Why MIM Fenders are bad?

[Jim Carr]

I hope it's not more of that "made by Mexicans" racist crap.

Right! I've always wondered if those who fear things made by Mexicans have ever stopped to consider how many of Fender's US craftspeople are of Mexican ancestry? It leads me to ask if they think "Our Mexicans are better than their Mexicans," or some such silliness? LOL!

 

[Double E]

Faulty and/or unplayable can subjective...

My basses have low action as I play more soft attack.

A but of mine that has played several of mine, will bitch playing mine because "they play too easy, I like more resistance to my fingers."

One heavy rocker bass player bud's basses, I can't even play because it is a constant fight. He loves high action and is one ham fisted fool... Just the way he likes em...

My late bro beat it in my head "play the frets, not the board" from an early age... He played bass for right at 50 years and could go from Willie to King in a flash, just not on stage unless the song called for it...

Faulty can be subjective. Non-rolled, different frets than accustomed to, etc...

As far as actually faulty, I've seen that on Fen/Gib/etc. in my many years, regardless of price mark....

Well, I've got some years in as well and have been through more than a few instruments and I've stood by many folks on stage that were playing many different brands of instruments as well. I can't remember anyone actually buying an instrument and having to declare it faulty or unplayable.

Of course, I have heard stories on the internet of course, there's a few horror story threads here on this site, but the internet is an echo chamber that makes isolated incidents seem more common than they really are.

Unplayable may be subjective, but it can be rectified on most instruments. If you like really low action you should be able to make that happen on just about any instrument. I guess you could consider an instrument "faulty" if it has dicey fretwork that may keep you from achieving low action but this is still something that can be rectified by a skilled tech, it doesn't mean the instrument is unplayable altogether.

 

[Kmonk]

New MIMs are cheaper than used MIAs.

Not including vintage Fenders, the most I have ever paid for a used MIA Fender is $650 which is comparable with new MIM Fenders and less then the reissue MIM and signature models.

 

[RumbleMan3]

I also recommend a Cort artisan or Ibanez Sr bass they are active so they have a slight more full sound, not as thin sounding (I'm not saying fenders are thin, but comparing a passive bass to an active bass) but they are IMO just as good in build quality and comfort as a Fender bass, wherever it is made.

I think a top notch build is VERY consistent with these basses, possibly more so than some MIM.

Im not bagging MIM's however. If you find a gem, it still kills a Cort or Ibanez, but all I'm saying is gems with MIMs compared to Cort or Ibanez are not AS consistent.

If you are looking in the squier type budget even at some vm 70s basses, which are good enough for ANY gig, I recommend checking out an artisan or sr, they are a bass for life.

However, the MIM Geddy Lee Jazz bass will always be the best bass ever IMO. I like, maybe more, the fact that it is MIM because it feels more like a bass you can still play around with and play it hard, wear it out, but it still feels very high quality and killer sounding just as good as a MIA. With an MIA it just feels too high class, too expensive feel for me. The MIM is still an expensive, high quality build and feel, but it's got a nice, workhorse feel to it!

(that's the word... workhorse!)

It feels like a jazz bass should IMO. I also recommend the flea jazz bass and 60s or 60s roadworn.

 

[fhm555]

The amount of wood pieces glued together has nothing to do with how an instrument will sound. Solid body or glued together the construction and materials holding it together matters more. Many high end big buck basses are multi pieced and glued together necks and bodies. We need to get over the how many pieces are in a body..it's so played.

Back in the day the deal was a one piece body was superior because it couldn't crack along a glue line. I have yet to see a single MIM body cracking along a glue line or anywhere else. The worst i've seen was a small filled knot hole in the perimeter of the body just above the rear strap button. Where it was located required a bit of extra attention when prepping for paint to insure i didn't wind up with a bump or dip from the filler. I wound up using some bondo glaze after i put on some base coats and sanded them down, and it came our just fine.

 

[ppiluk]

I also recommend a Cort artisan or Ibanez Sr bass they are active so they have a slight more full sound, not as thin sounding (I'm not saying fenders are thin, but comparing a passive bass to an active bass).

Ibanez SR and Cort Artisan basses are not active, they are passive with a powered preamp. You can get the same effect with every Fender bass by adding a preamp pedal.

I Can't speak for Cort basses but I have had a number of Ibanez and they were all quality basses. My current go to bass is a MiJ Ibanez that is easily one of the nicest basses I have ever played.

 

[Gavin220168]

I have three MIM basses and the bodies are very well made. Frets, necks, fretboards etc very good. I only upgrade the pickups and pots. Although the 2007 Jazz bass deluxe came with US Fender pickups, noiseless vintage. I will probably be upgrading the tuners to Hipshot HB7. Although the tuners in my 2017 p bass are quite good so far. They must have made some improvements.

