CIJ vs MIJ- differences and comments?

[dryheatbob]

I was in a Sam Ash last weekend noodling on a Marcus Miller and 51 RI long enough to make the sales guys nervous. Great basses, both of them, in their own respects. Played a couple of MIA jazzes and a precision after that, sort of a A/B comparison and didn't see enough of a quality difference to warrant the higher price- didn't notice any quality change at all, really. Got the feeling my 45th B'day present to myself is coming from Japan.

What they didn't have were any MIJ basses, and that's when I got to thinking: what's the difference between a CIJ and MIJ bass? Are different materials/ parts used on comparable models? Is quality control tighter on one vs the other?


How are they in a A/B comparison? Anyone have a chance to play few side by side?

So what do you guys think?

Bob

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

MIJ - Made in Japan
CIJ - Crafted in Japan

I dont think there is any difference, i could be wrong tho

I think they just changed the terminology not too long back

 

[KeithBMI]

I thought the major difference was that one bass was

Made in Japan... and the other was Crafted in Japan.

(Isn't it the same thing?)

 

[jonathan_matos5]

think mij equal assembly line cij custom shop but in japan

 

[Jim Carr]

think mij equal assembly line cij custom shop but in japan

I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying that CIJ is made by a
Japanese custom shop? I haven't heard about this. Can you give us more
information? Thanks!

 

[jonathan_matos5]

I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying that CIJ is made by a
Japanese custom shop? I haven't heard about this. Can you give us more
information? Thanks!

cij is more of the specialty basses like the reissues and some of the artist signature basses mij is well made in japan. is that better?

 

[dryheatbob]

So it seems CIJ= more hands on attention. Got it.

What are some favorites ya'll have played- CIJ or MIJ?

 

[jonathan_matos5]

i like the 51 reissue p bass and the marcus miller jazz for cij
and for mij im a fan of the pbass lyte

 

[Jim Carr]

cij is more of the specialty basses like the reissues and some of the artist signature basses mij is well made in japan. is that better?

Yes, thanks.
But does anyone know if they are made in the same place by the same
people and machines?

 

[jonathan_matos5]

Yes, thanks.
But does anyone know if they are made in the same place by the same
people and machines?

not that its a reliable scource but i heard from a local gc employee that its the same shop but fender stopped importing the mij's to the US and only import the cij's

 

[Jim Carr]

not that its a reliable scource but i heard from a local gc employee that its the same shop but fender stopped importing the mij's to the US and only import the cij's

Here is what I found at Invalid Link Removed

"Fender Japan began in 1982 and their JV line of guitars was halted at
the end of 1983. Starting in 1984, the “MIJ” (made in Japan) decade
began and continued through 1994. From 1994 until today, Fender
Japan guitars are stamped with the “CIJ” (crafted in Japan) logo...

...Fender Japan also has a Custom Shop and Order-Made division.
Many of these models were and still are for Japan only, and not
intended for export, and are difficult to purchase direct from Japan,
except through private collectors such as myself..."

Interesting, No?

 

[ClassicJazz]

Interesting...not one correct answer so far, except for Jim Carr's post!

Ok.....MIJ and CIJ.....same thing! Originally Japanese Fenders were all MIJ "Made in Japan". At some point Fender changed MIJ to CIJ "Crafted in Japan". Only Fender really knows why they changed, I heard just a marketing thing or it had to do with serial numbers.

The post that said "fender stopped importing the mij's to the US and only import the cij's"....well not correct.

Japanese Fenders, be the ones they sell in the USA or the ones that are only for the asian market all are CIJ. Both my Geddy Lee Jazz and the 62 RI Jazz Fretless I ordered from Japan (Japanese model not sold in the USA) both are CIJ.

 

[dryheatbob]

Here is what I found at Invalid Link Removed

"Fender Japan began in 1982 and their JV line of guitars was halted at
the end of 1983. Starting in 1984, the “MIJ” (made in Japan) decade
began and continued through 1994. From 1994 until today, Fender
Japan guitars are stamped with the “CIJ” (crafted in Japan) logo...

...Fender Japan also has a Custom Shop and Order-Made division.
Many of these models were and still are for Japan only, and not
intended for export, and are difficult to purchase direct from Japan,
except through private collectors such as myself..."

Interesting, No?

Well, that's about as difinitive a statement as I think we're gonna get.

CIJ does have a 24K gold sound to it, though.

I'm leaning toward a Pbass, but haven't found one local. Given the feel of the MM and 51RI I played, I may go ahead and buy one sight unseen from one of the Japanese import sites.

I did play a couple MIM jazzes that day, and well... the CIJ's definitely outclassed them. I can't honestly say why they felt better, but I think I'd be able to tell CIJ from MIM in a blind comparison.


Bob

 

[tplyons]

Same thing, CIJ is what happened when they ran out of serial numbers and started over.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

Same thing, CIJ is what happened when they ran out of serial numbers and started over.

This is the correct version.

But the other theories were amusing!

 

[DEFUNKTED]

You really can't got wrong with these CIJ basses as it seems that mostly all of them are great players...

I bought a 70's reissue ash P-bass from Ishibashi and they were great to deal with and I had the bass a week later at a great price.

The neck on this bass is awesome, prefectly straight, smooth fretwork and overall great feel.

Fender Japan has great selection of styles, some of which you won't see in the US very often...

Highly recommended!

 

[dangnewt]

I wonder if the timing had anything to do with Fender's Mexican plant.

I could see a marketing person want to try to differentiate the Japanese-made from the Mexican made with the somewhat classier CIJ label.

MIA already had plenty of positive marketing vibe to it. Plus CIA sends the entire wrong signal to the bass-playing public (especially the international one!)

 

[Bass1969]

MIJ 1951 P-bass was made by XX

CIJ 1951 P-bass was made by YY

Not trying to be a smart ass. Fender contracted with the XX company for sometime then dropped XX for YY. I have the details somewhere in my Fender files. Simply stated, MIJ and CIJ were made by different companies ostensibly to Fender's rough specs. The MIJs are thought to be more like the Telecaster Bass of the late 60s-mid 70s with the single coil PUP. I have a MIJ from the 80s I guess. Really a work horse bass.

 

[Gorn]

MIJ 1951 P-bass was made by XX

CIJ 1951 P-bass was made by YY

Not trying to be a smart ass. Fender contracted with the XX company for sometime then dropped XX for YY. I have the details somewhere in my Fender files. Simply stated, MIJ and CIJ were made by different companies ostensibly to Fender's rough specs. The MIJs are thought to be more like the Telecaster Bass of the late 60s-mid 70s with the single coil PUP. I have a MIJ from the 80s I guess. Really a work horse bass.

I think the impact of any unintentional smartassery diminishes after 16 years.

 

[Bass1969]

This is not what I filed away but it's close:

"The difference is in the factory that made them. MIJ Fenders were made by Fujigen Gakki (that also made the Japanese Ibanez instruments) between 1982 and roughly 1996. The CIJ Fenders were mostly made by Dyna Gakki and Tokai from 1997 to ~2006". There is a great book "The History of Japanese Guitars" by Frank Meyers that documents who built what, when, where and the transitions from one trading company to another.