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Which Fender Made Bass Is Better?

#21
Jeff K said:
The GENERAL consensus is that the Fender hierarchy of quality goes pretty much like this (best listed first):
Made in USA
Made in Japan
Made in Mexico
Made in Indonesia/Korea/China - toss-up.

That being said, you'll find high and low quality instruments from everywhere. One of my sons has an Indonesian Squier Strat that sounds and plays every bit as good as my American Strat and Tele.

It sounds like a cliche', but you really have to play them individually to see if any "call out" to you. Most of my basses are/have been MIA (Made in America). But in addition to my MIA's, I currently have a MIJ and a MIM that are both really, really nice. So take the above list as the generality that it's intended to be. There are exceptions everywhere. Not sure where you're located; but play a bunch of them, be patient, and find one that you really like...
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Hmmmmm.....

This one is subject to debate. How many threads on here have we seen touting the Made in Japan offerings as superior to the US made ones? How many times does Fender Japan come out with instruments that are drool-worthy and not available from Fender US.

Exhibit A:

Invalid Link Removed

It's common knowledge that there were periods where the quality and workmanship of the US Fenders was way off. There were also a number of years in the '80's when Fender US wasn't manufacturing any new instruments.

Really, this is the GENERAL consensus? Posing the question....

BassHappy
www.innertainment.net
 
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#23
In my experience, the electronics, fretwork, and general build quality of the Chinese-made Modern Player series are superior to MIM Fenders. Also, only based on my personal experience, the same qualities I mentioned in MIJ Fenders are superior to those in MIA Fenders.
 
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#24
I'm not really a Fender fan but I will share an experience I had at a local music store recently that may help. The store had a small but good variety of basses and I tinkered with them all. They had a nice Schecter Stiletto neck-thru 5 string, a MM Stingray 5, an Ibanez SRX350, and an assortment of Fenders and Squiers. Of the Fenders and Squiers I remember playing a Blacktop Jazz(made in Mexico I think), a Standard Jazz bass(mim), a Standard P bass(mim) and a Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar bass and IMHO the Squire was the superior instrument. It felt and sounded great.
 
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#28
Deoindra your answers are all over the place because you might find that "made especially for you bass" only after you've walked into a music store and play with some Fenders or some Squires. As for craftsmanship, MIM Fenders are made in Mexico by Mexicans, MIA Fenders are made in California by Mexicans...bada bing!!!! The Squire CV and VM series basses are not to be sneezed at either. Think of Fender as Heinz 57 varieties.
 
#29
BassHappy said:
Hmmmmm.....

This one is subject to debate. How many threads on here have we seen touting the Made in Japan offerings as superior to the US made ones? How many times does Fender Japan come out with instruments that are drool-worthy and not available from Fender US.

Exhibit A:

Invalid Link Removed

It's common knowledge that there were periods where the quality and workmanship of the US Fenders was way off. There were also a number of years in the '80's when Fender US wasn't manufacturing any new instruments.

Really, this is the GENERAL consensus? Posing the question....

BassHappy
www.innertainment.net
Click to expand...

Yes, IMO it IS the general consensus. Always? Of course not. But I think if you took a poll, the GENERAL results would come back as MIA; MIJ; MIM; Others. I do agree that Fender Japan offers a MUCH better selection of colors and options. And don't get me wrong. I've had several MIJ's that I've really liked. In fact, my E-Series MIJ P is one of my favorite basses. But I DID upgrade the PUPs to a SPB-1. Most of my MIAs, IMO, do not require a change in PUPs. But yes, I think that in general, my list is the order of preference for most Fender players. But I also said there are exceptions, and that she should try as many as possible because a "quality list" is NOT etched in stone.
 
#31
Jeff K said:
Yes, IMO it IS the general consensus. Always? Of course not. But I think if you took a poll, the GENERAL results would come back as MIA; MIJ; MIM; Others. I do agree that Fender Japan offers a MUCH better selection of colors and options. And don't get me wrong. I've had several MIJ's that I've really liked. In fact, my E-Series MIJ P is one of my favorite basses. But I DID upgrade the PUPs to a SPB-1. Most of my MIAs, IMO, do not require a change in PUPs. But yes, I think that in general, my list is the order of preference for most Fender players. But I also said there are exceptions, and that she should try as many as possible because a "quality list" is NOT etched in stone.
Click to expand...

Maybe there was a poll at some point which re-enforces your opinion? Maybe MIA's are the "silent majority" on TB - so we don't hear much from them?

I could absolutely be wrong, it just seems to me like I see many more threads touting the Fender Japan instruments than I do the others.

Maybe you should start a poll - if there isn't one - and we can find out for sure - or at least get a better sense?

