Mexican Fender MIMPs P bass bargains!

[iconic]

Just lately.... I simply don't understand why I sometimes see some harsh comments regarding the Mexican Fenders....I do see just as many that say they are good bass too, but some seem to think they aren't a proper Fender or worse? Bass snobbery? I have a few decent bassists play my MIMP (I don't include myself!) and all thought she was lush.

I'll own up and say straight off I have only played 3 MIMP's, an older Agarve blue P bass, a real beater black n tort (90's) and my MY 2009 Lake Placid (thanks Tom!) and all were/are great tools.
My MIMP plays soooo well and she has good solid and sound build quality, a so very comfy body, lovely smooth proportioned neck, hot pups and importantly, there's nothing I feel the need to change on the hardware/sound side, cosmetically I fitted a different scratch guard and pup cover, that's it, don't feel the need to change pups, pots, bridges or anything else, she sounds just dandy.

I sometimes see comments like "buy a Squier rather than a MIM" and I simply can't see it, I have Squiers, they are great basses, but they don't cut the precision mustard for me, lack the overall feeling, the simply rightness & niceness of a Fender MIM, I don't know, theres something very 'touchy feely' about my MIM in LP and Maple. My Yamaha BB414 is amazing for the money, but she ain't a MIM and does have a more mass produced aura....silly, absolute crap I know, they are all made by the tens of thousands but so were 50's, 60's and 70's US Fenders and I'll stick my neck out here and say with modern production techniques a MIM is most likely a far better built and more consistant bass than an old US Fender but will never be hyped as much or worth as much?

I don't even think MIMPs are that expensive for what they can be had for new at £450, that ain't gonna the bank for a decent playable P bass and with recent price rises for the Squier's and Yamaha's I reckon they are pretty decent value.

Also, the US v the MIM posts from Mr Circle of 5ths across the pond and others close to Fender production tell us something of the inconvenient truth about how closely related both the US and Mex Fenders are regarding parts, construction and who build them. I just sold a Jeep to a bass playing US airman (wow, could he play!) and he tells me the MIM snobbery I see here, well, he doesn't see it in the US, a MIM is simply a low priced good very useable Fender with good s/h residuals.

I do read that the model year 2009 onwards are supposed to be a big step above previous years, and accept that maybe that the old ones I fiddled with may have been peaches, and I have only been into basses for 2 years now....

......but why diss the MIMP's?

Edited April 8, 2011 by iconic

[leonshelley01]

+1

I have two MIM Jazz basses. I bought the second one when going in to buy an MIA, but after trying 3 MIA's, realised the MIM just felt better in my hands than the others. I have upgraded pickups, bridge and added Hipshots X-tenders, but that is due to the nature of the style of music I play rather than any shortcomings in the stock items.

I think it is SO important to not be blinkered when buying Jazz and Precision basses. Go in and try all of them. Discover which one feels more natural and comfortable when playing, irrespective of whether it is a Squire, MIM, MIJ or MIA. With the colouring from the pickups, effects and amp, the tone can be altered to taste, but the way it feels in your hands can't.

[bh2]

+2...

I bought a 2002 MIM P bass of the bay 'blind' a few years ago as I needed a passive bass for some recording and festivals we were doing.

Turned out to be a superb example. I thought I'd have to swap out the pups as I'd heard on the forums that they were rubbish... not true.

Sounds great, typical p bass tone with no discernible noise or hum.



I changed the machines for some wilkos as the stock ones were a tad loose and I like the traditional big back style and added some bling.

I love it!

Edited April 8, 2011 by bh2

[Gust0o]

I've had no real complaints about mine - well built, solid and dependable. Sure, I had to tighten a couple of screws, but I've done that with more expensive basses:

[iconic]

[quote name='Gust0o' post='1192672' date='Apr 8 2011, 10:29 AM']I've had no real complaints about mine - well built, solid and dependable. Sure, I had to tighten a couple of screws, but I've done that with more expensive basses:

[/quote]


wow, that's a good looking bass, mind you so's the one above....if this is turning into a PIMP my MIMP....here's mine!

Edited April 8, 2011 by iconic

[Wil]

I had a 2003/4 MIM P. It was... ok. It lacked a bit of bottom and in terms of fit and finish, it really wasnt up to the build quality of a '99 Standard US Jazz I owned shortly afterwards. Not by a long shot. For around £350 new at the time though, it was perfectly acceptable.

[funky8884]

I bought a MIM P Bass back in 1999. I paid $750 AUD
It was a good bass until the Pick up mount broke when I went to adjust it. So I fitted some SPB3's problem solved.
I have had to shield the cavity to stop Hum.
The neck has developed a Twist and the E String side has more relief than the G String side.



All in all a good Bass for the money but personally I would not buy another MIM.

[farmer61]

Why P's and not all MIM's then the J crowd could rejoice as well??

Edited April 8, 2011 by farmer61

[skej21]

+ 1

I got a Fender 50s Precision Bass (MIM - Black) and it's stunning. Bought it new a few years ago for about £440 and (as most Fenders have) it's shot up in price to about £600.

Stunning bass, and better than all the Squiers I've played and 99% of the M/CIJ and MIA Ps I've played.

Annnnnddddd here's the porn

[AttitudeCastle]

I think that the Fender Mex Ps are a little overpriced BUT I haven't played a 2010 or a 2011 so i'll reserve judgement till then!

Some places selling them for £500 and £550! Anyone else remember when they were £350?

Plus i'm a Yamaha Fan boy

[Gust0o]

Second-hand appears to be the way to go with the MIMs, at the moment.

