Trying to decide between a new MIM and a used USA Fender Jazz Bass.

[40Hz]

With all factors being equal (if true), I’d be inclined to spend the extra $50 for the MIA.

 

[DarkSword]

When you say USA or MIA, can we assume you are speaking of the American Series, American Standard, or whatever pro instrument that Fender was calling it that year? I'm not sure if there was a Highway 1 or American Special made in 2001 which, in my opinion, would be about on par with today's MIM. If Am Series or Am Standard then yes, MIA all day long. Resale on any MIA is going to be better either way if that's your concern though.

Good question. I'm pretty sure the MIA is the American Standard. I'm not seeing a special series noted anywhere. I would assume that's mentioned on the headstock if it is a special series?

 

[tpaul]

MIA, no question.

The MIM loses value as soon as you buy it. MIA keeps going up. Also, you get the carbon rods in the neck with the MIA. And better quality hardware and pickups.

 

[commonplayer]

MIA, no question.

 

[Acoop]

"A money pit?"
Replacing factory pickups and electronics is a good idea and investment. ... Then buying good quality strings and that's about it. ... It really comes down to feel and knowing the difference and what you like. ... choosing between just those two basses, I'd lean towards the US, unless the Mex feels better. ...

 

[Jimruth]

That's a great price on the MIA, especially if it's in the excellent shape you say it is. The answer is clear.

I say this as someone who is very, very happy with his late model MIM Geddy Lee Jazz. I still would go for the MIA.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

The thing I don’t like about new MIM’s is you don’t know if the neck will be stable. A used bass gets around this - if the neck on the used USA is straight, and the frets are in good shape, buy it.

This.
I have run into a lot of MIM’s with unstable necks (which appear 1-2 years into their age)...more than I’d like to have seen. Not to say that there aren’t stable MIM necks out there, but in my opinion, it’s a gamble.

 

[theinfamous]

Nothing wrong with pickups with ceramic magnets IMO and IME. Did you have your bass properly set up? That could possibly have cured the thin sound.

I fiddled with the pickup height quite a bit, including setting it to exact factory spec, and still could not get what I wanted out of it.

For me, there was nothing necessarily wrong with the pickup, but there wasn't anything right with it either.

 

[MordBass]

Realistically they're both used, since by the time you get from the store to your house... the MIM is now a used bass that would be worth $400 tops. So the real question is are you willing to pay $200 extra for a mint starting point?
Also, no clue what you mean by aging components. There are 50's/60's Fenders out there that still function 100% with original parts.

 

[Pet Sounds]

I'll add to the chorus: MIA, without question.

 

[CRich0205]

I have a MIM pj in seafoam and an American special P in honey stain or whatever. Both are really nice basses that sound great. I replaced the PJ with a set of geezers because the original set wasn’t very balanced sounding to me. Minor tweaks in the setup and both play really well. I prefer the satin neck finish on the American special but dig the seafoam and binding in the MiM

 

[Tom0Blam0]

I'd get the American for sure. I had an MIM jazz for a while and I loved it, but like others have said, the tuners, pickups, and neck are far better on the American than the MIM. Plus, as noted, the MIA jazz will hold it's value much better.

 

[electracoyote]

the new MIM is $600, and the used American is $650.

All other things being equal (re: playability, tone, feel, etc.)? Splurge and get the MIA.

I love me some MIM's, especially the most recent upgrade version from about 2009 on. I own four, bought for the road, ended up in heavy rotation. Really nice basses, rock solid.

But I'd rather have the resale value of an MIA, and $650.00 is a damn good price for a gently used MIA Jazzer.

BTW, is that MIA Transparent Sunset Orange over ash with an S1 switch?

 

[nilorius]

If you look at the prices, go for used American, but for the instruments - no one can tell you what will the MIM j will give you, but used American will be 80% better. So go for used American made !!!

 

[Kukulkan61]

Get one of these they are better than both of those
Just kidding, get the one you spent more time trying it out, if it was hard to put it down and you didn’t even think about how the other one played and felt then that’s the one, everything else is irrelevant...

 

[JakobT]

There isn’t a whole lot between them. FWIW, I own a 2014 MIA and a 2017 MIM. I prefer the MIM. If you think you might sell it somewhere down the line, go for the MIA. Otherwise, it matters very little.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

When you buy the American used for $650, you can sell it for at least the same amount. If you pay $600 for the Mexican, you'll loose about $150-200 minimum.

I put a ding or two in a week I get the bass anyway so used makes more sense for me.

 

[johnson79]

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I'd do what Hulk Hogan would do, and that's buy the MIA. If they both feel great in the long run the US bass will be a better deal. And I personally prefer the color.

 

[Relsom]

Good question. I'm pretty sure the MIA is the American Standard. I'm not seeing a special series noted anywhere. I would assume that's mentioned on the headstock if it is a special series?

The premium (Am Series/Am Standard) will have the truss rod adjuster at the heel and will have a string through body.

 

[rashrader]

I would go with a used MIA....