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Talking myself into a MIM Fender Precision vs American

walknbluez

walknbluez

Oct 3, 2007
1,017
8
Sacramento, CA
#1
I have a MIM Fender Jazz. I've been considering upgrading the pickups and pots but haven't done so yet. I had an outdoor gig the other night and the bass was running through a small PA. We were doing the gig with another band. I got some comments afterward saying how great the bass sounded. Granted, the sound guy said something about running the bass through a subsonic signal or something or other and fattening up the sound (which I didn't mind) but the other bands bass was an American made P and some even said mine sounded fuller and fatter (which I can't figure that out, maybe because we are three piece and the other band has keys and such that could drown out the bass a bit more).

Anyway, I've been looking for an American precision and was mentally preparing myself to drop the $850 or so (used). This is even though I've never played one in a band setting. Lately I've been seeing MIM precisions for $325 or so. I found someone selling one manufactured in 1995 (not here on TB) that had upgraded the pickups to American and changed out the pickguard and put new black beauties on it. It's tempting!

I've almost talked myself into going MIM. Perhaps I could turn it around if I didn't like it. It seems like a safer bet perhaps.

I don't want this to turn into a MIM vs MIA thread. It's more of "how can you go wrong for just over three bills?" thing thats eating at my mind. Usually when I do this, by the time I talk myself into it, the item has been sold! :hmm:
 
#2
How can you go wrong for just over three bills? I don't know. I've played quite a few MIM's that were very nice and very much on a par with Americans. Those new AmStd's are pretty sweet and you really can't go wrong with one. But I'm a sucker for a good cheap bass, and I don't think there's anything you can do on an AmStd that you can't do with an MIM. I think the MIM for $325 is worth a shot.
 
#3
I bought 2 awesome MIM pbasses for a lot less than $325. Don't worry about not being able to find a MIM at a decent price. You'll see $300 MIMs popping up every day. Find the one that plays right or is a nice price.

There are many factors that could've contributed to your sound being fuller and/or fatter. Pickups, strings, playing style. If you find a MIM with a neck that you like and it still doesn't sound right, you should be able to change the pickups and you've got a good bass for the money.
 
#4
I have upgraded my MIM J bass (you can view it in my profile if you like...) and Like it a lot.
I don't see a reason not to get the MIM. The parts are made here in Southern California and shipped off to Mexico for assembly. The build quality is not all that bad, but I would definitely give this bass a once over if you can. I've seen both MIM and MIA Fenders that had glaring build quality defects.
That being said, you really can find MIM's around $300 all day long. If this one doesn't work or sells before you are ready, keep looking. :)
 
#7
Yeah, don't take your experience of the other bass player's comments about his tone versus your tone to the bank, you'll have to experience it yourself. Many things could have and likely did contribute to the difference - Jazz vs P, difference in strings, etc. but another big one is EQ - how was he EQing his sound, and where does he place his right hand while playing?

Anyway, +1 to the comments about buying cheap basses - I have a MIA P bass, but for the difference in price, if/when you find a good MIM, grab it up! Just make sure you play your share of them first. MIght also want to check out the new Squier Classic Vibes too.
 
#8
hypercarrots said:
I bought 2 awesome MIM pbasses for a lot less than $325. Don't worry about not being able to find a MIM at a decent price. You'll see $300 MIMs popping up every day. Find the one that plays right or is a nice price.

There are many factors that could've contributed to your sound being fuller and/or fatter. Pickups, strings, playing style. If you find a MIM with a neck that you like and it still doesn't sound right, you should be able to change the pickups and you've got a good bass for the money.
Click to expand...

Wow, alot less than $325?

In this case, the pickups have been upgraded to the American pickups and there are brand new black beauty strings on it, which as far as my searches have shown are like $30 or $40 strings.
 
#9
JimmyM said:
How can you go wrong for just over three bills? I don't know. I've played quite a few MIM's that were very nice and very much on a par with Americans. Those new AmStd's are pretty sweet and you really can't go wrong with one. But I'm a sucker for a good cheap bass, and I don't think there's anything you can do on an AmStd that you can't do with an MIM. I think the MIM for $325 is worth a shot.
Click to expand...

Yeah I've been drooling over the 08's for a while now. However, my MIM Jazz is really nice though and I just got to thinking I could still get a really good quality precision for not a whole lot of money.
 
#10
BillMason said:
Yeah, don't take your experience of the other bass player's comments about his tone versus your tone to the bank, you'll have to experience it yourself. Many things could have and likely did contribute to the difference - Jazz vs P, difference in strings, etc. but another big one is EQ - how was he EQing his sound, and where does he place his right hand while playing?

Anyway, +1 to the comments about buying cheap basses - I have a MIA P bass, but for the difference in price, if/when you find a good MIM, grab it up! Just make sure you play your share of them first. MIght also want to check out the new Squier Classic Vibes too.
Click to expand...

The Classic Vibes are getting good reviews across the board, and they are very affordable! I absolutely love my Squire 50's Vibe P-bass!
 
#14
I have had my share of Fenders, MIA, MIM, CIJ and I know that there are good and bad and OKbases coming out of all of these countries. The positive hit-rate is likely higher in MIA and CIJ, but not outrageously so.

My experience has been that Precisions are pretty hard to screw up, and an upgrade to the pickup is often all that would be needed down the road. Jazzes are more complex and I haven't played a really winner Jazz from MIM, but I expect that there are good ones as well.
 
#15
walknbluez said:
Wow, alot less than $325?

In this case, the pickups have been upgraded to the American pickups and there are brand new black beauty strings on it, which as far as my searches have shown are like $30 or $40 strings.
Click to expand...

ok, i didn't know the bass you mentioned with american pickups was $325. that's a nice deal.

still if you want to build it yourself with your choice of pickups, you could pick up a mim pbass for $200-$250 if you look really hard and get new pickups for ~$50-$100 and sell the stock mim pickups. you've got a lot of options that way and for some, collecting the parts and building the bass is where the fun starts. i got one of my mim pbasses stock and installed fralin pickups for a total of ~$340.
 
#16
bebop1 said:
I have had my share of Fenders, MIA, MIM, CIJ and I know that there are good and bad and OKbases coming out of all of these countries. The positive hit-rate is likely higher in MIA and CIJ, but not outrageously so.

My experience has been that Precisions are pretty hard to screw up, and an upgrade to the pickup is often all that would be needed down the road. Jazzes are more complex and I haven't played a really winner Jazz from MIM, but I expect that there are good ones as well.
Click to expand...

My MIM Jazz is really good quality and plays nice and so when I had my sights on an American made, I really didn't have a rational reason other than what I've read on here when there was a debate thread and so I think it was more psychological and just being able to say "its the American version".
 

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