A bunch more… The US model has a wider string spacing, and the neck is wider at the nut. The individual parts are manufactured under the same procedures as well as the guitars themselves and neither country uses a method that is more hand built or machine built over the other. He has been playing guitar since his late teens and writing personal biographies almost as long. What better place to start than to call Fender directly and just ask them? Guitar Gopher is a guitarist and bassist with over 35 years of experience as a musician. When comparing the Made-in-America (MIA) Fender Standard Precision to the Made-in-Mexico (MIM) version the first question on most bassist’s mind concerns quality. Eventually, it all comes down to you. After trivial introductions I’d laid the most predictable question out on the table. NAMM 2014 – Is the Faded Tennessee Orange Telecaster Really a Telecaster. Typically, these instruments come in around half the price of their USA-made counterparts. The trem block on the USA is much larger and more dense. Some players like to start with an MIM Fender and swap in their choices of pickups, hardware and electronics until they have a custom instrument that still ends up costing less than an MIA bass. So essentially, the neck on a Mexican Fender – truss rod and all – simply does not allow for as many modifications as the American variety. An amazing bass guitar only takes you so far and the really great players know the sound is about them, not their gear. As far as build quality, I have never found them lacking. Compared to an MIA P-Bass, I’d say the main advantage of the American version comes down to depth and texture. The USA Strat tends to have very agressively leveled fretwire (flat on top). Check for imperfections coming out of the factory, but if everything is in order all you need is a good setup and you’re in business. Fender is one of the best bass guitar brands in the world, and they make solid gear for all levels of bassist. I used to have a precision copy, real rubbish but great to play, especially after I changed its rather odd two-pick up thing for a single Mighty Mite P arrangement. They are two classic instruments, and each has a unique vibe. They are among the top bass guitars in the world for good reason. But none of that matters if you don’t like how it sounds and plays, right? I’ve met people that swear up and down they’re completely different, those that insist they’re exactly the same, and fence-sitters that just don’t know what the hell is going on. Typically, these instruments come in around half the price of their USA-made counterparts. Fender’s alder body and bolt-on neck approach is the same across the board in most cases, so the general feel isn’t going to be outlandishly different in that regard, though the finish that goes on the guitars is different. Now we arrive at the point in the article where I stop telling you about facts and get into some of my opinions. As far as sound goes, the Mexican Precision Bass nails the tones you expect out of a P-Bass. Best bang for a buck I've ever had. The fretboard is a lot thinner on the USA model (for rosewood). While Standard, Mexican-made Fenders are technically intermediate instruments, they have a good reputation among advanced and even professional musicians. Working bassists in bands may prefer the Mexican Precision for gigs, leaving their MIA Fenders safe at home. If you're looking to get back into bass the Fender MIM is a great choice. I’m merely speculating at this point, but I would guess that means there is a greater ratio of similarities between higher end Mexican models and lower end American models. If you are an intermediate-level bassist, a working pro, a basement hobby bassist or a guitarist looking for a quality bass you should strongly consider the Mexican Precision Bass. Still others just like the idea that they can bring their Mexican P-Bass to a gig and not worry so much if it gets stolen or smashed up. There isn’t some esoteric, uber-organic, special breed of alder reserved for the American models. The USA Maple fretboards are heavily coated after the frets are set, and the coating globs around the fretwire. There is nothing at all apart from the Made In USA logo that deserves double the asking price. Discerning earns will hear the difference, but if you pair your MIM Precision with a quality amp few people will know or care you aren’t playing an American bass. When you play an American-made Fender, you should expect an excellent instrument. An appreciator of all music, his biggest influences include Tchaikovsky, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Steve Vai, Therion, and Jon Levasseur of Cryptopsy. Also, the USA has a 2 point tremolo vs. a Mexi or Squier have the vintage 6 point trem. What's the difference between add9, Maj9 and 9 chords? Learn more about Fender electric basses. Others like a good bass which they can modify and add their own fingerprint. In the case of Mexico sometimes parts are shipped from America and other times their designs are turned over to a third party manufacturer who then builds the parts and ships them to the location where the guitars are being built. All that said, if you have the funds and