MIJ Fenders - Any good?

Brow

Brow

New member
Hey guys.

I've always liked the look and sound of Telecasters, so I've looked into buying a low end 1 to see if they work for me. All of the MIM Tele's I've played didn't really 'do anything' for me, altho that could just be the pickups, not too sure.

Before someone says 'Buy a USA Tele' I don't really want to spend that sort of money on a guitar that I may end up not playing very often etc. Anyways...... I was browsing in my local shop (I went in to buy a KORG Pandora) and there on the wall is a black MIJ Tele for about £230 ($422ish). I didn't get chance to play it as I was in a rush, but before I maybe go back to try it out I thought I'd ask here to see if this is a good deal or not, as I don't really know anything about MIJ Fenders.

Thanx for any opinions guys.

Craig
 
Re: MIJ Fenders - Any good?

The MIJ line is great. I like them much better than the MIM line, I believe they are much more consistant and many of the MIJ are equal if not superior to the MIA line. I would take my1995 MIJ 62 RI Strat over just about any current Fender out there. It is a perfect guitar.
 
Re: MIJ Fenders - Any good?

I have more MIJ Strats than US made Strats...in fact, I only have one USA Strat: my old '63. That said, look for a MIM James Burton Tele...those are excellant! The stock Texas Tele pickups are even very good. And they come with medium jumbo frets. Highly recommended...I just bought one! Lew
 
Re: MIJ Fenders - Any good?

I have owned my share of Fenders and I would probably pick a MIJ over any other save for the Custom Shop. Go for it!
 
Re: MIJ Fenders - Any good?

I'd go Made In USA first, but the Japanese Fenders were fine. Some of em are Really Fine.
 
Re: MIJ Fenders - Any good?

Thanx for the replies guys

I never thought this thread would get so much response :)

After all your opinions of the guitars, I think i'll atleast have to go down there and try it out. So I atleast know if it's a lemon or not. If I like it, then who knows..... I may walk home with a new Tele ;)

Thanx again guys.

Craig
 
Re: MIJ Fenders - Any good?

The MIJ/CIJ Fenders that were exported to the states have a very good reputation. The MIJ/CIJ Fenders from the 80's and into the 90's that were made for the Japanese domestic market are exceptional guitars. I've owned several and the build quality is very, very good. Certainly on a par with CS guitars. Most of those guitars have USA electronics (at least pups), whereas the exports usually use cheaper components...zinc alloy trem blocks and inferior pups, for example. Fender Japan never had a "custom shop", but they did produce a number of limited-run and one-off models for Japanese retailers that are of very high quality...nitro finishes, premium woods, etc. I'm looking at a '52 Tele RI that fits that description, at a fraction of the price I'd pay for a USA CS model.
 
Last edited:
Re: MIJ Fenders - Any good?

A quick aside - are MIJ all branded as Squier? I know early 80s MIJ stuff is, and is considered good stuff, but I don't know about anything after that - are there MIJ Fender guitars?
 
Re: MIJ Fenders - Any good?

StefanM said:
A quick aside - are MIJ all branded as Squier? I know early 80s MIJ stuff is, and is considered good stuff, but I don't know about anything after that - are there MIJ Fender guitars?
Click to expand...


Yeah, they say either Made in Japan or Crafted in Japan.
 
Re: MIJ Fenders - Any good?

StefanM said:
A quick aside - are MIJ all branded as Squier? I know early 80s MIJ stuff is, and is considered good stuff, but I don't know about anything after that - are there MIJ Fender guitars?
Click to expand...

The one I saw has 'Fender' on the headstock, with 'Made In Japan' to the right if my memory serves.

I'm gonna try this guitar asap and if I like it then I'll probably get it :)
 
Re: MIJ Fenders - Any good?

I recently bought a '94 MIJ Fender 57ri, and it's great. My '76 MIA strat stays at home now. The MIJ's neck is well made, the detailing very accurate, and the neck pocket is rock solid. The body is beautifully routed and finished. Above all, it sounds great. I'm no fan of the stock pickups, but then again, we're on the duncan forum. 'Nuff said.

If I'd found this guitar a year and a bit ago, I would have grabbed it over the MIA SRV and 62ris I ended up buying and moving on.

The only complaint I have about MIJs is that they often use 3 piece bodies that aren't especially well matched for grain on the sunburst/translucent models. This a tiny thing, though, and is about the only area outside of pickups where the MIJ ris are lacking compared to the MIAs.

I like the mexican stuff, too. You get some very average ones, but if you try enough, you'll find one or two that are great. The thing with any fenders below custom shop price point is to try as many as you can. A friend once told me that with fenders, and strats especially, you should judge soley with your ears and hands, and not on the 'made in...' decal. From my pretty extensive experience, I'd say that holds true.

Having said that, if I was to order a non-MIA strat sight unseen, I'd be most confident of getting a good one if I ordered an MIJ one.
 
Last edited:
Re: MIJ Fenders - Any good?

Thanx for the replies guys.

The main reason I haven't plumped for a MIM or a Highway 1 Tele is because I'm still not sure how much I'd use the guitar if I did own 1. I haven't really got much experience with Tele's, and it was mainly the low price of this MIJ Tele that attracted me to it.

Its not that I can't afford a USA tele, but whether I'd have a use for the guitar if I did own it, if that makes any sense at all? :)

I already have 2 Strats, 1 with Antiquities and 1 with sc sized Humbuckers so I'm trying to weigh up how much I'd use a Tele compared to my Strat with Ants. I s'ppose I should try it out and see how I feel :)

Craig
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Jermo3178
NGD Triple Threat
Replies
12
Views
217
Jermo3178
Jermo3178
idsnowdog
Introducing the Garbagecaster
Replies
6
Views
249
JamesPaul
JamesPaul
marcello252
Any pickup mod idea before selling a Jumbo MFD equipped G&L ASAT special?
2
Replies
20
Views
432
marcello252
marcello252
Aceman
1 Year and 3 months guitar sober
2
Replies
25
Views
455
Mincer
Mincer
Rex_Rocker
Are Guyker tuners any good?
2
Replies
32
Views
1K
RanchManSandy
R
Back
Top