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FENDER:Japanese vs Mexican vs American

S

ShazzamDood

Nov 3, 2007
14
0
#1
I'm thinking of buying a new Pbass and I happened to find a Japanese made Pbass in 80s. It looks pretty decent and it has a maple neck. I don't know how worn out it is because i cant tell from the pics. Anyway, I did some research on Fenders MIJ and read here:

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that Japanese made Fenders from this time period were very well made. Here is even a quote that from a description of MIJ fenders at that site. Apparently the head of Fender at the time, Dan Smith said:
“Everybody came up to inspect them [the Japanese] and the guys almost cried, because the Japanese product was so good - it was what we had been having a hell of a time trying to do."
I don't know were the guy that wrote this got the quote or if its even real. Maybe the author is just really optimistic about MIJ Fenders. I don't know.

So the question is, how good are MIJ fenders compared to Mexican and American Fenders? And which is "better?"

Thanks in advance!:bassist:
 
#5
Yesterday I played 3 Alleva Coppolo Fender clones, a Sadowsky and a Dingwall. They were all just as good as my 94 MIJ 75 RI ... My 98 62 RI is almost in the same league as the 94. I ran through 8 MIJ Fenders from the late 80's throgh the late 90's before settling on these two. They were all good, these two each had something to them that made themthe keepers. Each of these basses has a custom wound pickup set and each has had pro setup work done by one of the local luthiers here.

None of the MIA Fenders that have run through my hands in the last few years has stuck.
 
#6
I've owned an 87 MIJ P-bass, and it was pretty great. More recently, I got a hold of a brand new Japan-market only CIJ 62-vintage style P through eBay - that was FANTASTIC. Cost $700 delivered, and worth much much more.
I now have 2008 MIA Ps, and they too are great - but, all told, I think the CIJ was the best of the lot. I sold it like the fool I am. Why? Told ya - I'm a fool.
 
#10
I always liked the finishes on the Japanese Fender models better. They always seemed to be very well crafted, but that was until the 08/09 American Standards came out. Suddenly we get proper glossed fingerboards & lovely satin lacquer necks. Much much better, Uncle Sam!

At the end of the day, there are going to be good and bad in all of the lines, for the very reason that they are all mass produced items. I've played some Mexican jazz basses that were utterly fantastic. I've played some American Jazzes that have been half-finished utter dogs, too. You just have to make sure you play the bass in question and if you do order blind from somewhere, be prepared for it to be either diamond or dog :)

Try before you buy.
 
#11
Spinal Tapper said:
The Japanese Fenders (especially from the 80's) are exceptionally built instruments IMO. I only play MIJ/CIJ - they're built just as well as MIA, but for about half the price
Click to expand...

Plus 100

HALF THE PRICE!

Why pay more for less?

I've got two, including the one in my avatar which I bought on ebay for $325. (Now into for $550) I will never sell it. I have not had a MIA Fender, but have several G&Ls and the Japs hold their own. I have tried a few newer Fenders, US and Mexico and they don't compare to the 80's stuff from Japan.
 
#12
I've had 3 MIM Fender basses (two Ps and a J) and 1 CIJ. In my opinion, it depends on what features you want -- there's been no noticeable difference in finish or quality in my experience.

In my case, the MIMs are very good, and even better when you factor in the price. I have gigged with all of mine, and they had no issues. The first was a fretless Jazz, which I traded off because the band I was in wanted to hear my P only; the second was that very same P, a Classic '50s that has been my main bass since I got it. The third is a Standard FSR P in natural ash that I put a Warmoth fretless neck on. Odd man out is a '51 P reissue.

All of these have finishes like glass, well finished necks and frets (those with frets) and my only problem has been the polyurethane finish on the Classic '50s, which I am rectifying by trading it in on an MIA '57 Precision, which is finished in lacquer. It so happens I'm in a position right now to buy one, but if my finances were a little tighter I would happily continue with the MIM.
 
#13
All instruments are individuals. Just because it's MIJ doesn't necessarily make it better. MIMs are not necessarily junk, either. You may have a better chance of getting a good MIJ than an MIM, I don't know.

I can tell you this - I have an '87 MIJ P-Bass that I've had since '89. I owned several MIA P-basses from the '70s through about 2000. I don't have any more MIAs. I still have the MIJ. It's just an exceptional bass and was my main instrument for 20 years. It's been rock-solid dependable, too.
 
#14
Well, I have to say that if you can get your hands on a P or J bass with serial numbers starting with JV, you will realize that you have struck gold. I have a an 82 p-bass that I picked up for $1000 here in Canada about 2 years ago that sounds and plays better than any american p bass I've ever touched. It's a re-issue of the jamerson bass responsible for all the motown hits and it totally nails the sound man. It's awesome. I also have a '73 jazz that is amazing so I know the vintage sound and the JV serials are the best bang for the buck man. They are great!
 
#15
With Japanese Fender can not miss it .. only to have them sent to change tuners, or pickups possibly...
MIM are great too, especially newer models, quality of the last year or two - significantly improved...and I think especially on this classic models..
MIA is still a standard solid.
...but you will have to decide in the end, after trying several models..
 
#17
This is all IME and IMO...
MiM: On average the quality will be lesser than the other two, but they're doing better these days. You have to really shop around for a gem with a MiM, which luckily are not super uncommon.
CiJ: As far as hit or miss goes, I've never encountered a miss with these, not as expensive as a MIA either.
MIA: Once again, I've never encountered a "miss" with a MIA, but unless you go with the highway one ((which that basses mia-ness is debate-able)) you're looking at a lot more money for a bass that really isn't much more bass than a CiJ or one of those gem MiMs.

If you're looking for a standard no frills fender pbass, I'd say check out some MiMs, and if none of them meet your fancy, get yourself a highway one.
 
#18
VincentGrim said:
This is all IME and IMO...
MiM: On average the quality will be lesser than the other two, but they're doing better these days. You have to really shop around for a gem with a MiM, which luckily are not super uncommon.
CiJ: As far as hit or miss goes, I've never encountered a miss with these, not as expensive as a MIA either.
MIA: Once again, I've never encountered a "miss" with a MIA, but unless you go with the highway one ((which that basses mia-ness is debate-able)) you're looking at a lot more money for a bass that really isn't much more bass than a CiJ or one of those gem MiMs.

If you're looking for a standard no frills fender pbass, I'd say check out some MiMs, and if none of them meet your fancy, get yourself a highway one.
Click to expand...

What constitutes a miss? Fret quality, pups, nut slots, poor machine heads, too loose in the neck pocket?
 
#20
ime, miss has been fret quality, intonation, and neck bow. I've never encountered a loose neck, but I have seen loose screws in other areas ((pickguard screws, strap pegs, bridge screws)). I've found oddities with pups in MiM standards...when I bought my mim standard pbass one of the deciding factors was that it was slightly louder and more aggressive than the others at the store. My brother's standard jazz was the same way.

EDIT:"feel" can constitute a miss as well.
 

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