Geddy Lee Jazz - MIM vs. MIJ

[Foamy]

Seems to me that the biggest difference is that one may have to play a couple more to get "the one".
MIA will (overall) have higher quality "players".
MIJ/CIJ next, followed by MIM.
Then the rest: Indonesia, China, Malaysia, wherever.

Doesn't mean that you won't find a MIM which is better than a MIJ.

My experience is not mine alone. If you play 20 MIA basses, most or all will be great basses. If you play 20 MIJ, there may be 16-17 with a couple that don't quite feel right. Then MIM where you may have to play a few.

So, not the end of the world. They will be fine.

I am partial to MIJ though, so there's some emotional connection perhaps, and that does count for something.

 

[Marton]

Seems to me that the biggest difference is that one may have to play a couple more to get "the one".
MIA will (overall) have higher quality "players".
MIJ/CIJ next, followed by MIM.
Then the rest: Indonesia, China, Malaysia, wherever.

Doesn't mean that you won't find a MIM which is better than a MIJ.

My experience is not mine alone. If you play 20 MIA basses, most or all will be great basses. If you play 20 MIJ, there may be 16-17 with a couple that don't quite feel right. Then MIM where you may have to play a few.

So, not the end of the world. They will be fine.

I am partial to MIJ though, so there's some emotional connection perhaps, and that does count for something.

I would not put all the asian countries in the same package. Some older Korean and Chinese Squier are great.

All the Korean Lakland that I played felt as good as most MIA factory basses.

 

[Foamy]

I would not put all the asian countries in the same package. Some older Korean and Chinese Squier are great.

All the Korean Lakland that I played felt as good as most MIA factory basses.

I wasn't going to grade Asian countries beyond Japan. That's another discussion altogether.
MIJ is better - in general - than Made an <another Asian country> when it comes to Fender guitars and basses.
I stand by that.
OMG - what part of "in general" don't folks get?
Closer to topic, we are talking about a Fender bass, and not comparing it to other brands.
On topic is MIJ versus MIM.
Cheers!

 

[feelinlow]

Not the same. The GL has the bridge pickup in the 70's position.

I can't comment on the MIM Geddy Lee signature bass 'cause I never tried one out.

But, I used to own a MIJ GL. It was very, very well made. There were a couple of things about the GL signature J that I didn't like. The tuners were kind of cheap and the damn neck is so thin and small! Thinner than a normal J neck. IMO, that neck can only handle very low tension strings because when I put flat wounds on it, I could not adjust to proper relief.

Also, in my opinion, other than the maple fretboard with the black block fret markers and the paper thin neck................what's the big deal? It's just a regular Jazz Bass and pretty much any Fender Jazz Bass with a BadAss and Fender 60s pickups is gonna sound just like the GL model.

Buy a black J bass with a maple neck, put a BA and Fender 60s p/u in it and there you go! Same as, same as.

 

[HeavyJazz]

Wonder if there's room to sub out the pre. Probably not for anything 9v related. Too bad...

 

[selowitch]

If "buying American“ matters to you, you care about future resale value, and you like having somewhat higher-grade wood and parts, getting the MIA is probably worth the investment *if* you are careful to try several before buying.

Personally, I like owning basses that I can play, modify, and gig and not really worry about someone stealing it, which is why I find the MIM instruments to be just about right for me. I wouldn't feel good putting threaded inserts into the neck of a MIA bass because I would feel like I'm vandalizing an antique; contrariwise, with the MIM, I feel free to fool around with it and make it my own.

I wouldn't be comfortable taking a valuable MIJ or MIA to a seedy-bar gig or to an audition in a bad part of town (or to a lesson).

A lot of the Squier basses are surprisingly nice, too. There is no shame in playing one. I admit that I don't play them where others will see me.

 

[Gakumonman]

I have a MIM Geddy Sig. I had plastic in hand at guitar center ready to plunk down $1200 on a MIA and I remember thinking, could my hero's signature bass not be the greatest ever? I really was disappointed in how plain it sounded and how it felt in the low range. It couldn't "dig in" (I dont really know what that means, it's just a feel thing). A week later at a George's Music I came across the MIM I own now. I loved it immediately!

