mlowe, do you understand what the word "bigot" means? Because, based on your little display above, I don't think you do. I think that, before you call someone a fairly insulting name, you should probably understand what it means. 
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Fender MIA Quality Problem
- Thread starter Bassguy1
- Start date
I also bought Fender MIA for quality in general reasons. My debate isn't about there being a difference. I believe there is and the differences vary not just between nationalities but models.
I paid $3400 here for a Fender MIA that I waited 4 months for. When I opened it in the dealer It was second rate. After all the hype, constant comments about making sure it's mia It's become a soft nerve of mine now.
I did mean my comment about the Belman in a humor but the truth is I more than likely would have had a better made instrument.
I have seen many threads here talk about keeping jobs in the US and I'm happy to create some links in another post.
I think you've maybe read some of the better threads.
I paid $3400 here for a Fender MIA that I waited 4 months for. When I opened it in the dealer It was second rate. After all the hype, constant comments about making sure it's mia It's become a soft nerve of mine now.
I did mean my comment about the Belman in a humor but the truth is I more than likely would have had a better made instrument.
I have seen many threads here talk about keeping jobs in the US and I'm happy to create some links in another post.
I think you've maybe read some of the better threads.
mlowe, do you understand what the word "bigot" means? Because, based on your little display above, I don't think you do. I think that, before you call someone a fairly insulting name, you should probably understand what it means.
Absolutely, I witnessed it demonstrated a few times last time I was visiting the midwest there only a short time ago.
And the little display is only a small part of what we have had to read on here in reverse. If you feel the word is an incorrect term in this context I'm more than happy to use another word. It is quite a harsh word to use and no I'm not being sarcastic.
In the context of this discussion, stating that a MIM Fender ins inferior to a MIA Fender says nothing about the people of Mexico. Fender produces their lower quality instruments in Mexico, because labor is significantly cheaper. It's a choice they make. So when someone says "MIM Fenders are crap" or something to that extent, they are not making a bigoted comment about Mexicans, but rather a comment about the quality of instruments that come out of the Mexican Fender plant.
If you're attempting to have a political discussion, or affect some change on the world, this is probably the wrong thread for that. No bigoted comment have been made here.
Fender manufactures their strings in Mexico, too, and IMHO they are among the best strings available at any price.
The paint shop in Mexico is outstanding. I had a '95 MIM Jazz that had a (nominally) better finish tfinish than my '97 MIA Jazz.
The paint shop in Mexico is outstanding. I had a '95 MIM Jazz that had a (nominally) better finish tfinish than my '97 MIA Jazz.
Mlowe....all due respect brother I am not sure where you are going with this bigotry thing. I have read many posts on TB regarding MIA Fender quality....some good.....some not so good. I have also read comments from people who are proud to have bought a product made in their own country for whatever their reasons. Nothing wrong with that is there? I also think there is nothing wrong telling people about it so long as you don't make an ass of yourself by putting down other countries in the meantime. There will always be people who knock down other people's opinions in order to help further validate their own, like saying Fender basses made in wherever are crap etc etc. Some people bass their opinions on fact, while others on personal experience or hearsay. C'est la vie as they say around here......
Personally, when I think Fender bass, I think....damn I want a big fat sounding precision that was made in the States. Why? Because to me, MIA Fenders are the Harley Davidsons of bass guitars. They may not be the best built or most reliable basses out there but to me they are the apitomy of the bass guitar and I want one. Sure there are better built basses out there but to me the MIA Fender is a must own.
Personally, when I think Fender bass, I think....damn I want a big fat sounding precision that was made in the States. Why? Because to me, MIA Fenders are the Harley Davidsons of bass guitars. They may not be the best built or most reliable basses out there but to me they are the apitomy of the bass guitar and I want one. Sure there are better built basses out there but to me the MIA Fender is a must own.
I believe your right and I have edited my post with a more appropriate term. The posts I'm talking about didn't refer to people it was about the place of build so I must agree.
Your point here is quite ironic but I mean in a good way. I used the exact same example. I have MIA's, I love Harleys but that doesn't mean that they are better built. You have a MIJ, I'd be interested to know if you feel it's inferior to an MIA but more importantly why? That's my only point.
It's the automatic assumption that being locally made is better. You may or may not agree but it's a VERY common opinion in many parts of the world that Americans tend to only buy local gear in a mis belief that it's better quality and the rest of the world is behind. It simply isn't true.
The only thing I think was wrong in my post, was the very poor choice of words. Even then it was meant in humor.
Wow.....you made me walk in to this one re. mij quality so I will try to tread lightly in my reply 
The only US (or quasi-U.S. made bass as some would say) I have owned was a Highway1 jazz bass. There is not a day I wake up that I don't regret selling it. It was what it was.....an inexpensive, well built bass that played and sounded wonderful to me. I now own two MIJ Fenders. I think their build quality, sound and playability is well on par with my old Highway 1. In other words excellent value for money. I guess I could walk into a store tomorrow, pick up an MIA Fender that has been poorly setup, abused and kicked around for the 13 months or so that it has been hanging in the musical shop of horrors and then pronounce loudly that they all suck. But that wouldn't be true. What I can understand is buyers getting completely turned off a brand when they buy something sight unseen and it ends up looking like it fell off the back of a milk truck travelling at high speed. Great expectations (based on the legend of the manufacturer) meet severe dissapointment.
