Fender Thoughts

[WarMan]

I have been frustrated the last two years trying to find a Fender Bass. I've bought both MIA, MIM and CIJ Fenders and always found quality issues with them. The urge struck again this weekend and I happened to stumble upon a very nicely made and good sounding MIM Precision in Chrome Red. I bought it and am very pleased with it.

The following is just my opinion based upon my frustrations and experiences with Fender:

It seems to me that Fender makes a pretty good bass in the $600 and less range. IMHO, they are probably the best ones made in that range. They can hold their own with the competition. But I don't think that is true when you get into the price range of the MIAs. I think their MIMs are competively priced and their MIAs overpriced relative to other options. Perhaps that is why I've been so frustrated in the past. I should have just focused on find a nice MIM.

To me the base MIAs should sell for the price of the Highway One Series. IMHO, I also think the Highway One Series are priced too high for what they are. MIMs seem to be the best bang for the buck in Fender's line.

 

[sarcastro83]

Really? I've had my Highway One for a while, and I love everything about it. Sounds great, plays well, feels good in my hands. Sorry to hear of your trouble.

 

[WarMan]

Sarcastro83,

My Fender troubles are over now. I've have to say that my other two basses have nothing over my new Precision. Of course that begs the question, "Are my Warwick and Music Man overpriced if I think the MIM Fender is as nice?" I don't want to think about that one and I sure don't want my wife asking the question.

 

[WarMan]

I liked the upgrades they did to the new Highway Ones but I didn't like the steep price increase. They were selling around her for $600. Now they are $800..

 

[Barkless Dog]

Check out a Lakland

 

[WarMan]

I've heard good things about Lakeland but I prefer to stick to models that I can evaluate locally. I don't know of any store in Dallas that carrys Lakeland. It's pretty much Guitar Center.

 

[GregC]

I've heard good things about Lakeland but I prefer to stick to models that I can evaluate locally. I don't know of any store in Dallas that carrys Lakeland. It's pretty much Guitar Center.

Do you have any Sam Ash locations there? They carry Laklands these days, although the selection has been limited, in my experience.

Edited to add: The new Fender MIAs I've tried have been fine basses, for the most part.

 

[KwinS]

I think the closest place to us to try a Lakland is Bass Emporium in Austin. Mostly Skylines, but I was really impressed with several of those, and I'm a Fender guy.

 

[Barkless Dog]

You have to have a Lakland dealer somewhere near you??

TEXAS

Sam Ash - San Antonio
25 NE Loop @ McCullough
Suite 110
Pavilion @ North Star
San Antonio, TX
210-530-9777

Rockin' Robin
3619 S. Shepherd
Houston, TX
713-529-5442

Bass Emporium
1720 Anderson Ln.
Austin, TX
512-691-7445

Randy's Music Mart
2600 Paramount
Amarillo, TX
806-358-0131

Anderson Guitar Gallery
6811 Oak St.
Frisco, TX
214-387-4050

 

[WarMan]

The owner of Anderson Guitar Gallery is a nice guy. His store is kind of small and more focused on acoustic and electric guitars. His bass inventory of bass equipment is pretty light. I don't recall ever seeing a Lakeland there.

It's kind of an non-issue at this point, since I just purchased the Fender. But I'll need a fourth bass someday so who knows.

FYI, the other stores mentioned are a minimum of 4 hours away from Plano.

 

[mellobud]

I liked the upgrades they did to the new Highway Ones but I didn't like the steep price increase. They were selling around her for $600. Now they are $800..

Shoot, I bought my new Marcus Miller 4 (CIJ) for $750 a few yrs ago. They sell for around $1050 now...I wouldn't buy it at that price.

 

[WarMan]

Fender prices have gone up considerably over the last two years. Two years ago you could walk out with a MIM Precision for $300. I just got mine using a 10% discount flyer for $405. The street price on MIMs has increased about 50% here in Dallas since 2005.

 

[bullshark]

Tried a new Fender American precision 2008 this week-end, had to after all that talk about them, and it was very nice. Then I looked at the tag...$1400.00. It was nice, but maybe not that nice... Coulda sworn the american series were $1100.00 at the same store a few months back...

 

[MtManiac]

Tried a new Fender American precision 2008 this week-end, had to after all that talk about them, and it was very nice. Then I looked at the tag...$1400.00. It was nice, but maybe not that nice... Coulda sworn the american series were $1100.00 at the same store a few months back...

You're being ripped off, they sell at L&M for $1099.

 

[Turock]

I've bought both MIA, MIM and CIJ Fenders

Tried 'em both, huh.

 

[ClassicJazz]

Both my American Deluxe Jazz FMT and American Victor Bailey Jazz Fretless were well in $1k range (actually closer to $2k).....

AND WORTH EVERY PENNY!

 

[GregC]

Tried a new Fender American precision 2008 this week-end, had to after all that talk about them, and it was very nice. Then I looked at the tag...$1400.00. It was nice, but maybe not that nice... Coulda sworn the american series were $1100.00 at the same store a few months back...

Are you sure it wasn't a vintage reissue P? They run about $1400, and Fender now has the 'burst/tort and oly white/tort (both with rosewood boards) combos for both American Standards and '62 reissues.

 

[Crabby]

I'm pretty picky and I thing my new MIA Jazz was very well priced for the quality and tone. The new cases are really sweet and the qc seems to be pretty consistent so far.

 

[GeddyisGod]

I liked the upgrades they did to the new Highway Ones but I didn't like the steep price increase. They were selling around her for $600. Now they are $800..

That pretty much reflects an across the board increase in prices for Fender. Remember when the Highway 1 and the Geddy both sold for $629? Now they are both $850. I got my Geddy when they were still $699 and it's been worth every penny. I also got fairly lucky and scored my Highway One (upgrade) with a nice hardshell for $800.

 

[Bassist4Life]

I think their MIMs are competively priced...I should have just focused on find a nice MIM.

...MIMs seem to be the best bang for the buck in Fender's line.

I agree. I love my MIM P-Bass. I use it all the time. Bar gigs in my funky jazz trio, church, recording... It sounds good in all situations. It sits well in the mix. I get compliments about my sound from playing live and when recording. It feels good.

Maybe I just got lucky with my P-Bass, but I think MIM is the way to go. If I could afford it; I would get a MIA P-Bass, but I'd still hold on to my MIM P-Bass.

Joe