MIM Fender P Bass

[Ephi82]

I bought a used 2004 American Standard P Bass, in near new condition, for under $500 (about 4 years ago)

Having played a lot of new Fender bass guitars at the time, including those made in Mexico, I believe I purchased a far superior guitar at a better price than anything else I played.

One can score a great playing new Fender Mexican guitar, but as far as I know, the American Standard has much better (ie expensive) hardware that in many cases leads to better sound.

It takes time and work to find an American Standard at a good price, but its worth it

 

[BaileyMan]

I have an early 2000's MIM Jazz bass and it's been getting a lot of play recently. The pickups on this particular bass were a little weak so I spent $100 or so and got Fender N3 Noiseless pickups. Much better. Build quality is fine, tone is good, tuners work as designed, bridge functions as designed. It's a great bass, especially for the $350 I paid for it second hand but essentially unused.

I've got my eyes on a P-Bass, probably a MIM version.

I would challenge anyone to listen to MIM vs a MIA bass live or recorded and be able to tell which was which. As far as tone goes there are so many things other than the bass itself that affect the tone and bring out different characteristics, from strings, to amps and literally everything in between. Like folks have said, there are can be a lot of variation from bass to bass from the same line. Find one that inspires you.

 

[PortlandBass77]

Quality tends to very considerably compared to USA Fenders. Some are better than the USA ones, and some are worse than the Squiers.

 

[Rich Terry]

I have a MIM Jazz and after purchasing a MIA American Standard Jazz and a Vintage American Hot Rod P bass in the last month the MIM is going to be history. There is no comparison.
IMO

 

[MovingPitchers]

I have an early 2000's MIM Jazz bass and it's been getting a lot of play recently. The pickups on this particular bass were a little weak so I spent $100 or so and got Fender N3 Noiseless pickups. Much better. Build quality is fine, tone is good, tuners work as designed, bridge functions as designed. It's a great bass, especially for the $350 I paid for it second hand but essentially unused.

I've got my eyes on a P-Bass, probably a MIM version.

I would challenge anyone to listen to MIM vs a MIA bass live or recorded and be able to tell which was which. As far as tone goes there are so many things other than the bass itself that affect the tone and bring out different characteristics, from strings, to amps and literally everything in between. Like folks have said, there are can be a lot of variation from bass to bass from the same line. Find one that inspires you.

Yep. The only person who can recognize the difference in a live setting is ourself. The general audience will have no clue that you're playing an MIM or MIA bass...or even a Squier. Y'know? It's just our little world that most people don't and never will understand.

 

[BaileyMan]

Yep. The only person who can recognize the difference in a live setting is ourself. The general audience will have no clue that you're playing an MIM or MIA bass...or even a Squier. Y'know? It's just our little world that most people don't and never will understand.

True dat...and if we can hear the difference, we can feel the difference, and if we feel it, we play it...

 

[Robus]

The MIM Fenders have earned a pretty good reputation over the years. You're getting a real Fender made by Fender employees in a Fender factory, as opposed to those outsourced Chinese models like the VM and Modern Player that are Fender branded but made under contract in a factory that produces many different brands.

I'd take it over any of those or any Squier.

 

[MovingPitchers]

The MIM Fenders have earned a pretty good reputation over the years. You're getting a real Fender made by Fender employees in a Fender factory, as opposed to those outsourced Chinese models like the VM and Modern Player that are Fender branded but made under contract in a factory that produces many different brands.

I'd take it over any of those or any Squier.

I see you're one of those people.

 

[ROOTSnFIFTHS]

r

Save your money and buy a MIM classic series.

Truth. I have an MIA P as well as a MIM Road Worn and have played the classic series. My Made in Mexico Road Worn gets more playing time than the American Standard and a "Classic or Road Worn is made/feels and sounds as good or better.

The MIM Standards I have played have been hit or miss though. These were in shops and could have used a proper setup but some of these examples should not have left the factory. Try before you buy if a MIM Standard is your choice.

 

[MovingPitchers]

r
Truth. I have an MIA P as well as a MIM Road Worn and have played the classic series. My Made in Mexico Road Worn gets more playing time than the American Standard and a "Classic or Road Worn is made/feels and sounds as good or better.

The MIM Standards I have played have been hit or miss though. These were in shops and could have used a proper setup but some of these examples should not have left the factory. Try before you buy if a MIM Standard is your choice.

I mean, do you REALLY want to risk having your MIA dinged or touched by weird people at bars or whatever...?

 

[organworthyplayer337]

I have all 3. Most MIM's are better than many of the other countries of manufacture, IMO.

Why? I'm interested and always wondered why many people chose MIM over MIA

 

[OldDirtyBassist]

The Standard Fender bass has a better truss rod system. The American Standard has an allen wrench socket that rattles if the neck is nearly straight, along with the rod vibrating. The MIM Standard doesn't have this problem because the location of the access hole, and the rod itself has rubber tubing surrounding it. It's really a pretty big deal.

The Standard has better sounding ceramic pickups, or at least they did on the older one's.

 

[MovingPitchers]

The Standard Fender bass has a better truss rod system. The American Standard has an allen wrench socket that rattles if the neck is nearly straight, along with the rod vibrating. The MIM Standard doesn't have this problem because the location of the access hole, and the rod itself has rubber tubing surrounding it. It's really a pretty big deal.

The Standard has better sounding ceramic pickups, or at least they did on the older one's.

I didn't know that about the Am. Std....I always thought Fender paid all the attention on their American models while giving less care about the other lower-quality ones.

Wow. I do like the MIM truss rod access location; it makes setup so much easier and less of a PITA. I know pickguards have that little notch to access the truss rod on MIAs, but does it REALLY help at all? I've always had to remove the pickguard or neck to access it...

 

[OldDirtyBassist]

Also, the American Standard tends to develop micro stress cracks around the 15th fret on the sides of the neck, just below the fingerboard area. Had 2 of them do this, never with a MIM Standard. Also had the same problem with an American Series Precision.

 

[MovingPitchers]

Also, the American Standard tends to develop micro stress cracks around the 15th fret on the sides of the neck, just below the fingerboard area. Had 2 of them do this, never with a MIM Standard. Also had the same problem with an American Series Precision.

What's the reason for this?

 

[OldDirtyBassist]

I'm not sure. I didn't crank on them that hard.All the Fender basses I've had with top access never had that problem. This includes, a JP90, Jazz Plus Deluxe(MIA), Jazz Standard, Mark Hoppus and even the Squier Classic Vibe was good to go.

 

[MovingPitchers]

I'm not sure. I didn't crank on them that hard.All the Fender basses I've had with top access never had that problem. This includes, a JP90, Jazz Plus Deluxe(MIA), Jazz Standard, Mark Hoppus and even the Squier Classic Vibe was good to go.

Well I'll keep THAT in mind if I do get my hands on an MIA. I do love the wheel system on Musicmans though. I think that's kind of genius.

 

[lpdeluxe]

I know this thread is about MIM Ps, but I owned this gem of a MIM Standard Jazz fretless in Blue Agave. It had a flawless finish and the nicest action of any bass I've ever owned. A previous owner had installed SD Antiquity II pickups, and I added the black pickguard. I traded it off and it spent several years in the instrument rack at the local pro recording studio.

 

[Robus]

How did you like the Antiquity II?

 

[lpdeluxe]

How did you like the Antiquity II?

I liked them, and have a set of Antiquity II Jazzmaster pickups in a Carvin guitar. I'm not really a Jazz guy (I own three Precisions and a StingRay) but the manager/engineer at the recording studio loves JBs and he had this one on hand constantly until the owner of the studio sold the bass.