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Will Fender still have the MIM basses?
- Thread starter road-cat1
- Start date
I mean we can argue that life circumstances at birth play the biggest part in where you end up financially. Almost nobody moves up from their socioeconomic standing they were born into. People really dont make that much more
Nor have I with several MIA, MIM and Squiers. I'm not saying I entirely buy into the anonymous Reddit post - seems a bit over the top in both its rant claims and enthusiasm. Would seem very petty and sad if it were someone's personal agenda rather than truthful. That said, I have seen examples of brand new models (of other companies) being rushed out of the gate with a higher than normal occurrence of QC issues, but I highly doubt the subtle revamping of a MIM Standard would produce such a high error rate as purported.
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Very true and good that you pointed this out. Bill Lawrence has written chapter and verse on this and other topics ranging from pickup design to magnetic fields and how to maximize them in the design of pickups. He's designed ceramic pickups that are outstanding as well as Alnico pickups that are outstanding.
Seymour Duncan and Leo Fender have also done the same and I'm sure many more.
As a general FYI Fender converted from using Alnico pickups in MIM models in the mid '00s because younger players seemed to demand more output for dirt and distortion. Higher output pickups were called for and it was cheaper to use ceramic magnets for that purpose. Now they've reversed field and gone back to Alnico which they've used far longer.
I was never a fan of Fender's ceramic pickups but that doesn't mean others aren't far better. As 40hz posts it's the pickup design itself that matters vs what a player is looking for and far more goes into that than some consider.
Yep. Both my Rippers have Indox ceramics as is the SuperFerrite in my Peavey T-20. All three of those basses can sing - and roar.
And Bill Lawrence designed as I recall, right?
Which is funny because my 05 jazz with ceramics has a pretty quiet output and is very mellow compared to others I've played. I've heard the higher output but my alincos in my PJ are definitely a higher output and brighter
The higher output ceramics were mostly on the MIM guitars like Teles and Strats. I don't believe it impacted the basses the same way. I wasn't even thinking so much about the basses when I wrote that so I should have been more clear. That's part of the problem I have serving two masters. LOL
It's been awhile since I replaced the pickups in my CV basses so I can't even recall what was in them stock but I think they were Alnico. But now it doesn't matter because I'm thrilled with the change.
I'm really hoping my local GC gets some in so I can actually try. The guitarist in my band is the tech there (one of the few good ones you'll find at GC) but he says they've not gotten any yet. They're still sitting on the same MIM fenders from 3 years ago
There is a Guy over on one of the numerous Fender Bass pages on FB who has just bought one of the Player P Basses in the Tidepool colour. He states it plays and sounds great with no fret, nut or string spacing issues. Talk about making a mountain out of a mole hill but this happens every time there is a new line of Basses produced by guitar manufacturers......Don't worry!
I'm sure they'll be fine. It's possible an initial production run didn't get as much attention and TLC as they should have just trying to get new product out. Auto manufacturers have often had that problem with new models and Microsoft's new Windows releases are legendary for expecting users to be a beta tester. LOL
I don't see the problem with any of this but then I grew up in the era of planned obsolescence in autos and all kinds of consumer products. My father bought a brand new car every 3 years. For the past 30 years I've had most of mine for 8-10 years. My current one is a 2007 and it's barely broken in at 120,000 miles.
Guitars don't wear out much so Fender has to create a demand for new models somehow and this is how they've been doing it for a very long time. Change a few features, change it's model designation, raise it's price, rinse and repeat. It's not like anyone invented that idea just now.
I saw that and someone here has one and says it's great. The issue was is if that reddit guy is correct it's a bit much when that many models to one store is bad. A few here and there sure but when its potentially the majority of the models that show up I would be hesitant is all. I mean Fenders QC can be hit and miss. I've been told it was awful in the mid 2000s but turned it around about 2008 yet my 05' MIM jazz has been absolutely phenomenal. I know I've lead some of the hesitation towards the new models but my experience also backs that its obviously not every model. My concern was just that one store reportedly had so many bad models. I really hope some come into my local store. I asked him about the issues and he's not heard of any from bigger stores south of us
There will always be issues with a new line of products whether that be a guitar or anything else. I am not saying that the dealer is lieing but his claims could be overly exaggarated. From what I have seen on the internet everyone except this dealer has been happy with their purchase.I should receive mine tomorrow, so I will post my findings on here.....Personally I aint worried, as I have heard this kind of thing many times before!
