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Fender MIA Quality Problem

#21
I think that two things affect the perception of Fender's QC. First is that I've never seen one off the shelf with a decent setup job - in fact many are downright poor altogether (IMHO). I usually have to try and imagine how the bass would play with a good setup. Second, is that I seem to find them only in GC or similar chains and they've been beat to hell in the store - dirty\dusty, out of tune, scratched, loose knobs, etc.

That said, it is rare that I pick up a Fender that does not have some kind of blemish\imperfection (or several). I do see some inconsistency in tone and weight as well from time to time, I suppose in part due to wood selection. So you may find one that looks perfect, but is heavy and\or weaker in terms of tone. Finding one that hits across the board is tough. All IME\IMHO of course.

I do not think this is unique to Fender, though. I find this true with most brands in the price range (say $1K or less). Gibson is FAR worse in this department than Fender. I've went looking at Les Pauls yesterday and was really blown away at the rough fretwork, messy binding and cheap looking (premium) tops - and these listed for $5K+. Tried a couple of PRS guitars alongside those and there is no comparison in terms of quality.
 
#23
So how come if MIA Fender's put out all these crappy basses, where are they and why can't I find them? I play basses that come in to local stores. They all feel fine to me.
 
#25
I paid $1500. Externally it was a beauty. The ash selected was of top quality, its light weight, and has awesome tone. But that doesn't help me when the tone pot decides it no longer wants to work or the neck decides that the truss rod doesn't wanna work.
 
#26
For me, my jazz bass looks\feels perfect. Nice rolled fingerboard edges and beautiful ash grain through a transparent finish. Can't seem to get the depth of tone though - nice and bright, which I like. But a bit thin. Even with a set of decent pickups I like the punch, but wish there was more depth...
 
#27
I also had a deposit on a Fender Jazz 24...the one made in Korea with Bassline pickups and the 3 EQ preamp. Loved the way it sounded when I played it in the store. Told the salesman to wrap it up but to please adjust the neck a little before I made the final purchase. A few minutes later he came back and told me that he couldn't get the truss rod to budge in either direction. Left the store with no bass and a lot of frustration. This was not in any GC...it was in a mid sized local music store in town. Another Fender quality problem.
 
#28
Alexander said:
For me, my jazz bass looks\feels perfect. Nice rolled fingerboard edges and beautiful ash grain through a transparent finish. Can't seem to get the depth of tone though - nice and bright, which I like. But a bit thin. Even with a set of decent pickups I like the punch, but wish there was more depth...
Click to expand...

Ash as a tonewood has an inherent "mid scoop." Time for an active EQ. (You know you want one... ;) )
 
#29
I used to believe wood mattered, too. Then I recorded all my basses and found out just how similar all my P basses are no matter what the wood is. It really doesn't make a difference.
 
#30
My US made Fender also had issues, You guys in the states have it good. For a Fender MM5 here we pay anywhere between $3500-$4500 and wait 4 months. Mine wasn't in what you would call quality condition when it arrived and It's impossible to believe it didn't leave the factory that way. I should post the QC card with the signatures on it.

WAIT I have the answer. As posted in another similar thread

I say this with a smile but your all on crack. You should be buying Belmans out of Melbourne in Australia. They are all made here in the good old downunder with only quality Aussie parts with only quality Australian timbers and electronics and true craftsman of Australia.

Did I say Australia and quality enough. Australia - Quality.

Compared to Australian made, mia, mim mik, mij are all second rate build and materials.

Think quality think mia, Made in Australia, you steal the english language and call it your own (web sites with US flag next to english, wow that's funny I thought english flag looked different) and now your stealing the mia abbreviation.

Did I mention quality???

I forgot, the premium line is made in Australia, but if you haven't got the bucks you can get the budget model that's foreign made in the US. And the middle of the range is also made in US but has Australian electronics! And yes the craftsman hired are immigrated from Mexico!

;) ;) ;) ;)
 
#35
JimmyM said:
Poking a bee hive for any other reason than to collect honey is dumb.
Click to expand...

Agreed, but the frustration of stupid bigot posts I thought is better dealt with humor than anything else. My post only says what the bigots say in reverse and with no malice at all. I would have thought of it more like a whole lot of smoke to subdue the bees so that they may think again before stinging those who like something other than mia. The honey in this case is a non biast opinion to those who ask........
 
#36
I haven't seen any "bigoted" posts about MIA's in this thread. I've seen posts attacking MIA quality, and I've seen posts saying MIA's are good quality. Seems to me you're poking a beehive that really doesn't exist.
 
#37
JimmyM said:
I haven't seen any "bigoted" posts about MIA's in this thread. I've seen posts attacking MIA quality, and I've seen posts saying MIA's are good quality. Seems to me you're poking a beehive that really doesn't exist.
Click to expand...

That I don't agree to. Over the last two years there have been many many posts in numerous threads that either imply or even state that the reason to buy mia is that it is just better, it keeps jobs in US or mexican made is poor quality etc etc etc. You only have to look through the threads including those over the last few days to see this. The fact that almost EVERY time Fender is said it has (MIA) is enough.

My point is not to knock the mias. My only two right now are Fender mia. All my gear is from USA. Fender, Eden, Crown etc
When someone new on here asks about Fenders and what relationship the place of manufacture has upon the instrument, I believe they should get a real answer. Not a political or patriotic one. The quality and playability, the sound is what it's really about to most buying and I believe that's what they want to read about.

What I said in my (meant to be humor) post was a direct set of sentences that I have read in one form or another on this very forum man many times over and bit my tongue. After some time it's just getting plain boring and reduces the quality of learning ability we all have to get some valid substantiated information.

I think if this is constantly put out there it wouldn't hurt to hear it the other way around for one. Mine wasn't even serious!!!!

What would be said if I claimed that Belmans actually were better than a Fender. The sky would fall.

The bees need to look outside their hive once and a while to see the rest of the world looking in disappointment of their attitude towards the rest of us. Most bees do and can, some are just plain ignorant.
 
#38
Over here in Istanbul we have the same pricing (shipping, import duty, sales tax, special consumer tax) problems. A bog-standard MIA Greasebucket Jazz now weighs in at around 2500 Euros (crackly pots and buzzy pickups included). Honestly, I just stood and blinked at the guy. I really don't want to wait four months for something so expensive and that might not be right when it turns up (deposit non refundable). Fender is a big operation and they probably do ship far more instruments than can be adequately checked, but for those of us who have to make a leap of faith and order something sight unseen a better QC reputation would offer great peace of mind.
 
#39
Well what about people who think MIA's are the best Fenders because they think they're made better? I'm one of them. I've played them all, and I think the best ones I've played have consistently been MIA's. I've played some good MIJ's, CIJ's, and even an occasional MIM that has been good. But I think the build quality of MIA's is better. Simple as that. It has nothing to do with nationalism. You're totally imagining that it has something to do with nationalism. I have never once, in two years of being on Talkbass, seen someone say that you should buy MIA Fenders because it saves American jobs.
 

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