MIM vs MIA Fenders

[tjh]

Interesting thread .. to a point .. but, we need to be a little bit careful with terminology, and using too broad a brush to make our points ... I would have liked to have seen a bit more descrimination when it comes to comparing, rather than MIA and MIM ...

... for instance, there have already been many points raised about the quality of the Classic Series instruments which are MIM, but I have yet to hear much of anyone compare something like one of these to some of the MIA 'dogs' that were being produced through some of the periods in Fenders 'less than stellar years' ... point being, there are good, better, and some that fall a little short of that scale at other times ... then again, many of those contributing opinions have absolutely no recollection, or as mentioned may not even have been around during the periods that some of the lesser qualitiy instruments were being mass produced ... believe it or not, and it may be a point of contention, but there are times when the best you could do for a Fender bass was MIJ ...

... and when it comes to current instrument, even more discernment needs to be used, as excluding the current American Standards, the other TWO lines of MIA basses use several of the SAME components as some model of a MIM bass ... there was a post a while back stating the MIM tuners were JUNK, and MIA were EXCELLENT ... psssst ... the tuners on the MIM Standard are the SAME as what is on the Hwy Series (MIA) and the new Special Series (MIA) .... the pups in the Classic Series (MIM) are the same as what is in the Hwy and Special Series (MIA), etc, etc ...

... bottom line, you cant really compare by county of origin, you need to compare specifics, and feeling and opinions of specifics change according to a wide variety of factors, not limited to how they are used, who is using them, etc .... and something that doesn't seem to matter a whole lot on here, is that those giving their opinion on the matter may very well not be versed enough on the subject to comment, but are just repeating what they heard somewhere else, even if they believe what they are saying ...

..." which is better ", is usually a very good opening to what is assuredly going to be a very popular thread ... and many times, with all due respect, a reflection of opinions that in some cases should be taken with a grain of salt ... but, still an opinion that deserves to be heard, because there is no arguing the point that MIA is still the best country in the world to live in if you want to voice an opinion .... and that, is JMHO ...

 

[king koeller]

You can keep them both...
I want a Made in Japan!!!!

 

[Bluesbob]

many of those contributing opinions have absolutely no recollection, or as mentioned may not even have been around...

tjh makes lots of great points in his post, but the one I quoted above is something that I had never thought about until last year. Many of us have never owned anything but MIA instruments until 15 or 20 years ago - because that's all there was. Being able to own a low-cost, low-anxiety axe to throw around (as well as gig with) wasn't an option for us back in the day.
Anyway, MY point is play what you like, don't be swayed by what somebody says on the internet, and whatever works for you - er,... works for you!

 

[Tunaman]

My MIM Jazz from 95 sucks... tuners are garbage, slip all the time, the Pickups are noisy, the bridge is pretty weak, my nut wore down & the strings could slip out. My pickups rusted.
It couldn't make a gig at this point. I have a MIA P 2008 & its fit and finish are fantastic, we'll see if it breaks down like the MIM though.
I just wanted to put some facts out there about the longevity of my MIM.

 

[SurferJoe46]

I can't really fault MiM or MiAs as I've not had a lot of experience owning too many of them.

My MiM Deluxe is sweet and has no problems that I can find - in fact it was the 'coffee break' player at the GC when I bought it and made the guitar-guys angry when I took it out the door.

The only thing I don't like about the MiAs I've tried to like so far is the radical roll-off on the sides of the necks - but I really like the 9.5" flatter necks on the MiMs and MiIs.

I don't think there's really a 'bad bass' out there, but just preferences and set-up mindsets that condemn the whole line if one isn't just what the 'artist' wants.

I mean - c'mon, a set-up is personal and if one gripes about it, they aren't thinking - just popping off at a country of origin.

 

[Corevalay]

I've got an American Jazz Deluxe and an American Jazz Plus. I had a MIM Jazz Deluxe and there was NO comparison between the MIA and MIM. The sound, the feel, everything was significantly better and more solid on the MIA. It FELT like a better quality.

