Well, what it really boils down to is the sound you prefer. If you play them both and you think one of them sounds better than the other, go with it. The price of something doesn't always make it sound better, it's truely your choice. As for craftmanship and physical wellness, I would go for the MIA. There is a huge difference with the neck, body wood, pickups and tuning heads. I bought a MIA Jazz last May and not one problem has arose, and I'm pretty confident that none will arise in the future. So, if you have the money, go for the MIA, but if you think that the MIM or even the MIJ sounds better, do what you feel is nessesary to achive your particular sound.
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MIM vs. MIA
- Thread starter geremia
- Start date
Just last night i was playing a MIM Telecaster a friend of mine just bought, fit and finish were unbelievable, i wasn´t fond of MIM Fenders before, but if the basses are nearly as nice as my friend´s Tele....i think i know what i´m gonna do with my P-Bass GAS, replacing the bridge is a no-brainer though. And by the way, i own two MIA Jazzes one of them is a ´73 and the other one is a very heavy, three bolt neckplate model with blocks made in the seventies (i don´t know which year it was made). So if i find one MIM that´s nice enough i´m gonna snatch it.
IMO a good MIM is good enough as a all around giging bass. I have tried to find a MIA that i felt was worth the extra $ over several MIMs i have played but couldnt find one yet.
This time i got a used MIM P bass and put a vintage re-issue bridge, 62 reisssue pups and tort guard. I played it thru my rig at practice right up with a former drummers MIA P bass and even he said no diff.
I save $ and nobody will hear a MIA or a MIA anyhow. On the necks my MIMs all have had great necks my MIM Classic 50's P the best i have ever had for feel but real wide.
This time i got a used MIM P bass and put a vintage re-issue bridge, 62 reisssue pups and tort guard. I played it thru my rig at practice right up with a former drummers MIA P bass and even he said no diff.
I save $ and nobody will hear a MIA or a MIA anyhow. On the necks my MIMs all have had great necks my MIM Classic 50's P the best i have ever had for feel but real wide.
I have a 2007 mia and a 2007 mim. I would say if you have the extra cash the mia is nicer but my mim sounds and plays great.
The only thing with the mim is the bridge is on the cheap side. I replaced it with a $30.00 Gotoh and changed the white pickguard to black.
the midnight wine is the mim and the butterscotch is the mia.
is it just me, or are the frets a bigger guage on the MIM? i couldn't stand the jumbo sized ones on mine, any difference on the MIA?
Standard to Standard: Are the MIA's worth more money? Yes. Are they worth over double the money? In my case, yes.
As a lefty, I have a hard time finding basses, and ones I like -- I like natural finishes over colored basses -- so when I found a lefty '04 MIM J Natural FSE for 375.00 (shipped) on ebay I jumped on it knowing I was going to do "some" upgrades. But I never expected this....
Here is what Fender puts it's name on for a Special Edition -- the bad:
1. There is a 1/8" gap between the white pickguard and control plate -- you can see the wires inside! They must have put the control plate on first, then the pickguard, since the control plate has plenty of wiggle room to line up...I'll fix the problem with the new black pickguard, but I'll have to fill-and-drill some new holes.
2. Over half the frets stuck out +1/32" -- they did not file down flush. Plus they did not do a good job rounding off the tops -- they were boxy and rough. I had to tape around them and dremel to fix.
3. Nothing good to say about the Fender stock bridge except they must/better have a piece of the after market action...got a new Gotoh 201 -- thanks Speedkills!
4. No attempt at shielding from the factory except sawdust and chipped varnish in the cavities -- I am cleaning and shielding.
5. The pots/knobs are okay, but dusty. I am replacing these as well as adding .047 orange cap -- thanks fourstringbliss for ALL your help and advice.
6. The tuners are okay, but I am replacing with the Hipshot HB7 1:27 ratios...
7. Pickups are not bad actually, but while I'm at it, I am replacing with DiMarzio Js
The good:
1. The body is nice, though could have done a better job with matching grain on the body laminated sections, but its nice as a natural goes...