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Correct! It's a narrow aperture ceramic loaded sidewinder design that's unique to the Ripper. As is the unusual (for the times) switching scheme, plus it's passive midrange and tone control. Gibson never did anything like it before or since. It stands alone in Gibson's catalog of bass design.
Seymour Duncan's custom shop is also making pricey ($300 each - ouch!!!) replacements.
Ripper cultists maintain the SD pickups supposedly sound and respond differently because the particular Indox ceramic magnet formulation found in the original Ripper pickup is no longer being manufactured. Or so I've been told. But I've been playing a Ripper as my main bass since 1974, and I've played every other Ripper anybody who owned one would let me play, and I've compared the SD replacements side by side against the originals. And I can confidently tell you they sound the same.
And that's interesting because that further reinforces the notion that the magnet material is not important, whereas the magnet's electrical characteristics in conjunction with the rest of the pickup's design are indeed what defines its sound.
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Anyway I don't understand what all of the worry is about, because if you decide to purchase one it would be highly unlikely that you get one that has defects. Remember that the dealer is usually second in the chain after the manufacturers then come the suppliers who you purchase from.Both dealers and suppliers always check the product before it is sold. Dealers always do this because it ultimately costs them to have a faulty product returned and for them to send out a replacement. So if you are normal Joe Public there is nothing to worry about.........Panic Over!
True that !
I personally don't care if the Roswell Greys end up building it. As long as it sounds good - and I can afford one - is all that really matters to me.
It's all well and good for me to be dreaming about owning a Wal Mark 1 someday. But I can't play something I don't own. And I'm not going to not play bass just because I can't justify (to myself) the cost of getting my own Wal - dream bass or no dream bass.
When the top shelf gear is out of reach, something less expensive that'll get me most of the way there will do me just fine.
Life is good!
Never had an opportunity to play a Ripper. Guess I'll have to seek one out someday and see what it's like.
Bill Lawrence knew more about pickups than many have forgotten and as contemporaries I'd have to believe he and Seymour shared many thoughts. He's another one to be admired for his contributions.
I did say (probably) to indicate I did not know for sure. But the writing is on the wall, they are clearly disassociating themselves from the Mexican name. It' only a matter of time before they move production to Indonesia or China.
I don't think Fender have ever called them Mexican anything, it's the Standard.
How are they disassociating from a Mexican name they never used. Officially they've just been Standard Models haven't they? The MIM tag is something we've put on them just to differentiate them from similar US Models.
You can never say never but with the investment Fender as in their Ensenada plant I doubt they're planning on discontinuing production there. Maybe the confusion that's been created is based on the Modern Player Series of Fenders which were manufactured in China. I think that line has been discontinued but the name is similar to the one Fender has decided to use on their current Mexican manufactured models.
It's been the "American Standard" and "Standard" which is the MIM. The MIM label they want to get rid of is the ones we use. The instruments are still made in the same place in Mexico. They just don't like the stigma put on the MIM label and that they are "inferior" so they decided to try and make the "standard" a little better and call it the "player series". I doubt they move out of that factory in Mexico. They just are upset that people refer to them as either MIM or MIA to determine value but it won't really change, a player series is still MIM and Professional is still MIA and likely will still be identified as such. Fenders trying to force a branding change on something their users branded
I had to edit to add, I also feel like the average customer is confused by "whats the difference between an American Standard and a Standard?" with the usual response "well the Standard is made in Mexico, and 'not as good'" which Fender wants to avoid. Player sounds more friendly and entry level and easier to digest while Professional sounds just that, Professional, the higher tier
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