 

[Bluesbob]

My MIM Jazz from 95 sucks... tuners are garbage, slip all the time, the Pickups are noisy, the bridge is pretty weak, my nut wore down & the strings could slip out. My pickups rusted.
It couldn't make a gig at this point. I have a MIA P 2008 & its fit and finish are fantastic, we'll see if it breaks down like the MIM though.
I just wanted to put some facts out there about the longevity of my MIM.

IME, the mid-'90's are terrible years AFA fit 'n' finish for just about all Fenders, except CS and RI.
I'm puzzled about how a nut could wear down, although anything is possible, especially with the plastic nuts on that vintage. The nut on my '71' Jazz simply broke between the edge of the G string slot and the end, so I had it replaced with bone. Much better than new.
Since '08 all Fenders have been cranked out with the same CNC computerized manufacturing techniques, and are much more consistent.
15 years without an overhaul seems pretty good to me, depending on how much use (and abuse ) it got.

 

[sgtpepper]

I own a 2000 Deluxe Active Jazz Bass. Man, it rocks. And I got it at a Pawn Shop for about $290 USD mint condition. I don't have a lot of experience owning Fenders but maybe that's because I hadn't the need to buy another one since then. I have played another Fenders, MIAs and MIMs, from other fellow bassists and I can say my bass is one of the best or maybe the best I have played. I guess maybe this is because it is an early MIM DELUXE model and have basically the same Suhr Pickups/Electronics as the MIA DELUXE. I'm just guessing.

I think some of you guys are right, maybe is something about "luck".

 

[pyrohr]

I guess maybe this is because it is an early MIM DELUXE model and have basically the same Suhr Pickups/Electronics as the MIA DELUXE. I'm just guessing.

I think some of you guys are right, maybe is something about "luck".

I have owened both basses at the same time, a 98 MIA dlx and a 01 MIM dlx (which I still have) and I will tell you the pups may look the same but the whole set up is NOT THE SAME! The MIA dlx bass was far and beyond much "clearer" the treble could be fully boosted without entering the shrill zone, the bass could be boosted without getting boomy or muddy. The MIA bass's eq was just more usable. Even now when I play my MIA dlx basses and play my MIM dlx bass I can hear the difference in the pre-amp and pups.

 

[oldbassplayergu]

my mim jazz body is made of poplar or basswood(I think). my alder mia is much brighter. I like them both but the mim feels well for lack of a better word cheaper. The tuners and pickups also can't compare.

 

[sgtpepper]

I have owened both basses at the same time, a 98 MIA dlx and a 01 MIM dlx (which I still have) and I will tell you the pups may look the same but the whole set up is NOT THE SAME! The MIA dlx bass was far and beyond much "clearer" the treble could be fully boosted without entering the shrill zone, the bass could be boosted without getting boomy or muddy. The MIA bass's eq was just more usable. Even now when I play my MIA dlx basses and play my MIM dlx bass I can hear the difference in the pre-amp and pups.

As far as I know both MIA and MIM had the same Made in USA Suhr Pickups/Pream/Electronics. But I can't tell about playability like you because you have them both. Lucky man!!!

 

[pyrohr]

As far as I know both MIA and MIM had the same Made in USA Suhr Pickups/Pream/Electronics. But I can't tell about playability like you because you have them both. Lucky man!!!

Again no they did not! The MIM bass had a Fender pre-amp in it! When Suhr left R&D (1998) it really wasn't on a good note so I'm told. The pre-amp he used was not his best efforts but something to put the DLX jazz back on the map. 1999 Fender developed the "noiseless" pups as well as the Fender pre-amp they used in the MIM bass. Tell me why would they use the winning combo in the MIM bass which was clean and full of headroom then install a bland sounding pre-amp in the MIA dlx bass? This is why the MIA dlx bass got Bill Lawrence SCN's and the MIM bass's got the "noiseless" pups a couple of years later! remember I've owned BOTH basses in question at the same time and a/b'ed them to death. My 2001 MIM dlx jazz does not have a Suhr pre-amp..........