 

[Malak the Mad]

But what I want to know is your personal experiences when you went out to try these.

Excluding the parts-basses I've cobbled together from pieces hailing from all over the globe, I've bought two, complete MIM's and both were fantastic. The first was a Blacktop Jazz which I had to special order from Guitar Center.

Just to be safe, I decided to unbox it immediately after signing for it…

It was in such fantastic condition that their guitar tech only had to do a tiny adjustment to the truss rod. Besides that, there was a small kink in the E-string, but that was fine since I was going to replace the strings anyway. Basically, it was 99% playable right out of the box. I don't know if that makes me lucky or if that is a reflection of the quality Fender was putting forth at that time. (It's widely rumored FMIC did a serious overhaul of their Fender/Squier quality control standard in 2008. Personally, I believe it. )

The second was a used Classic '70s Jazz. I had the benefit of getting to try it out before buying it and I was not disappointed, so it went home with me that very evening.

Hands down, it was a quality instrument. In this case, I know I got lucky because not only was it in excellent condition for a used instrument (if they had told me it was brand-new, I would've believed them!), but it had been sold to a Guitar Center location that was conveniently close to my work & friends' place.

 

[MCF]

Ibanez SR and Cort Artisan basses are not active, they are passive with a powered preamp. You can get the same effect with every Fender bass by adding a preamp pedal.

I Can't speak for Cort basses but I have had a number of Ibanez and they were all quality basses. My current go to bass is a MiJ Ibanez that is easily one of the nicest basses I have ever played.

I have an '02 Cort made Ibenez Ergodyne. Very well made, great thin neck. Not a big fan of the quasi active circuit in it, but it is a nice player.

 

[MCF]

Excluding the parts-basses I've cobbled together from pieces hailing from all over the globe, I've bought two, complete MIM's and both were fantastic. The first was a Blacktop Jazz which I had to special order from Guitar Center.

Just to be safe, I decided to unbox it immediately after signing for it…
View attachment 3183279

It was in such fantastic condition that their guitar tech only had to do a tiny adjustment to the truss rod. Besides that, there was a small kink in the E-string, but that was fine since I was going to replace the strings anyway. Basically, it was 99% playable right out of the box. I don't know if that makes me lucky or if that is a reflection of the quality Fender was putting forth at that time. (It's widely rumored FMIC did a serious overhaul of their Fender/Squier quality control standard in 2008. Personally, I believe it. )

The second was a used Classic '70s Jazz. I had the benefit of getting to try it out before buying it and I was not disappointed, so it went home with me that very evening.

View attachment 3183280

Hands down, it was a quality instrument. In this case, I know I got lucky because not only was it in excellent condition for a used instrument (if they had told me it was brand-new, I would've believed them!), but it had been sold to a Guitar Center location that was conveniently close to my work & friends' place.

Those are very nice.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Those are very nice.

Yeah, but sadly, neither are complete and in stock condition. Over time, I had to sell one's body and the other's neck. However, there was a time when the individual parts were brought together as one, sorta like…

Wonder-MIM powers…activate!
Shape of…a bass that's never existed in nature!
Sound of…a Jazz bass that'll melt your face off!

 

[Double E]

Not including vintage Fenders, the most I have ever paid for a used MIA Fender is $650 which is comparable with new MIM Fenders and less then the reissue MIM and signature models.

Well, you are a good shopper and finder of good deals.

Most MIA Fender basses, Jazz or Precision, in good condition aren't found on the used market for less than $800 except for perhaps the Highway Ones and more recently, the American Specials... which basically share a similar spec as the MIM Standards but are made stateside, those go usually around $550 and up used.

You will occasionally find someone on Craigslist or local classified listings that doesn't really know what they have and let one go for less, I have gotten lucky on a couple of these.

Now, if you are game for a fixer-upper then there are deals to be had there.

The new MIM Fender Player Series are $650 street price brand new. I'd probably be inclined to buy one of those rather than a used MIA basket case.

 

[MCF]

I have 4 Fenders currently and think they are great!

My #1 is a 2017 black and maple jazz (in my avatar) its a beauty all the way

2. New player jazz tidepol with maple board which is amazing

3. 2017 Deluxe ash jazz. The only complaint is its heavy

4. 2017 black and maple p bass. Wonderful tone with both flats or rounds

I love them all

I'm kinda in the market for a jazz. Just not in any hurry. I came across a used Adam Clayton at the Sunset GC for $1200. It was really nice. I almost bit the bullet and bought it. Almost. Nothing wrong with it at all. But it didn't scream "take me home" at me. Maybe if I'd had more time with it...I keep thinking maybe just get a Player in tidepool with a maple neck like yours and get it over with. I've played a couple of sunburst Players and they were very nice. Compared very favorably to the Clayton that new are $1000 more. Can you give any insight into how you've found the pickups in your Player to sound?

