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Fender MIA - Worth it?

CiaranQ

CiaranQ

Jan 23, 2018
181
566
Australia
#1
Hey all,

I have got a nice array of Fender basses (I've also got a Yamaha BB735A, but that's not part of this conversation). The basses are;

1998 MIM Standard Jazz bass - modded the crap out of it, deleted the neck PU, bridge PU is now a MM, with an aguilar OBP-2, it's effectively a Flea Jazz but with boost and cut.
2007 CIJ Mustang Bass with comp stripes.
2014 MIJ PB57 with USA pickups.
2017 MIM RW Jazz.

Love all the basses, they all do exactly what I want them to. But.... part of me wants to add a MIA to the collection, and I have gas for either a Am. Performer PJ or Mustang. I don't have a PJ in my collection , and I like to try to only have one "type" of each bass, no double-ups. So, a PJ would fit nicely.

My question is, is a MIA bass really worth the extra $$? The MIM RW is frickin amazing, and I've played both MIA AP's (P and Mustang) in store. I like them, They feel nice in the hands, and have a very consistent and considered tone. Not sure I dig the greasebucket tone, but that can be removed relatively easily. To me, the MIM RW and MIA AP feel of a similar quality. So, is it worth the extra money for assembly in Corona, rather than in Ensenada?

Thanks, Ciaran
 
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#2
Your appreciation of Japanese-made Fenders is readily apparent. I'd say check out a Fender Aerodyne Jazz first.



Another option would be a Fender Reggie Hamilton Signature Jazz, much like this one available in the TB Classifieds. (No, I'm not the seller and no, I don't know if they'd even ship all the way down to Oz or not.) I modded a Jazz bass into a P/J with the same pickup placement and it turned into something quite special. :thumbsup:
 
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#4
Biffa said:
If you are happy parting with a wad of cash just so you can hold your head up high and say, "I've got a USA Fender" then go for it
Click to expand...

I think that's the point. I'd only be doing it for the sake of it. Maybe I've answered my own question.

That, or I'll wait for a used one at the right price. Let someone else take the bath on the resale.
 
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#5
CiaranQ said:
Hey all,

I have got a nice array of Fender basses (I've also got a Yamaha BB735A, but that's not part of this conversation). The basses are;

1998 MIM Standard Jazz bass - modded the crap out of it, deleted the neck PU, bridge PU is now a MM, with an aguilar OBP-2, it's effectively a Flea Jazz but with boost and cut.
2007 CIJ Mustang Bass with comp stripes.
2014 MIJ PB57 with USA pickups.
2017 MIM RW Jazz.

Love all the basses, they all do exactly what I want them to. But.... part of me wants to add a MIA to the collection, and I have gas for either a Am. Performer PJ or Mustang. I don't have a PJ in my collection , and I like to try to only have one "type" of each bass, no double-ups. So, a PJ would fit nicely.

My question is, is a MIA bass really worth the extra $$? The MIM RW is frickin amazing, and I've played both MIA AP's (P and Mustang) in store. I like them, They feel nice in the hands, and have a very consistent and considered tone. Not sure I dig the greasebucket tone, but that can be removed relatively easily. To me, the MIM RW and MIA AP feel of a similar quality. So, is it worth the extra money for the Mexicans to assemble it in Corona, rather than in Ensenada?

Thanks, Ciaran
Click to expand...

I played a couple of mexican fenders in stores, they were nice and I'd probably be happy with one if I were a less experienced player. The MIA fenders are much nicer though.

I'm not rich, but it was worth the cost differential to me to pay the premium for the MIA basses. If money were really an issue I'd be ok with MIM. I still may end up getting an MIM as a beater bass.
 
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#6
I've had two MIM Fender Jazz guitars, one was lousy, other very good. But my AVRI '74 is big step above. Everything is better made, and the sound...
Sometimes, on smaller concerts, I let my trombone player play the last song, stand in the audience, and enjoy the chest-hitting growl from the subs.
I am known as a bass-flipper and guitars don't stay with me longer than a year or so, but this one is going nowhere.
My advice is to ALWAYS check guitars one step above what you have. Unlike with feet and shoes, we (hopefully) continue to grow all our lives and always need room to expand.
 
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#7
I think they are worth. That isn’t to say there aren’t good ones made outside the US and there will be folks that argue this point till the bitter end. Could I make acceptable music with a MIM Fender, yep. I do it frequently. Is it as nice a fit and finish as the MIA Fender’s, nope. Not bad, just not as much attention to detail. To be fair, I’m not a fan of the elite series. I like the Originals and the Professionals. I think it is the pre that I don’t like in the Elites. It just sucks the character out the tone.

Best of luck... play a few and see what you like.
 
#18
I was never impressed with the MIA Fenders I played.

Well, I’ll clarify: I was impressed, but I wasn’t nearly impressed enough to account for the price difference. The exception was a used JP90 I picked up, which I bonded with immediately. BEFORE I looked at the headstock. Then the price tag.

Bought it.

So check one out, OP, but do some research first. The JP90 story is a weird one.
 
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#19
With the exception of the pickups I generally find Japanese Fenders to be better quality than MIA so if you've already got a MIJ with USA pickups that's more or less as good as it's gonna get with a Fender IMO. Unless you pay a fortune for a custom shop of course.
 
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