MIM Fender basses

[RyanJD]

Just played my bargain 2011 MIM '50s Precision last night for an hour of practice. La Bella flats. That thing kills! Also plays easily and looks classy in 2TSB. Any thought of trading or selling is gone. For now.

My Black Friday 2011 MIM FSR Jazz needs a good setup (this weekend if the honey-do list allows) but with new La Bella rounds it sure sounds good!!

These excellent and well-priced instruments really deserve more love IMHO. YMMV of course.

We have the same basses.
I adore both my 50's Classic P and my FSR Jazz.

 

[southpaw420]

Just recieved my MIM standard jazz about an hour ago. I am very impressed with it to say the least. I actually owned this same model about 5 years ago and it was (while probably a lemon) an utter piece of doo. Sounded great but the hardware was terrible and had a less than stellar neck pocket. This one however, is pretty sweet. No finish flaws, really nice looking and feeling neck, and was actually set up pretty well when I opened the box. Gonna try it out at practice tonight. My main basses are a Carvin SB5000 and and an 80's Hondo P bass that Ive been using alot lately. I really just wanted a beater 4 string Jazz to mess with. I have a tort guard for it on the way but Im actually really liking it with the white guard. Now for some pics.

And what do ya' know? Nice tight neck pocket.

 

[Wyattsgroove]

A properly setup, yet lower quality instrument should indeed play better than a higher quality instrument that has not been set up, all other factors and preferences being equal. But don't confuse this for making it the better instrument. It just simply means it has a better setup, whether from the factory, by a store clerk, a previous owner, or otherwise.

Perfectly said.
Just recently I set up 2 MIM basses for an older fella who bought them at a store closing. A Jazz and P both from around 2004. The jazz, totally unplayable ( as it had been sitting in it's case for a good 5 years) and the P ( also meh...) so after I brought them home and spent several hours of fret leveling, and set up... Bam! Two completely beautiful instruments. In fact I tried to buy the P bass it sounded and played so good. The Jazz was equally as good and next to my MIA jazz (after set up) played better. So... I had to go back and set up my own jazz to get it up to par with the MIM, and did.

IMHO, Fender's ( and most other brands) generally need a good set up. Wood moves. There are to many variables. I broke down and finally bought a P bass because of the MIM P. It was a MIM Road Worn. Guess what? It had high action, fret buzz, too much relief, and had been in the music shop for 3 years. I knew under all this there was a stellar bass and after a good set up and fret dress it just plays and sounds killer and is my main player.

I buy what I can afford, I don't need to say that my MIM is better than ....I just wish it were a real '57 P. Now that would be awesome! I will probably never be lucky enough to own the real deal. Who cares. I'm happy.

Peace.
WG.

 

[lpdeluxe]

I've had a MIM Standard Jazz fretless, and a MIK G&L Tribute L2000, and currently own a MIJ Classic '51 P, a MIM Classic '50s P, and a MIA AV '57.

Other than the finish materials, they are all of comparable quality. Credit Leo Fender for designing great instruments that can be manufactured quickly and accurately.

 

[MoeTown1986]

I've had a MIM Standard Jazz fretless, and a MIK G&L Tribute L2000, and currently own a MIJ Classic '51 P, a MIM Classic '50s P, and a MIA AV '57.

Other than the finish materials, they are all of comparable quality. Credit Leo Fender for designing great instruments that can be manufactured quickly and accurately.

Man I have a MIJ 51 RI too. Aren't they nice? I love how solid it is!

 

[Jeff K]

I currently have 5 MIA Fenders, 1 MIJ, and 1 MIM. I've been tweaking my collection for years, buying something then selling something else off. Although I'm not foolish enough to say that I'm GAS-free, it IS currently in remission.

As many others have said, the MIM Classic '50s are killer basses. Here's mine. It doesn't take a back seat to any of the others.

