joe_bass Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Points made in a few recent threads plus first hand experience etc has led me to ask a question that has always been at the back of my mind... Why is there such inconsistency in the quality of Mexican built Fenders?! We must all have come across one at some point or another. I'm well aware that probably every company mass producing instruments will occasionally make a runt that then manages to slip through the net of quality control but it seems that Fender manage to churn out quite a few bodged examples. So just interested if anyone knows why this is?? Did have a quick search but couldn't find anything specific. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 I am actually wondering if its to do with Fenders own standards and peoples own perception. For example, I think the standard Mexican Fender Jazz and Precisions are all pretty much the same standard build and quality. However, to person A, they are fine and a good solid instrument. To person B, they are dull, bland, cheap and nothing special. However, the special editions like the re-issues may possibly have a higher build quality over the standard Mexican Jazz/Precisions. The perception is, Mexican Fenders are pretty average but because Fender have a higher standard for the re-issues, then they appear to be a better quality instrument. In reality, they should be better as they usually carry about a £100 extra price tag thus the higher standard of build. From personel experience, and this is why I base these thoughts, when I tried the standard Mexican Fenders, the build quality was ok but they were bland, dull sounding un-inspiring instruments. Great if you want a run of the mill no thrills bass. However, for £100 more, the 70's reissue Jazz was stunning, sounded totally different, sounded and played amazing and I was happy to part with my money. My perception is based upon owning two Stingrays, a 1977 American Precision, a 1973 American Telecaster bass, a Japanese ESP 400 Jazz, a Bass Collection SR325, a Japanese 51' re-issue Precision, a Status Shark, a Squire Jazz Vintage Modified Fretless and now the Mexican 70's re-issue Jazz. So I would say I have a good deal of experience in different quality basses and have a certain level for which a bass has to reach. For others, this level may be lower and for others, it may be higher. For me the standard Mexican bass did not reach my expected level where as the re-issues did. Not sure if that answers your question but just my thoughts on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe_bass Posted February 4, 2009 Author Share Posted February 4, 2009 [quote name='Linus27' post='399890' date='Feb 4 2009, 12:46 PM']For example, I think the standard Mexican Fender Jazz and Precisions are all pretty much the same standard build and quality. However, to person A, they are fine and a good solid instrument. To person B, they are dull, bland, cheap and nothing special.[/quote] Yeah can appreciate that, I was really impressed with my Mexi Fender because at the time of buying it I'd been playing a Vintage starter bass for almost a year so yeah it did seem amazing compared. However I tried a couple others that day & the one I bought I felt had the edge so to me there was a difference between the instruments. I've also tried friends Mexi Fenders before & have had varying opinions on them as well though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 You have to remember that wood is a nautral material, and hence is a variable. I work in a shopspecialising in acoustic instruments, so the Martin D-28 is one of our world standards. Even at that quality level, we sometimes get a 'normal' one - never so far com across a ropey one - and occasionally a real belter! Electric solid body instruments are also subject to the same qualities of resonance (or lack of). Hence you'll read here of folks who tried half a dozen of the same bass or guitar before they found one that really worked for them. Have fun tasting lots of basses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clauster Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 +1 to what Hubrad says. That's why I'll never buy a bass over the 'net. You'll know what it looks like, but you won't know exactly how it sounds until you've paid for it and had it delivered. Long live the guitar shop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 I've had my MIM Jazz a couple of years now and initially I wasn't that impressed with it. Since changing the pickups and spending some time getting the setup nailed - now it sounds great and plays like butter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 (edited) i had an MIM classic 60' jazz bass which was ordered in especially for me. on initial inspection it looked good,however once i got it home & tried to set it up i found the neck was a real mess.the frets below the 15th fret were not anywhere near level,the nut was fitted too far down the neck & cut too deep so the stings were resting on the edge of the fretboard (& digging into the wood). also the neck had a very bad foreward bow that no amount of truss rod twirling would sort out. Fender did eventually replace the whole bass & the new bass was a belter,so i'll not be buying