• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

specific question about MIM vs MIA fenders

William K

William K

May 9, 2019
90
79
#1
I know this has been discussed over and over, but in this case I'm mainly concerned about the core of the instrument itself, mainly the wood used and the neck.

I've tried and played many MIM fenders and never liked any of them, for various reasons (none related to snobbery, I swear!) and ended up never owning one, but I'm about to pull the trigger on a used individual that just fits me. However, I just wanted to know (a part from the obvious cheaper electronics and perhaps quality control in general) if the wood used and the neck/neck parts are the same or of similar quality than MIA instruments? If this particular instrument eventually needs a new set of pickups or new electronics or just a better tuneup/setup, it's not that much of a turn off for me...but am I also getting cheaper materials for the body itself and neck of the instrument too? (which are a bigger deal). I did try and look around on TB for some insight on this but couldn't find a definitive answer on this specifically.

I don't care what the headstock says (MIM or MIA) or if changes need to be made to give the instrument upgrades eventually, but I'm concerned about the quality and durability of the "core" of the bass.

thanks!
 
  • Like
Reactions: TonyP-, fhm555, johnnynitro and 1 other person
#3
I get the impression from looking at MIM vs MIA that you will get a nicer piece of wood with MIA but the materials are generally the same for the neck and I believe they use Alder (or maybe basswood) for the MIM body which is fairly common on basses.

From what I have read about guitar building it takes time and effort to get the nicest and most stable pieces of wood and, because time is money, these will automatically go to the higher priced instruments. That being said I have MIAs and MIM instruments and, aside from attention to detail, the parts don’t feel any cheaper or less stable on an MIM over an MIA.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RattleSnack, stuntbass77, Aqualung60 and 1 other person
#4
USA models use “better “ woods I’m sure.
Not to say that Mexican fenders use crap, but I would think that you’re more likely to get a body made from more pieces glued together and the USA will generally choose nicer grain patterns for transparent finishes.
I have seen some poorly matched grain on USA basses though...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Aqualung60, Rabidhamster, DJ Bebop and 1 other person
#6
B32F086C-328A-430C-9FD0-7E28B5F93689.jpeg
William K said:
ishh...pieces glued together??
Click to expand...
Yes. It’s common. Here’s an example of a three piece body on a Gibson
You can clearly see the different pieces of wood
Three pics bodies are pretty standard , 2 piece bodes can be found on higher end models and one piece bodies are pretty rare.
Cheap basses often have four, sometimes five piece bodies, almost always with a solid finish
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: RattleSnack and Ricky Rioli
#10
MIM Fenders are pretty good instruments in my opinion. It is obvious that MIA Fenders are better in some aspects, that's why they are twice the price. The selection of woods is maybe what you are referring to. They choose better woods for MIA basses. It's like wines, better grapes and a longer time in the barrels are required to make the best wines. Same with woods for basses. Necks, for example, are quite different. In MIA Fenders you get Posiflex™ graphite rods while in the MIM you only get a steel rod. So MIA necks are more stable. Also, MIA necks use rosewood for fretboards, while MIM use pau ferro. This applied like 5 or 6 years ago because of environmental laws in the USA. Before this, both used rosewood. Bodies are made out of two or three pieces of wood, that's normal and every instrument manufacturer out there does it.
Another crucial point is what MIM series you want to buy. For example, The Road Worn series is a superb series of instruments, with excellent woods and pretty good hardware and electronics. Nowadays, the Player series are extraordinary instruments. Quality has gone up in my opinion at the Ensenada factory.
 
  • Like
Reactions: iammr2 and Williethump
#11
The quality of the wood is the same.

Both MIM and MIA bodies will be made from several pieces. I doubt you will find many (or ANY?) one piece bodies coming out of either Fender factory. At least not standard production models. Maybe the solid finish MIMs can be made from more pieces than MIAs on average but unless you plan on stripping the finish: Who cares? This is just snobbery and won't affect the sound AT ALL. At least no more than two different one piece bodies. Every piece of wood is different and will sound different. Whether it's a one piece or a five piece: You won't know how it sounds until you play the finished instrument.

