MIA vs. MIJ Fenders This is the Real Question

Hmmm, carrot stew

 

Who are everyone?
You and ... (your cat?)

 

I'll bite.

MIJ Fenders are very good quality, although sometimes a little lacking in the electronics department compared to the MIA's.

I will say this in favor of the MIJ's. They are much more consistent IMHO compared to either the MIM's or MIA's.

 

I have a couple MIJ Fenders and I think the quality is great. It's been awhile since I've owned a MIA Fender so I don't think I can objectively compare. I do agree with embellisher on the electronics though.

I own a MIJ P-bass. It's actually has the standard P-bass configuration but a P-lite type body. The neck is also a little more narrow than the standard Precision -- somewhere in between a Jazz and Precision. It's still one of the best playing 4 string basses I've ever played but there was a marked improvement in sound once I slapped some EMG pickups on it.

 

Bassin',

What kind of wood are the bodies of your MIJs made of?

 

I'm not sure what the body wood is on the fretless jazz... I bought it a few years back when body woods weren't a concern for me. I just wanted a decent fretless bass.

The P-bass I've had for over 16 years (I bought it brand new) and, although I again wasn't too concerned with the body wood, I've since made a gouge in the body where I often rest my thumb... It definitely looks to be alder to me.

 

I think the MIJ's are some of the best values in Fenders. The consistency that Embellisher mentioned is a big plus, especially if you're buying from an online seller. I have to laugh at the prices that '70s Fenders are bringing....for the most spotty bunch of Fenders on record! Compared to 70's Fenders, MIJs are pretty nice IMO

 

I didnt know that Mim's were made of inferior materials.

I do know that the Mim bodies and necks are made in the US Fender factory. The bodies are made from poplar (with maple cap on sunburst). Parker Musicman Jackson and others use poplar on some models. Poplar is generally used for soild finish instruments.

I have played many Mim instruments and they have loked and sounded 'good' and stayed in tune with no unwanted noise (no more than expected from single coils).

Fender stopped using ash and started using alder in the 50's because it was cheaper. Until recently the Mia's were made of laminates to reduce costs. The current American series use one or two piece construction.

Outcome

Play loads of basses and buy the one that 'speaks to you regardless of where it came from (America China Mexico or Japan). Anyone who disses the origin of your instrument can go boil their head.

rant over-gets off soapboax-goes to make a cup of tea (from India not China).

 

I was not upset but having had Squier and Mim instruments (and advised people to buy them) I felt like defending them.

I think that MIM and MIJ guitars are generally very good value. They are what they are. You have to spend a significantly greater amount of money to beat them.

The only downer IMO (as all of this is) is that with any mass produced instrument you have to try loads. Mass production works to tolerances. Some of them like neck pockets can be actually better. Some of them like neck dimensions can be subjective. I always play an instrument before I buy it.

 

I must have the second best then

 

I was attempting to be funny as I have a Musicman.

Anyway I do agree with you on liking what you like.

 

If youve got a good bass you cannot be that much of a dullard. Put it down to my weird sense of humour and living in UK.

Nice 'talking' to you and 'see you around'.

 

My experience agrees with Jeff's about MIJ Fenders.

But every MIM I have seen has been worse than every MIA I have seen with the exception of one abysmal '93 MIA Strat I once played.

CS,

MIA instruments have NEVER been built with laminates. If you mean 3 part bodies...Leo was using three part bodies before he sold Fender. I used to have a '64 jazz bass. Body was three parts. This can be an advantage as it stabilises the body.

If you mean that they used veneer, this was to prevent finish checking. The myth is that they used veneer on natural and sunburst finishes to trick people. This was spread around by the bizarre Ed Roman, among others. The reality was that they used more veneer on solid colour bodies because those were more likely to show bad checking. I believe they still do use veneer on some basses, but I wouldn't swear to it.

My '95 MIJ bass has an aldre body, is NOT veneered and has checked badly...from being taken from mountain air here in Ankara to humid seaside gigs and back again regularly by its previous owner, and NOT KEPT IN A HARD CASE!