I'm sure that this thread has been brought up several times before. But I want to know everybody's honest opinion on the differences between buying an American Fender PBass and a Mexican Fender PBass. I'm trying to decide if it's worth the extra money to buy an American over a Mexican.
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Fender American vs. Mexican
- Thread starter blues_bassist
- Start date
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
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- have been on nationally released albums, charting on the Billboard 200
The Mexican Fenders can be really really nice. The Classic series and Roadworn series players tend to love. Also, the Mexican Fenders are easier to upgrade/customize. They can be found used for pretty cheap. I almost bought a Mexican Classic Series 60s J. Thing was sweet. Keep in mind that US made Fenders (except Custom Shop) are still put together on an assembly line.
It seems like a topic that might have been discussed several times before, but maybe not. I'm just looking for some good advice.
Well.....OK....but methinks that, as usual, it will not end well.
Here goes:
I currently play everything from MIA to MIM, so I can give my opinion honestly. My recent purchase of n American Special Precision was outstanding. It is by far, one the best basses I have ever owned along with my 62RI P and my 75RI Jazz and 57RI P.
I also own a FSR Antigua Precision - MIM. It too, is second to none. The fit and finish are perfect and it plays like a charm. Is it on the same level as the MIA's ? No. Is it a great gigging bass that I have no problem going on stage (large or small) with? yes!
The closest comparison between the MIA and the MIM is the American Special (roughly in the same price range).
I will grab the American Special now, before anything else, including the Ric. I am in LOVE with her. I literally LOVE picking her up and playing her. The Antigua FSR sits a little more because of that, but no problems. I enjoy playing it nearly as much.
The quality of the recent MIM's has only gotten better. They seem to improve each day now.
Here goes:
I currently play everything from MIA to MIM, so I can give my opinion honestly. My recent purchase of n American Special Precision was outstanding. It is by far, one the best basses I have ever owned along with my 62RI P and my 75RI Jazz and 57RI P.
I also own a FSR Antigua Precision - MIM. It too, is second to none. The fit and finish are perfect and it plays like a charm. Is it on the same level as the MIA's ? No. Is it a great gigging bass that I have no problem going on stage (large or small) with? yes!
The closest comparison between the MIA and the MIM is the American Special (roughly in the same price range).
I will grab the American Special now, before anything else, including the Ric. I am in LOVE with her. I literally LOVE picking her up and playing her. The Antigua FSR sits a little more because of that, but no problems. I enjoy playing it nearly as much.
The quality of the recent MIM's has only gotten better. They seem to improve each day now.
FWIW: I own both and I like both.
NOTE: and FWIW, however the MIAs hold their resale value better.
NOTE: and FWIW, however the MIAs hold their resale value better.
My Mexican Fender understands Spanish quite well, something my MIA cannot do..
Yeah it's been said before. USA wins hands down because of the pick ups and hardware, if only compared to the Mexican standard. However as others have pointed out the are certain series of Mexican made basses that are outstanding. ie the roadworn series. The extra cost is really up to your wallet.
- Jun 10, 2003
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I'm no expert on the MIM line. But about 2 months ago I played an MIM Standard P bass and as far as sheer playability goes....wow!! Couldn't tell you anything about the hardware, pickups or other materials, but this thing played too good to be true. Right on par or better than some MIA's I've tried. If I didn't have my MIJ P bass I would have bought that MIM in a heartbeat.
I have both and like both. My MIA was great out of the box, has nicer hardware, and nicer features (graphite rods, rolled edges, etc.). I also prefer to buy American when possible. My MIM took some work to become great. Nothing major, but I did end up replacing almost every part of it eventually, except for the neck and body.
I bought two Mexican fender basses brand new back in the early 2000's when I was playing out a lot. One was a standard p, the other a fretless j. Both were great instruments for that price point.
Now my main bass is a MIM deluxe jazz from '04, it's beat to hell but I love it.
Like everything else you have to know what to expect from these basses. Not the best, but by far not the worst.
The only thing IMO that sets the MIA's apart from the MIM's is the detail in the fretwork and finish, and also the huge upgrade in hardware.
Now my main bass is a MIM deluxe jazz from '04, it's beat to hell but I love it.
Like everything else you have to know what to expect from these basses. Not the best, but by far not the worst.
The only thing IMO that sets the MIA's apart from the MIM's is the detail in the fretwork and finish, and also the huge upgrade in hardware.
As usual - I find myself in agreement with you, although I only had a fret level/dress, and nutwork done to my MIM Deluxe P Bass Special - it plays nearly as well as my MIA Fenders, but the neck isn't quite as stable as my MIA Fender necks are - they are just rock solid...
To this working bassist, the posiflex rods are worth a premium, besides the other niceties - they really help hold a setup, IME/IMO...
- georgestrings
i've got nothing bad to say about the MIM's! i worked in a music store for a few years so i played tons of them. of course every bass is different so some are better than others. i own a MIA jazz bass and to me you can definitely tell the difference. they're just better quality. whether it's worth the extra money in your budget is up to you.
I've owned MIM Precisions and Jazz basses in the past but not for long. I currently own an American Standard Jazz and Precision. The American Standard wins hands down in my opinion. Sound, build, feel, electronics and hardware are what I feel is the difference. I'm not trying to step on any toes here, that's just an old fart's opinion.
Someone told me this before: MIMs are made by Mexicans in Mexico. MIAs are made by Mexicans in America. Totally not true, but it was pretty funny.
Unless you're a famous and rich rockstar who can afford MIAs over and over, then go ahead. Only the best should play the best basses, but for normal people like us....I'd go for a MIM. I can have two MIMs for the price of one MIA.
And BOTH can be a hit or miss..
Although I wouldn't mind an MIA in my collection...hehehehe...I think a Geddy LEe MIM is about the same worth as any MIA
Unless you're a famous and rich rockstar who can afford MIAs over and over, then go ahead. Only the best should play the best basses, but for normal people like us....I'd go for a MIM. I can have two MIMs for the price of one MIA.
And BOTH can be a hit or miss..
Although I wouldn't mind an MIA in my collection...hehehehe...I think a Geddy LEe MIM is about the same worth as any MIA
This is my experience, as well. I replace everything but sometimes leave the bridges.
IME, the tuning gears work pretty well. I just don't like the way the posts are machined. That concave cut in the posts bugs me.
I think you would really have to compare them yourself. I don't have any trouble seeing that MIA basses are at least a little nicer than their MIM cousins. But how much nicer do they have to be to justify the cost difference to you? Only you can decide that for yourself. All four of my current basses are MIM Jazz basses of one kind or another, so I am certainly not a MIM hater. They are great basses. I'd sell off a couple of my MIMs and pony up the difference to buy an American Deluxe Jazz V if I could afford to, but alas I cannot right now. The other two MIMs are keepers however and if the rumored Reggie Hamilton Jazz V were to actually materialize I would probably get it over the American V. I guess that in my case nice enough is the enemy of even nicer but I can certainly understand why people buy the American Fenders. They are even nicer!
Ken
Ken
Any comparison that includes "is it worth the extra money" depends on how much money YOU have to spare. $500 means more to some than others.
FWIW there is a big difference in different MIM's. Quality control varied over the years. The newer ones seem excellent. 90's MIM's.. not so much.
FWIW there is a big difference in different MIM's. Quality control varied over the years. The newer ones seem excellent. 90's MIM's.. not so much.