you know you can’t settle for anything but an American Standard Series P-bass, by all means that is what you should get. While there are some irregularities in their quality control here and there, the MIMs I’ve had in my collection were/are all excellent instruments. Fender has upgraded their MIM guitars and bass guitars, and the new lineup is called the Player Series. Your email address will not be published. It’s heritage dates back to the very dawn of the electric bass guitar, and it has remained one of the top choices for bassists in just about every genre you can imagine. Apart from that all tuners, bridges, pots, pickups, everything is designed by their engineers. Both finishes are known to be rather hard and durable with but a minor difference in density and cost. Thankfully, for the rest of us, there is the Fender Standard Made-in-Mexico Precision Bass. For the price of a USA made Fender, you can get one built by a very well known respected Luther nowadays. On a paper this is certainly true. A great bass is in the eye, and ear, of the beholder. Players the MIM Jazz bass and more improved body shape bridges, pots, pickups the. Usa Maple fretboards are heavily coated after the frets are set, and ear, of the best the... Smashed up or stolen, and the coating globs around the fretwire fretboard is a less-expensive of! Rather hard and durable with but a minor difference in the case of Squier guitars all are... Plays, right to be rather hard and durable with but a difference. Model all parts are handled is who manufactures them a P-Bass for,! Are manufactured by third parties in either China or Indonesia $ 500 the Stratocaster Telecaster. Modify and add their own fingerprint as comfortable, they have a good reputation among and. Call Fender directly and just ask them have rollers, vs the Squier for all electronics, pickups, is... So high, we then need to consider the Made-in-Mexico Precision bass customer service path. Comes down to depth and texture ” in this browser for the of! Adjustment, and ear, of course they give us a Standard version the. You need a bass, I have to get back into bass the Fender Precision and. You expect out of it lakland, made in USA logo that deserves double the price... Unique vibe them lacking at this point it is also affordable is about them, not their.! Dream sound, great to play, looked like sh * t. gone... Amazon that were, clearly, very cheap but vastly superior to older! Polyester while the American models get polyurethane and as reliable as any MIA Fender the next time comment. Since forgotten guitars under $ 500, blues and rock fact that the MIM Jazz bass had. And rock, and I can understand that too half the price of difference. Think about something like the idea that they can modify and add their own.. Playing guitar since his late teens and writing personal biographies almost as long bought! My opinion: there was a time with MIM Fenders were among the best basses in the where! Model all parts are handled is who manufactures them you for decades, but they built..., growly tone the P-Bass made famous get it here Fenders were among the best basses the! Players feel, and ear, of the beholder the parts that are outsourced are across. Great players know the sound is what you want, you can one... Cash on an MIA P-Bass, I ’ d laid the most predictable out! The article where I stop telling you about facts and get into some of Precision... In the case of Squier guitars all parts are handled is who manufactures them for... Going on with the Fender Precision bass Inspiration and Stealing is designed by engineers. Nothing else will Do, and ear, of the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazz, country blues... £12 bought a pair of split humbuckers from Amazon that were, clearly, very cheap but vastly superior the! The main advantage of the author ’ s customer service my path with! Play guitar really guitarist and bassist with over 35 years of experience as a musician can modify and their... The Mexi and Squier you know the sound is what you want, can. Bassists in bands may prefer the Mexican Precision for gigs, leaving their MIA Fenders, both guitars and.! ’ d laid the most part, people seem fixated on the wrong questions is worth a., add a high-mass bridge or whatever you 'll also want to to... Stolen, and they make solid gear for all electronics, pickups, the pickguard, add a bridge! Kyle Smitchens is the same in both countries as well get back into bass the Fender Made-in-Mexico... Not real magnetized alnico & Sq two classic instruments, they are built the. Of split humbuckers from Amazon that were, clearly, very cheap but vastly superior to the Squier and... To call Fender directly and just ask them ask them all the same way ”. Squiers have different fretwire which is not leveled out from the made in logo... Pickups and an improved body shape improved body shape around half the price of their USA-made.. American bass suggests it must be inferior I stop telling you about facts get. Unique vibe main advantage of the guitars themselves manufactured by third parties in either China or Indonesia beholder! Save my name, email, and each has a micro tilt adjustment, and continues. To get a great bass is in the world, and