Best,

BassHappy
 
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#33
eldoryder said:
OP, I understand that you are a young bassist who has been playing five years. You ask a very loaded question, because everyone has their own individual opinion. If you want to examine a multitude of opinions, all you need do is to run searches here for past discussions.

I suggest trying the keywords Vintage Modified or Classic Vibe, to get a sense of what many TBers now feel about the quality of currently made Squiers from the Pacific Rim. There are many who believe the quality level on those offerings today matches (or surpasses) the MIM Fenders.

I myself am a novice bassist who sold a MIA Jazz that was too perfect to play (a single ding would have reduced its value) and bought a VM Jazz that has made me perfectly happy (and put a lot of dollars back in my pocket).

{LH}- 2011 Fender AVRI '75 Jazz
{RH}- 2012 Squier Vintage Modified 70s Jazz

View attachment 423925View attachment 423927

As many before me have stated, the best Fender (or Squier) for you is the one you have held in yours hands, played until you feel you have gotten all you can out of it, and come to the conclusion that THIS is the one for you.

MY experience was that the fit, finish, quality, tone, feel and sound of the VM 70s Jazz was just right for me (especially strung with flats), and fit my present needs. As I progress in my bass experience, I may very well one day purchase another MIA Jazz. But I found what was right for me NOW, and for remarkably little money ($200 used!), I don't regret my decision a bit. Today's Squier VMs and Classic Vibes are extremely well made "Fender" basses.

Which Fender is "Best" is entirely too subjective a question to ever be answered by others. Only YOU can answer that question for yourself.
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Nice. Which country that Squire made in?
Kmonk said:
American made Fenders are the best. After that, it's really a crap shoot, some good, some bad.
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I'm no expert, but IME, I also found some (albeit perhaps small percentage) of bad MIA Fender. I agree with test it before buy it suggestion. But I know it can't always be the case for anyone for any fender model they'd like to have. So, this is perhaps a bit controversial, but IME almost all MIJ that I tried are good. If I have to buy before try a fender bass, and it's not custom shop USA, my choice very probably would be a MIJ.

BassHappy said:
Maybe there was a poll at some point which re-enforces your opinion? Maybe MIA's are the "silent majority" on TB - so we don't hear much from them?

I could absolutely be wrong, it just seems to me like I see many more threads touting the Fender Japan instruments than I do the others.

Maybe you should start a poll - if there isn't one - and we can find out for sure?

Best,

BassHappy
Click to expand...
Never (easily) trust (just any kind of) poll LOL...it could be worst than buy before try IMHO :D
 
#34
bluesdogblues said:
Never (easily) trust (just any kind of) poll LOL...it could be worst than buy before try IMHO :D
Click to expand...

I don't necessarily agree. Sure, everyone will vote for whatever their favorites - most likely whatever they own(ed) - but that is the fun of it. The basses they chose are the direct result of their experiences, which matter.

Will it be a complete and accurate sampling across the board? Probably not. Is it ever?


BassHappy
 
#36
... this is where somebody tosses out the obligatory ...

.. there are MANY models from EVERY country of origin, and from many different eras, etc ... there are basses from every country of origin that would be 'inferior' and/or 'superior' to various models from other countries of origin ... and vice versa ... and versa vice
 
#37
BassHappy said:
I don't necessarily agree. Sure, everyone will vote for whatever their favorites - most likely whatever they own(ed) - but that is the fun of it. The basses they chose are the direct result of their experiences, which matter.

Will it be a complete and accurate sampling across the board? Probably not. Is it ever?


BassHappy
Click to expand...
Fun, yes maybe.

Complete and accurate sampling across the board? Never,.. that's why I said to easily trust it could be more dangerous than 'buy without try'.
 
#38
GK Growl said:
This is subjective. There is no "better" because everyone has a different idea of what better is. Don't assume that country of origin or price automatically means better. What is your budget? If you're going Fender/Squier, have you at least narrowed it down to a type (Precision, Jazz, PJ, etc.)?
Click to expand...
Exactly this! I've played Modern Player (Chinese) Fenders that blow MIMs out of the water. I've player Classic Series (MIM/CIJ) that make American Standards look like a joke! But, I've also played MIAs that are equally as good, or better in some regards.

This said, I do suggest looking at the Modern Player Jazz Satin. It's an incredibly well built & versatile bass for the money!
 
#39
Hardware and electronics being the same (and they ARE NOT always) - it comes down to fit and finish - and how well-matched that particular body wood is - coupled to that particular neck/fingerboard wood - in terms of resonant qualities.

"Very rarely, when the wood is exactly right, the neck is exactly right, and the electronics bark properly - everything somehow comes together - and creates a completely magical instrument."

We all know this is true, we have all experienced at least one at some point. Probably doesn't matter so much where it was built. Magic can come from anywhere.

BassHappy
www.innertainment.net
 
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