What is the difference between the Fender Jazz MIM vs MIA?

Yes, there's also Japan and Korea. Plus they have been produced in each of those countries for many years, with varying quality control. That means there is no one right answer to your question- other than please do a search, because this question comes up more than once a week.

 

Electronics and finish also setup and quality control. And to me the MIA necks just "feel" better.

I have owned many MIA, MIK, and MIM's.

Setup on MIA is great outta the box. and QA is much better.
The MIM's are great but vary........example, Take 10 MIM's 2 will suck, 5 will be meh-OK, 2 will be decent and 1 will be a real jem! They can be hit and miss.

But a MIA can probably be purchased sight unseen and you will get a real nice bass! The MIM's try before you buy. Just 2 cents.

 

Well, the MIA neck is graphite-reinforced and isn't supposed to have rough fret ends. The MIA has different pickups than the MIM and a "high mass" bridge, and comes with a hard case instead of a gig bag. The bridge pickup on the MIM is the same as the neck pickup, which means the string spacing is slightly off. I really don't know how much difference that makes, though.

I just got a brand new, discontinued color MIA Jazz for $20 more than a new MIM (no case, though). I'm happy with my purchase, but to me the MIA isn't $700 better than the MIM. Truthfully, I like the Squier Classic Vibe Jazz better than the MIM, and I sometimes wonder if I should sell the MIA, buy a Squier and pocket the change. Really.

 

The pickups in the MIMs are definitely different, but the MIMs have the same pots and wiring as the MIAs, don't they?

And Fender's website says the '08 models have urethane finishes. It definitely doesn't feel like nitro to me.

 

polyurethane

 

Right, I meant the MIA '08 models have a poly finish- sorry for any confusion.

 

I have 3 MIM Jazzes and they all had longer bridge pups than neck pups. I say "had" because I put new ones in. 2003-2007

 

I just bought a MIM Jazz today...upgrade from my Squier Jazz..and I love it!!

 

noiseless pickups are stock on the MIM Deluxe.

 

Interesting, because I've definitely seen at least three MIM Standard Jazzes that had the "short" bridge pickup as stock (or, had the bridge installed off-center). Are yours Standards, or upgraded models?

 

One is a Special Edition, and the other two are Standard MIM's.

 

Today I purchased the Squier Classic Vibe Jazz. Other than the bass being a tad lighter and the headstock being a tad thinner, I bet most people would believe it was a MIA, save the decal.

This thing was perfectly set up at .014 gap, 8th fret and the intonation of every string was spot-on. There was a QC Card tied to one of the tuners that had the relief mm measurement stamped on it for the 1st & 12th frets for the 1st and 4th strings. It shows the DATE of the Action QC, the DATE of the Final QC and DATE it was packed.

The pickups are a little weak, but spend $100 for new installed and you have one of the best basses on the market today IMHO.