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Why MIM Fenders are bad?

Do you think MIM Fenders are overall bad?

  • Yes

  • No

Results are only viewable after voting.
#221
I have told this story here before. Years ago I was out to buy my first new bass. I had it down to a MIA P bass and a Highway one P bass.Between those two I could not decide.
That was until I grabbed a MIM 50's Classic P bass off the wall. The 50's classic went home with me not cuz it was lower in price it was because it was better.
 
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#226
I have several basses. Currently own an American Standard Precision and a brand spankin' new MIM Mustang PJ that I think I'm gonna love. I just sold a really nice MIM Precision to a friend that wanted it. It is an excellent bass but not on par with the American. It isn't 40% as costly either. Had I not already owned the American, I would have gladly kept and played the MIM where a PBass was appropriate. Given the choice, I'll nearly always resort to one of my Warwicks though. Having said all that, MIM basses can be and often are excellent instruments.
 
#229
I have several MIM P's. All are very playable, stable and generally satisfying instruments once set up and strung to my liking. I have replaced the stock pickups with Fender Original '62 or Duncan SPB-1's for a vast improvement in tone and response. (I never liked MIM original PUPS they sound too raw and lack tonal dynamics) The Mexican Precisions are fine. Better than fine. Go forth and own and play them.
 
#230
Kmonk said:
I have been playing bass for 40 years and have never found an MIM Fender that I like. Why buy a new MIM when you can buy a used MIA for the same price?
Click to expand...
New MIMs are cheaper than used MIAs.

Donnix82 said:
I will tell you what, the fender Squier stuff, especially the vintage modified/classic vibe stuff is just as good as a lot of the MIM stuff in my experiences, maybe even better. The VM 70s jazz bass and the VM precision pj are amazing straight up, not to mention the price.
Click to expand...
Not my experience with Squiers, they are good for the money but not as nice as a MIM Fender.
 
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#232
bassbully said:
I have told this story here before. Years ago I was out to buy my first new bass. I had it down to a MIA P bass and a Highway one P bass.Between those two I could not decide.
That was until I grabbed a MIM 50's Classic P bass off the wall. The 50's classic went home with me not cuz it was lower in price it was because it was better.
Click to expand...
I have played one of these remarkable basses at my local GC, it was indeed up to par with just about any P-Bass out there. I have a great Am Std Precision though which could not to be displaced by the Classic 50's.

Back to the fact that it's strings and setup really that account for about 90% of your experience whilst demoing instruments in the store. The Classic 50's I liked so much had some really nice flats on it and was set up superbly.

I tried an American Pro Precision the same day that had already been bought and returned...the owner put a set of Chromes on it and obviously hadn't bothered to tweak the setup (and neither had the store), it felt like a dog next to the Classic 50's.
 
#234
Double E said:
New MIMs are cheaper than used MIAs.

Not my experience with Squiers, they are good for the money but not as nice as a MIM Fender.
Click to expand...

Not MY experience with Squiers. Those I have, I've found to be built and finished as well is MIM and some MIA... They play as well too... May require more setup, but still play as well.... Affinity Squiers are not VMs... Some Affinitys I've played are really impressive, some not so much...

Granted, my Squier basses are VMs and Dimension, but the builds are excellent. as good as my old Fenders... I don't care what the head says...

One of my Teles is MIM and it is one of the best playing Teles I've wrapped hands on... One Skrat is MIM and perfect, another is Squier gold anni, also perfect.

Brands don't impress me. I have old Gib, Fen, and such..and newer cheaper... Some arguments about the cheapers are hogwash.... Just is...
 
#237
edro said:
Not MY experience with Squiers. Those I have, I've found to be built and finished as well is MIM and some MIA... They play as well too... May require more setup, but still play as well.... Affinity Squiers are not VMs... Some Affinitys I've played are really impressive, some not so much...

Granted, my Squier basses are VMs and Dimension, but the builds are excellent. as good as my old Fenders... I don't care what the head says...

One of my Teles is MIM and it is one of the best playing Teles I've wrapped hands on... One Skrat is MIM and perfect, another is Squier gold anni, also perfect.

Brands don't impress me. I have old Gib, Fen, and such..and newer cheaper... Some arguments about the cheapers are hogwash.... Just is...
Click to expand...
It's not hogwash that Squiers and other similar low priced instruments are made with cheaper components with less skilled labor... that's why they're cheaper. Since most of the build process is automated, a fair number of instruments are fine. But consistency and long term reliability is not the same.
 
#240
My MIM Jazz bass was beautiful and sounded great. I sold it, though, because of its excessive weight and complexity. If you're not a puny old student bass player like me a Fender MIM might be perfect for you.
And if not, the word 'Fender' on the headstock means you can probably sell it easily, as I did.
WT
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