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Why MIM Fenders are bad?
- Thread starter cmgkhn
- Start date
Before I trusted what someone says about an instrument, I would want to know the following:
1.How long have you been playing?
2. Have you ever owned one of these instruments?
3. Do you know how to set up a bass?
4. What style of music do you play?
5. Etc., Etc.
I have owned 370+ basses in my 39 years of playing. Everything from Fenders to Fodera's, Alembics to Ken Smith. Fender MIM instruments are great instruments for the price. The Roadworn are my favorite. Any bass can be set up to play and if it is to your style of playing, then you just might like it better.
I presently do not own a Fender MIM bass but do own a Fender MIM Stratocaster.
1.How long have you been playing?
2. Have you ever owned one of these instruments?
3. Do you know how to set up a bass?
4. What style of music do you play?
5. Etc., Etc.
I have owned 370+ basses in my 39 years of playing. Everything from Fenders to Fodera's, Alembics to Ken Smith. Fender MIM instruments are great instruments for the price. The Roadworn are my favorite. Any bass can be set up to play and if it is to your style of playing, then you just might like it better.
I presently do not own a Fender MIM bass but do own a Fender MIM Stratocaster.
I have a 2006 Standard Jazz that I will never sell. A few times, I've gone shopping with money in my pocket to upgrade to an MIA Jazz. Every time I didn't find one that played or sounded significantly better than my MIM, and I really wnated them to. No doubt, the MIA's are made with a bit better components and on average will have a bit better fit and finish, but not enough for you to feel like you're missing out by playing a MIM.
2016 MIM Fender P Bass here....purchased new from PAL for a great price.
CAR with Maple.
I wanted to try a P Bass and it looks smashing.
Overall, I have 3 new purchases in "the stable" now: G&L Tribute, Ibanez TMB, and this Fender MIM. The Fender MIM needed the most attention out of the box before being properly playable. The Ibby, minimal. The G&L, none.
The P-bass arrived with some problems that needed attention right away. The electronics (which are very simple) were not connected properly. It needed a set-up badly and had sharp fret ends.I swapped the pickup for a DiMarzio DP122.
It is giving me what I hoped for now in tone and feel. It is super-light and it still looks great.
CAR with Maple.
I wanted to try a P Bass and it looks smashing.
Overall, I have 3 new purchases in "the stable" now: G&L Tribute, Ibanez TMB, and this Fender MIM. The Fender MIM needed the most attention out of the box before being properly playable. The Ibby, minimal. The G&L, none.
The P-bass arrived with some problems that needed attention right away. The electronics (which are very simple) were not connected properly. It needed a set-up badly and had sharp fret ends.I swapped the pickup for a DiMarzio DP122.
It is giving me what I hoped for now in tone and feel. It is super-light and it still looks great.
My bad. I did not read the OP thourghouly enough.
Also, for the record, I bought my Jazz online without trying it first. I also ordered a set of Fender Original pickups because I assumed that the stock pickups would not be good. A year later, I have yet to install the replacement pickups. The stock ones are just fine.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
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- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
I think you have been misinformed. In general, the quality of MIM finders, especially since 2003 or so, is quite good. Yes, MIA Fenders have more select wood, better finishes, likely better electronics, and a lot more options. Nonetheless, MIM Fenders, especially the Classic and Roadworn product lines, are superb, IMHO.
If you want to read ridiculously silly bad reviews, check out what some have said about relic finishes, aka "faux mojo," or "stolen valor," LOL!
Let me just say I have a (heavily upgraded) Mexican jazz and used it as my main for a long long time. I always thought it was an amazing quality bass. I just bought my first American Professional series Fender jazz a few years ago, and now I don't touch the Mexican unless I feel nostalgic. It just doesn't feel as good. So compared to American Fenders they're not great. But on their own they're pretty good. Ignorance is bliss I guess.
I love my MIM Jazz. Rock-solid instrument. No frills, no thrills, but still an awesome tone and super playable. Add in the fact that aftermarket parts for Fender instruments are both easy to find and install, and you have an awesome package that won't break the bank too much. That's my two cents 
I don't think the difference between a MIA and MIM are as big as they used to be. Other countries are catching up to the US in terms of workmanship, and let's face it, a lot of this is automated anyway.
Where you will see the biggest difference is in the options or features. A US made bass might have cooler finishes, a nicer bridge, fancier electrics, etc. There might be a hair more attention paid to the fret dressing, neck dive, etc.
