The Fender Family

[Graybeard]

Which is best? :D

[fretflyer]

ive only tryed out some of the MIM at guitar center and they were really good quality

[Graybeard]

I finally understand what MIM and MIJ mean duh :stylin:

[killerkiwi]

best is to broad, But if you mean best bang for buck I would say MIM

[Sexymonkey]

*gathers Mexican Pride* MIM! MIM! MIM!

[KstmGtr]

Best for lasting value and quality: America
Best quality for your money (low resale though): Japan
Best for starting out on a budget: Mexico

[Wildhawk]

American is better but since I always rate on value for price I voted MIM.

Is a USA 2 1/2 times as good? I costs 2 1/2 times as much.

[jay.dot]

As everyone else has said, it depends what you measn by best. Americans are pro'lly best sll-out quality, but MIMs give you the best bang for your buck.

[rotteneggz]

MIM IMO because the prices are just right and it's bassicly the same thing as the MIA

[tdu]

Having owned all of them, I think they are all fairly equal in terms of construction if you shop around and look for good ones.

But when it comes to the electronics and hardware, it goes MIA, MIJ/CIJ, then MIM.

If you look at these guitars on the used market, MIA is a clear winner. For $700 I got an American Series Ash. For that price you get a hardshell case (as with new ones) and Fender USA pickups, electronics and hardware.

CIJ Fenders only come with gig bags, and MIM Fenders generally come with nothing. The pickups are great on CIJ Fenders, but the electronics aren't very good. The MIM Fenders generally have crappy electronics and mediocre pickups, and no case. Those are all things to factor when calculating value. If you save money buying a MIM Fender, then have to buy a hardcase, new pots, and new pickups you really aren't that much below a MIA Fender cost wise.

[Sexymonkey]

Unless you buy the GFS crap.

Don't forget you can usually haggle and get 'em to drop you the case price.
Plus, cases are like 40$.

[tdu]

Ya but the case is just one factor. The electronics, pickups and hardware are a bigger factor. You aren't going to beat the value of a good deal on a used MIA Fender if you can find it. You can get a guitar that you don't need to mod and has a case.

If you upgraded a MIM to be on par with an MIA with a good set of pickups, better electronics, hardware, case etc you are looking at about a $250 investment minimum. Even to buy all new GFS hardware, electronics and pickups will still be a fair amount of cash.

I am not saying one is a 'better' option because it's different for everyone. But the issue of value goes beyond the price. And in a case like mine, $700 for an American Series Ash Tele with hard case is one heck of a value. A new MIM Classic series Tele here is $900 + taxes. And I would need to to do all the upgrades mentioned above to be totally happy with it.

Another difference, which for someone like me who goes through a lot of gear is a factor, is resale value. I will get at a minimum a return of my investment with the MIA. The MIM Fender upgraded to heck is still not going to be worth anymore then a normal used MIM Fender. You upgrade at your own risk.

[Priesty]

American.

[Hitman!]

Voted american but it could depends on models. I have a MIJ Marcus Miller JB and the quality is exeptionnal for the price. MIJ Jazzmasters and Jaguars are pretty awsome too.

[scott_c]

Gonna say Mexico, because I own an MIM Tele standard. Frankly, its tonally brillaint, certainly ain't falling apart, doesn't look or feel cheap and nasty, and played better than the MIA Tele I played on the same day. Also a good bit cheaper