2. Neck is straight. The Flame maple is cool - (Rosewood fretboard)
So thats it, new bridge, pickguard, tuners, pickups, control plate/pots/knobs, shielding job and fret work. All said and done probably an additional 500.00 with set-up & strings...so 800.00 in the end. ....still under the cost of an MIA and rival the sound and feel, but at a price and effort.
Edit: I'll get some work-in-progress pics up this week.
As a lefty, I have a hard time finding basses, and ones I like -- I like natural finishes over colored basses -- so when I found a lefty '04 MIM J Natural FSE for 375.00 (shipped) on ebay I jumped on it knowing I was going to do "some" upgrades. But I never expected this....
Here is what Fender puts it's name on for a Special Edition -- the bad:
1. There is a 1/8" gap between the white pickguard and control plate -- you can see the wires inside! They must have put the control plate on first, then the pickguard, since the control plate has plenty of wiggle room to line up...I'll fix the problem with the new black pickguard, but I'll have to fill-and-drill some new holes.
2. Over half the frets stuck out +1/32" -- they did not file down flush. Plus they did not do a good job rounding off the tops -- they were boxy and rough. I had to tape around them and dremel to fix.
3. Nothing good to say about the Fender stock bridge except they must/better have a piece of the after market action...got a new Gotoh 201 -- thanks Speedkills!
4. No attempt at shielding from the factory except sawdust and chipped varnish in the cavities -- I am cleaning and shielding.
5. The pots/knobs are okay, but dusty. I am replacing these as well as adding .047 orange cap -- thanks fourstringbliss for ALL your help and advice.
6. The tuners are okay, but I am replacing with the Hipshot HB7 1:27 ratios...
7. Pickups are not bad actually, but while I'm at it, I am replacing with DiMarzio Js
The good:
1. The body is nice, though could have done a better job with matching grain on the body laminated sections, but its nice as a natural goes...
2. Neck is straight. The Flame maple is cool - (Rosewood fretboard)
So thats it, new bridge, pickguard, tuners, pickups, control plate/pots/knobs, shielding job and fret work. All said and done probably an additional 500.00 with set-up & strings...so 800.00 in the end. ....still under the cost of an MIA and rival the sound and feel, but at a price and effort.
Edit: I'll get some work-in-progress pics up this week.
You know, for a long time I would have argued that the MIA is far and away superior to the MIM counterparts. Recently, however, I purchased a MIM P ($200) in outstanding shape from GC and it was probably the nicest playing bass in GC the day that I was there. It is, indeed, a nice playing and sounding instrument.
However, I still prefer the MIA Deluxe that I bought in 2004 and the 75RI that I grabbed in 2006......USA models both.
Still, the worth of any instrument is in the "hands" of the player.....
However, I still prefer the MIA Deluxe that I bought in 2004 and the 75RI that I grabbed in 2006......USA models both.
Still, the worth of any instrument is in the "hands" of the player.....
artdrtr...I think you were just unlucky to have all those faults. I picked up a S/H 04 MIM jazz bass last weekend at a guitar fair. Yes there is a slight gap in the neck fit at one side and a bit of filler needed cleaning up from the topmost fret. Apart from that Its a killer! I actually had no intention of buying a Bass that day let alone another Jazz, but I was just impressed by the instrument. ( and the deal! Since it would have retailed new at Half the price of a MIA in the UK I can only wonder about the wisdom of paying double. But then again I have never been much of a 'tyre kicker'
I recently picked up a MIM Jazz Deluxe V on ebay & love it. It hadn't been played for quite a while by the looks of it but I've tweaked it up & now it plays fantastic - well enough to remind me that my Streamer 5 & SR4 could use some attention. Fit & finish is better than I ever expected & stock electronics were ok. I've got Aeros in it now with an Audere on the way & I think I'll have myself a great player. I'm in no way a gear snob but I would've never considered owning a MIM Fender but I'm very pleased I now do.