The ONLY consideration would be that the MIA burst finishes MIGHT have better matching but this would differ from instrument to instrument. Fender USA isn't exactly known for excellent QC these days so "try before you buy" (or in this case "inspect before you buy") would apply to both MIMs and MIAs as far as I'm concerned.

The MIM/MIA necks have different specs of course but the wood will be the same quality and the same species of maple. Some (but not all) MIA necks have strengthening rods to make them more stable while none of the MIM necks have this. On the other hand, some MIM necks are correct vintage specs which can't really be said about any currently manufactured MIA necks (at least outside Custom Shop). You could easily find that you like the profile/radius of a MIM neck better. Again: Try before you buy. Recommending neck specs is like recommending shoe size to a complete stranger and there is absolutely no guarantee you will prefer the more expensive one.

Fender use pau ferro instead of rosewood for the MIMs of course but unless you get an Ultra they generally don't use exceptionally nice looking rosewood on the MIA Fenders anyway. Tone wise the difference between pao ferro and rosewood fretboards is negligible IMO (and whenever I think I can hear a difference I actually often prefer pao ferro). Don't forget, Pao ferro was actually considered an exotic "boutique" choice until Fender more or less ruined it's reputation by marketing it as a cheap alternative to rosewood. The only negative would be that Fender seem to intentionally make their pau ferro fretboards feel rough. Like they've dropped the final sanding or something. Every Fender pao ferro board I've played has felt like dry cardboard. It's a shame because pao ferro can feel GREAT. After all, other manufacturers make amazing pao ferro boards and usually far better looking ones than the Fenders too. I guess Fender buy large quantities of the cheapest possible wood rather than selecting the most beautiful pieces. Still, that rough cardboard feel is nothing that a quick sanding can't fix.

In short: The difference is in the specs, not the quality of the wood itself. If you like (or even prefer) the neck profile of a MIM there's not much to gain from getting a MIA, unless you want MIA specs of course (such as different neck profile/radius, different pickups/hardware, etc.).

Just my personal opinion of course and I've had some pretty bad luck with Fender USA quality control the last 4-5 years so YMMV.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Williethump, TrustRod and Ricky Rioli
#12
William K said:
I know this has been discussed over and over, but in this case I'm mainly concerned about the core of the instrument itself, mainly the wood used and the neck.

I've tried and played many MIM fenders and never liked any of them, for various reasons (none related to snobbery, I swear!) and ended up never owning one, but I'm about to pull the trigger on a used individual that just fits me. However, I just wanted to know (a part from the obvious cheaper electronics and perhaps quality control in general) if the wood used and the neck/neck parts are the same or of similar quality than MIA instruments? If this particular instrument eventually needs a new set of pickups or new electronics or just a better tuneup/setup, it's not that much of a turn off for me...but am I also getting cheaper materials for the body itself and neck of the instrument too? (which are a bigger deal). I did try and look around on TB for some insight on this but couldn't find a definitive answer on this specifically.

I don't care what the headstock says (MIM or MIA) or if changes need to be made to give the instrument upgrades eventually, but I'm concerned about the quality and durability of the "core" of the bass.

