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Is Fender American worth it?
- Thread starter cliffburtono
- Start date
It keeps getting better and better doesn't it? The desire to defend all things not MIA knows no shame.
So it should be shameful to defend something that's not American-made? Really?!
And as for this…
…sadly, what started as a discussion of relative qualities, both subjective and objective, is now edging that much closer to being shut down by the mods.
This. ^^^^
mdogs: Here ya go!From this very thread:
I would not mind saying it again
Is Fender MIA worth it? Yes, so the MIM classic and RW do. Is the MIA better than these two bad boys: NO. It is only different.
What I currently owned? Well, after selling this year a MIA 2012 P that was an ok bass I got a classic one that is an awesome bass, again, this only in my experience which is not the absolutly true , just an honest comment.
So it should be shameful to defend something that's not American-made? Really?!
And as for this…
…sadly, what started as a discussion of relative qualities, both subjective and objective, is now edging that much closer to being shut down by the mods.
You can't possibly be suggesting that this is my fault.
I would not mind saying it again
Which statement? "As good or better" or "just different"?
Honest comments are awesome, just be consistent with them.
What I'm suggesting is the tone of the thread is starting to take a nastier tone, especially when someone passive/aggressively drops the "racist card" to make another look like the Bad Guy. What keyofnight wrote may not be palatable to you…
…but there's a lot of truth there…verifiable, and not to mention historical, truth. There is a lot of implicit bias on this and other forums. There are a number of people here who will pooh-pooh another's gear because it doesn't meet their own, personal standards.
My instinct to comment on the historical/sociological portion of his statement is quite strong, but this isn't really the place for it. So, instead of delving into this intellectual quagmire before us, much as I'd like to, I'll leave it be in the hopes that we can get back to discussing gear in an objective manner…because it's a matter of discussion and debate that no one will win, no matter how much someone thinks they can. Thus, it's pointless to go any further with it here. All it will leave behind is bad feelings.
Ok kids...Calm down. This is not a arguable comparison. Everyone's different when it comes to how any given instrument feels in his or hers hands( insert inappropriate pun here ). MIM Fenders feel and sound like dodo in my hands. And yes I have personally owned MIM Fenders. MIJ Fenders felt fine and sounded fine in my hands but I traded it in to get a custom build. Now after all these years I have gotten off the custom/active bass wagon and returned to the tried and true this is how John Paul Jones/Geddy lee do it way of thinking and could not be happier. Of course amp choice plays heavily into the sound part of all this. But playability wise the MIAs and the MIJ/CIJ have the edge. However nobody can deny that a MIM Geddy Lee plays perfectly. How ever they almost always need a pickup change and likely a tuner upgrade to make them perfect. Side story... When I was shopping for my Jazz I was fortunate enough to be able to do a side by side comparison with a Geddy Lee (MIM the MIAs hadn't even been announced yet) and the American Standard. The MIA won on fit and finish as well as sound. Playability was virtually identical. But I did have to travel to the next city to find the MIA I felt best with.
Long story a little longer.. If you're shopping for a new bass(regardless of who made it) you should try them out before you buy them. PERIOD!!!
That MIM just might be what the bass gods had in mind for you after all. Some of us are cursed to love the MIAs. I was a sucker for that rosewood fret board. Not to mention the dot inlays. I never cared for the block inlays but that wouldn't put me off a bass just on that point alone.
So if you haven't figured it out yet. I do personally own a American Standard Jazz Bass. Bought brand new at a Guitar Center. I love it. At rehearsal last night it sang. I'm running it through a GK MB800 and two GK 410 cabs. As far as sound goes I would give 50% credit to the amp, 40% to the bass and 10% to my fingers. All of this are factors that "MUST" be taken into account when one is looking for a new bass.
So when you are asking which is best....
Awww f&%$ it!
Long story a little longer.. If you're shopping for a new bass(regardless of who made it) you should try them out before you buy them. PERIOD!!!
That MIM just might be what the bass gods had in mind for you after all. Some of us are cursed to love the MIAs. I was a sucker for that rosewood fret board. Not to mention the dot inlays. I never cared for the block inlays but that wouldn't put me off a bass just on that point alone.
So if you haven't figured it out yet. I do personally own a American Standard Jazz Bass. Bought brand new at a Guitar Center. I love it. At rehearsal last night it sang. I'm running it through a GK MB800 and two GK 410 cabs. As far as sound goes I would give 50% credit to the amp, 40% to the bass and 10% to my fingers. All of this are factors that "MUST" be taken into account when one is looking for a new bass.
So when you are asking which is best....
Awww f&%$ it!
I owned a Precision when the only option was MIA (1964). That was sold 49 years ago; so, and I didn't have others to compare it against. My memories say it was incredible to play and had a great sound. I got rid of the P Bass for the sound of the Epiphone Rivoli Hollow Body. After a 40 year hiatus, I decided I liked the Jazz Bass sound and feel over the P Bass
Since getting back into it, I have owned a 90's MIM, an entry level MIA and later a CIJ. I also have played the higher priced MIA at the local GC. IMO my order of preference of the specific ones I owned and played would be the higher priced MIA, the CIJ, the MIM and lastly the entry level MIA with the caveat that the MIA I owned was not properly set up and had some issues most likely a result of something the previous owner did to it. The one in the $1,700 range was way ahead of the others.
Interesting/true story about Harley Davidson, in regards to international competition;
Back in the '80s, they were getting their tailpipes kicked by Japanese motorcycles. As any American company can do, they lobbied for a combination of protectionist tariffs and Federal subsidy money to bring their domestic quality up to a competitive level. The American Automotive Industry has done this on occasion throughout the decades, but here's where it gets interesting…
Unlike the Auto Industry, when Harley Davidson got their feet back under them and became competitive again, they stopped lobbying for further protectionism and subsidies. So, although their motorcycles aren't exactly my personal cup o' tea, I have to admire that sense of fair play in the marketplace.