any more basses i've not actually played again,be it MIM or anywhere else. ok i'll shut up now Edited February 4, 2009 by artisan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 [quote name='clauster' post='399926' date='Feb 4 2009, 01:16 PM']Long live the guitar shop![/quote] +1 to that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 The truth is, they are not that variable any more, indeed any more than MIA...the only Fenders that are truly consistent, in my experience, are the Japanese-built models. As someone who has seen and set up many different instruments in a guitar shop context, I can assure all that when properly set up ( and that is something that IS vaery variable out of the box), all Fenders and Squiers are as good as anyone elses, simple as that. And on top of that, the quality of both is ever increasing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 [quote name='Machines' post='399934' date='Feb 4 2009, 01:22 PM']I've had my MIM Jazz a couple of years now and initially I wasn't that impressed with it. Since changing the pickups and spending some time getting the setup nailed - now it sounds great and plays like butter.[/quote] A big vote for an individual setup on almost anything. One of my best mates, living near Bradford, is a real magician in this stuff (he once taught me how to fret-dress in instalments over the phone!). His standard setup charge, assuming not much fret work, is £35 plus your favourite set of strings. I've seen grown men on the verge of tears with the improvement! Sadly, on an instrument costing a couple of hundred, there's not enough time factored into the price for that level of attention. He also said the same re MIM pickups.. quite acceptable, but an upgrade is well worthwile if you've got the right instrument for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 [quote name='Telebass' post='399965' date='Feb 4 2009, 01:43 PM']And on top of that, the quality of both is ever increasing.[/quote] Indeed so.. anyone remember what was on offer for the same money 20 years ago? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjohn Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Well. How often does this question come up? As with all basses and guitars 3 factors make a good instrument. 1) Workmanship 2) Materials 3) Set up If you consider that MIMs are made from the same stock material as MIAs (esp MIM factory upgrades and FSRs with MIA electrics) and that the MIM and MIA factories aint a million miles away from each other - it's quite easy to deduce that the set up is the main difference between a MIM and an MIA? MIJs are a different comparison - they're made from totally different materials and by a workforce / factory on another continent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 (edited) Even the setups are little or no different, in my experience. Edited February 4, 2009 by Telebass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe_bass Posted February 4, 2009 Author Share Posted February 4, 2009 Some interesting responses! Luckily I've never really needed a set up done that couldn't be carried out at home, eg. a tweak of the truss rod or lowering of the action etc. How much can a pro set up influence an instrument though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 A great deal, depending on who does it, and how big a setup you go for. Full bore, with a fret dress, you might think you were playing a different instrument! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Quality can be hit or miss on any Fender product. I've found Mex basses that played like a dream & USA instruments that played like dogs and felt half finished. There are good and bad of each. Basically, try before you buy. That should be the Fender rule, no matter which model line you're going for... [b]Try before you buy! [/b] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kubs Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 there is no major difference in quality between pieces of same serie,its just hit or miss in matter of setup.....I dont know why so small number of players take in view setup of bass when testing in shop.... I´ve seen horribly set-up MIA Fenders, and perfectly set-up MIM´s and vice versa.....And hope you dont doubt which one plays fine and which ones plays like sh*t..... Do you ever mess your bass when trying set-up it?? I think many players have experience that their own bass with messed setup plays like worst bass in world..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 [quote name='clauster' post='399926' date='Feb 4 2009, 01:16 PM']+1 to what Hubrad says. That's why I'll never buy a bass over the 'net. You'll know what it looks like, but you won't know exactly how it sounds until you've paid for it and had it delivered. Long live the guitar shop![/quote] thats the downside i agree... i like to look at the neck to body joint and the paint finish, the alignment of the strings to the pups you can only do that in the shop then you have to haggle the price....its a bonus and worth the extra to get a well made bass no matter what its pedigree the sound you will experiment with anyway over the years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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