thanks!
Click to expand...
All my MIA Fenders are multi piece bodies as are all of my MIM Fender bodies.
I have an MIA with headstock truss nut and two with heel truss nut. All my MIM necks are headstock truss nut.
Two of my MIA’s have graphite stiffeners and one has steel stiffeners. All my MIM’s have steel stiffeners.
All my MIM and two of my MIA basses have the same CTS pots. The other MIA has a Kubicki preamp. The MIM’s all had ceramic disc caps and my two passive MIA basses have a grease bucket tone circuit.
My active MIA has Fender Lace sensors and the other two have whatever came in the final production year of the Highway One series. All my MIM’s came with ceramic magnet pickups but are now equipped with various winds of aftermarket humbuckers.
My active MIA came with a Schaller machined quick change locking bridge and the two hiway ones came with badass bridges. All my MIM’s came with a standard Fender bent plate bridge with single slotted saddles. All but one of my MIM’s are equipped with Fender Pure Vintage threaded saddle bridges. The one not so adorned sports a Babicz full contact bridge.
My active bass has Schaller machine heads and my highway one’s have the same machine heads as all my MIM basses, which is how they came from the factory.
The real differences in the bodies is all but one of the MIM basses have multiple darkish boards sandwiched between a couple thin sheets of maple while my hiway ones are just multiple pieces of light wood glued together. My MIA active bass is two pieces of ash under a clear coat. The grain match is so good the only way you can really tell it’s 2 boards is look at it from the tail end and you can see the grain mismatch, but from the top or back it takes a close exam to see the joint. One my MIM basses is also a 2 piece ash body with a clear coat. While more noticeable from the top and back than the MIA, it’s done well enough it does not just jump out at you.
Besides the different truss rod styles and difference in stiffening, the MIA’s all have a much higher level of finish, most notably more attention to the fret ends and smooth rolled neck edges. The MIM neck are not as well finished on the edges but the frets are all nicely leveled and i have never had one that was difficult or painful to play due to the level of finish on the fret and neck edges.
In summery, my US J Plus is as nice a bass as I’ve ever owned and the Highway one basses are also nice basses and can hold their own against most anything. My MIM basses are as good as the Highway one basses and because of their steel stiffeners, are more stable in temperature extremes than the Highway one basses. All my MIM basses are hot rodded with pickups, bridges, and pickguards, each built for a specific sound.
As for which are better? That depends. If you want a higher level of fit and finish and better pickups, the MIA Fenders would be my choice. If you want an excellent low cost modding platform that will work better if you find yourself outside in bitter cold or blazing hot weather, the MIM is your huckleberry.
My number one is my J Plus but my work tools are whichever MIM bass best fits the style i’m playing. I did a busy couple years with one of the Highway one’s and a beater MIM for backup in case we were outside in crazy weather or in a real gut bucket dive, but would play the beater sometimes just for a change of pace.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Williethump
#13
I own both, and IMHO, the difference in wood quality is negligible. It’s not that it’s exactly the same, but you won’t notice much of difference to playability or feel. The necks on the Player series are fantastic.

Tuning stability is also very much the same on MIM and MIA, carbon rods and fancier tuning machines on the MIA notwithstanding.

The difference in wood is most noticeable with the rosewood/pau ferro fretboards, but that’s mostly aesthetic. Some hate the look of a pau ferro fretboard, I find I don’t mind.

Where the difference is greatest - again IMHO - is in the hardware, which is definitely nicer on MIA Fenders. I love the bridge and tuners on my American Standard, but yet again it’s mostly aesthetic. The MIM hardware is perfectly serviceable, but it looks a little bit too shiny, like cheap jewelry, and if you look closely you can see that it’s somewhat more inexpensively produced. This is of no practical importance. My MIM Fenders can be tuned and intonated just fine, and keep their settings well.

The big surprise was in the pots. The pots on my MIM fenders actually feel smoother and more solid than on my American Standard, where the shafts are actually kind of rattly.

If you find a MIM that you like, get it. The fabric is sound, and any parts you don’t like can be swapped out with ease later, if you so desire.
 
  • Like
Reactions: droo46 and fhm555
#15
I don't know, but I know this...

I've owned lots of Fenders, both MIM and MIA. I'd be willing to challenge anyone on a blindfold test for which is which by feel alone. I'd be willing even to take a bet on that regarding sound, but I know there are people whose hearing is much more discerning than mine.

With many bass manufacturers I can tell the difference between their American made and budget line instantly - Fender has always been hit or miss. I've gotten MIAs that were complete crap (a P deluxe as well as a couple of Highway Ones), and MIMs that were awesome (my antigua jazz is the sweetest feeling and sounding jazz bass I ever laid hands on). My most recent experience is with a Mustang. I have a MIA and sold a MIM a few months ago. Both sound very different and I obviously liked the MIA better, but regarding construction and feel I actually liked the MIM better. The neck pocket was even far tighter on the import.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RocknRay, -Asdfgh- and JakobT

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back