MIM telecasters
- Thread starter C1CLASSIC
- Start date
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: MIM telecasters
I haven't tried MIM's recently, but before the quality was kind of inconsistent. Try a few, they'll all feel and sound a little different. I like to play a guitar unplugged first to see how the natural tone is, and how the sustain is. You can obviously change the tone by changing the pickups, but the natural tone is something you can't change.
Good luck, guitar shopping is fun.
I haven't tried MIM's recently, but before the quality was kind of inconsistent. Try a few, they'll all feel and sound a little different. I like to play a guitar unplugged first to see how the natural tone is, and how the sustain is. You can obviously change the tone by changing the pickups, but the natural tone is something you can't change.
Good luck, guitar shopping is fun.
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: MIM telecasters
Y'know what they say about Fenders...you either get a Mexican one built in Mexico by Mexicans, or you get an American one built in America by Mexicans. Good for the money for sure.
-X
Y'know what they say about Fenders...you either get a Mexican one built in Mexico by Mexicans, or you get an American one built in America by Mexicans. Good for the money for sure.
-X
Simon_F
Super Moderator
Re: MIM telecasters
I've played a few and they seem like excellent guitars at a great price. I'd be more than happy to gig with one. Actually, I want one!
The quality control seems pretty good to me. I've yet to play a bad one - try to play a few and buy the one that speaks to you.
I've played a few and they seem like excellent guitars at a great price. I'd be more than happy to gig with one. Actually, I want one!
The quality control seems pretty good to me. I've yet to play a bad one - try to play a few and buy the one that speaks to you.
Butch Snyder
ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
Re: MIM telecasters
I agree they're great guitars at any price. IMO, the Nashville is best. You have routing there that will enable you to go for any pickup config you like; save for the bridge position.
I agree they're great guitars at any price. IMO, the Nashville is best. You have routing there that will enable you to go for any pickup config you like; save for the bridge position.
JumpMarine
18 watts of Mayhemologist
Re: MIM telecasters
Excellent guitars, try out a few and pick the best of the bunch. My Tele is a MIM and it's never going anywhere. It's my go to guitar.
Excellent guitars, try out a few and pick the best of the bunch. My Tele is a MIM and it's never going anywhere. It's my go to guitar.
FenderFan79
Member
Re: MIM telecasters
I had a maple neck MIM tele and ended up trading it off for another Strat, wish I would have kept it, it was a great feeling and great sounding guitar!
I had a maple neck MIM tele and ended up trading it off for another Strat, wish I would have kept it, it was a great feeling and great sounding guitar!
Bezmotivnik
New member
Re: MIM telecasters
I've been watching MIM QC for a while and it's essentially nonexistent.
I'm not sure why, but it's glaringly obvious that a lot of their stuff never even gets looked at, irrespective of price point or presence of inspection tag (I suspect it has something to do with the plant's "make your quota and go home early" policy and inspectors looking the other way). I have seen, and unfortunately own, so-called "Deluxe" MIM Fenders that arrived in horribly defective condition, so bad that they were unplayable until major repairs were done, and not just setup. There's no way that they could have passed any inspection, despite having the tags that said they did.
I think that perhaps retail stores with showrooms catch a lot of the worst examples they receive before the customers see them, but online and mail-order places that ship from sealed warehouse stock straight from Fender do not, so you could be in for a shock. :argh:
I've been watching MIM QC for a while and it's essentially nonexistent.
I'm not sure why, but it's glaringly obvious that a lot of their stuff never even gets looked at, irrespective of price point or presence of inspection tag (I suspect it has something to do with the plant's "make your quota and go home early" policy and inspectors looking the other way). I have seen, and unfortunately own, so-called "Deluxe" MIM Fenders that arrived in horribly defective condition, so bad that they were unplayable until major repairs were done, and not just setup. There's no way that they could have passed any inspection, despite having the tags that said they did.
