^^ this.
I've heard / read the MIA > MIJ > MIM many times, but how many have actually played all of them? Or any of them, for that matter?
Anyway, does Fender have an official position on the subject?
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whats the diff between made in usa/japan or mexico?
- Thread starter devinfine
- Start date
^^ this.
I've heard / read the MIA > MIJ > MIM many times, but how many have actually played all of them? Or any of them, for that matter?
Anyway, does Fender have an official position on the subject?
the topic is not really about fender but any way
squiers does not have the same woods they use cheaper ones as well partes, they are inferior to mex in this point, squiers are not fenders
squiers does not have the same woods they use cheaper ones as well partes, they are inferior to mex in this point, squiers are not fenders
MIA and MIJ generally have better quality control and the hardware/electronics are better.
+1 about this varying from bass to bass. I recently bought this MIM fretless Jazz:
and the workmanship is as good as any MIA Fender Jazz I've ever played. The neck pocket is nice and tight, the neck has nice figuring on the back, the fretboard is some of the nicest looking rosewood I've seen, and it weighs in at around 9 lbs. Once I upgrade the pickups, bridge, and tuners it'll truly be as nice as any MIA.
There's nothing truly wrong with the tuners but the body is so light that the bass is a bit neck heavy. Some Hipshot Ultralites should fix that problem.
I'd say go to GC and try all the J or P basses they've got and buy the one you like the best.
that looks like a nice one! nice color and the grain on the neck looks sweet!
good to see you again!
Doug
After pickup/bridge/tuning key upgrades, I'd like to see anyone tell me my MIM's dont sound great
sounds like too many changes/upgrades to me! Just my opinion....
I like my Indonesian Squire VMJ as much as I did my USA Jazz...Both outplayed and had better fit/finish than alot of the MIM's I've played.
On an unrelated note, can't wait for the Squire VM Jags!
On an unrelated note, can't wait for the Squire VM Jags!
Unfortunately I worked at Guitar Center for a while and did a lot of unpacking and stocking. There is a little quality control with the MIM stuff but never nothing too serious. Mostly razor sharp frets hanging over the board and setup issues.
I had a MIM jazz bass back in the day and from what I remember I loved it. Only sold it because I needed the money. Now I switch back and forth from a MIJ jazz bass and a MIA P-bass and I haven't ever had any issues with build quality, playability or tone.
I had a MIM jazz bass back in the day and from what I remember I loved it. Only sold it because I needed the money. Now I switch back and forth from a MIJ jazz bass and a MIA P-bass and I haven't ever had any issues with build quality, playability or tone.
Agreed. But MIA basses will hold their value the best.
Buy one used and it is a no-lose situation (unless you pay too much!)
What would you all say is the quality of the current MIA Highway One's? Where do they fit into all these MIA/MIJ/MIM discussions?
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
The last time I bought a Fender was in 1973. I de-fretted, recontoured, and refinished her in the late 70s, and my old P has been a faithful companion for 37 years.
Now I'm looking to add a fretless 5, and I'm considering lots of basses. My question is, which 5-string Fender provides the best balance of playability, tone, and quality materials for the money. Resale value isn't an issue because I routinely disassemble, recontour, and refinish bass bodies to suit me. I prefer a clear or stain-grade finish, so basswood or some other bland looking species might be a deal breaker. But, light weight is critical.
I'm looking for a woody, organic, ballsy sound with a clear voice - think Ray Brown, not Jaco. What would you recommend under these circumstances?
Now I'm looking to add a fretless 5, and I'm considering lots of basses. My question is, which 5-string Fender provides the best balance of playability, tone, and quality materials for the money. Resale value isn't an issue because I routinely disassemble, recontour, and refinish bass bodies to suit me. I prefer a clear or stain-grade finish, so basswood or some other bland looking species might be a deal breaker. But, light weight is critical.
I'm looking for a woody, organic, ballsy sound with a clear voice - think Ray Brown, not Jaco. What would you recommend under these circumstances?
You can absolutely feel the difference between an MIJ neck and an MIA neck. They are not quality or sound differences, but Fender MIA has recently been throwing out little Madison Avenue tweaks like the "rounded fingerboard edges" that you can feel when your "technique" causes your hands to come into contact with the edges or something while playing
It may be my imagination (I've never had an MIA and MIJ neck at the same time to compare) but I think the corner (edge radius) of the headstock may be a bit rounder as well. The idea is to be able to market some sort of "worn, comfy" feeling on a new bass, like relicing but without the damage.What are bench racers?
