No offense, but neither one of you know what you're talking about... If either of you had actually compared the MIA and MIM lines side by side, you'd probably see that they have almost no parts in common - it's that obvious...
- georgestrings
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what did you think when fender started making instruments in mexico
- Thread starter tbird99
- Start date
No offense, but neither one of you know what you're talking about... If either of you had actually compared the MIA and MIM lines side by side, you'd probably see that they have almost no parts in common - it's that obvious...
- georgestrings
Sorry to inform you george, but all the MIM-necks are made in the USA, and then shipped by container to Mexico for final sanding, fretdressing and finishing. And the "Classic" series, uses the same hardware as the American Vintage, with exception of the pickups.
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I prefer a good MIM Fender (the Classic series I mean) to an American Standard. The quality is equal, if not better, and the price is more than right (a new Am. Std/Deluxe is too expensive for what it is.
It's not because you know how to bake a burger that you can claim that you make the best instruments in the world. (Not only Fender, I'm also looking at you, Gibson, Rickenbacker,...)
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I prefer a good MIM Fender (the Classic series I mean) to an American Standard. The quality is equal, if not better, and the price is more than right (a new Am. Std/Deluxe is too expensive for what it is.
It's not because you know how to bake a burger that you can claim that you make the best instruments in the world. (Not only Fender, I'm also looking at you, Gibson, Rickenbacker,...)
Fender products have been made by Mexicans for years. The name stamped on my 1966 Stratcaster or my 1972 Precision sure isn't Smith or Jones. From what I've seen the stuff looks the same as USA. The custom shop is a different story if you want to spend the money.IMHO
1958Bassman said:
We got that from Spain 500 years ago ( in some strange incident involving war and small pox) along with guitar making, by the way... how old is Fender?
I think even the title of the thread brings up issues of both race and heritage... as if it was some sort of tragedy or sin that Fender decided ( 20 years ago! ) to build some of its products in Mexico, and as if Mexicans could not build quality guitars ( or any other product)...
Sorry but I do feel this thread is offensive and racist... Quality is quality all over the world, and it was not invented by the US (or by Mexico).
Fun fact: A Spanish surname does not automatically guarantee that person is Mexican.
You're not actually informing me of anything - his statement was:
"using mostly the same parts?"
It was wrong - no question about it... and the necks you're talking about??? - HUGE difference between the necks on the MIA line and the MIM line...
- georgestrings
Fun facts: Corona Factory (Fender USA)- is a mere 3 hour drive to Fender Mexico (Ensenada) Mexico.
Go on the Factory tour at Corona California, you will be shown the bins of products such as output jacks for strats, that are manufactured there in Corona- then are plated and shipped to Mexico for install on Mexican Fenders. There are many other small components such as that that are made in USA and sent to Mexico for install. 3 hour drive is not far.
Go on the Factory tour at Corona California, you will be shown the bins of products such as output jacks for strats, that are manufactured there in Corona- then are plated and shipped to Mexico for install on Mexican Fenders. There are many other small components such as that that are made in USA and sent to Mexico for install. 3 hour drive is not far.
There are so many people on TB that know the inner workings of Fender. It should be very simple to get the facts I would think. Either the necks are the same or they aren't. I am not a Fender expert so I'll wait to read the definitive answer.
Fun question: What on God's Green Earth does that have to do with anything? Or were you responding to someone else?
I've been there. The necks are indeed exclusive for the Mexican factory, but they were built in the USA (I'm talking about pre 2008, what they do now when the upgraded the MIM-standard I don't know). The first series of the HW1 basses, had necks with a black carbon trussrodhole, guess what those necks are
There was also a web-special about a factory tour there, and it stated the same, with pictures, but that site has gone dead
I find it very odd for anyone to comment about who works on these, in any way. I'm pretty sure Leo had Hispanic people working there from almost day one. Abigail Ybarra is still there and her pickups are in high demand. My Bassman has Lily's name on the masking tape and I'll never remove it. Pretty hypocritical to dump on who makes these, IMO.
My only problem with anything Fender makes (from any of its plants) is its quality control.
Ecapdeville posted his lovely P bass a few posts back , but unless the photo was taken slightly from the side, it would appear that the strings aren't cut perfectly at the nut. They appear to favour the treble side and are not central to the fretboard's edges. (Excluding the possibility that he may have subsequently changed the original nut out himself).