I think that perhaps retail stores with showrooms catch a lot of the worst examples they receive before the customers see them, but online and mail-order places that ship from sealed warehouse stock straight from Fender do not, so you could be in for a shock. :argh:
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Rich_S
HomeGrownToneBrewologist
Re: MIM telecasters
I have a MIM Nashville with 3 Duncans in it. Absolutely great guitar for little money. I have a Schecter PT (2-humbucker Tele) that is a Frankenstein - Korean Schecter body with a maple Fender MIM neck.
MIM Teles are great players, and great mod platforms.
I have a MIM Nashville with 3 Duncans in it. Absolutely great guitar for little money. I have a Schecter PT (2-humbucker Tele) that is a Frankenstein - Korean Schecter body with a maple Fender MIM neck.
MIM Teles are great players, and great mod platforms.
C1CLASSIC
New member
Re: MIM telecasters
i think a tele might be my next guitar then. im gonna try a few teles and a few strats maybe some others see what i like but i think if i do get the tele im gonna get it in sunburst it looks so good. i most likely will end up with a tele after all the radiohead and john 5 i have been listening to recently
i think a tele might be my next guitar then. im gonna try a few teles and a few strats maybe some others see what i like but i think if i do get the tele im gonna get it in sunburst it looks so good. i most likely will end up with a tele after all the radiohead and john 5 i have been listening to recently
Re: MIM telecasters
my stock 1999 MIM Standard Tele is a winner!!!! sustian for a long time and on the low E and A string notes you can feel the vibrations in the neck.. a rare beast at that!
But over all they are great axes for the money.... i want to buy a newer one with the upgrades.... i love larger frets..
One thing i noticed with current 2006/07 MIM Standard lines is some sloppy neck pocket cuts... More so then i remember a few years ago.. my 06 Standard Strat has a some what large gap beside the neck.. Enough to stick a medium pick in it... But the axe sounds great and it had a rare Flame neck so i had to buy it.... I'm not really sure if the gaps are a big issue for tone or not, but the neck pockets on the 20 or so Standard Strat and Teles in stock near me vary from a axe to axe... some are really tight and others are quite noticeable....
Either way i still love the MIM Standard line and plan to buy some more.... my 06 Strat is amazing.... should be even better once i change the pickups...
But the Tele is stock and i love it!
my stock 1999 MIM Standard Tele is a winner!!!! sustian for a long time and on the low E and A string notes you can feel the vibrations in the neck.. a rare beast at that!
But over all they are great axes for the money.... i want to buy a newer one with the upgrades.... i love larger frets..
One thing i noticed with current 2006/07 MIM Standard lines is some sloppy neck pocket cuts... More so then i remember a few years ago.. my 06 Standard Strat has a some what large gap beside the neck.. Enough to stick a medium pick in it... But the axe sounds great and it had a rare Flame neck so i had to buy it.... I'm not really sure if the gaps are a big issue for tone or not, but the neck pockets on the 20 or so Standard Strat and Teles in stock near me vary from a axe to axe... some are really tight and others are quite noticeable....
Either way i still love the MIM Standard line and plan to buy some more.... my 06 Strat is amazing.... should be even better once i change the pickups...
But the Tele is stock and i love it!
EveryMn
New member
Re: MIM telecasters
:doh:
On topic... I've played several MIM Teles and they're fine guitars. Naturally, I'd get around to modding them sooner than, say, my SG, but they play alright, sound alright, and seem to be lighter than most Strats which is always a plus.
:doh:
Yep. My dad worked for Fender for a year and a half in Corona, and he was one of the only white guys there... which is funny because his skin was as dark as the average Mexican.
On topic... I've played several MIM Teles and they're fine guitars. Naturally, I'd get around to modding them sooner than, say, my SG, but they play alright, sound alright, and seem to be lighter than most Strats which is always a plus.
Pink Unicorn Horsey
Megä Pöny Rÿdr
Re: MIM telecasters
I've got a MIM Tele with a maple neck. I replaced the pickups, because I like to use it for a more aggressive, Jonny Greenwood tone. Very happy with this Tele. If it feels good, it's probably a good buy. Mine was $350 US, and it was a great investment.
