Probably a dumb (and repeated) question

[BassesForTheWin]

one of my friends is playing bass and hes getting a new bass, and his budget is $650, and he's planning on getting an MIM Fender Jazz Bass, now my question about it is, is it a good idea, or should he get a different bass?

 

[GianGian]

Don't know about the price, but the bass is fine for sure.

 

[BassesForTheWin]

Don't know about the price, but the bass is fine for sure.

no his budget for it is $650

 

[eastcoasteddie]

depends on what he wants. Through much reading on this site, I actually read more positive comments about MIM's thant MIA's.

 

[JMac- Wiskerface Designs]

That is a good bass, if He is into Jazz basses.....

 

[LiamR]

Has he played one before?

MIMs are generally high quality.. it's what I plan on getting soon.

 

[GianGian]

no his budget for it is $650

Has he searched for used ones? I always hear that there is a great second hand market in the USA.

 

[BassesForTheWin]

Has he played one before?

MIMs are generally high quality.. it's what I plan on getting soon.

1. Yes, he has

2. I do agree MIM's are high quality, maybe about the same quality as MIA's, or possibly higher, depends on how you think of it.

 

[OmnitzGarima]

one of my friends is playing bass and hes getting a new bass, and his budget is $650, and he's planning on getting an MIM Fender Jazz Bass, now my question about it is, is it a good idea, or should he get a different bass?

I have one, I like it. No complaints, but I'd play it more often if it was fretless. If he can find a used one he'll be a few bucks ahead.

 

[billiam5billion]

I love my MIM, you can for sure get one used for way less than 650. You could get one for 350 or so and drop some killer pups in there and still have something left over for cosmetic mods.

 

[Stranger Danger]

depends on what he wants. Through much reading on this site, I actually read more positive comments about MIM's thant MIA's.

Where would that be?

For another $100 he could get a used MIA.

 

[Jim Carr]

one of my friends is playing bass and hes getting a new bass, and his budget is $650, and he's planning on getting an MIM Fender Jazz Bass, now my question about it is, is it a good idea, or should he get a different bass?

He should be able to find a used MIM Fender Jazz '60s Classic for about $500 with a gig bag or less. They are often really fine basses. IMHO, it might be worth it to spend closer to $700 in order to snag a used Road Worn Jazz. These have a Nitro finish and generally better body and neck wood than the Classics, IMHO.

I get into it in my posts in this thread: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=674449

 

[Soverntear]

go used he will save ALLOT of money. plus then he could get some amazing pickups and a badass bridge and still have enough left over for strap locks, a strap new strings and a gig bag.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=688467&highlight=jazz+mim

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=687924&highlight=jazz+mim



great examples of used savings on mim.

 

[Engine207]

If I was gonna spend $650 on a MIM Jazz, it would definitely be a '70s Classic. I haven't heard many credible discussions about MIMs being "as good or better" than MIAs...unless those discussions focused on the '70s Classic MIM. Actually, maybe the Road Worns, too...if you like the fake relic thing.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

New, around $650...used, about $500

 

[KeithAlanK]

I have an all-white MIM Jazz sitting right next to me that's pretty nice.
If it was actually mine, I would sell it for around $400 after taking off the new RotoSounds.
On Craig'sList they go for around $350 these days, locally.

Funny thing is, the Squiers I've tried lately sound and feel much better.
For the budget specified, there are options.

The Squier P-Bass Special is a much more versatile and studly bass, and they can be found for as little as $250 new.
Money left over for case, strap, speakers, DI, a nice shirt, dating...

 

[sdunnevant]

he could probably get a used MIA for around that price if he plays his cards right!

 

[Aspidites]

one of my friends is playing bass and hes getting a new bass, and his budget is $650, and he's planning on getting an MIM Fender Jazz Bass, now my question about it is, is it a good idea, or should he get a different bass?

he can allot more bass for his money if he buys used.

 

[SurferJoe46]

I got my MiM Deluxe J for $459.00 at GC - new.

For some reason the MiM tag has a curse on it to many people - UNINFORMED People for sure.

My bass hung on the hooks at my GC for a long - long time and even though all the salesmen played it almost exclusively - it remained unsold for months.

I even inadvertently took a few pixs of it where it was hanging right in front of me and yet even I never grabbed it and played it.

Fast forward a few month and I was bored, dropped into GC and just took it down and instantly fell in love with it. I bought it - and it was SERIOUSLY discounted from it's original price too.

The bass player in the store just glared at me - in a friendly way - as I took his favorite player out of the store. Just to rub it in, I took it to a bass lesson from that same GC salesman. He just smiled as I took it out of the case.

Anyway - I think that the MiM basses are MAYBE a hit-or-miss situation - but honestly I haven't seen any bad ones yet.

Maybe they need a little tweak to set string height and intonation and such - but they are solid and really great, hand-assembled quality with MiA necks and US-built electronics.

The body is MiM as is the final assembly - so just think that you are getting a custom-built Fender by some really talented luthiers in Mexico - just for you!

 

[Masher88]

The MIM Jazz sounds like a good idea...go used, though. Save a bit of cash! Make sure he checks to see if he likes the slim neck on the Jazz as opposed to the thicker one on the P!

 

[Munjibunga]

Fender MIM is a good choice. He should play several to see which sounds and feels best (they vary). Oh yeah. Jazz bass. Friends don't let friends buy P-basses.