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MiM - A test of time

#43
recently purchased a 04 mim P neck ... all is well ... nice neck for the price .. !! $140 including brand new hipshots .. !! for me , they need a little more ' finishing ' on the frets ... ( level , polish , round the ends a little ) ... i also have a mii ( indonesia ) P neck ... after some work , it is fine also ...

the extra fret work isn't really hard to do ... but , it takes a few specific tools , a bit of time and patience ..
 
#45
I was talking with my friend, who owns a well-known vintage guitar shop, about the "good ones" and we both agree...A good neck that allows you a setup that accommodates your play style...everything else is just a few nuts and bolts and some magnets.

Fenders are parts guitar...they're not acoustic guitars with dove-tail neck joints, thin scalloped braces and exotic wood tops.
 
#47
I would be interested to see if anybody has ever done a real breakdown of cost for parts between MIM and MIA. I'm not convinced the hardware is even different in some cases; just like Audi and VW share a lot of the same parts when it comes down to it.

For sure, you are paying for time. Maybe somebody with a higher wage putting a little more time dressing fret edges and making sure everything is nice and straight although once they get shipped to guitar center the setups are pretty wacko.

I always redo the electronics with wax cloth wiring and CTS pots/switchcraft on all my guitars. Everytime, I think to myself, this makes absolutely no difference! LOL but gives me peace of mind.

I've seen so many of my "hobbyist" musician friends buy a very expensive instrument and their setup is complete cow dung and unplayable...they buy it and think it's perfect..I can't change a thing because I spent all this money. I mean, the truth is, you probably need to setup your guitar a few times a year when the relief of the neck changes from the weather. Every time I change strings type or brand, maybe it's minor but it requires a little setup.

I'm even guilty of it. I have a very high-end Martin acoustic guitar and I'm actually scared to take it to the tech...which is stupid...its just a tool!

Don't fetishize your instrument...
 
#48
Just play it and keep it serviceable. A Mim that gets constant play and attention (setup and all) will be in better condition than a Amstd left unplayed after a same amount of ime (oxide,wood warping, rust).
Of course the opposite applies too. It doesn't really change that much. play the instrument you like better.
 
#49
I'm pretty sure it's the posiflex rods that will be responsible for today's US fenders lasting well into the next century. Matter of fact, I'm planning to get one of them rods for myself. Heck, maybe I'll even get two. You can't be too careful, or too stiff... er, rigid.
 
#50
matty4string said:
My fellow talkbassers my question is do you think a mim fender bass will last equally as long as its miA counterpart even without all the top shelf hardware and accessories a pro model comes with and without those posiflex rods
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If you take care of it, it will last. I am young, so I don't have much experience with older instruments, but there isn't much on a bass that can wear out over time. Frets, I guess. But in the long run, if you really like the bass, a re-fret is more than worth it. So yes, your MIM will last as long as a MIA.
 
#51
The MIMs are pretty darn good these days. Lot's of diversity of color and styles to choose from. I keep a MIM in my car all the time, besides being an interesting science project (weather wise), I worry less if someone felt the need to help themselves without my permission. Comes in handy when I have an itch to play for 20 mins without heading back to the house.
 
#54
MIM Fenders are good. If you buy one a few years old and the neck is fine, chances are it will remain stable. Giving that you take care of the guitar, not leaving in your hot car. frets? trying to stretch the strings like a lead guitar damages them more than anything. Pots? Usually last for many years. cord jack? eventually causes problems on all basses.
 
#55
matty4string said:
My fellow talkbassers my question is do you think a mim fender bass will last equally as long as its miA counterpart even without all the top shelf hardware and accessories a pro model comes with and without those posiflex rods
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Yes, and many mim instruments play better than Mia to begin with. If it's got a good neck, go for it. Everything else is replaceable anyway.
 
#58
Nickweissmusic said:
Yes, and many mim instruments play better than Mia to begin with. If it's got a good neck, go for it. Everything else is replaceable anyway.
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How on earth does every damn thread about Fender turn into Squires or MIMs are better than MIAs? Seriosuly, I think it is about time someone let Fender know that building instruments in the US is a complete waste of time.
 

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