The only US (or quasi-U.S. made bass as some would say) I have owned was a Highway1 jazz bass. There is not a day I wake up that I don't regret selling it. It was what it was.....an inexpensive, well built bass that played and sounded wonderful to me. I now own two MIJ Fenders. I think their build quality, sound and playability is well on par with my old Highway 1. In other words excellent value for money. I guess I could walk into a store tomorrow, pick up an MIA Fender that has been poorly setup, abused and kicked around for the 13 months or so that it has been hanging in the musical shop of horrors and then pronounce loudly that they all suck. But that wouldn't be true. What I can understand is buyers getting completely turned off a brand when they buy something sight unseen and it ends up looking like it fell off the back of a milk truck travelling at high speed. Great expectations (based on the legend of the manufacturer) meet severe dissapointment.
Given the large number of us here who own foreign-made gear, I think your assumptions and opinions are a bit off. Sure there are some that will only buy American goods, and there are others that PREFER to buy them, but will buy goods from any country if they are of good quality. There's nothing wrong with wanting to support manfacturers in your own country.
Pay attention to the threads in which you post and you will note that there are many Americans that own foreign-made gear and are quite proud of it, to boot.
Agreed. I do see that all the time and many of them have actually agreed with my point about being negative towards foreign to US product. The posts I'm referring to are a small minority but consistent over time. As I've also said before, being patriotic I consider a quality, being blindly patriotic about product may not so good.
Either way, and despite the issues I have with mine I do love my fenders no matter where there made. And as for Eden, the gear is outstanding, especially the preamp and 410. They will go to my grave.
Unfortunelly Fender has little control over the Jazz 24 line that comes out of Korea, since they are made not by Fender but a sub-contractor. The only QC Fender can do is check out random samples as they come in. That is why they wanted to get a hold of the Jazz 24 I had bought that I had some major issues with.
Everybody think like John Lennon...let's clear our minds of this unraveling of thoughts! Peace...love...communism...its all good! Ok...back to the issue of MIA quality control.
Hi mlowe - I've been following this thread, and feel compelled to post.
I understand your point well enough and agree with you in some regards, but I might suggest you be careful with the use of humour. This is an international forum, with many differing ideas about the definition of humour. And also about the meaning and significance of the
symbol. Just having a does not automatically qualify a statement as valid humour.I agree though that as bassists we all get overly worked up about this kind of thing, and it is important to view it all lightly and with a sense of fun.
Time to turn the computer off and go practise (on my MIA Fender P of course! Love it.
)
Fender have been multi piece bodys since the beginning main two and sometimes three. The MIM's have used more than three in the past, the Squires can more. Popular again I think you thinking Squire vs Fender.
I worked in a Fender dealer too.
I was always under the impression that the quality of american fenders was not good, just from things you hear and read about the quality, the feel, the sound, and the mex. and MIJ. stuff was considered slightly worse. That is why I held off buying a fender for all my 10 years accumulated bass playing experience. I didn't even want to try one. I was always under the impresion that just the older stuff ($$$) was good, and ever since the company changed hands, things started to go downhill.
That is until I bought my first MIA jazz deluxe. I am very happy with it, in every way.
That is until I bought my first MIA jazz deluxe. I am very happy with it, in every way.
I would like to share my experience with buying New Fender basses. I own MIA, MIJ/CIJ and MIM basses. I have bought basses from big stores like CG and Sam Ash and I've had basses ordered directly from Fender. I'll start with MIM basses.
1) Brought MIM DLX brand new and found it to be a very nice bass. The only flaw was the sperzel guide (round fiitting that holds the winding tuner) was a tad high, no biggy
2) Exchanged (traded back in after 6 weeks) a Ibanez SR400 and ordered a Agave blue p-bass, only thing they hadn't yet started to sell them as Agave blue was a brand new color. Fender took a neck from the previous year and put it on an agave blue body. sent it to me and I had no complaints! The bass has since been fully modded.
MIJ/CIJ basses.
1)I bought a Marcus Miller Jazz new and opened the box myself. The bass played fine but I soon learned it killed batteries and with the switch in passive mode it played as the pre-amp was flat, no true bypass! I fixed both problems myself and never considered it a Fender issue. Also the trussrod was almost in possible to adjust in the beginnig but now works fine, again no biggy.
2) I bought a Sting and took it out the box myself. played wonderful but was almost impossible to intonate properly, just the fault of the two saddle bridge. That's the nature of the beast.