 

[casbonano]

i just played a MIM jazz standard at GC. then i played a MIA Jazz standard. then i went back to the MIM. then i forgot about the MIA altogether and got all lost in the grooviness i was laying down...

the MIM as a whole felt better in my hands, but esp the neck.
sonically, the two were same but different, though not better or worse.

Visually, i though the richer tinting of the head stock on the MIM was more visually appealing.

took a pic of the serial # and if its still there on saturday i am taking it home.

 

[bumperbass]

I play mostly in BARS and CLUBS. My 2001 MIM P is all I need. I set'er up and I play'er. For my purposes, it's perfect. If another nice one comes along, I'll be tempted. Missed buying it's J twin (same color and was a nice player) by one day.

 

[2meterbassman]

I always wonder why people discuss the different playability of MiM or MiA.

Aren't all parts (body, neck) made by CNC from the same blueprints?
Isn't the bridge the same construction with the same possibilities as an expensive one?

So - maybe the lacquer is different, but why shoultd there be differences between them when it comes to playability.
Is it just the name that makes it a better playing instruments in our phantasy - or are the Fenders using different blueprints for the different series to produce different grades of playability?

 

[bassbully]

I always wonder why people discuss the different playability of MiM or MiA.

Aren't all parts (body, neck) made by CNC from the same blueprints?
Isn't the bridge the same construction with the same possibilities as an expensive one?

So - maybe the lacquer is different, but why shoultd there be differences between them when it comes to playability.
Is it just the name that makes it a better playing instruments in our phantasy - or are the Fenders using different blueprints for the different series to produce different grades of playability?

True, I know thow the necks are made in the same factory maybe the bodies to.

The big diff is finish, tuners, maybe pots and pups on some models but not all. Some MIA basses have carbon rods in the necks...don't need them IMO. For me there has never been a reason to buy a New MIA P bass over say a good MIM or classic series or Road worn. I will save my money.

 

[_aflores_funk]

My MIA Deluxe Jazz Bass V is my only bass at the moment, but prior to buying it I did realize the gap between MIM and MIA isn't as far as I had previously thought. Still gotta love the 3-band EQ and the active/passive switch control, pot pan and the amber finish though!

 

[sj_bass]

It's hard to make any blanket statement that holds any truth in regard to Fender basses, seeing as how much each individual instrument can vary in quality. They're hit or miss across the spectrum.

All I was trying to say in the OP was that there's no reason to think of MIM basses as crap, because there are plenty of great ones out there, you just have to keep looking until you find one (unless you find an MIA or MIJ bass that you like before then...)

Here's one blanket statement; I have MIMs, MIAs, MIJs, CIJs, and even a few mutts in my stable, and all of them are better than my playing ability.

Another blanket statement; This thread has been a fun read.

 

[khutch]

Is it just the name that makes it a better playing instruments in our phantasy - or are the Fenders using different blueprints for the different series to produce different grades of playability?

Fender wants to sell a lot of everything they put on the market so I don't think they intentionally cripple the playability of any of their products because no one will buy an instrument that does not play well. It is often said here that when it comes to certain "upgrades" people apparently "hear with their eyes." People buy things that look better than the stock item and then claim that they also perform sonic miracles -- which many of us cannot hear. So, sure, to some extent the same thing happens with the expensive models versus the cheaper models from the same brand when it comes to "playability".

Playability is a hard thing to judge because it is such a personal thing. I've always found that the better models of any brand have a nicer look and "feel". I'm not even sure how to articulate what I mean by feel, it is not necessarily the same thing as playability, is is just the sum total of all the subtle and often unconscious things that you notice about a bass. But cheap models often play as well as fiendishly expensive models.