Geddy says all his jazz basses sound different. I'm sure the quality is apparent between the MIA and MIM but I love my MIM. I have it strung with Ernie Ball Slinkys, so much fun to play.

Here it is in action

 

[Sandman64]

I have a made in Mexico Geddy Lee model and I love it. I couldn't find a fault on it construction wise, weight is 9.2 pounds and she plays like butter! This isn't the only Mexican made Fender I have and frankly, I haven't found any issues with any of them. They all have a nice tight neck pocket, old school Fender hardware and feel like a Fender should. If you ask me, they are fine players and a good deal etc.

 

[selowitch]

I think the whole thing about MIM is not that they can't make great stuff in Mexico, it is that moving production to Mexico is symptomatic of cost cutting in general.
They probably use their tools until they break, then duct tape them back together and use them some more.
Now if you take the same workforce and give them some higher quality tools and raw materials I am sure they can knock it out of the park.
Mexico DOES have a tradition of luthiery and guitar is featured prominently in most opular forms of music.
Japan has a deep history of woodworking, and they have really taken to the American musical idiom.

Excellent post. It's nice to receive interesting facts like these that we haven't heard a million times. Bravo!

 

[selowitch]

As beautiful as Sandman64's MIM GL is, the lack of alignment of the pole pieces to the strings bothers me slightly from a purely visual standpoint. I have no doubt it plays and sounds awesome, though.

 

[MovingPitchers]

The MIJs will have the sinister thin skinny neck. I meant to put traditional but autocorrect put in to sinister. I guess that works too.

The new MIMs have a fatter profile neck while maintaining that skinny but width.

 

[MovingPitchers]

I am a huge fanatic of Geddy Lee basses!!!

Ask me anything!!!!

 

[MovingPitchers]

The MIJ GL's are really nice, I do not like any of the MIM's at all. However, the GL's sound very thin to me vs. MIA's, but of course this could be easily rectified with a pickup change.

They do sound kind of thin, but I put CS60s in mine it solved the "thin" problem.

 

[MovingPitchers]

I can't comment on the MIM Geddy Lee signature bass 'cause I never tried one out.

But, I used to own a MIJ GL. It was very, very well made. There were a couple of things about the GL signature J that I didn't like. The tuners were kind of cheap and the damn neck is so thin and small! Thinner than a normal J neck. IMO, that neck can only handle very low tension strings because when I put flat wounds on it, I could not adjust to proper relief.

Also, in my opinion, other than the maple fretboard with the black block fret markers and the paper thin neck................what's the big deal? It's just a regular Jazz Bass and pretty much any Fender Jazz Bass with a BadAss and Fender 60s pickups is gonna sound just like the GL model.

Buy a black J bass with a maple neck, put a BA and Fender 60s p/u in it and there you go! Same as, same as.

The pickup spacing on the GL and a regular Jazz is different. The difference is not that big, but it makes a huge difference in tone. It makes the GL a bit more growlier due to the bridge pup being closer to the bridge,

 

[MovingPitchers]

As beautiful as Sandman64's MIM GL is, the lack of alignment of the pole pieces to the strings bothers me slightly from a purely visual standpoint. I have no doubt it plays and sounds awesome, though.

Eh, mine does that too but it doesn't bother me as much. It's a miniscule misalignment. No OCD from me!

I have a made in Mexico Geddy Lee model and I love it. I couldn't find a fault on it construction wise, weight is 9.2 pounds and she plays like butter! This isn't the only Mexican made Fender I have and frankly, I haven't found any issues with any of them. They all have a nice tight neck pocket, old school Fender hardware and feel like a Fender should. If you ask me, they are fine players and a good deal etc.

View attachment 860421 View attachment 860423 View attachment 860424

How's the neck? It has a fatter profile, doesn't it? xD The width is still skinny as a twig, but the profile of the neck got thicker, I find.

 

[Sandman64]

As beautiful as Sandman64's MIM GL is, the lack of alignment of the pole pieces to the strings bothers me slightly from a purely visual standpoint. I have no doubt it plays and sounds awesome, though.