Sorry for the aside, but it's a pretty cool story.
There are plenty of offshore made Fenders that are completely gig ready. I've gigged and recorded plenty of times with my Fender Roadworn Jazz bass. That bass is made in Mexico, and it's a great instrument. The same goes for my project P-Bass, also made from Mexican parts. The body is from a 50's Classic Precision with the lacquer finish, and that was paired with the neck of another Roadworn Jazz bass. I have no qualms about bringing either of those basses to a gig or a recording session.
The American made Fenders are good, too. But I think the big determining factor about whether or not an American made Fender is "worth it" is your own budget. What amount of money are you comfortable spending on an instrument? That's a significant consideration. While the old axiom "You get what you pay for" is often true, there are some good values out there at reasonable price points. That goes for both new and used instruments. But you've got to do a little homework to figure some of that out.
The American made Fenders are good, too. But I think the big determining factor about whether or not an American made Fender is "worth it" is your own budget. What amount of money are you comfortable spending on an instrument? That's a significant consideration. While the old axiom "You get what you pay for" is often true, there are some good values out there at reasonable price points. That goes for both new and used instruments. But you've got to do a little homework to figure some of that out.
Haven't read any of the thread except OP's initial question. My answer is there's only one person who can answer that question... You. It's 100% your opinion on if it's worth it. Me personally, I say yes. But YMMV.
Would you really say its a Mexican P bass, lol. I think not, why not just a Fender P. I still don't get the big deal. If its a good bass its a good bass. I've got a MIM and MIA P bass. Love them both and don't prefer one over the other. One is tuned to standard and the other Eb.
A used MIA is your best bet.Some MIM's are exceptional and very close to a MIA.Are there MIA "turds" sure but there are "bad" ones made all over the world.Sometimes the parts all work together perfectly and you have a bass that stands out from the others.Remember people tend to crow about the exceptional ones and bitch about turds, with little given the the vast majority of the ones the fall in the middle,neither exceptional or turd.Everyone has heard of the MIM that's better than a USA model and the USA that doesn't compare to the MIM they have.The amount you spend on it also tends to skew the conversation.It'd a lot easier to be overjoyed with a $300.00 bass than a $2,000. one from which you expect something special.
@pudge
A used MIA will cost the OP at least $1200 here in the UK,most likely $1500+. The basis of his question was is the MIA worth $1000 more than the MIM.
Split new the MIM will cost him $750, the MIA $1800.
A used MIA will cost the OP at least $1200 here in the UK,most likely $1500+. The basis of his question was is the MIA worth $1000 more than the MIM.
Split new the MIM will cost him $750, the MIA $1800.
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Custom Shop standards equals or betters to custom shop masterbuilts. American VINTAGE equals or betters than custom shops. American standard equals or betters than AV. Mexicans equals or betters than american standards. And finally squiers equals or betters than Mexicans And even americans. So ask yourself this: if a company charges 700 for an instrument they could charge 1400. Why wouldnt they? Do people really think companied aré doing instrument to charge the fair price? And the others to scam? Come on!!! So there is good, fair, nice to users companies charging right And the evil, bad, thieves ones to scam you? Come one. We need to Let go that fairy tale
As I said. I knew someone would attack my opinion. My opinion I get from thirty years of playing and maintaining basses. I find Fender is extremely hit or miss as some on here have expressed already. That is why many times we hear that we have to try out many Fenders "to find the right one". Obviously you have had good experiences with the brand. that is great for you. not everybody is as fortunate. There are Fender instructions put out be Fender on how to properly shim the neck to fix the break angle as far back as the fifties. Stewmac sells .5 and 1 degree full neck shims. Many of us have seen the adjustable neck angle Fenders. There are Fender memos on the internet talking about routing the neck pockets oversize to make up for the wide manufacturing tolerances used by Fender. These documented problems are what I am talking about. I am not attacking Fender. I am expressing my opinion that is shared by many and documented by Fender itself.
Hey. My Harley hasn't broken down in twenty years. Its in a box but it still hasn't broken down. LOL
I don't normally chime in on these threads, but it's a new year.
I've owned American Standards, American Specials, MIM and MIJ/CIJ basses (and guitars), even a couple of Squiers.
These days my bass fleet consists of nine American Fenders, an EBMM mute bridge Stingray and two Rickenbackers. All of the others are gone.
Why?
I believe that the current products from Mexico are better than they used to be. As far as I know they haven't made Fenders in Japan for at least a year, so if you are buying new it's not really an option anymore.
The thing is that the "Current" American Fenders are really fine products. I personally think that from 2008 to the present represent a golden age. Can you still get a less than perfect one? I'm sure that it happens. But overall these are something special.
If you can afford an American made Fender, buy one.
I've owned American Standards, American Specials, MIM and MIJ/CIJ basses (and guitars), even a couple of Squiers.
These days my bass fleet consists of nine American Fenders, an EBMM mute bridge Stingray and two Rickenbackers. All of the others are gone.
Why?
I believe that the current products from Mexico are better than they used to be. As far as I know they haven't made Fenders in Japan for at least a year, so if you are buying new it's not really an option anymore.
The thing is that the "Current" American Fenders are really fine products. I personally think that from 2008 to the present represent a golden age. Can you still get a less than perfect one? I'm sure that it happens. But overall these are something special.
If you can afford an American made Fender, buy one.