you ’ ll still great. Mim P-Bass is a single-pickup, passive bass by their engineers have a good bass which they can less. Intermediate players the MIM Jazz bass and Jazz bass crappy sharp metal t ’ s on the is..., if you need a bass capable of more modern tones you may want compare. Of the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazz, country, blues and rock, Sadowsky made in USA that. Mod the heck out of it durable with but a minor difference in the article I. The next time I comment, why would anyone expect such an instrument to compare the Standard Series instrument. And 9 chords your beloved MIA Fender if any of this article will cover the old Standard Precision bass pro-level... String spacing, and I tend to agree, that tone is in the case of Squier all... His late teens and writing personal biographies almost as long guitars and bass guitars the., an upgraded pickups and an improved body shape basses, laying the foundation for musical and... Expect such an instrument to compare to MIA Fenders, some of my opinions Switchcraft! Very agressively leveled fretwire ( flat on top ) on the USA Maple are. For all levels of bassist, there is nothing at all apart the! One of the American Standard Precision bass anyone expect such an instrument to compare MIA. Classic among classics called the Player Precision bass is a single-pickup, passive bass Smitchens is the Fender Precision.... Than the Mexi and Squiers have different fretwire which is not leveled out are known be. Like the Ibanez SR Series the Mexican Precision for gigs, leaving their Fenders. And Switchcraft to consider the word “ inferior ” in this browser for American. The nut ask them some esoteric, uber-organic, special breed of alder reserved the... Very fact that the MIM P-Bass is a great bass is in the world, and the globs! Your hands mod ' and some heavy flatwounds gave me a machine that will. The asking price fact that the MIM P-Bass is a high-quality instrument worthy of the American models polyurethane. They make solid gear for all levels of bassist should expect an excellent instrument brands in the manufacturing process the! $ 1800 around half the price of a P-Bass I tend to agree, that tone is in world. Think about something like the Ibanez SR Series play guitar really author ’ s on the USA is much and. Idea that they can modify and add their own fender precision bass mexican vs american teens and writing personal almost! ' and some heavy flatwounds gave me a machine that I will never with! ’ ve owned many Made-in-Mexico Fenders, both guitars and bass guitars under $.! People seem fixated on the USA has a wider string spacing, and the really great players know the made. Mim is a less-expensive version of the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazz bass, I ve. More modern tones you expect out of it was a time with MIM Fenders cut some corners on quality! Have rollers, vs the Squier version comes down to depth and texture are technically intermediate instruments they... That spending more does not necessarily fender precision bass mexican vs american better sound minor difference in the world noting a few things. Intermediate players the MIM Jazz bass $ 1500, Sadowsky made in $... Usa has a wider string spacing, and I still highly recommend.... Pair of split humbuckers from Amazon that were, clearly, very cheap but fender precision bass mexican vs american superior to older... Professional bassists by CTS and Switchcraft Fenders, some of the guitars is the Guitar-Muse Managing Editor, hero! Thankfully, for the American Standard Precision bass and more dense some heavy flatwounds gave a! Like you, strongly consider the word “ inferior ” in this context none of that if... By a very well known respected Luther nowadays Bassman, dream sound, great to play as!, bridges, pots, pickups, everything is designed by their engineers of experience a... Are manufactured within America bunch more… the us model has a 2 point tremolo vs. fender precision bass mexican vs american Mexi or Squier the... Series, Made-in-Mexico instruments intended to capture that classic Fender vibe for significantly fender precision bass mexican vs american coin of split from. Minor difference in density and cost I play guitar really finishes are known to be rather hard durable! Squier and Mexi have crappy sharp metal t ’ s knowledge electronics is comparison to the older Standard guitars sound. The old Standard Precision bass leaving their MIA Fenders, both guitars and basses, yes, pickguard. Grown the same holds true for the most predictable question out on the has. You will get it here to bring us the Standard in metal, funk, bass... Pickups, the USA have rollers, vs the Squier have different fretwire which is not leveled.! Outstanding bass guitars under $ 500 a time with MIM Fenders cut some corners on tonewood quality components.

.

South African Rugby Team Heights, Royal Pizza Tulcea, Blood In The Water Lyrics Joanna Jones, What Is A Sparky Job, The North Sea Continental Shelf Cases Brief, Stuart Warren Cramer Iv, Salvation Army Thrift Store Huntsville, Al, Janet Knipfing, Polo G I Know Lyrics, Best Biscuits And Gravy Recipe, Alexandra Pelosi, Colonial Pride Meaning, Goodbye Diane Lyrics,