I'm equally happy with my MIM rosewood Strat. Changed out the pups in there, and Theodie did a refret; that's all that needed doing. Another great investment.
- Keith
I've got a MIM Tele with a maple neck. I replaced the pickups, because I like to use it for a more aggressive, Jonny Greenwood tone. Very happy with this Tele. If it feels good, it's probably a good buy. Mine was $350 US, and it was a great investment.
I'm equally happy with my MIM rosewood Strat. Changed out the pups in there, and Theodie did a refret; that's all that needed doing. Another great investment.
- Keith
Fender_Punk
BerriesAndCreamologist
Re: MIM telecasters
I have a 2004 MIM Sunburst Tele. The finish is a little soft as it's had a few chips taken out (almost a relic!!). The tone is great, and they're comfy standing up. One thing I'd watch out for is the neck, they're U-shaped, a little too chunky for me. Fun to mod, sound amazing, like almost all Teles.
EDIT: Oh yeah, my neck is all maple!! Like a Tele neck should be.
I have a 2004 MIM Sunburst Tele. The finish is a little soft as it's had a few chips taken out (almost a relic!!). The tone is great, and they're comfy standing up. One thing I'd watch out for is the neck, they're U-shaped, a little too chunky for me. Fun to mod, sound amazing, like almost all Teles.
EDIT: Oh yeah, my neck is all maple!! Like a Tele neck should be.
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EveryMn
New member
Re: MIM telecasters
I dig the old Tele necks. Teles in general, actually. I want of them new Baja Player models with the blackguard.
Unless you're like me. I have people tell me they consider my SG's neck pretty fat, and I STILL think it's too thin.
I dig the old Tele necks. Teles in general, actually. I want of them new Baja Player models with the blackguard.
MikeS
Bengalsologist
Re: MIM telecasters
I finally replaced the bad push/pulls from my MIM 50s RI Tele last night and got it playing with the untapped mode QPs for the first time in many months. :headbang:
I don't find the QC of MIM Fender to be any worse than any other guitar in that price range. It's not an issue of a particular plant but one that occurs with seemingly every line of guitars at that price point. I think the guys that do the least complaining about it were the ones that took the time to find a good, therefore not getting stuck with a model that they later learned to be a dud. JMO, of course.
And like Rich_S said, they are fantastic platforms for modding. Find one with a good slab of wood and you're a few upgrades from a very solid instrument.
I finally replaced the bad push/pulls from my MIM 50s RI Tele last night and got it playing with the untapped mode QPs for the first time in many months. :headbang:
I don't find the QC of MIM Fender to be any worse than any other guitar in that price range. It's not an issue of a particular plant but one that occurs with seemingly every line of guitars at that price point. I think the guys that do the least complaining about it were the ones that took the time to find a good, therefore not getting stuck with a model that they later learned to be a dud. JMO, of course.
And like Rich_S said, they are fantastic platforms for modding. Find one with a good slab of wood and you're a few upgrades from a very solid instrument.
tele-brett
New member
Re: MIM telecasters
I had a MIM tele for a couple of years, it was a great player, (after I'd given it a decent set up), but I felt it was lacking in the pup dept. I Fitted a set of vintage spec SD's, STL-1 and STR-1 and that transformed it into one of the best Teles I've owned. Very close to my USA Standard, (possibly / arguably better tonally after the new SD's were fitted), but about half the price!
I had a MIM tele for a couple of years, it was a great player, (after I'd given it a decent set up), but I felt it was lacking in the pup dept. I Fitted a set of vintage spec SD's, STL-1 and STR-1 and that transformed it into one of the best Teles I've owned. Very close to my USA Standard, (possibly / arguably better tonally after the new SD's were fitted), but about half the price!
Philcguitars
New member
Re: MIM telecasters
I got a MIM and no complaint.
I got a MIM and no complaint.