There are definite differences in the way that various Fender and Squier models play for me though. For me these are mostly driven by neck widths and thicknesses and by string spacings. The various Fender models do have variations in these parameters so I am sure that all their necks are not made to the same "blueprints" on CNC machines. I own three MIM fours and two have the classic thin Jazz necks that adjust at the headstock. My Reggie Hamilton neck feels (and measures by 2mm) thicker and it adjusts at the heel like MIA necks. The RH neck plays very well for me but I sure notice the difference in thickness and others will either hate or love the neck because of this. The RH neck may be built to MIA "blueprints" but I haven't played any MIA fours recently so I don't know if they too have the thicker profile. I recently got a 2000 Standard Jazz V based on how the new ones play for me in stores and I think that it has a thicker neck than the current models have and in this case, perhaps because a five string neck is already wider than a four, I am not sure I will be happy with it in the long run. The MIA Deluxe Jazz V claims to have a compound radius fretboard and an asymmetrical profile that is not claimed for any other Fender V (as far as I have noticed anyway) and I have to say that it is the nicest playing V I have tried. That is the five string I want and I am so jealous of the poster above!!!

So there are differences that affect playability and since this is a very personal thing one cheap model may play better for you than any other model, cheap or expensive. You know there are constant reports here that some CV Squier or even Affinity model "blows away" all the MIM and MIA Fenders on the wall in some store. I do not find these reports credible in that I always find clear differences between basses that correlate well with their prices. You often pay a lot more for a modest improvement in some factor but you do get more if you pay more, all things considered. But in many ways the only thing you notice about your bass while you are actually performing is how it plays for you. There is no reason at all why a cheap model cannot have all the right variations in geometry to make it play perfectly for you and I can see why people would be delighted to find a $350 Squier that fits them like a glove. And I can believe that the $1800 MIAs might all have a worse fit for a given individual. So if you judge purely on playability, a highly personal judgement, the perfect bass for you, be it cheap or expensive, will indeed blow away everything else.

Ken

 

[sj_bass]

Oh, here's a pic to add to the confusion:

"Gluing in the 'Skunk Strip' on an MIM neck"

This is an "MIM" neck being assembled at the Corona, CA factory during my tour last year. They have identical CNC machines here and in Ensenada, MX that rout about ten necks at a time. Both the MIM and MIA necks are pre-assembled and glued side-by-side, by the same technicians, all to insure identical tolerances between the two necks.

The tour is fascinating - and free. Also, their museum has some wonderful memorabilia from Jamerson to Sting to...

 

[VBassRookie]

I have been a guitar player for 30 years and have been toying with the idea of getting a bass guitar. 2 weeks ago I was out of town and stopped into a Guitar Center to check out their used inventory. There was a mint 2009 Fender Jazz Deluxe V MIM for $270. There were a couple of bass players behind me waiting for me to move because they were talking how insane the price was on this bass and they wanted to check it out. That's all I needed to hear to push me over my wanting stage for a bass. I grabbed it gave it a once over and proceeded to the check out. I know regular guitar setups pretty well but will not pretend to be a bass expert. That being said, I totally love this bass guitar and think it plays pretty smooth and sounds outstanding. I was a little hesitant about getting a 5 string for my first bass, but I couldn't ask for a nicer bass for my first. I have other american made fender guitars and this is right on par quality wise.

 

[Flabass]

I have a MIM Fender P that I upgraded with Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders and shielded the cavity. Sounds great but my recently acquired U.S.A. G&L SB2 is an absolute killer. So if the Fender P neck is too chunky, get an Sb2, it has a jazz profile neck and sounds like a P should.

 

[Doug Parent]

American: carbon rods, better fret work.

 

[ggvicviper]

American: carbon rods, better fret work.

...and better shielding on the electronics.

MIM is still awesome though.

 

[MrCincinnati]

I've had 2 MIA deluxe jazz Vs and 1 MIM 4string p..

The MIM was a groove machine - especially with labellas and foam -- but I couldn't get into the difference in quality/feel going back and forth between the two. It would literally take me 10-20minutes to overcome how "not right" the P felt in my hands - could be because it was a 4, could be the weight difference....definitely the bad fretwork had something to do with it..and the plastic feel of the neck coating. I got rid of it and am holding out for a MIA P V whenever I get the extra funds (since I don't really need a P)

 

[Doug Parent]

2010 American Standard upgraded from previous years, factor it in when making these comparisons.