3)Geddy Lee jazz. bought this off the shelf new (floor model). Don't care for the tuners (oxidized in less than 6 month's). Other than the painted binding and blocks it's a nice bass, Btw the Marcus Miller bass I also suspect of having painted on binding!
MIA basses.
1) ordered an FMT v From Fender "expedited shipping". I got the bass in two day's! never played this bass bought it sight unseen! Never had a problem with it, fit finish an eveything else perfect!
2) Bought a Victor Bailey, ordered it from Fender sight unseen and had never played one. Ordered it "expedited shipping" got it in perfect condition, no faults blemishes nothing! just like the FMT V.
3)bought a 2000 jazz played a silver w/rosewood neck one off the shelf and wanted to buy it, when the associate came with the box and the bass in the case it was a natural bodied maple neck jazz he had no idea existed! He gave it to me for the same price!!! Never had any problem's or issues with this bass either!
4)CAR FSR Special edition 75RI jazz. bought this off the shelf and never had any issues or problems with this bass either!
All in all I have never bought a new Fender that had to be returned for the slightest of reason's. Some people here have bought two or three and have gotten lemon's, I bought a few more than that and have been blessed.
1) Brought MIM DLX brand new and found it to be a very nice bass. The only flaw was the sperzel guide (round fiitting that holds the winding tuner) was a tad high, no biggy
2) Exchanged (traded back in after 6 weeks) a Ibanez SR400 and ordered a Agave blue p-bass, only thing they hadn't yet started to sell them as Agave blue was a brand new color. Fender took a neck from the previous year and put it on an agave blue body. sent it to me and I had no complaints! The bass has since been fully modded.
MIJ/CIJ basses.
1)I bought a Marcus Miller Jazz new and opened the box myself. The bass played fine but I soon learned it killed batteries and with the switch in passive mode it played as the pre-amp was flat, no true bypass! I fixed both problems myself and never considered it a Fender issue. Also the trussrod was almost in possible to adjust in the beginnig but now works fine, again no biggy.
2) I bought a Sting and took it out the box myself. played wonderful but was almost impossible to intonate properly, just the fault of the two saddle bridge. That's the nature of the beast.
3)Geddy Lee jazz. bought this off the shelf new (floor model). Don't care for the tuners (oxidized in less than 6 month's). Other than the painted binding and blocks it's a nice bass, Btw the Marcus Miller bass I also suspect of having painted on binding!
MIA basses.
1) ordered an FMT v From Fender "expedited shipping". I got the bass in two day's! never played this bass bought it sight unseen! Never had a problem with it, fit finish an eveything else perfect!
2) Bought a Victor Bailey, ordered it from Fender sight unseen and had never played one. Ordered it "expedited shipping" got it in perfect condition, no faults blemishes nothing! just like the FMT V.
3)bought a 2000 jazz played a silver w/rosewood neck one off the shelf and wanted to buy it, when the associate came with the box and the bass in the case it was a natural bodied maple neck jazz he had no idea existed! He gave it to me for the same price!!! Never had any problem's or issues with this bass either!
4)CAR FSR Special edition 75RI jazz. bought this off the shelf and never had any issues or problems with this bass either!
All in all I have never bought a new Fender that had to be returned for the slightest of reason's. Some people here have bought two or three and have gotten lemon's, I bought a few more than that and have been blessed.
All the manufacturers have issues now and then.
I just got rid of a Lakland Skyline P-Bass that had so much dust in the finish of the headstock it was unbelievable. I went back to the store I bought it from and found another Skyline that had the same issue!
The one and only Sadowsky I owned would never stay in tune, even if just going from the basement of the house to upstairs. Or letting it sit overnight on the stand. I wanted to keep that bass, I loved the finish quality and tone but I can't put up with what was happening with the neck.
Two different Fenders that I bought new, one in 1970 and one in 1978 both had the necks go bad. They both twisted beyond repair.
I just bought a 2006 MIA 3 color sunbust P-Bass and the quality is excellent. So far it stays in tune even when traveling to a show. Light weight and the finish is top notch, no dirt or gunk under it. We'll see time will tell.
What i'm saying is stuff happens with all brands you got to check closely on what you are buying.
Lex
I just got rid of a Lakland Skyline P-Bass that had so much dust in the finish of the headstock it was unbelievable. I went back to the store I bought it from and found another Skyline that had the same issue!
The one and only Sadowsky I owned would never stay in tune, even if just going from the basement of the house to upstairs. Or letting it sit overnight on the stand.
I wanted to keep that bass, I loved the finish quality and tone but I can't put up with what was happening with the neck.Two different Fenders that I bought new, one in 1970 and one in 1978 both had the necks go bad. They both twisted beyond repair.
I just bought a 2006 MIA 3 color sunbust P-Bass and the quality is excellent. So far it stays in tune even when traveling to a show. Light weight and the finish is top notch, no dirt or gunk under it. We'll see time will tell.
What i'm saying is stuff happens with all brands you got to check closely on what you are buying.
Lex