Well, now the MIA's have new bridges, but, before, the MIA's had tracks on the bridge plate for the height screws to align to. Plus, they're a fair bit heavier.
here's the solution... USED american made. just got an awesome MIA pbass from a fellow tber, and I will NEVER look back 
and support the american economy! keep it "local"!!!
and support the american economy! keep it "local"!!!
You can get a nice bass if you upgrade a MIM. Unfortunately, once you're done it's worth about $50.
Or you can buy a MIA and retain some resale and have it sounding and feeling solid without need to upgrade.
Or you can buy a MIA and retain some resale and have it sounding and feeling solid without need to upgrade.
Yea well .. that is also comparing the P-bass to the Jazz.. which is a whole other topic (that has also been exhausted) ... You can't compare an MIM P with an MIA Jazz...
I have two P-Basses - one 1997 MIA and one 1996 MIM that are identical (because I bought the same color, changed the pick guards, etc.) so I though I'd share my thoughts here.
Ultimately everyone is right about preference. If it sounds good it is good. I buy American wherever possible too but to tell the truth I like the sound and feel of my MIM a little better, which is why it's my main axe. I think the MIA is darker sounding, not as bright, probably due in part to the string-through body. Interestingly I've noticed the much desired vintage P-Basses did not have string through bodies.
The materials used on the MIA neck are definitely of higher quality but I find the MIM a little easier to play. It's slightly thinner. As for the body I notice very little difference. Even the pickups on the MIM aren't bad but I did ended up installing Fralins because I wanted to try them. I also replaced the MIM bridge with a Gotoh because the stock one sucked.
I got my MIM slightly used for $200 (deal!) so if something happens to it, no biggy. I'll track down another one and life goes on. If something happened to my MIA I'd be much more pissed off. Hence the duplicate basses.
Granted I'm talking about basses that are 10+ years old now and don't know how the new stuff stacks up, but that's my two cents anyway.
Ultimately everyone is right about preference. If it sounds good it is good. I buy American wherever possible too but to tell the truth I like the sound and feel of my MIM a little better, which is why it's my main axe. I think the MIA is darker sounding, not as bright, probably due in part to the string-through body. Interestingly I've noticed the much desired vintage P-Basses did not have string through bodies.
The materials used on the MIA neck are definitely of higher quality but I find the MIM a little easier to play. It's slightly thinner. As for the body I notice very little difference. Even the pickups on the MIM aren't bad but I did ended up installing Fralins because I wanted to try them. I also replaced the MIM bridge with a Gotoh because the stock one sucked.
I got my MIM slightly used for $200 (deal!) so if something happens to it, no biggy. I'll track down another one and life goes on. If something happened to my MIA I'd be much more pissed off. Hence the duplicate basses.
Granted I'm talking about basses that are 10+ years old now and don't know how the new stuff stacks up, but that's my two cents anyway.
I can't speak for all lefties, but I'm not concerned with resale values. There is a reason manufacturers don't stock the shelves with lefty guitars, the market is just too small. And the resale market is even worse. My modified MIM will not see the resale market because I'm too happy to get what I can find...and I don't know when another option will come up
Budget aside, I'd love a MIA. My local GC and Sam Ash have none -- so I can forget trying several out before I buy, and I don't want that "1 option" or "1 left" on whatever.com....
(sigh)
Budget aside, I'd love a MIA. My local GC and Sam Ash have none -- so I can forget trying several out before I buy, and I don't want that "1 option" or "1 left" on whatever.com....
(sigh)
I think as far as the 2008 models go, the MIA Standard basses are probably the best built and finest playing
mass produced American made Fenders to come out in a long long time. Nice color and neck combinations available and many stores are having trouble keeping up with the demand. Imho a 2008 MIM Fender doesn't come close to a 2008 MIA Fender.
mass produced American made Fenders to come out in a long long time. Nice color and neck combinations available and many stores are having trouble keeping up with the demand. Imho a 2008 MIM Fender doesn't come close to a 2008 MIA Fender.
