my buddy, Mark Wong. Mark's become a fan of Mexican Fenders.

Personally, I'm buying no more FMIC product until the QC and warranty business is straightened out.
 
#23
Thanks for the link! That's a terrific factory tour. BTW, I'm pleased with my '97 MIM P-bass. Note that the cavity needed shielding and the neck required tightening after a little wear. No big deal... overall the bass plays and sounds great. I'm no pro tho, so I can't offer an informed comparison to MIA products.
 
#24
Originally posted by Bass
Thanks for the link! That's a terrific factory tour.
Click to expand...
Yeah, Mark did a great job with the photos. He showed the spread to me as soon as he got back - sick as a dog with the flu!

He's going to be doing an interview with Fender marketing shortly. I'm sort of worried that he's becoming a FMIC lapdog as he's too nice a guy to ask the hard questions that really need to be asked.:hmm: FMIC was very pleased with the Ensenada article; he submitted it to them prior to publication.
 
#27
Well as both my Jazz and Stingray are actives I'd thought I'd get a passive for some festivals we were doing. Always had gas for a Precision so I though I'd check out the bay. Sure enough I found one (£250 MiM) and went for it. Turned out to be one of the best basses I've had! I guess I was lucky.

A few mods, mainly cosmetic, although I did swap out the machines.

Old piccy... sorry...

Link Removed
 
#28
Fender USA = better components (and not always better workmanship).

Fender Mexico = cheaper components (and frequently better workmanship).

A few choice aftermarket parts can turn the right MIM Fender into a real players axe.
 
#30
I recently bought a MIM P, probably the cheapest bass I've bought in ages!

Goes to show that it's not how much you pay....it plays and sounds awesome.

I wanted to get a dirty JJ Burnel tone - and with the Markbass setup, the P didn't let me down.

I know that (not necessarily on TB) in certain quarters, the MIM stuff is a little looked down upon, but if it fells right, play it!

When someone watches you play, 9/10 times they'll be more interested in how you play, not what you play. Even if you left the price tag on, they probably wouldn't be able to see it anyway!
 
#31
At the risk of getting flamed it seems alot of these mim vs US Fender threads seems to echo a need to justify having bought a less expensive bass rather than a more expensive bass. I have owned several mim basses (all early to mid 90's) and they have been nothing short of great for the money. Swapped out the pickups on a couple of them but that was down to personal taste...nothing wrong with the original ones. That said, given the choice between an 08 mia and any mim, the US made model wins with me. Fender seemed to turn a corner in 08. Sure you can find a bad apple on any tree but the 08 Fenders quality and control are a vast improvement over past years. Just my two cents.......
 
#32
I have stopped caring what is on the headstock. MIM, Squier, Epiphone... it all really doesn't matter. I like my MIM P-Bass, I like VM Squier Jazz, and I like my "no-name" German five string. They sound great to me.

Honestly, people who worry about the names on their stocks need something more interesting to do... like play music.
 
#34
Personally I'd always buy the Squier over the MIM - the VM squiers are just great for the money, beat the heck out of MIMs in my book. Wouldn't take much in upgrades to make me a super happy camper with a VM Pbass.
 
#35
A few years ago when I was in the market for a Fender Precision bass, I asked the same questions about MIA vs. MIM. During that time, I had been at quite a few places where live music was being played. In each band, the bassists were playing either Fender J or P basses. All of them had MIM basses and all did significant mods; replaced the bridge, replaced the pickups, replaced the tuners, had fret work done, etc. My main reason for wanting a MIM was to save money on the purchase. If I was going to mod the bass to my liking and spend all that extra cash, why not just buy a MIA and get the added benefit of appreciating more in value over time?

I bought a 2006 Fender MIA P-bass in that year and have done no other mod than to add strap locks. Three years later and I'm still happy with the bass as is.
 
#36
I had to dress the frets in my MIM Pbass, and had to shim the neck to get it right on the MIM J5. Shielding for both and they become very good instruments for $300 all in.

But if you're not into doing a little work, you'll have to search carefully for one that's good-to-go without additional work, imho.

Of search the TB for sale pages for MIM's that have been tweaked. I'll have that midnite blue J5 up there soon. It plays WORLDs better now that I;ve addressed the action issue.

The MIA, likely as the Laklands I typically use, are close to perfect out of the box, only needing a little tweak to suit the individual.

I'll say this, learning to play on a bass that isnt setup right, if a newbie can even tell, is much more challenging.
 
#37
I have always felt the MIM is a better investment than a MIA. I bought a MIM a few times when i was shopping for a MIA and just could not justify the cost of the MIA. I modded one MIM an Agave blue one with Fender RI pups and bridge. It is as good as any MIA i have had my hands on in recent years. Find a good MIM and see for yourself.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back