So I currently own a 1998 or 1999 MIA Fender jazz (natural ash with rosewood fretboard), but recently I've become fascinated with both the late 60's/early 70's blocked and bound style neck and active pickups. For this reason I have been looking into trading my jazz for either a jaguar (with some cash on top) or a marcus miller. I wanted to tap the vast resource of TB before pulling the trigger and posting in the FS section, because I'm sure there must be someone here that could advise me on this decision. I have already played a MM and a jag before so I know they are equally if not more comfortable to play than my jazz, but I just wanted the collective opinions of TB to help me make a final decision of whether to trade or not. Thanks in advance.
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Should I Trade my MIA for MIJ?
- Thread starter Indiebass
- Start date
Sure! I traded my 95 MIA Jazz for a Geddy Lee. It was worth it to me - you have to play a few and see what jumps out at you.
Buy a 70's neck of Ebay, and put on your jazz.
The electronics are not stabil in many of those Japan-made basses
Speaking of experience, I currently own the Marcus Miller, and had so much trouble with wiring and noise that the only solution was to swap out all the electronics.
The electronics are not stabil in many of those Japan-made basses
Speaking of experience, I currently own the Marcus Miller, and had so much trouble with wiring and noise that the only solution was to swap out all the electronics.
Quadzilla
Supporting Member
Not a bad option if you are careful about who you buy from, but I would keep the original Fender neck in case you wanted to sell the bass later.
OP, I like my Jaguar, but I'd guess you'll make out better by buying a used Jag and selling your MIA than if you tried a trade. Prices seem to be really coming down on Jags lately.
I own 4 MIJ/CIJ Fenders and I have to say NONE of them have every given me electronical issues...but those Marcus Millers are active right? That's a whole-nother ball of troubles IMO. Any active basses could potentially have problems like that.
The electronics are fine in MIJ/CIJ Fenders...trust me.
I had a MM and I was never happy with it.
It had many preamp problems on top of not sounding very good active.
It weighed at least 10 pounds.
The 75 reissue is a great choice as previously suggested...
It had many preamp problems on top of not sounding very good active.
It weighed at least 10 pounds.
The 75 reissue is a great choice as previously suggested...
The neck and fretboard on my MIJ '62 reissue is every bit as good as my original '78 MIA Precision. Japanese are expert at copying. Though, I did put my original '78 pups in the 62.
i have 2 CIJ (jag and pink paisley P) and other than the jag pre amp being a bit rubbish, i have had NO electrical problems at all, and fit and finish is spot on.
when i bought the jag, i played EVERY fender in the shop (guitar guitar newcastle) MIM MIA and CIJ, and every CIJ i played both felt and sounded better than the MIA's.
so yeah id trade
but then i prefer hand made in essex or germany (status and sandberg )
when i bought the jag, i played EVERY fender in the shop (guitar guitar newcastle) MIM MIA and CIJ, and every CIJ i played both felt and sounded better than the MIA's.
so yeah id trade
but then i prefer hand made in essex or germany (status and sandberg )
I own a CIJ Fender Geddy Lee Jazz (I'd never be without the Geddy) and a MIJ Fender Jaguar... by far this combination is the best I've had in the instrument arsenal, well - ever... I've played and owned Fender MIA and Ernie Ball/Music Man USA basses... but I am far more content with my Japanese basses... I just love how they feel... there's a real 'vintage vibe'...
NB: RE - the Jaguar electronics/pre amp... I don't use this bass as an active instrument... IMHO take out the battery and get a high quality outboard pre amp e.g. Sadowsky Pre/DI...
NB: RE - the Jaguar electronics/pre amp... I don't use this bass as an active instrument... IMHO take out the battery and get a high quality outboard pre amp e.g. Sadowsky Pre/DI...
Spoken from a buy/sell guy who knows the market well.
I fully agree with him.
If the opportunity presented itself, I would trade MIA Jazz Standard for an early 80's Squire Jazz bass. The Squire will appreciate in value much faster and they are excellent instruments.
I've been told that recently CIJ and MIJ fenders are of a better all round build quality.
I have the Jaguar, but it does hum like nothing else I have, even when the house's fuse box is off, and I use the crappy marshall MS-2, but a few other threads say it may just be a shielding issue, which doesn't take too long to do. I think the only thing I didn't like about the jag's original setup was the epic fail of a string job, looked very messy, but I'm anal about re-string jobs.
the thing i love is the isane amount of tone option just on the guitar. That alone sound it for me, as I was considering a deluxe MIA jazz.
Jag's I've heard them go for less than $500 and £700 over here, so just save up and add it to your arsenal, the MIA jazz will worth keeping for a few more years.
I have the Jaguar, but it does hum like nothing else I have, even when the house's fuse box is off, and I use the crappy marshall MS-2, but a few other threads say it may just be a shielding issue, which doesn't take too long to do. I think the only thing I didn't like about the jag's original setup was the epic fail of a string job, looked very messy, but I'm anal about re-string jobs.
the thing i love is the isane amount of tone option just on the guitar. That alone sound it for me, as I was considering a deluxe MIA jazz.
Jag's I've heard them go for less than $500 and £700 over here, so just save up and add it to your arsenal, the MIA jazz will worth keeping for a few more years.
Yes it was active, but had a passive mode also.
One of the problems with MIJ/CIJ is that the resistance in the pots are not matching the pickups, making them sound not so good.
The Japan-reissues are not even historicaly correct. Its a standard type body with a 70's style neck. Not even 70's pickup spacing. So switching out the neck to a Japan 70's style, or even better the US-made 75RI.
My first thought when I read roundsound's post. I used to work at a Fender dealership. I would only add that the MIJ/CIJ stuff I played was of a higher quality on a REGULAR basis than the MIA stuff. Yes, there are some amazing MIA fender basses. But there's more crap than is coming from Japan as well. I wish it weren't true but it is.
Precisely. These are Fender basses made in another plant to Fender specifications and sold as Fenders.
A Fender is a Fender is a Fender.
These are not unlicensed products.
