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Post subject: MIM vs MIA?
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 1:28 am
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hey all im new here and new to telecasters but i played a few at a shop and fell in love. Now I am bustin my butt for one but i need some help.

1. What are the major/minor differences between the MIM standard and MIA standard?
2. Is the MIA standard worth the extra $500+ from its mexican cousin?


My current rig is:
Gibson SG Special
Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100
Marshall 1960b
Boss NS2
Boss Tuner
MXR Phaser
MXR Carbon Copy Delay


The styles of music I play are along the lines of:
Mayday Parade, Taking Back Sunday, Armor For Sleep, La Dispute, Explosions in the Sky, From Autumn To Ashes

Can a MIM or MIA standard telecaster be dependable and roadworthy for those style bands?

I play alot of shows and it needs to stay in tune, be dependable and not fall apart. Which is why i want a solid backup or primary guitar, the sg is startin to catch up with its road worthiness.

And long story short, I have a 1999 MIM standard in black on layaway on sale for $350 USD. Bargain or just save for a MIA?

Thanks everyone!


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Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 2:05 am
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Hey Tony,

Welcome to the forum! You'll find a lot of great people here - especially on the Tele board!

1st - being new, you're probably not familiar with the "search" feature on these boards. If you go towards the top of the page you'll see the "Search" icon. Click it on, enter something like "MIA vs MIM Telecaster" and you'll find page after page of this very discussion. It gets talked about a lot.

The main difference will be the American will be a better built guitar. You'll get better electronics (pups and wiring), maybe a better neck depending on what you like, and maybe a bit better detail work with the American version.

Saying that - you will not be disappointed with a MIM Tele at all. I own American, Mexican and Japanese Teles, and yes, there is a difference, but none of them lack at being an outstanding guitar value at the price I paid for it.

You may want to look at a few different options also. The Highway One is an excellent American Made Tele as is the new American Special. I played around with a new American Special today and really liked it. They are a few hundred dollars more than a MIM - priced between a MIM and an American Standard.

Also, look at the Baja Teles. They are the high end of the Mexican models and are absolutely outstanding representatives of what a Tele should be. Several folks here have them and sing praises about them all day long.

Your 1999 MIM will have older (maybe not as much to your liking) pickups than the MIMs of the past few years, but if it's in nice overall condition, $350 is not a bad deal.

Everyone will tell you to go play a few and find what you like, and that's pretty good advice. Let us know what you get - whatever it is, you'll like it.

RickyD

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"You can never have too many Tele's." A quote from my Sweetwater Sales Engineer


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Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 9:33 am
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I don't own an American Tele or Strat for that matter but I love my MIM Tele '72 Deluxe. I am amazed because it seems like every time I turn around there is an artist (modern music) using one too.

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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 11:06 am
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Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2010 1:18 am
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RickyD wrote:
Hey Tony,

Welcome to the forum! You'll find a lot of great people here - especially on the Tele board!

1st - being new, you're probably not familiar with the "search" feature on these boards. If you go towards the top of the page you'll see the "Search" icon. Click it on, enter something like "MIA vs MIM Telecaster" and you'll find page after page of this very discussion. It gets talked about a lot.

The main difference will be the American will be a better built guitar. You'll get better electronics (pups and wiring), maybe a better neck depending on what you like, and maybe a bit better detail work with the American version.

Saying that - you will not be disappointed with a MIM Tele at all. I own American, Mexican and Japanese Teles, and yes, there is a difference, but none of them lack at being an outstanding guitar value at the price I paid for it.

You may want to look at a few different options also. The Highway One is an excellent American Made Tele as is the new American Special. I played around with a new American Special today and really liked it. They are a few hundred dollars more than a MIM - priced between a MIM and an American Standard.

Also, look at the Baja Teles. They are the high end of the Mexican models and are absolutely outstanding representatives of what a Tele should be. Several folks here have them and sing praises about them all day long.

Your 1999 MIM will have older (maybe not as much to your liking) pickups than the MIMs of the past few years, but if it's in nice overall condition, $350 is not a bad deal.

Everyone will tell you to go play a few and find what you like, and that's pretty good advice. Let us know what you get - whatever it is, you'll like it.

RickyD



Woops sorry bout the search bar ill catch it next time thanks dude!

Well I tried an American Special, American Standard and another Mexican back to back along with the one i want to get, and to be honest, it beat them all!

I dont think the pickups in this one are stock, the mids cut through alot better and they sound like they have a way higher output, something like the americans. The only thing i didnt like about the american special tele is the neck, it felt like a toy almost. The American standard was incredible but the pickups weren't as strong as i thought theyd be.
I've played a '72 special before (borrowed it from a friend) and it felt pretty good it just needs a makeover, he doesnt take care of his guitars so it looked like he plowed a field with it haha

Ive never played the baja but i hear good things about it so ill definitely give it a try.

Thanks again guys! 8)


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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 11:30 pm
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Rock Star
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I never want to see rosewood or maple/ MIM or MIA ever again. Cmon guys just buy what you like.


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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 3:22 pm
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Location: NL Canada
Hi Tony, welcome to the forum as you've been told this is one of the most asked questions in the history of the forum but as a newcomer you obviously wouldn't know that.I have an MIM Tele,MIM Strats and MIA Strats and I find the MIMs great in sound,construction and playability. You'll love the sound of an MIM Tele through your Marshall as do I,I have 2 JCM 800s and the Tele comes alive through them.For the money the MIM Tele is a far better guitar than many in it's price range and many costing hundreds more.

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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 5:12 pm
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Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2009 7:58 pm
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straycat113 wrote:
I never want to see rosewood or maple/ MIM or MIA ever again. Cmon guys just buy what you like.


+10000000 :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!:


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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 5:49 pm
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Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2010 2:28 pm
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Location: New Jersey
Here ya go - http://fender.com/features/americanspecial/#/specs


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Post subject: mim vs mia
Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 8:24 pm
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Joined: Mon Apr 12, 2010 8:09 pm
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Like some other folks have said play em all and pick what you like. DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU WHAT YOU LIKE! I have played vintage guitars that had $20,000.00 price tags that were terrible and then played a $200.00 axe and fell in love with it. And while you are trying out guitars remember things like setting action, better pick ups and, maybe hardware upgrades could make an ok guitar into a great one. The one thing MIA will most definately always win with is collectability and holding their value.


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