 

[MCF]

Yeah, but sadly, neither are complete and in stock condition. Over time, I had to sell one's body and the other's neck. However, there was a time when the individual parts were brought together as one, sorta like…

Wonder-MIM powers…activate!
Shape of…a bass that's never existed in nature!
Sound of…a Jazz bass that'll melt your face off!
View attachment 3183294

Jeez. You are Mad. In a good way...

 

[Hevy T]

I'm kinda in the market for a jazz. Just not in any hurry. I came across a used Adam Clayton at the Sunset GC for $1200. It was really nice. I almost bit the bullet and bought it. Almost. Nothing wrong with it at all. But it didn't scream "take me home" at me. Maybe if I'd had more time with it...I keep thinking maybe just get a Player in tidepool with a maple neck like yours and get it over with. I've played a couple of sunburst Players and they were very nice. Compared very favorably to the Clayton that new are $1000 more. Can you give any insight into how you've found the pickups in your Player to sound?

I find the pickups punchy, clear and articulate! I would kind of say they are close to the old American Std. They are deeper than the mim STD but can also get plenty of bite when needed

 

[RumbleMan3]

Ibanez SR and Cort Artisan basses are not active, they are passive with a powered preamp

OK, thanks for the clarification! What's the difference? Either way its still got that really full sound.
My 2008 model cort c4 must be active, cos it's 100% noiseless when only one pickup is on, right?

 

[RumbleMan3]

I honestly think bass players and guitar players these days (including myself) should be a bit more happier with what they got. If you can hit the notes and sound good, it's a good bass!

I like to keep referring to my Cort artisan C4 as the benchmark or standard that all basses must be tried against. (You can do this with any ibanez sr, yamaha trbx or anything similar)

If it's built, sounds, feels any worse don't buy, if it's at the same standard, it's good enough for most uses, if it's any better, it's a darn good bass!

If you can get your hands on an artisan, sr, trbx or something, put it up against your other basses, or any other basses you would like to buy, and compare.
This is how I buy new basses now. %30 or so of basses I try actually pass the test.

It is 2018 now and Mexican Fenders have pulled their socks up since a couple years. They have to if they want to stay in the market!
If they have ever been bad, they are definatley not as bad as they used to be.

This all I have to say about MIM fenders now!

 

[Malak the Mad]

Jeez. You are Mad. In a good way...

 

[928cat]

I honestly think bass players and guitar players these days (including myself) should be a bit more happier with what they got. If you can hit the notes and sound good, it's a good bass!

I like to keep referring to my Cort artisan C4 as the benchmark or standard that all basses must be tried against. (You can do this with any ibanez sr, yamaha trbx or anything similar)

If it's built, sounds, feels any worse don't buy, if it's at the same standard, it's good enough for most uses, if it's any better, it's a darn good bass!

If you can get your hands on an artisan, sr, trbx or something, put it up against your other basses, or any other basses you would like to buy, and compare.
This is how I buy new basses now. %30 or so of basses I try actually pass the test.

It is 2018 now and Mexican Fenders have pulled their socks up since a couple years. They have to if they want to stay in the market!
If they have ever been bad, they are definatley not as bad as they used to be.

This all I have to say about MIM fenders now!

My Yamaha TRBX and Ibanez SR are not setting a standard for my Fender MIM Player. To the contrary, the Fender has set the standard for the others.

 

[ppiluk]

OK, thanks for the clarification! What's the difference? Either way its still got that really full sound.
My 2008 model cort c4 must be active, cos it's 100% noiseless when only one pickup is on, right?

I believe the Cort C4 has mini humbuckers which could account for the lack of hum. The cool thing about these basses is the Markbass preamp built in. It is a top-notch preamp and this preamp alone has caused me to add this bass to my GAS list.

The best way to think of a preamp on a bass is to think of it as a tone shaping tool built right into the bass. Even a cheap preamp will give you a nice tool to better shape the tone you want before it leaves the bass. The pickups can either be passive, meaning they are not powered or they can be active which means the pickups are powered.

An active bass has pickups that are powered by batteries. EMG is one of the top active pickup manufacturers. Active pickups tend to have more gain and sustain but might sound a little digital and flat to some people. Active pickup basses almost always come with some sort of preamp or tone shaping. I have only had one bass with active pickups and it was loud and had lots of gain. I regret letting it go but if I kept every bass I ever owned by kids would need to find new accommodations...