okcrum
in your chest
It sounds like you're only considering new from that price difference.
FSR = Fender Special Run - These are commissioned by individual dealers and built to their specifications.
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MIM vs USA jazz bass
- Thread starter Ziggy OLeary
- Start date
It sounds like you're only considering new from that price difference.
FSR = Fender Special Run - These are commissioned by individual dealers and built to their specifications.
- Oct 18, 2012
- 6,683
- 5,538
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
MIM basses are better than they used to be but I have never found one that I like. Buy a used MIA.
The right bass is the one that you like the most. Could be MIA, could be MIM, could be Squier, could be some other non-fender brand.
Forget about price for a minute, play basses until you find one you like, and then buy it.
Forget about price for a minute, play basses until you find one you like, and then buy it.
I have a 2008 fender FSR MIM jazz. It was a very nice bass for 6 years until I dropped in CS60s pickups and got a proper set up. Now it is a great bass!
Look around you can find a nice one.
Buy used you can find a great deal in the $200-400 range. MIA, highway one or road worn are nice too but more in the $600-800 range.
Buy on TB. They know their instruments and price their gear appropriately.
Look around you can find a nice one.
Buy used you can find a great deal in the $200-400 range. MIA, highway one or road worn are nice too but more in the $600-800 range.
Buy on TB. They know their instruments and price their gear appropriately.
As others have said, on average the American Standards are quite a bit better than the MIM Standards. I've owned both, and while the 2010 MIM was a fantastic value and a very good bass, it really wasn't that close to my 2003 Am. Series four or (recently sold) 2008 Am. Standard five. IMO, the most important difference was the neck. The MIM wouldn't set up with action as low, and the neck wasn't nearly as stiff as the graphite-reinforced MIA necks. I also prefer the feel of the MIA necks. So, generally, if the cost isn't an issue, go for the MIA. The 2008-present models are better on average than the earlier American Series, but the latter are generally great too. My 2003 is fantastic, as was a 2004 MIA P I used to have.
However, if you can find an MIM with a fantastic-feeling neck that sets up with low action, that's a great way to go. You can easily upgrade other components, particularly pickups and bridge, to create a really great bass at low cost. I added MIA Fender pickups and a Gotoh 201 bridge to my MIM, which were very worthwhile upgrades IMO.
However, if you can find an MIM with a fantastic-feeling neck that sets up with low action, that's a great way to go. You can easily upgrade other components, particularly pickups and bridge, to create a really great bass at low cost. I added MIA Fender pickups and a Gotoh 201 bridge to my MIM, which were very worthwhile upgrades IMO.
Not limited to Amazon. They all do that. I bought an MIM P at GC it was 2 years old.
But, so what? It has had 2 years to dry and settle in.
If you're a label snob, you must get a MIA. Otherwise, either will do just fine.
I even have a Squier VM J V that looks good, plays well and sounds just fine.
As has been posted and approved, play some and buy the one that whispers, "take me home now."
I even have a Squier VM J V that looks good, plays well and sounds just fine.
As has been posted and approved, play some and buy the one that whispers, "take me home now."
Like many have said already, play a bunch and find the one that feels and sounds best to you.
Since it is so easy to mod a jazz or p bass, find a decent MIM and upgrade P-ups and such later. With the lower initial price point you can mod it up to fantastic over time and still be less than MIA.. Just an option..
Since it is so easy to mod a jazz or p bass, find a decent MIM and upgrade P-ups and such later. With the lower initial price point you can mod it up to fantastic over time and still be less than MIA.. Just an option..
Listen fender is the only way to go, so your on the right path. Americans are always better, but if your getting back into it the MIM are awesome these days. The quality has really improved and for right around 600$ you can't go wrong.if you have the $$ for the American I would say go for it but honestly if your just getting back into it go with the Mexican. And strait up squier these days especially the classic vibes are as good as any Mexican, no BULL$h!+. The best thing to do is go to guitar center or samash and try out the basses and so which one sounds,feels, & performs the best FOR YOU
My opinion having owned plenty of both... MIA's are "better" basses overall. They feel and play better. However, if you like the way your MIM feels, go with it. I had a few MIM's that I thought were great.
The only thing I was advise you do is just swap out the pickups and put in Custom Shop 60's or Original Jazz pickups. I think you'll be very pleased.
The only thing I was advise you do is just swap out the pickups and put in Custom Shop 60's or Original Jazz pickups. I think you'll be very pleased.
Go MIA. You're thinking about it now, and you'll think about it later. If you get an MIM, you'll still GAS for the MIA, so that MIA will cost you an MIM plus an MIA.
In my local store, the nicest Fender/Squier jazzes to play are (in order) a MIM, a Squier CV (classic vibe, they're awesome), and then a MIA. I suspect the MIA was on the wall too long because at very least it needs a decent setup. The nicest jazz I've played was a MIA but he'd paid $4,000 for it - I've never been able to find a killer one in a store as of yet. So far I'm LOVING my Squier CV James Johnston jazz (matching blue headstock).
I'm with the guys saying disregard the country of origin and buy the one you like best after playing them.
I'm with the guys saying disregard the country of origin and buy the one you like best after playing them.
D
I've been looking for a James Johnston to try in person for a looong time. :-/
I have two Mexican Fenders that I bought without playing first right here on TB. The first is a Jazz V that I gigged for 3 years and recorded 2 albums with, It sounds Incredible and plays very well. Only downside (to many TBers but it doesnt bother me) is that it weighs 14.5lbs. The other is an FSR (Fender Special Run) that I just bought in July and it is even better than the V.
Honestly If the American's are better than these 2 specimens (and I doubt they are) I don't wanna know.
TB would have you believe I got incredibly lucky, but I'm just not that lucky. I really don't think it's that hard to find a good - great MIM fender.
Now all that spiel being said, had I had the budget for an American that is the market I would have been shopping in, but I do not see how I could have came out any happier than I am with my MIMs
My Jazz is the one on the left. @marko138 owns the one on the right
My FSR
The FSR on @marko138 s bench. as I said in the set up thread I can do my own but his work makes basses inspiring to play.
Honestly If the American's are better than these 2 specimens (and I doubt they are) I don't wanna know.
TB would have you believe I got incredibly lucky, but I'm just not that lucky. I really don't think it's that hard to find a good - great MIM fender.
Now all that spiel being said, had I had the budget for an American that is the market I would have been shopping in, but I do not see how I could have came out any happier than I am with my MIMs
My Jazz is the one on the left. @marko138 owns the one on the right
My FSR
The FSR on @marko138 s bench. as I said in the set up thread I can do my own but his work makes basses inspiring to play.
That can happen. Didn't to mine. I bought a Squier VM that was about 2 years old, but it was not a new one that had sprouts serious enough it drew blood the first time I played it. Cost me $25.00 to get it fixed. I didn't want to do it myself because the neck is bound and I (sometimes) know my limits.
Now, another point, sitting for a couple of years, you know you are not likely to get any neck warping or other structural problems that only happen over time.
Your right it's not. But check some of threads on here. They actually compare quite favorably to high end basses the like a Sadowsky, and others that cost 3 times more than what these are being sold for. Quality is through the roof and very much under the radar.
