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Fender MIA - Worth it?
- Thread starter CiaranQ
- Start date
I know this wasn’t on your list, but I am going to HIGHLY recommend the Fender Elite P-Bass...which is a PJ. It is the only PJ I’ve ever played (and I have played a lot) that can truly do P tones, J tones, and PJ tones. These basses are absolutely amazing and worth every penny. You can find one used for much less than new. Here is my review of one.
I have owned both. I think that on average, MIA Fenders are significantly nicer than MIM Fenders. There are gems and duds in both categories that would make the gap seem smaller in some cases, but by far it has been the case most of the time in my experience that MIAs are noticeably much nicer.
Remember that for the first thirty years that Fender produced guitars and basses, they were all built in the USA (MIA). The MIJs were first made in the early 1980s and the first MIMs were made 1990/91. These were attempts to economize and to create multiple price points so that more musicians could afford to play Fenders. In the case of the MIJ instruments (including early Squiers), it was also an attempt to match what was being produced in Japan at a high level of quality and a lower price point under non-Fender brand names. There is definitely a conscious hierarchy concerning wood quality, drying time, electronics, fretwork, hardware, etc. So it's no accident that quality is at least somewhat dependent on country of origin. However, none of this prevents there being duds and gems in every grouping of Fender instruments (sometimes quality varies by batch or by shipment), nor does it mean that you won't often find a Squier, an MII, MIC, etc. that is a wonderful instrument.
Many bolt-on production guitars/basses truly are greater than the sum of their respective parts. It is simply stunning how many excellent, affordable instruments are made overseas thanks to growing expertise abroad and the use of CNC machines.
Many bolt-on production guitars/basses truly are greater than the sum of their respective parts. It is simply stunning how many excellent, affordable instruments are made overseas thanks to growing expertise abroad and the use of CNC machines.
I have both a MIM and MIA Jazz Bass and it is not hard to tell that the American made one is way better than the Mexican in terms of fit and finish and playability... although whoever owned the Mexican one before me upgraded the pickups to Dimarzio model j's and I liked how they sounded more than the MIAs stock pickups
Bear in mind that (with a few exceptions), most MIM parts are interchangeable with MIA parts and vice versa. These days, you can order necks and bodies from Fender. An MIM body with a MIA neck will make you a very nice instrument—but unfortunately the cost is a little too high to do this routinely.
Me too. I don't get the people buying new AmElites and swapping out the preamp. The sound I get from mine is stellar, just as it came stock. But everyone's different, I suppose. I just think if I'm going to spend that kind of money just to later put in some other manufacturer's preamp I probably ought to just buy their bass, unless I really dislike how it plays, otherwise.
For me, the AmElite was the total package at that price. For others, it probably isn't. Will depend on what you ultimately really want.
I never could get along with MIM Fender P basses but have loved the feel of every MIA P. It really comes down to feel for me. I do think they sound pretty identical. But the MIA basses resonated more and felt more alive in my hands.
That’s me. I can’t see spending money on a bass that I think, “Well, as soon as I get it I am going to change ...” That’s just me though. If I don’t like the way a bass feels or sounds, I ain’t buying it. I’m not talking about setup or maintenance issues. I can fix those.
Sometimes on TB it seems like basses are what AR’s are on gun forums, grown men’s Barbies, or Legos, or Erector Sets if it makes you feel better. That’s fine for everyone that likes that. It’s just not what I do.
All of my basses are 100% stock except for the strings, and I like them like that. YMMV.
Now, back to the regularly scheduled programming of Fender fanning (I’m a fan) or Fender bashing.
A valid choice but going that route is going to restrict your selection of colors, tonewoods, and only occasionally offer things like active electronics. That said, though, there is little doubt that Japanese-made Squiers and Fenders are very high-quality and relatively inexpensive. I used to have a 1982 Squier E-Series Precision Bass (bought brand-new) that was astoundingly good; I wish I hadn't sold it and replaced it with a 1983 Fender Precision Bass Elite II (MIA), which certainly sounded good but was awfully heavy (probably close to 13 lbs.) and cost around $800 new.
No offence intended, but that first sentence is just simply not true.
^This.
I noticed an overall improvement with the 2008 American Standards, both in fit, finish and hardware, and it's not like they were bad before that. I bought a new MIA Magnificent 7 P/J in 2016, easily as nice as the previous models, in fact it's become my #1 gig axe. I keep the bridge single coil completely rolled off.
I tried out a new American Performer Jazz recently, and was so impressed that it ended up coming home with me. Absolutely no "noticeable dropoff in quality".
Unlike Jimmy I don't have a problem with the factory pickups, however I'm seriously considering trying a set of Fralin's split coil Jazz PUs in the new Jazz - to get the versatility of soloing pickups, not because I don't like what it came with.
I had to laugh as soon as I saw your post as this is one of those questions that has, and will be debated till the end of time lol. No need to repeat all that has been said. Long story short - ask 6 bassist, get six different answers lol. For me, the answer is YES. Not only are my $2300 MIA models worth it, but so are my $3500 Custom Shop Fenders. They are worth it to me for one reason and one reason only... I found enough reasons to justify the cost. That simple. Now... my reason may not make sense to anyone else, but that's the point. You buy the bass for you, not for others. When I first started on bass 10 years ago, NO bass over $400 was worth it to me. No matter the quality. But in time, after playing, MODing, owning various models, etc. I now own several expensive models, but I also own 3 Sire Basses, non of which cost over $700 new and sound amazing. Bottom line, if you like it, can afford it, get it... no matter what country it's made in.
That's true in theory, but in practice for those of us who live in smaller cities the selection available locally in any given month can be quite restricted.
If I were willing to buy used via mail (which I'm not keen on for instruments, which I prefer to try in person before committing) then obviously that widens the range but I'm still a little restricted because I live in a country with a relatively small population, and buying internationally has extra costs.
To elaborate on my earlier post, MIA P is worth it...to me. I have an MIM too and I love it but it’s objectively inferior.