Fret sprout is quite serious indeed on bound necks (for obvious reasons) and nothing to sneeze at on unbound ones. Sliced my finger once on a neck and have been careful ever since with every Fender I pick up for the first time. I've never seen an MIJ or MIA with it, but then, I've never seen a misaligned neck (with the accompanying "yank-adjust" friendly neck pocket) on an MIM. Maybe I need to check out more basses, I don't know.
You can absolutely feel the difference between an MIJ neck and an MIA neck. They are not quality or sound differences, but Fender MIA has recently been throwing out little Madison Avenue tweaks like the "rounded fingerboard edges" that you can feel when your "technique" causes your hands to come into contact with the edges or something while playing
My one MIJ P bass has the rounded over edges, I love it!
Being the owner of cheaper copies of Fenders (I won't say what brand) I can tell you that most people will pick up a US Fender and will in some way try to justify it. Finding a Japanese Fender is getting a bit harder to do unless your buying a Geddy, Jag, or Marcus so then again some measure of justification. MIM basses are probably just as common as both of the first two production plants combined together and looking at the price tag on a new MIM is by no standard cheap unless you buy a really ugly uninspired color at a second hand shop.
Point is Fender knows what they are doing with production and I can almost tell you they probably sell more MIM instruments than the US and JP plants, thus making MIM almost the standard the company will go by. MIM are dime a dozen I know because I see them all the time. This doesn't mean that they are bad instruments in fact I own two of the Deluxe series that are just killer. I wouldn't trade 'em for the world. Now in the event they stop making them in Mexico or Japan...who knows. People are very objective to price and availability.
I've got cheap basses that play better than many $1000 and up basses. You learn to buy what feels right and not to pay attention to brand and location over time. Competition standards aren't even the same as they where a decade ago. Every company wants a piece of the pie thus quality is going to be higher on a broader range of instruments.
Point is Fender knows what they are doing with production and I can almost tell you they probably sell more MIM instruments than the US and JP plants, thus making MIM almost the standard the company will go by. MIM are dime a dozen I know because I see them all the time. This doesn't mean that they are bad instruments in fact I own two of the Deluxe series that are just killer. I wouldn't trade 'em for the world. Now in the event they stop making them in Mexico or Japan...who knows. People are very objective to price and availability.
I've got cheap basses that play better than many $1000 and up basses. You learn to buy what feels right and not to pay attention to brand and location over time. Competition standards aren't even the same as they where a decade ago. Every company wants a piece of the pie thus quality is going to be higher on a broader range of instruments.
On an unrelated note, can't wait for the Squire VM Jags!
Like this gorgeous one!
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Vintage-Modified-Jaguar-Bass?sku=430661
Hey,
I've only tried MIM fenders a couple of times and haven't had a go on any MIAs so I'm not trying saying one type has a greater quality control or not.
But... I do find it a bit strange that there would be different levels of quality control; if fender knows how to do apparently better quality control for MIAs, why would they not apply the same processes and controls they have in place in those factories to the factories in Mexico and Japan?
Its always seemed to me that saying MIA has better quality control than MIM is like saying Fender intentionally crapify MIM guitars so that they can charge more for the MIAs.
I've only tried MIM fenders a couple of times and haven't had a go on any MIAs so I'm not trying saying one type has a greater quality control or not.
But... I do find it a bit strange that there would be different levels of quality control; if fender knows how to do apparently better quality control for MIAs, why would they not apply the same processes and controls they have in place in those factories to the factories in Mexico and Japan?
Its always seemed to me that saying MIA has better quality control than MIM is like saying Fender intentionally crapify MIM guitars so that they can charge more for the MIAs.
While I don't know for sure, I can only guess it's because QC takes time and effort. Time = money, so it's another way to save.
Well, considering America is a continent not a country, any Mexican fender will be MIA. In any case, get whatever makes you happy. Don't buy basses as tide-me-overs, buy them as tools that you need. With that said, Japan quality has often been equal or superior to MIA Fenders, but like Gibson, the company wants to make you think that more money equals a better bass, and that is not the case. If anything, the MIA line is only useful to get customs, signatures and vintage re-issues. Also, if you feel like helping the economy, buy the MIA.