 

[sgtpepper]

Again no they did not! The MIM bass had a Fender pre-amp in it! When Suhr left R&D (1998) it really wasn't on a good note so I'm told. The pre-amp he used was not his best efforts but something to put the DLX jazz back on the map. 1999 Fender developed the "noiseless" pups as well as the Fender pre-amp they used in the MIM bass. Tell me why would they use the winning combo in the MIM bass which was clean and full of headroom then install a bland sounding pre-amp in the MIA dlx bass? This is why the MIA dlx bass got Bill Lawrence SCN's and the MIM bass's got the "noiseless" pups a couple of years later! remember I've owned BOTH basses in question at the same time and a/b'ed them to death. My 2001 MIM dlx jazz does not have a Suhr pre-amp..........

I learn something new everyday. Thanks for the info

 

[solarplexus]

Well I'd like to put my two cents from my own experience with both basses and guitars.

I have owned many, many, many different MIM guitars. I have owned 2 MIJ guitars. I have 2 MIA guitars.

Bottom line: I still have the MIA's. One is a '74 Strat, the other an American Special Tele. They are amazing on every detail.

I regretted a long time for selling those MIJ's. As good as the MIA, IME, but when it came down to having to sell stuff for bills, I sold 'em. If I had them right now with the MIAs', I still would have sold 'em and kept the MIAs.

I do no regret selling the MIMs

Basses:

I have briefly owned a MIM and shopped around quite a bit for a good MIM. Never had one that was amazing enough for me to buy. They were decent though. I have a MIJ and will keep it until my newly ordered MIA arrives. I also own a Squier CV. Will keep it forever.

So bottom line from my experiences with both instruments, MIA is superior to MIM.

And I can honestly say that for the price you pay, a Squier is on par if not better than MIM.

 

[Slackerprince]

It would be interesting to have a room with a half dozen each of USA and MIM with socks over the headstock to see how a blind test would go.

S

 

[Doom]

I'm going to put life into this old thread,
Slackerprince I like that comment, especially if they were all painted the same color!

 

[adk teleman]

I'm going to put life into this old thread,
Slackerprince I like that comment, especially if they were all painted the same color!

I agree with Slacker...I dispelled this with a cork sniffer in GA and he was blown away when he say that the guitar was an MIM. It is all psychological IMO

 

[deeptubes]

I have a 2001 MIM P Special Deluxe. It's stock with the exception of a Badass II bridge. It plays fantastic! The sound is almost comparable to my MIA 1984 P Elite II. But, my Elite is in a league of it's own, so that's kind of expected.

I got the MIM for free, courtesy of zZounds. I ordered it in 2000, along with some stands, strings, and wall hangers. Everything was shipped except for the bass. I called them, and they said they didn't have it in stock. They never said it was on back order. Almost 2 years later, UPS shows up with a bass-sized package. "Sweet! About f'ing time!" About 18 months after I received it, I got a call from zZounds wanting to know how I intend to pay for it. So much time had passed, I paid off the credit card I used to pay for everything and closed the account. I honestly thought it was paid for, and I had no way of checking this out. I informed the woman that an extended period of time had passed before sending me the bass, without double-checking with me as to whether or not I still wanted it. I would have said no. By then, I had my Elite. I explained to her that they had essentially sent me something and were now calling me up, telling me I had to pay for it. "I'm sorry ma'am, but that's mail fraud." She replied, "Could you hold on for just a second?" I was on hold for no more than 10 seconds. She came back, "Alright sir, we'll take care of that. You have a great day." That was the end of it. Granted, it was only $279, but a free new bass is a free new bass! Even better, it's a Sunburst Fender! I personally don't care where it was made. Even if I did have to pay for it, I would still have been highly pleased. Thanks, zZounds!