If this helps your decision any, here's a pic from as straight on as I can get it. They really are sweet basses. Neck seems to be about the same as my buddy's MIJ version. It might be a tad fatter, but only just slightly and I think I prefer that anyways. lol

I did replaced the stock Fender pickups with a set of Dimarzio Ultra Jazz pickups which are dead quiet and a nice upgrade from the stock single coil Fenders. Other than that and the schaller strap locks, she is stock and Mexican made.

 

[basskillah]

The MIJs will have the sinister thin skinny neck. I meant to put traditional but autocorrect put in to sinister. I guess that works too.

The new MIMs have a fatter profile neck while maintaining that skinny but width.

MIJ All Day ... And twice on Sunday!

 

[freshbass]

Hey guys,
I'm looking to purchase a Geddy jazz (hopefully from some TBers) but I'm a little torn. I see that production has moved to Mexico on these vs. Japan. Does anyone have any experience with one or the other? Should it be something that makes me not buy the bass? I've always played MIA basses so I'm a little weary of the MIM. The only one I ever owned, I wasn't crazy about. I've heard great things about the MIJ though so I wouldn't hesitate to grab one of those.

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated!

They all run very Heavy IMO no matterw they make them. 9-10+lbs. I use 2 squier VM77 jazz one black one 3ts $275 used. Added badass bridges and it looks just like a GL bass, and sounds very similar. 7.6 and 7.3 lbs respectively. Agathis wood bodies (mahogany).

 

[Calaverasgrande]

Mahogany (well ...agathis actually) and Alder are pretty far apart in terms of wood.
I find alder to be brighter than mahogany usually.
I'd also say that the VM series are 'good for the price'.
I'd certainly prefer a MIM or MIJ Jazz over the Korean and Indonesian Squier Jazz basses.

 

[Jimmy Costanza]

I just bought a new MIM Geddy Lee. Really on a whim, since it was a great priced "scratch & dent" model from American Musical Supply for $679. I've had it a couple of weeks. I found a small dime-sized rough feeling spot on back the headstock. Can't see it though. No other imperfections.

I have been skeptical also about the "Made in Mexico" thing, but this is a very nice instrument and am totally blown away by it (aside from the terrible tuning keys, which I replaced immediately). *The only other MIM I have is a Special Edition PJ Deluxe (it's a quality instrument too. Nice to look at. Feels/plays/sounds good. It just doesn't have the tone I want for bass...doesn't stand out like I want...probably due to the split Precision type neck pickup). I also have a Fender Aerodyne Jazz and really don't care for it's tone due to the P/J pickup configuration. Maybe others like that tone, I just really want something that stands out and has more articulation.

For the style, I play (original, heavy, a bit punky, rock in a 3-piece), the Geddy Lee is amazing. It stands out in the mix like no other: Lush low-end thunder, that top end clickity thing, and such a nuanced, complex midrange.

I've never played another Geddy Lee model, I just bought mine online, sight unseen, but have no regrets.

I've owned and still own a few Japanese instruments and a lot of USA guitars. I'm really a Gibson guy and this bass replaces my Les Paul Standard Oversized probably live most of the time and definitely for in the studio. I just thought I loved the LP, till I heard the GL tone coming out of my rig. So much more tonal definition. Plus, it just plays sooo easy.

My GL is ebony. Replaced the white pickguard and chrome control plate with black and replaced the sucky tuning keys with Hipshot HB2s. I initially replaced the bridge pickup with a Seymour Duncan STK2 hot stacked humbucker, but slapped the stock one right back in. They sound amazing! (and this is coming from a guy who almost always changes out stock pickups). These two single coil pickups rock!

I've done one practice and two shows with the GL to overwhelming compliments from my bandmates, crowd and other musicians.

Running it through a Darkglass B7K Ultra to a Mesa M6 Carbine to a Mesa 6x10 Powerhouse cab.

Other bass guitars I own: 2013 Gibson Les Paul Oversized, 2015 Gibson SG, 2001 Gibson Nikki Sixx Blackbird, 1994 Gibson Les Paul, 2008 Gibson Thunderbird, 2013 Fender Aerodyne, 2015 Fender Special Edition PJ Deluxe, old Ibanez P/J bass of some type and an Ibanez Semi Hollow