Hey Fender- This is NOT cool!

[40Hz]

I see what you're saying, but all I hear is "it's amazing."

I know, I know... welcome to your ignore list.

'Fraid I can't oblige you on that. I don't have an ignore list.

I have too much respect for the TB community to shut somebody off just because they don't agree with me, or because they brush aside something I'm saying.

We can be passionate and hold strong opinions about some things without needing to get angry about it. Or so I think anyway - despite my own occasional and unfortunate lapses.

 

[Liam Wald]

It is almost impossible to make tens of thousands of an item as quickly and cheaply as possible and pay attention to details.
Fender instruments are what they are, mass produced widgets with a varying range of quality.
In some cases the store that is selling them acts as a filter of quality. Smaller stores seem to pay more attention to the stock that they get and will return to the manufacturer product that they are not happy with while larger stores just put it on the shelf.
Ultimately it is up to the consumer to make the final choice since, in Fenders case, brand name does't seem to come with any assurance of quality.

 

[rogerbmiller]

'Fraid I can't oblige you on that. I don't have an ignore list.

I have too much respect for the TB community to shut somebody off just because they don't agree with me, or because they brush aside something I'm saying.

We can be passionate and hold strong opinions about some things without needing to get angry about it. Or so I think anyway - despite my own occasional and unfortunate lapses.

^^^^
This!!

 

[Bodeanly]

'Fraid I can't oblige you on that. I don't have an ignore list.

I have too much respect for the TB community to shut somebody off just because they don't agree with me, or because they brush aside something I'm saying.

We can be passionate and hold strong opinions about some things without needing to get angry about it. Or so I think anyway - despite my own occasional and unfortunate lapses.

You're absolutely right. I just see my favorite brands under the microscope and get all defensive. I still stand by what I said though. Because I'm studdorn AF, not because I'm correct.

 

[74hc]

The Squiers and even some mexican Fenders have a thin alder veneer put on top of 5-12 parts of unmatched alder or poplar parts.

This, as long as the body is made of good wood, dimensionally correct, and not splitting apart, it's the neck that is important. It will determine the playability moreso, and certainly in the decades to come.

 

[40Hz]

You're absolutely right. I just see my favorite brands under the microscope and get all defensive. I still stand by what I said though. Because I'm studdorn AF, not because I'm correct.

Understandable. We bond with good instruments such that they become a part of us sometimes. What could be more personal and intimate than creating and sharing music? Maybe it's still not better than sex. But for me it runs a damn close second.

Try playing a Ripper since '74 as your main instrument like I have. If that doesn't put calluses on your more delicate feelings and help stiffen your backbone, nothing will.

It took 40 years, but that poor bass is finally gaining a modicum of respect in the bass world. But Bill Lawrence was a genius IMO so I guess it took the masses a few decades to catch up to him. (Kidding btw- but just a little.)

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

It is almost impossible to make tens of thousands of an item as quickly and cheaply as possible and pay attention to details.
Fender instruments are what they are, mass produced widgets with a varying range of quality.
In some cases the store that is selling them acts as a filter of quality. Smaller stores seem to pay more attention to the stock that they get and will return to the manufacturer product that they are not happy with while larger stores just put it on the shelf.
Ultimately it is up to the consumer to make the final choice since, in Fenders case, brand name does't seem to come with any assurance of quality.

I disagree ... bought four Fenders MIA & MIJ from 2007 to 2016 ... can't complain about quality or tone ... I tried many MIM in the stores but I wasn't impressed ...

 

[rogerbmiller]

Here is a $200 used Squier at GC that looks better than this $1200 MIA in question:

Invalid Link Removed

 

[TMARK]

I think in Fender's case there's much more important things to complain than wood matching in laminated bodies. The main thing for me is their highly inconsistent quality, compared to similarly priced gear (i.e. EB Musicman). I'd never risk buying a Fender sight unseen, OTOH I did (twice) with EBMM. The other thing that bugs me is how in this world they haven't yet figured out how to make a P or J with a usable low B, or a neck with no (or at least not that embarrassing) dead spots. There's people out there making almost boutique stuff for the price of a MIA Fender (including much improved P or J clones), thus find their lacks plain unacceptable.

i have an old Jazz V and an AVRI P. I have no dead spots that I can hear and a great low B. The Elite Jazz Vs I've play have a nice B and no dead spots. I've played a few in stores that had dead spots and bad B strings. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but from my sample it's not common.

