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Post subject: Is made in Mexico that big of a deal?
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 4:11 pm
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I got some money from being in a movie, and i want to get a fender p-bass, but im keeping my squire j-bass because i play jazz at my school. I was wondering is being made in mexico a big difference from made in america? I'll probably have more questions later so... thanks in advance!


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Post subject: Re: Is made in Mexico that big of a deal?
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 6:12 pm
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aceysboy wrote:
I got some money from being in a movie, and i want to get a fender p-bass, but im keeping my squire j-bass because i play jazz at my school. I was wondering is being made in mexico a big difference from made in america? I'll probably have more questions later so... thanks in advance!


OK I have to ask, what movie? Were you playing your bass in the movie?

You can play jazz music on a P-Bass too and other forms of music on a Jazz Bass as well since it is not strictly for jazz. Those are just model names.

It is important to keep in mind that no two basses (even two of the same model made the same day in the same plant) play or sound exactly alike, so it is best to play all you can get your hands on to try them out. At least one will feel, sound and play better to you than all the rest. That is the one to get be it USA or MIM or CIJ. Frankly you won't care where it was made and just know it is the right one for you.

Yes there are major differences between the USA Standard/Deluxe and the MIM Standard/Deluxe model instruments. I can not recommend the American Specials at all as I have no experience with them and people I know who have tried them were not bowled over. My experience with a Highway One model was unfavorable. That leaves the American Standard and American Deluxe.

Differences between USA and MIM in general are numerous. USA advantages include better body wood, different finishes, better neck construction/reinforcement, better fretboard material, better pickups, better hardware, different decals, a different serial format, and a sweet hard case.

MIM Standard instruments are a more affordable version that are perfectly fine for the vast majority of players in stock configuration, other than installing your preferred strings. Some players actually prefer a MIM instrument because they look, sound and play better to them or because it is less cash out of pocket. Nobody but another bass player will ever know the difference in cost. One of the better bassists around here plays a MIM Standard P-Bass and frankly he's an amazing, skilled and very musical player. He is also a music instructor. He just liked the way it played best among all the available basses he had tried.

The main pitfall with a MIM Standard is some people who buy them almost immediately start upgrading them with USA version parts and wind up spending hundreds of dollars on upgrades with no real return on investment when it is time to trade or sell. Some people plan these upgrades even before actually buying the MIM bass. For just bit more than their total investment they could have gotten the USA Standard or Deluxe in the first place and left it stock. To quote US President Obama, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig." I'm not saying a MIM is a pig, just saying it is what it is...a MIM.


Last edited by brotherdave on Sun Jun 26, 2011 6:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Is made in Mexico that big of a deal?
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 6:17 pm
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What an excellent analysis, Bro Dave. I'd say you covered it all and quite well at that. I've got nothing to add except +10.

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Post subject: Re: Is made in Mexico that big of a deal?
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 10:15 pm
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Brother Dave is right-( I need a bumper sticker that says that).

Personally if I had to buy a Mexican guitar or bass I would go for a Classic 50's or a Roadworn. I've had Mex standards (basses and guitars) and I feel the two I first mentioned are the best Mexican guitars/basses. The pickups in all the Mexican guitars I've owned just don't sound so good to me. I have replaced the pickups in my Classic 50's P bass and Strat and I've replaced them in my Roadworn. I use the basses at gigs. They sound excellent and I'm very suprised by how well they play and sound. The build of the guitars is very good also.Just a few years ago I would have told you that MIM blows, but not now.

BTW I could eat real Mexican food every day no problem.


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Post subject: Re: Is made in Mexico that big of a deal?
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 10:30 pm
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I have, "Brother Dave Is Right" bumper stickers. They're $4.95 plus shipping and handling, act now and get a second bumper sticker for free, just pay separate shipping and handling.

My only comment on all the above is, I have two MIM Fender Basses, I changed the pickups in the Precision to SPB-3's and the Jazz is fine.

Play a whole bunch before you buy, it was already mentioned, no two basses are created equally.

I also have t-shirts with his picture on them and "Brother Dave Is Right" on the back. $9.95
.


