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Post by guitarfreak on Sept 21, 2009 7:35:28 GMT -5
Anyone know (roughly) what percentage of Fender Strats and Tele's are MIM's and MIJ's from their overall production?
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Post by tim on Sept 22, 2009 19:29:38 GMT -5
Anyone know (roughly) what percentage of Fender Strats and Tele's are MIM's and MIJ's from their overall production?That's a really good question which I really couldn't answer, but I would ask over on the FDP (Fender Discussion Page) www.fenderforum.com/forum.htmlIt's independently hosted an is not affiliated with Fender. However, there are Fender reps and employees registered there who will answer many questions. If you're not registered and don't feel like registering, I'd be happy to post for you. But unless they are USA or Squier, I'd say that the majority of their instruments are MIM. I could be wrong, but I think that now the majority of their MIJ production is for performer endorsed guitars. Tim |
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Post by Blues Dues on Sept 23, 2009 3:40:20 GMT -5
I don't have any idea of the numbers, but our limited experience in terms of what sells from the shop suggests the MIM's are the biggest sellers, no doubt due to the lower prices. Some are very nice guitars.
I have also found that the MIJ Fenders are highly regarded overall and are often sought after.
Blues Dues
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Post by guitarfreak on Sept 23, 2009 8:29:39 GMT -5
Please edumucate me...
What is...again...the difference between a quality made Fender MIM versus a USA made one? Pickups?
From what I've read (and learned from you, Sylvan and Rick), they are basically the same guitar(s)...with some possible exceptions.
I understand there's some good MIM's and some bad ones but that would likely hold true to USA made ones as well.
Big price gap from over $1K to $300 bucks. Is it all marketing and psychological?
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Rat
Junior Member
Posts: 13
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Post by Rat on Sept 23, 2009 10:22:50 GMT -5
Greetings from MarshVegas... new to these boards. What's up Rick C?
"I understand there's some good MIM's and some bad ones but that would likely hold true to USA made ones as well."
I just rewired a 2003 USA Deluxe Strat, purchased on eBay as "new, never used". Came complete with all the stickers intact and everything.
The wiring was a mess, pickups were not wired to the 5-way properly, the caps looked like they came from the parts bin. Luckily the rest of the guitar was in great shape, or the purchaser would have not come out ahead with this one.
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Post by tim on Sept 23, 2009 10:51:42 GMT -5
I can't say much about the electric guitar line, but in their basses, I kow there are some discrepencies. for instance, the Jazz bass pickups are a different size in the MIM's as the MIA's the MIA's are just a bit longer and wont fit in the MIM's. Concerning bodies and necks, they are interchangeable, but pick guard's are not. The MIA's usually (but not always) have a better fret polish too. Tuners, depending on the models I'd say are compatable. Bridges are still bent pieces metal on both. Yes, the MIM Fenders are their bread 'n butter line, and about the only people who purchase MIA's are the ones who feel like they just have to have a MIA Fender instrument. In my opinion, it comes down to snob appeal, but if your instrument is a US Fender then down the road, it will probalby have some collector value. I really doubt that will happen with the MIM's. I'm not really sure what Fender's idea is, but they've really jacked the pricing on their US instruments. Precision bass's are now in the $1500.00 + range some standard Jazz bass models are now over $2000. and the MIM's are in the $4-500. range. Does the MIA sound better? Well, tone is always subjective and in the ears of the beholder. Can I justify the price difference between the US and the MIM? Not only no, but heck no! But Fender will do what they do as long as money flows over the counter.
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Post by guitarfreak on Sept 23, 2009 19:54:45 GMT -5
Thanks, Tim...good explanation.
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Post by rickc on Sept 23, 2009 20:31:10 GMT -5
Greetings from MarshVegas... new to these boards. What's up Rick C? "I understand there's some good MIM's and some bad ones but that would likely hold true to USA made ones as well." I just rewired a 2003 USA Deluxe Strat, purchased on eBay as "new, never used". Came complete with all the stickers intact and everything. The wiring was a mess, pickups were not wired to the 5-way properly, the caps looked like they came from the parts bin. Luckily the rest of the guitar was in great shape, or the purchaser would have not come out ahead with this one. Hey Ray! Good to see you hear! Ya gotta come down and check out Retunes! NICE STUFF! and the owner and family are top shelf! |
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Post by Blues Dues on Sept 23, 2009 20:37:32 GMT -5
[quote author=rickc
Hey Ray!
Good to see you hear! Ya gotta come down and check out Retunes! NICE STUFF! and the owner and family are top shelf![/quote]
I usually start out that way but by the end of the night I'll drink damn near anything.
I think I met Ray. I believe he came in the other day.
RCE
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Post by rickc on Sept 23, 2009 20:50:22 GMT -5
;D ;D ;D
Same here!
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Post by tim on Sept 23, 2009 21:31:19 GMT -5
I have also found that the MIJ Fenders are highly regarded overall and are often sought after.
Blues Dues that's an interesting observation, Richard. concerning the MIJ series. I may be wrong, but as I understand it, here's how the story goes about the MIJ line. OK, it seems that everyone has heard of 70's instruments being called and advertised as "law suit" guitars. Well, especially with Gibson, but others like Fender and Rickenbacker followed in as well because they got tired of fighting off the oriental copy cats. i mean, it's one thing to hold a patent or copyright, it's another thing to defend them. So, while everybody else was swating at the flies., Fender took a different approach and thought if we can't whip em, we'll join 'em. So sometime int he early 80's Fender actually went to George Gruhn of Gruhn Guitars www.gruhn.com/For good samples of pre-CBS instruments, like a '59 P bass, a '64 Jazz bass. Teles and strats etc. Fender was actually buying back their own stuff. They took them to Japan and visited the main three people who were copying their stuff, like Matsumoku, Fuji-Gen Gakki, and Kanda Shokai and asked to see their products. and had these same manufactuers copy the Fenders and watched to see who coulld make the best and most consistent copies. Eventually Fuji-gen got the contract, and were as glad to get it as Fender was to give it, and Fender Japan was formed. For one, Gakki was licensed under contract to legitimately make Fender products. Fender had an inexpensive line to sell (The first Japanese guitars were under the Squier label) . Because Gakki was licensed by Fender, then Fender had the right through Gakki to sue other copiers with copywriter and/or patent infringement. But unsurprisingly, the MIJ instruments were cheaper and of better quality than their American counterparts, and that's one reason why MIJ Squiers hold such a high value.
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