The quality of the MIM and MIJ basses have reached a level where I think the US ones are sort of a rip off.
Where you will see the biggest difference is in the options or features. A US made bass might have cooler finishes, a nicer bridge, fancier electrics, etc. There might be a hair more attention paid to the fret dressing, neck dive, etc.
The quality of the MIM and MIJ basses have reached a level where I think the US ones are sort of a rip off.
- Sep 4, 2010
- 3,304
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- Disclosures
- Endorsing: Martin Keith Guitars
I've owned a few AVRIs (American made Vintage ReIssues) that were in the $1900 range new, and one didnt sound that great in the end, another sounded great but had some structural issues due the woods being too soft and the instrument been assembled too hastily in the factory
Fenders, regardless of origin, are all over the place quality-wise. The MIM Fender I had (a 2009 Roadworn jazz bass) was just great. Solid bass, great tone, great neck profile
Also, the kind of fenders I like (minimally changed classic designs) always have been better represented in the MIM catalogue than in the American ones.
So for me: if I buy a new Fender ever again, It will be a MIM.
Fenders, regardless of origin, are all over the place quality-wise. The MIM Fender I had (a 2009 Roadworn jazz bass) was just great. Solid bass, great tone, great neck profile
Also, the kind of fenders I like (minimally changed classic designs) always have been better represented in the MIM catalogue than in the American ones.
So for me: if I buy a new Fender ever again, It will be a MIM.
I've spent over 10 years in the trenches with MIM Fender basses. They're great instruments that can get it done.
No negative vibes over here.
No negative vibes over here.
My 2008 MIM is a great instrument. The only issue is the fret ends are not finished as well as an USA bass. I played a new Player series this weekend and it is better than mine as far as pickups and the neck is just a little more comfortable. If I were shopping today that is what I would buy. And that butter cream finish was beautiful.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Little known fact - Fats Domino was a killer pool player but only with a MIM P-Bass neck.
I've owned MIM Standard Ps from the '90s and from a few years ago, and neither one compared to my MIAs. They weren't "bad," just disappointing. I had a Roadworn P that was great and still have a nice Flea Jazz. But these are the higher-end MIMs.
Bottom line for me is, MIMs aren't bad, but you get what you pay for.
Bottom line for me is, MIMs aren't bad, but you get what you pay for.
It is my experience that the american fenders can have the same qc issues that the mim's have.
I have a 2017 MIM Standard Precision and three 2017 Squier VM P/Js (2 basses set up for standard tuning, 2 basses set up for flat tuning). They all play/sound good to me after string change and proper set up. People I've played with have commented on the warm clean sound going through Rumble amps with the amp tone controls flat except for a touch of extra bass and no other boosts applied.
And to answer a previous poster's comments regarding knowing someone's background prior to accepting answers (and whose evaluation I agree with)...I've been playing 33 years, if I had to guess I'd say that I've had roughly 30 basses over the years? Details can be found in my profile information.
I do my own string changes and action settings but usually pay someone to install electronics or correct body/neck/fret issues. Never "collected" basses, only bought those that were actually for using on gigs. Never owned a "botique" bass but had a ton of Fender/Clone custom basses. There were periods of times where I did 4-5 nights a week steadily, other times where I did 1-2 nights a week steadily.
And to answer a previous poster's comments regarding knowing someone's background prior to accepting answers (and whose evaluation I agree with)...I've been playing 33 years, if I had to guess I'd say that I've had roughly 30 basses over the years? Details can be found in my profile information.
I do my own string changes and action settings but usually pay someone to install electronics or correct body/neck/fret issues. Never "collected" basses, only bought those that were actually for using on gigs. Never owned a "botique" bass but had a ton of Fender/Clone custom basses. There were periods of times where I did 4-5 nights a week steadily, other times where I did 1-2 nights a week steadily.
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IMO, 3 factors weigh in here:
- Fender has allowed the country of assembly to sneak its way into the identity of its products. Nobody calls Lakland Skylines "MII", even though it's no secret they are Indonesian-built.
- Fender had horrible quality control issues that got worse in the 90s and improved around 2008. Not sure they have fully shed the suspicion the market holds against their product quality, even though it is profoundly better across the board now. It's natural for that to be directed against the entry level.
- There is some misdirected negative opinion against Mexico in particular as a country of assembly.
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