I think any instrument can be made well from anywhere (with today's technology) but the desire to, and the overall quality control are sadly not always related to price.
More than ever; it truly pays to try as many production basses (from anywhere) to find a diamond among the rough....
Ecapdeville posted his lovely P bass a few posts back , but unless the photo was taken slightly from the side, it would appear that the strings aren't cut perfectly at the nut. They appear to favour the treble side and are not central to the fretboard's edges. (Excluding the possibility that he may have subsequently changed the original nut out himself).
I think any instrument can be made well from anywhere (with today's technology) but the desire to, and the overall quality control are sadly not always related to price.
More than ever; it truly pays to try as many production basses (from anywhere) to find a diamond among the rough....
Try as I might, I've never found an MIM Fender bass that I hated. If I wasn't pretty sure about it, I just wouldn't buy it.
I guess I see it differently, at a mere 23 years of age. I was not around for "pre-cbs", "pre-japan", or even "pre-mexico" Fenders. I DO know when I play a bass I like. And Mexican Fenders, in my limited experience, have been EXCELLENT. My MIM Jazz is a champ, and I would not hesitate to purchase another Mexican-made bass.
I hope I didn't come off as disparaging the MIM Fenders, as that wasn't my intent... I've owned atleast a dozen of them, and still own one today, besides MIA Fenders from 1976 and 2008... IMO, the MIM Fenders are generally very good instruments, and sometimes outstanding - but still not on the same level as the MIA Fenders...
I mostly took issue with the "made with the same parts" thing, as they clearly are not...
- georgestrings
Say whatever you want, but the truth is that MIM Fenders are not as well made as MIA Fenders...
- georgestrings
i agree, somewhat, i previously owned two MIM Pbasses made around 95-98 and both of them were pretty much junk IMO.
i currently own two 2012 MIMs an antigua and a RW both jazzs, and both are truly remarkable basses, and i also own two 2012 MIAs a Pbass and a jazz so i can compare them adequately and i am happily satisfied with my new MIMs they are played as much if not more then my MIAs
I am a little surprised at all the nit picking and nonsense here.
If you put a MIM and MIA from the same year side by side, they are designed differently to generate cost variance and separate features.
I own both from the same year and here is what I know to be true.
1. Truss rod and adjustment is different design. MIM through the back, hence skunk stripe and adjustment at the headstock instead og at the traditional heal of the neck on MIA.
2. Graphite stiffening rods in MIA neck, not in MIM which sometimes warps without warning and not with a change in weather..
3. Headstock contoured thinner and more recessed on the MIM which is prone to warp forward under string tension.
4. Pick up and pots in MIM are lower and more inconsistent quality than MIA.
5. Neck pocket join is superior fit without gaps in the MIA
6 MIA has 2 or 3 piece body, MIM has perhaps 6 approx 2 inch blocks joined and if it has a see thru finish lik burst, a top laminate as well.
7. MIA has string thru bridge, MIM does not.
8. MIA has a hard case, MIM has a shroud.
9. MIA bridge is higher mass.
10. MIA has superior scratchplate less likely to warp.
11. Spray finish on MIM is likely to be imperfect with show through patches but still passes QA.
12. Frets better finished on ends on MIA.
That is off the top of my head as an owner of both who has owned several of each.
If you put a MIM and MIA from the same year side by side, they are designed differently to generate cost variance and separate features.
I own both from the same year and here is what I know to be true.
1. Truss rod and adjustment is different design. MIM through the back, hence skunk stripe and adjustment at the headstock instead og at the traditional heal of the neck on MIA.
2. Graphite stiffening rods in MIA neck, not in MIM which sometimes warps without warning and not with a change in weather..
3. Headstock contoured thinner and more recessed on the MIM which is prone to warp forward under string tension.
4. Pick up and pots in MIM are lower and more inconsistent quality than MIA.
5. Neck pocket join is superior fit without gaps in the MIA
6 MIA has 2 or 3 piece body, MIM has perhaps 6 approx 2 inch blocks joined and if it has a see thru finish lik burst, a top laminate as well.
7. MIA has string thru bridge, MIM does not.
8. MIA has a hard case, MIM has a shroud.
9. MIA bridge is higher mass.
10. MIA has superior scratchplate less likely to warp.
11. Spray finish on MIM is likely to be imperfect with show through patches but still passes QA.
12. Frets better finished on ends on MIA.
That is off the top of my head as an owner of both who has owned several of each.
