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MIM vs MIA Fenders
- Thread starter Doom
- Start date
One thing that I've noticed is the headstock thickness on the MIM's I've owned were 0.55" vs 0.625" on the US models.
The current line of MIA's smoke the MIM's in every way, but before 2008, there were many of MIM's that could hang with the MIA's one just had to be sure to try before buying.
I like how the new MIM's come in maple fingerboards.
I like how the new MIM's come in maple fingerboards.
MIM : Cheap electronics, Poorly fretted, Poor fit and finish, sharp edge on the fingerboard, Cheap tuners, More weight.
MIA : Excellent electronics, Nicely fitted and finished, Incredible feeling neck with rolled edge on the fingerboard, superb fret job, thin nitro laquer finish, decent tuners, light-weight. Made in the USA by Americans.
You get what you pay for. Period.
MIA : Excellent electronics, Nicely fitted and finished, Incredible feeling neck with rolled edge on the fingerboard, superb fret job, thin nitro laquer finish, decent tuners, light-weight. Made in the USA by Americans.
You get what you pay for. Period.
In general MIA is more consistant, but it varies year to year.
Some of the new Squiers are as good if not better than the MIM's.
And dare I say, maybe even better than some of the MIA's?
Some of the new Squiers are as good if not better than the MIM's.
And dare I say, maybe even better than some of the MIA's?
American. Nothing else for me, thank you. Though maybe a Japanese from the 80's...But that's irrelivant.
True that, but what about the bodies, quality control, body finish and electronics?
Not one of these describes my 2001 MIM Jazz Bass. Solidly built, looks amazing, great feel, smooth neck, not heavy, awesome. Got it nearly 10 years ago from Umanov Guitars in NY and it's as great now as the day I got it.
All Fenders are hit and miss. It doesn't matter where they were made.
Even the vintage ones. There, I said it.
Even the vintage ones. There, I said it.
I have a 2008 MIA 4-string J and I love it. It's my favorite bass. I also have a '99 MIM 5-string. The B and E strings sound too "piano-like" to me and the B is a little floppy, but not terrible. The bridge is good, the finish on the body and neck are nice. I paid less than $300 used for it, and it is certainly worth more than that (to me). I will likely swap out the pu's for SD's.
Buy the American one if you can afford it, but the MIM will not disappoint you.
Buy the American one if you can afford it, but the MIM will not disappoint you.
FWIW .... the MIM Classic '50s P can't be lumped in with the MIM Standard P IMHO.
Much better made, better components, tuners, etc. ... it's no USA P of course, but a lot closer than a Standard P.
Although, I've only played a '01 Standard P ...... no later ones.
Much better made, better components, tuners, etc. ... it's no USA P of course, but a lot closer than a Standard P.
Although, I've only played a '01 Standard P ...... no later ones.
I've never enjoyed playing any MIM Fender I've tried. I'm not saying that in the "I turn my nose to any MIM Fender" kind of way, but I legitimately have never had a pleasant experience when playing a MIM Precision or Jazz. Some people on here swear by MIM Fenders, though. Perhaps I've just had bad luck. 
I've played some breathtaking MIA Fenders that I simply couldn't put down and were some of the best basses I've ever played. On the other hand, I've played some half decent MIA Fenders as well.
From my experience and in my opinion, nothing beats a bass made in the good ol' U.S.A.
I've played some breathtaking MIA Fenders that I simply couldn't put down and were some of the best basses I've ever played. On the other hand, I've played some half decent MIA Fenders as well.
From my experience and in my opinion, nothing beats a bass made in the good ol' U.S.A.
I have owned 3 usa 57' p ri's, all from diff eras, early fullerton, 80s and 90s. Sold them all off for other basses and last year i picked up a mim 50's precisions. mind you, i always HATED with a passion all the mim standard p-basses, but i will tell you what.
I could swear the mim 50s p is 100% a usa 57 RI, only sanded and finished in poly instead of sticky nitro in Mexico.
I really like my two!
I sold my '01 Standard P ..... but I must say, I liked the thin neck/low action on that bass! It was my main player for a while.