 

[petrus61]

See my post above and the pictures. Your VM Jazz most likely have a veneer on top of countless parts of wood.

Squiers don't get veneers. MIM Standard and some MIM Dlx models get veneers.

The exception was the no longer in production VM Tele bass. That had a thin ash veneer.

 

[rogerbmiller]

Squiers don't get veneers. MIM Standard and some MIM Dlx models get veneers.

That's even more sad for fender.

 

[TMARK]

FWIW, I never said it was earth shattering that their standards are so low. I said it was sad.

Fender has called itself the AMERICAN STANDARD... literally! By that logic, it shows people that our standards are getting lower and lower as time goes on. We'll accept a $1,200 bass for what it is because of the name on its headstock, forgiving its imperfections solely based on that factor.

Then again, a lot of people have made the point that this has been going on for years, which I also agree with. Still, no less disheartening.


Well, if you know Roger like I do, they are probably close to it. He's got very discriminating taste.

Paxil can help with this.

 

[Imaginary Pony]

It is almost impossible to make tens of thousands of an item as quickly and cheaply as possible and pay attention to details.
Fender instruments are what they are, mass produced widgets with a varying range of quality.
In some cases the store that is selling them acts as a filter of quality. Smaller stores seem to pay more attention to the stock that they get and will return to the manufacturer product that they are not happy with while larger stores just put it on the shelf.
Ultimately it is up to the consumer to make the final choice since, in Fenders case, brand name does't seem to come with any assurance of quality.

Which basically means the smaller stores know that this sort of thing can be important, and they don't want substandard gear cluttering up their shelves and tying up cash flow and turnver, whilst the big shops don't care, because "someone will buy it eventually."

 

[rogerbmiller]

Paxil can help with this.

So can quality control...

 

[tzohn]

My 2013 MIM standard is a 3-piece body without veneer.

 

[JesseVMT]

People keep saying mim have a veneer... Mine doesn't and it's a burst. Maybe they used to...

 

[Johnny Alien]

So with a crowd of 200, 2 can tell you're playing a lakland? I'd say that's not too bad

I intended to mean that it was 99% of the bass players in the other bands we have played with. I realize that is not what I said though.

 

[Johnny Alien]

Here is a $200 used Squier at GC that looks better than this $1200 MIA in question:

Invalid Link Removed

It's used. I can find you numerous examples of used American Standards with better matched pieces and they will all be well under $1000. And "looks better" is subjective. There aren't a ton of people letting Fender off the hook there are just people that don't care and then there are people like myself who actually like it in some instances. There are so many Fenders out there that this thread is just odd. The mismatched wood is not a sign of poor quality. That bass could be absolutely amazing in all the ways that matter it's just that visually it is not appealing to some people. The fact that bodies like that should always be covered is just a matter of opinion. And like I said, they sell eventually.

 

[Circuitt]

See I told y'all squire's are just as good as an American made fender because of this one off. I played every bass at my buddies music store and picked up a new 2012 American standard jazz due to how it felt and the tone. Played laklands, Mim's, etc.
Also got a great deal @ 900 out the door. No dead spots, straight neck, and super light with a great finish.
I would of walked out of there with a mim if it felt better but they didn't.

 

[rogerbmiller]

It's used. I can find you numerous examples of used American Standards with better matched pieces and they will all be well under $1000. And "looks better" is subjective. There aren't a ton of people letting Fender off the hook there are just people that don't care and then there are people like myself who actually like it in some instances. There are so many Fenders out there that this thread is just odd. The mismatched wood is not a sign of poor quality. That bass could be absolutely amazing in all the ways that matter it's just that visually it is not appealing to some people. The fact that bodies like that should always be covered is just a matter of opinion. And like I said, they sell eventually.

I know it's used. Just playing with "data points."

To your point about there being many better used MIAs out there for less than $1K, you are absolutely correct, and this is the very reason Fender should do a better job.

Used MI sales of guitars are approximately the same dollars every year as new sales. If you factor in the fact that most guitars depreciate considerably once they become used (certain models being an exception), that means that more actual used guitars are selling each year than new ones.

So Fender's biggest competitor is themselves. People will seek the better made units and ignore the worse ones. That is something that should motivate them to avoid units like the one in question here from leaving the factory the way this one did. We couldn't be having this discussion if they simply painted it!