[Grassie]

I bought a MIM Jazz after playing a MIA Deluxe 5'er for 8 years (sold the MIA to pay for a new amp), and beacause i wanted to go back to a 4 string. My MIM Jazz is a dream to play, looks good (all Jazzes do) and sounds great. I always struggled to get the sound I wanted out of the MIA, and now, after playing the mex for 3 years, I've realised that it's down to the mex being passive - no need for fiddling, both pickups on full, wind the tone back, turn the low end down on the amp and voila! FONK machine. I also have a VM Squire fretless Jazz - very nice, but feels a lot lighter than the mex, and for some reason, the Duncan Designed pickups are a lot quieter than the ones on my MIM....go figure...

[lojo]

I'm very pleased with my MIM P bass, feels, plays and sounds lovely

I might pass it on soon, funds to go toward the natural P bass i've not found yet, but this won't be because there is anything wrong with it, just digging a different look these days

[PaulWarning]

......but why diss the MIMP's?
[/quote]
cause they don't do cack handers

[iconic]

Now, I didn't know that......seems a little sinister

[son of frog]

+ 1 Billion

50's Mexican Fender Precision Reissue.

The best bass i have owned without a doubt, sound and playability.
They are genuinely great instruments although i must admit the build dimensions and shapes (especially neck shapes) vary wildly in mexican Fenders, even in the same models, but this is what makes each instrument unique in a way, might feel totally different, but thats not really a bad thing, chances are its still an awesome bass to play and to listen to.

EDIT: I paid £500 for mine in september, (On sale) Which is overpriced, But to me, WORTH EVERY PENNY.

Edited April 8, 2011 by son of frog

[Lozz196]

The MIM Precisions are good instruments. The Classic 50s is incredibly good. The Road Worns are amazingly good.

Whilst I still prefer my US Standards, I`m yet to play a Mex Precision that I don`t like.

I think it`s the age old problem that many have with it being seen as a "budget" instrument, so therefore can`t be as good. And realistically, Fender have not made them to be. That is why they are cheaper, but they are still "real" Fenders, but with some manufacturing/labour/material costs saved. The US Standards are are over twice the price of a Mex, and I don`t think they are twice as good. I do think they are better though.

[son of frog]

[quote name='Lozz196' post='1193201' date='Apr 8 2011, 07:32 PM']The MIM Precisions are good instruments. The Classic 50s is incredibly good. The Road Worns are amazingly good.

The US Standards are are over twice the price of a Mex, and I don`t think they are twice as good. I do think they are better though.[/quote]

I agree with these two statements whole heartedly.

Alas if i could afford a US Precision i would try them more in stores, but i'm too frightened to do so, for fear i will fall in love.

[danny-79]

At the end of the day a Fender factory is a Fender factory.
Any Fender is hit an miss as far as quality control goes so who cares what part of the glob it was assembled on, as long as it plays an sounds to your liking!
MIM made in Mexico by Mexicans, MIA made in America by Mexicans lol so whats the difference apart from the price tag ! (if thats how you wanna see it)

Edited April 8, 2011 by danny-79

[bh2]

I was quite taken impressed by the build quality on mine...

[sime17]

I don't necessarily think all the MIA's are up to much. I live a long way from sensibly priced dealers and so I've had to buy blind more than once. It's worked out ok so far with Korean Laklands and MIJ Fenders but the one brand new MIA Jazz I have owned had some real shoddy elements to it - it was black and the body wings were clearly visible across the surface - big obvious lines particularly from the front:(. It needed a damn good set up too despite being brand new.

I've looked at MIMs locally which (tho too expensive at local prices) seemed better finished than my MIA.

[bh2]

Let's see some more MiM lurv!

[BigBassBob]

While I don't own a MIM Fender at the moment, I thought I'd throw in my thoughts.

Years ago I played a "new" MIM P-bass at some guitar shop while on holiday. The pickups were noisy, the pots crackled, the neck was unbelievably bowed and the frets were uneven. The Squire Affinity P-bass sat next to it put it to shame. Understandably, I was one of those "MIM aren't worth the price tag" people. I was also a naive teenager.

Since then I've played a handful of MIM Fenders (guitar and bass) and I've been pleasantly surprised most times (in particular a 50's reissue in Fiesta Red). Just this week I played one of the new standard P-basses which had a better build quality than any other MIM I'd seen, and I'd go as far as to say that it rivalled and beat some MIJ Fenders I'd played. It was a shame that someone at the store hadn't spend a few days tweeking the truss rod as the neck had too much relief to make me tempted to splash out.

I've currently got one of the new Mark Hoppus basses on order (should be here mid-May). I'm not holding overly high expectations but I just hope I don't receive a lemon. Either way, I'll report back in about a month's time...


Bob.

[Grand Wazoo]

Same experience I've had, all the MIM I've tried, were badly built, noisy, dodgy fretted and overshadowed in quality by the Classic Vibe Squiers I have played them against. I am not a snobbish person if ever I come across a decent bass I am the first to sing it's praises, but until then to me at least they are still low in my interest chart.

[ThomBassmonkey]

I thought Fender's QC was supposed to be improving?

I've never really been into Fenders until recently so I've not played a lot. The thing that changed my mind was that I was hideously bored one day while I was looking around a music shop and had a noodle on a MIM Jazz and it blew me away. If it had been a 5er I probably would've bought it on the spot. Since then I've moved onto Sandberg (still playing a Jazz though which I hated up until that point).

I've heard that their older stuff was very hit and miss but generally the quality's improved a lot recently. Not sure if it's true as I avoided Fenders for so long and now they don't appeal to me as much as other brands based on them so not played many.