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Post subject: Re: Is made in Mexico that big of a deal?
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 11:55 pm
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I am no fan of MIM line of basses due to them having neck issues caused by using newer wood not as dried as a more costly one(my belief)But its seems they now are using better cuts of wood and up-graded the hardware and pickups from all the reviews I have read on the up-graded MIM basses.
I did though have great luck with my Mike Dirnt bass(am no Dirnt) fan but it had the qualities i prefer in a bass and was cheaper than making one,Naturally a thick neck is less prone to being problematic and the Dirnt bass went above and beyond in this catagory.
You may want to go Japanese,almost the same cost but not a crap shot in quality control.
GOOD-LUCK :mrgreen:

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Post subject: Re: Is made in Mexico that big of a deal?
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 1:37 am
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lawsuitbass wrote:
I am no fan of MIM line of basses due to them having neck issues caused by using newer wood not as dried as a more costly one(my belief)But its seems they now are using better cuts of wood and up-graded the hardware and pickups from all the reviews I have read on the up-graded MIM basses.
I did though have great luck with my Mike Dirnt bass(am no Dirnt) fan but it had the qualities i prefer in a bass and was cheaper than making one,Naturally a thick neck is less prone to being problematic and the Dirnt bass went above and beyond in this catagory.
You may want to go Japanese,almost the same cost but not a crap shot in quality control.
GOOD-LUCK :mrgreen:


There has also been issues with necks on USA products. I know because I have had at least two that I recall. To say all MIM necks collectively have issues is inaccurate because they don't. Some USA, some MIM and some CIJ/MIJ necks do get wacky. The newer USA high end products (Standards/Deluxes) with the graphite reinforced necks go a long way toward minimizing neck issues, but you can still mess one up I suppose.

I believe many neck issues are due to improper adjustment, storage, misuse and abuse. Of course sometimes a truss rod or neck itself is just plain defective. This usually shows up pretty quickly and is covered under warranty on a new instrument anyway.

So far as the CIJ/MIJ versus MIM goes, I think the electronics on the MIM are better but agree about fit and finish on the CIJ/MIJ stuff being better.

It all comes down to this. If you want the best in all departments you will bite the bullet and buy USA. With the lousy US Dollar versus the Yen exchange rate, the CIJ/MIJ is just about as expensive anyway which makes the USA stuff a smarter buy for just a tad more money.

I've owned MIM, CIJ and USA and the MIM is the roughest in fit and finish, but you would expect that because it costs half as much as any other Fender version. The CIJ's are generally weakest in electronics.

I agree the Mike Dirnt Fender model is a real nice bass. So is the 50's P and the Roadworn as previously mentioned. I had a MIM P-Bass Special active Cowpoke bass about 10 years ago and it was absolutely amazing and I wish I still had it. It was a really nice bass too.


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Post subject: Re: Is made in Mexico that big of a deal?
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:11 am
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As has been posted elsewhere (including by me), if you can get past the relic issue, my Roadworn P is one of the nicest basses I have ever played, of any brand. I have a Korean-made Tele that is real nice, as well. Just get out there and play them.


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Post subject: Re: Is made in Mexico that big of a deal?
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 11:15 am
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oxfan wrote:
I also have t-shirts with his picture on them and "Brother Dave Is Right" on the back. $9.95.


we d'rather have t-shirts with your pic on the front and the NICP logo on the back!!!

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Post subject: Re: Is made in Mexico that big of a deal?
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 12:05 pm
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I'd go for the Classic '50s. I bought one before the price increase and it's amazing. Great sound, great feel, and the ugliest paint (fiesta red) ever to grace a bass of mine. A LOT of players love their Classic '50s. I also have an American Vintage '57, and it is much nicer than the MIM one, but that doesn't mean the MIM is junk. I gigged with it steadily for a couple of years, and it's still with me, ugly paint and all. Disclaimer: I swapped out the pickup for a Quarter Pound and installed Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats on it. Very nice bass, regardless.
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Post subject: Re: Is made in Mexico that big of a deal?
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 1:15 pm
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Thanks guys I want to upgrade to a better bass than squire and well, I want to say HELL YEAH ITS A FENDER and no i did not play bass in the movie and i cant tell you what it is until it comes out
but i really want a p bass so more suggestions please and thanks


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Post subject: Re: Is made in Mexico that big of a deal?
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:33 pm
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lpdeluxe wrote:
I'd go for the Classic '50s.

Great sound, great feel, and the ugliest paint (fiesta red)

...and it's still with me, ugly paint and all.


hey tex, go on slowly... fiesta red is my absolute favorite!

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Post subject: Re: Is made in Mexico that big of a deal?
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:34 pm
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oops, double post. :mrgreen:

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Last edited by the chef! on Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Is made in Mexico that big of a deal?
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:36 pm
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that is pretty


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Post subject: Re: Is made in Mexico that big of a deal?
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 4:41 pm
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lpdeluxe wrote:
I'd go for the Classic '50s. I bought one before the price increase and it's amazing. Great sound, great feel, and the ugliest paint (fiesta red) ever to grace a bass of mine. A LOT of players love their Classic '50s. I also have an American Vintage '57, and it is much nicer than the MIM one, but that doesn't mean the MIM is junk. I gigged with it steadily for a couple of years, and it's still with me, ugly paint and all. Disclaimer: I swapped out the pickup for a Quarter Pound and installed Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats on it. Very nice bass, regardless.
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I really like Fiesta Red. Send the bass to me. Thanks man


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