specific question about MIM vs MIA fenders

[birminghambass]

So you’re saying they did an alder veneer over basswood? That doesn’t make any sense.

Do a Google search, lots of info on this out there. They used alder veneers on 5-7 piece poplar and alder bodies in the 90s and early 2000s on MIM and some USA guitar and bass models. Here's a thread where a guy found that his MIM Strat was a 10 piece body with a veneer: Now I want to trash my Mexican strat body
This thread has some good pics and info: New MIM bodies, veener, pieces?
Not a great example pic but I'll find more when I get a chance.

 

[telecopy]

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!

Yamaha BBP. No worries.

 

[groooooove]

Give me their rejected pieces and I can make a good sounding bass out of them.

no doubt one could!!

I don't think its something anyone takes too seriously. my comments are just that i've definitely seen great luthiers do it, and it's just a bit of a novelty.

 

[TrustRod]

no doubt one could!!

I don't think its something anyone takes too seriously. my comments are just that i've definitely seen great luthiers do it, and it's just a bit of a novelty.

It's nice to hear others that don't fall for it. But I've seen many who think it's a magical way to find "good" wood.

 

[stuntbass77]

ishh...pieces glued together??

Ya, unfortunately fender and many others glue 2-5 pieces together. I believe the American made ones are 2-3 ( should be only 2 if it were up too me ) and 3-5 for the import stuff. Honestly I don’t care as long as the tone is good. Even high end neck through bass are multi piece. The idea of glued pieces doesn’t alway sound appealing, I get it . I do believe the so called best wood are set aside for the US models but I have played ones that were duds so go figure. That’s the beauty, you can find a import that is supposedly made from inferior wood ( or not as nice due to weight or looks ) and still get an outstanding instrument. I’m currently building a P bass from a warmoth neck and the body will be an alder burst MIM body. I’m not at all worried about the MIM body. It’s funny because they original 60’s fender’s had no reinforcement rods or double actions truss and yet they are so loved. A really good MIM with upgraded pickups is probably as close to a 60’s as you’ll get.

 

[Warpeg]

I've owned many, many, many of both MIM and MIA Fenders. All different years. All different models. My experience is that the quality of the wood is apples-to-apples. For me, the difference between the two comes down to the following:

• Pickups. Pickups. Pickups! Most years of MIA Fender Basses have great sounding pickups. The MIMs....not so much. However, pickups on MIMs can always be swapped-out for something better.
• Truss rod. MIA has truss rod access at the neck heel. MIM has access at the headstock. This really doesn't matter. What matters is that the vast majority of MIA Fender basses have better truss systems.
• String-through body. It is what it is. It's been debated heavily on TB. My experience? The through body stringing doesn't add anything other than something neat to look at when you're looking at that back of the bass.
• Fret work. This can be a big one. Fender used to (and maybe still does?) advertise that MIA instruments have more attention to fret work at the factory. From my experience post-2011 or so MIA basses do have noticeably better fret work than their MIM counterparts. Before 2011, I'm not sure that I could really tell the necks apart in terms of how well the frets were leveled and beveled.
• Location of manufacture. You will pay more for something that is MIA compared to MIM. This can be a big selling point and akin to someone wanting a good 'ol USA Ford instead of a Kia - both arguably make great cars, but some people just need to have that 'Made in USA' sticker on it.
• The case. Under most circumstances, MIA instruments come with a hard case. MIM bases come with a gig bag or no covering. For a gigging musician, this can be very important.

 

[Heavy Blue]

I was just concerned about the bass eventually having problems with the neck (I'm in Canada, dry cold winters!) or stuff like that, stuff having to do with the longevity and durability of the instrument.

Where in Canada are you? I’m in Saskatchewan with it’s big temperature swings, very cold winters most years, and very dry climate and my ‘18 MIM Jazz’s neck has been completely stable. Zero adjustments needed yet since the initial setup after purchase from L&M in Saskatoon.

It’s been a great bass so far.

 

[FloridaTim]

When I did the factory tour in Corona the guy pointed to a pallet full of body blanks and said "Those are heading down to the Mexico factory". They were clearly five pieces, compared to the three pieces in the area. Looking through photos now to see if I can find them.

Edit: Couldn't find any pics that prove what I was saying. Unless your eyes are better than mine and can see the cuts in the blurry pic.

Here is a beautiful 3 piece blank:

And the pallets:


So, if nothing else I got to share some of my cool factory photos.

 

[Rabidhamster]

When I did the factory tour in Corona the guy pointed to a pallet full of body blanks and said "Those are heading down to the Mexico factory". They were clearly five pieces, compared to the three pieces in the area. Looking through photos now to see if I can find them.

Edit: Couldn't find any pics that prove what I was saying. Unless your eyes are better than mine and can see the cuts in the blurry pic.

Here is a beautiful 3 piece blank:
View attachment 4051423
And the pallets:
View attachment 4051424

So, if nothing else I got to share some of my cool factory photos.

This makes a lot of production sense, making blanks from the remaining wood that’s too thin to be a USA 2-3 piece and sending it on the be used in Mexico where the number of pieces glued together doesn’t matter.

 

[fhm555]

...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...

AFAIK MIM Deluxe J basses have always come with pau ferro boards. I’ve got a couple MIM Deluxe necks made before the company wide switch and most folks mistake them for rosewood.

...Where the difference is greatest - again IMHO - is in the hardware...

One of the major pluses for me in both MIA and MIM basses is the quality of the fasteners used by both. I never really thought about it until i worked on a couple of Ibanez basses and was less than impressed. Even using the right type and size of JIS driver, the edges of the fastener slots deformed taking the screws out. That doesn’t happen with any of my Fenders. I replace my guard and control plate screws with stainless on my MIM basses but they venture out into the world more than my MIA basses with their plated screws.

...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...

The real joy is you can mix and match MIM and MIA parts with relative ease.