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Love my MIM!

T

tubaman2

Nov 18, 2010
138
1
#1
So I've had a MIM J bass for a few years now. I recently upgraded for extended range, but I still have this baby, upgraded with EMGs and a BA II.

Basically, the reason I'm posting about it is because I've recently been to a few music stores and tried out some stuff. (I literally played every bass that one store had ;)) I've come to the realization that my MIM feels better than any of the MIAs I played. Every single one. To me, it sounds just as good too, if not a little better because the EMGs suit me. I guess I picked up a star, or maybe it's a dud and I don't like most Fenders.:p

Has this ever happened to anyone else?
 
#2
Yes - I've had almost the exact same experience. You can never tell whether a Fender will be to your taste until you pick it up and actually play it, imo. The last time I bought a new Fender Jazz in a store, I tried every one they had and picked the one that seemed to be closest to what I was after, and that was MIM.
 
#3
I worked in a store whose bread and butter bass selection was MIM Fenders. They were generally decent basses and if you pick and choose some were well worth upgrading. They are fairly well made but the QC seemed spotty so I wouldn't buy one sight unseen.

One of my favorite basses is a MIM Deluxe p-bass I upgraded with SD quarter pounders, badass bridge and Audere preamp. The neck hasn't moved much and it plays amazingly well.
 
#4
Yes. I used to own an American Standard Fender Jazz V and I didn't care for it much (just mine in particular, since most MIA basses are fine instruments).

I surprised myself when I bought my current Fender MIM P-Bass, because I wasn't intending on buying another bass (and if I was going to, it certainly wasn't going to be a MIM Fender) and I couldn't afford one at that time. But I took this P-Bass off it's stand in the shop and, after a minute of playing it, I KNEW I could not let this bass go. It was more right than food, apparently, as I had to give it up for a week in order to own this bass.
 
#5
I know I have pointed this many times. My MIM is main player and the bass I always go back to. I put a BA II and basslines hot and vintage and have been using it over a decade with no issues. Bought and sold MANY USA made basses and kept going back to this. I guess I should just leave well enough alone.

Another fact, MIM necks are made in the USA and shipped to Mexico for finishing. When you can pick up a used for 250-350 any day of the week it's a really good deal.
 
#6
I have and play both MIA & MIM basses and I agree that if you find a good one and upgrade it, they can be very good basses. My main gigging bass is a MIM P that I upgraded with new CTS pots, caps and a 62RI p-up. It plays nearly as well as my 2010 MIA P(Sorry, but the Am. Std. maple neck is better!!!), and I actually prefer the 62 p-up.

My current project is a MIM Jazz(fretless) that I'm swapping the neck for a new Allparts P neck(maple). I prefer the newer P necks, but didn't feel comfortable doing that to my MIA Jazz. I'm still not sure what p-ups I want to use yet, I'm leaning toward the Vintage RI for this bass too.

The main point is that for a modest amount of $$$ you can have a decent playing and sounding instrument that you aren't afraid of dragging around to bars, etc. or if you are just starting out or have a modest budget you can have a really decent instrument that is good enough to play anywhere!!! :bassist:
 
#7
I find my self reaching for my MIM Precision quite often over my CIJ and MIA Fenders. Same goes for my Squier VM Jazz. Those are my two "go-to" basses and I can't really explain it. They probably receive 95% of my total playing time. Even though my other basses are more expensive and "supposedly superior," I gravitate towards what feels good in my hands and sounds right to my ears; despite what name and country of origin is on the headstock. And by that criteria, my MIM P suits me perfectly. It just goes to show that a good bass doesn't have to be an expensive one! :D
 
#12
I've got an MIM 70's classic Jazz and I just love it... MIM stuff is not always consistent, but there are plenty of good or even great ones out there if you look and keep an open mind.

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#13
tubaman2 said:
So I've had a MIM J bass for a few years now. I recently upgraded for extended range, but I still have this baby, upgraded with EMGs and a BA II.

Basically, the reason I'm posting about it is because I've recently been to a few music stores and tried out some stuff. (I literally played every bass that one store had ;)) I've come to the realization that my MIM feels better than any of the MIAs I played. Every single one. To me, it sounds just as good too, if not a little better because the EMGs suit me. I guess I picked up a star, or maybe it's a dud and I don't like most Fenders.:p

Has this ever happened to anyone else?
Click to expand...

Maybe your bass feels best to you because you're so used to it? :hmm:
Even so, I do agree with your basic point. I bought a MIM Jazz in 2003 after trying every Fender Jazz I could find, no matter what country of origin. The one I bought just happened to have the most resonance AND the straightest neck.
 
#14
I will agree that sometimes they are pretty spotty. Mine actually was on the build quality. After about a year and a half, the bridge started falling apart! Upgraded the bridge and never another problem. 2 more years and the pups are just crazy noisy and finnicky. Upgraded to EMGs and never sounded better. Despite the build quality being pretty junky, I still think the neck feels better than any MIA to me. If I could find a MIA that had that neck and felt that good,I would want it, because I know the quality would probably be a little more dependable.
 
#15
I have 2 P bass specials and they're great. I changed out the bridges and that was it. Flats on one, roundwounds on the other and get pretty much every sound I need.
I don't really care where a bass is made, if it feels and sounds good is all that matters.
 
#17
Yes! My 2006 60th Anniversary 4 string is the best bass I've ever played. It's the only one I use. Period. Church Band and my own band..for rehearsals, recording, sit-in, sub gigs, practice, whatever.

No mods made at all..stock bridge, pickups, tuning knobs everything stock.

I played many MIA's but they all felt 'stiff' to me. Alot of MIM's feel 'thin', but I think they made mine the day after Cinco de Mayo or something cause they hooked it up!
 
#18
I bought my MIM J 5 on ebay as my 'play shows with bass'. I was aware the quality could be hit or miss but I got a good deal on it. I got it and it was mint. I ran the serial and it wasn't even a year old. After I did a setup I loved the way it played. Even though I liked the way it sounded I thought the pickups were too low output. I installed a boost only preamp and now I love it even more.
 
#19
A few months ago I got an MIM road worn jazz. I demo'd a few of them first, and the quality of every one I played was top notch.

I think there must be some very talented luthiers at this factory. I can tell that whoever made my bass really cared about what he or she was doing.

I'm glad to see this by the way, there's no reason a bass made in mexico shouldn't be this way. Kudos to them for building me an instrument that will last for decades, and years from now probably even sound and play better than the day it left the factory.
 
#20
I love my 92 MIM Jazz! It's got a great neck and it's been upgraded with DiMarzio Model Js, Audere JZ3 pre, and a BAII bridge. The playability and range of tones available is amazing! The preamp and pickups were left over from a Geddy Lee Jazz that I decided to take back to passive with it's original parts. We put both basses on the kitchen table and did major bass brain surgery! :smug:

I wound up with with a killer MIM Jazz that I originally scored for less than $250! :p
 

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