MIM vs USA jazz bass

[nanymoa]

Nice bass but it's no fender

No need to be a fender to be a great bass. Some fenders suck. Some fenders rule. Some non-fenders rule over the fenders. Some non fenders suck too.

 

[Gaolee]

I bought a Mexican made RW Precision in 2010. It has been fantastic for five years now. Maybe I got lucky, but reading threads about them makes me think that's just how they are. So, it depends on the specific model and the specific instrument. Some models are going to be consistently very good. Some will be more hit and miss. They all vary a bit, since wood varies a bit and they are still made by humans, at least in part.

 

[buldog5151bass]

In general, the lower the price point, the more likely it may bark at you. For what you are looking for, the MIM could meet all your needs if it is one of the good ones.

 

[chubfarm2001]

You could save some serious cash and go with a new Squier VM. If you get a good one, they're wonderful. If you get a bad one, it's not big loss and they hold their value a bit better that the MIMs or Americans.

 

[klokker]

The best bass player I know plays all Squier basses that he has modded the way he likes. As for me, I've found the USA models to be better when it comes to fit and finish. I've picked up many MIM Fenders that are for all practical purposes just as good as well.

 

[electracoyote]

let me start by saying I'm new to the forum. But I come here in need of your advise. I'm getting ready to buy a bass, after not playing for 10 years. I will only gig with it locally, few times a month. Will a MIM jazz bass be enough or will I kick myself down the road for not buying the USA. I know it's an old question. But I can't make up my mind Thanks

It's a really personal decision.

All I can say is the contemporary run of MIM Standards (2009-present) is the best run ever, and one of the best bang for the bucks out there. I play out with my MIM's all the time. I don't kick myself for not playing my USA version.

Of course, if money is no issue, go USA, which offers everything the MIM does and more.

 

[Rayjay]

I'm clear on certain things that separate a MIA Fender from a Squier -
-build quality is generally higher with MIA, but there are great Squiers to be found
-generally less bridge mass / possibly softer alloy - effects tone / resonance
-frets are a softer alloy - down the road they will need replaced before an MIA w SS frets
-less robust tuners - again probably a cheaper alloy - tuners effect tone and resonance just like the bridge
-pickups are not as high quality
-MIAs are generally good to go as far as shielding, Squiers could use an upgrade
-tonewoods - there are cherries and lemons but more cherries in the MIA pile

What I'm not as clear on is Fender MIA vs MIM, but I suspect a similar list. I would be fine with a Squier, with the understanding that generally parts will wear sooner than a MIA

 

[IronLung1986]

In the majority of cases I think the American made Fenders are built better. Just from an objective fit and finish standpoint they're usually a notch above. However, the MIM stuff has still been really good for a long time now. One of my earlier basses was a MIM fretless jazz bass, and it remains an excellent, reliable instrument even among the pricier ones I have now. One of the things I notice pretty consistently is that the American made basses have more definition in the high frequencies. It's almost as if the tone knob goes to 11 compared to the Mexican ones. Some people aren't going to see that as a benefit and will actually turn the tone down to compensate. For them, the darker tone of a Mexican bass is perfect. So it almost becomes a question of tone preference, since the American build is only the better of two lines that are already very well built.

 

[Lesfunk]

The differences between USA and Mexican std. Are pretty much this..
USA wood is better
USA truss rod is better
USA hardware is better
USA pickups are better
Mexis are decent but those are the differences

 

[southpaw723]

A mim Jazz with upgraded pickups can be a nice money saving option

 

[garp]

I own and play both. I only acquired my U.S.-built Jazz because I got it used at a great price. But had I never bought it, I wouldn't have missed it. My MIMs are terrific basses, and believe it or not, no one on the dance floor ever asks me about my basses' country of origin.

 

[MovingPitchers]

I have a Japanese Fender and an American Fender. Have owned multiple Mexican Fenders.

Verdict: I prefer my Japanese Fender. The Mexican one comes in second by a long margin though. The American one plays nice, but meh.

 

[MovingPitchers]

Is it blasphemous of me to use my USA Jazz as a practice bass and my Japanese Fender as a performance bass?

 

[gjohnson441496]

let me start by saying I'm new to the forum. But I come here in need of your advise. I'm getting ready to buy a bass, after not playing for 10 years. I will only gig with it locally, few times a month. Will a MIM jazz bass be enough or will I kick myself down the road for not buying the USA. I know it's an old question. But I can't make up my mind Thanks

I'm under the impression that if you find yourself deciding between MIM or USA you should go ahead and buy the USA. You may not actually "kick yourself" for not buying the USA but you'll be thinking about it, as you are thinking about it now.

 

[mogator]

I was at the Fender factory in California a couple of days ago for a tour. They do several a week. Seeing the instruments being made was really something. For all the CNC cutting we think about in making a guitar, there was a lot of handwork going to too. Power sanding followed by hand sanding. Bladder filled sanding wheels. Mandatory group "stretching" breaks to prevent repetitive stress issues. Etc, etc. And they make pretty much all their parts on site. The MIM's will have a lot of imported parts. After walking through the plant it would be hard to buy a MIM.

 

[twinjet]

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.

What a coincidence that my GAS subsided after buying the MIA P... Any other bass I've ever wanted, suddenly, doesn't seem as cool... Because they aren't... All right?

 

[sudoku]

Hi. I had an opportunity to compare those two last week.

The main difference was pickups. MiM had a much darker tone, MiA was brighter.
The craftmanship of MiA Fender was noticeably better, though both were really well-made.
And maybe it's weird, but I found MiM Fender more comfortable for me

 

[rtav]

Someone else on this forum summed up the difference like this:

MIM - made in Mexico by Mexicans
MIA - made in Los Angeles by Mexicans

 

[DavC]

what about a used MIJ J bass ... my 1985 " 75 RI " was really a great bass for the money ... and held it's value .!

 

[deste]

Go play a bunch and buy the one that speaks to you

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