What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

[Rex_Rocker]

I'm eyeing a Fender Jim Root Tele. However, I'd have to buy online, so I don't have a chance to try it out. What can I expect of the quality? Is it comparable to Korea or is it more Japan-like? 1,200 seems pretty steep for a non-American Fender, but if it's any good, maybe it's worth it.

Some years ago I had what I thought was a Mexican Telecaster which only lasted less than a week in my possession because I hated the baseball bat fat neck, round fretboard, and tiny frets. But I sold it, and I later came to know it was actually a Japanese body and Mexican neck someone had put together, so I don't think that was indicative of the quality... plus I honestly don't remember how the quality of the neck was without thinking how I didn't like the specs, LOL.

Thanks.

 

[shupe13]

Re: What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

I love MIM Fenders. I've never had a bad one. I did own a Squier Jim Root Tele and it was badass. So much so my buddy made me a helluva trade for it.



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[chadd]

Re: What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

They're consistently good, rarely amazing or awful. (new contruction, early ones were more hit or miss)

 

[Gtrjunior]

What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

I have a 2004 MIM Fat Strat with a Ping Floyd.(I think that’s what they are called)
It’s a good guitar. I’ve gigged with it, it sounds amazing plays well.
As stated above, my only complaint would be the smaller fret wire and if I’m being picky I like a 22 fret guitar. But I wouldn’t throw it out of bed for eating crackers.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

So are the Jim Root Teles worth it? Or am I better off finding a Blacktop and dropping some EMG's in it? I do want the 12" fretboard of the JR, though...

 

[Mincer]

Re: What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

Every MIM I've played has been a solid guitar. Worth $1200? Nope. But a solid $500.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

My Classic Player is a great guitar. I think the signature and old classic/classic player guitars are better than the old standards. I haven’t had a chance to play the newer versions.

 

[Diego]

Re: What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

I've owned two, a Standard Tele and a Classic Series 50s Strat.

Quality wise, both were amazing. I did change the pickups in both of them, though.
Sold them because it turns out I don't like vintage radius or tiny frets at all. But I have no complaints about their build quality.

Way better than a MIJ Prestige Ibanez I had before.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

1200 does sound like a lot for a Mexican Fender, don't get me wrong, they are good to very good guitars....

but for that money you could get an American , and it would hold much more value over time.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

I like the the MIM Fenders, but why $1200 does seem a bit much. Maybe I’m missing something.

 

[shupe13]

Re: What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

It all boils down to do you want a Jim Root Tele?

EMGs, ebony fretboard, black hardware, satin finish and custom controls add cost to the instrument.

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[Mr. B]

Re: What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

I have had the opposite experience with Mexican Made Fenders in the last 6 years or so. One Jaguar Bass with high frets like a roller coaster, one $800 Deluxe PJ bass that needed a fairly drastic neck shim on day one out of the box to get anywhere near proper factory set-up specs. (I now have 2 Squier Vintage Modified basses to replace those. The Squiers are perfect.) One Mexican Strat with strings so misaligned that they were off the fret edge on the treble side. Even loosening the neck and cranking on it while someone retightened the neck left the strings visibly misaligned. Finally, one slightly older Mexican made strat that a student had me work on, where huge chunks of the paint surface just fell off in one flat piece when the neck was removed for fret leveling.
I buy American made Fenders. I buy Squiers. I do not buy Mexican made Fenders any more.

 

[DankStar]

Re: What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

Love my root beer sparkle MIM strat. I did change out the cheese grater saddles tho

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

It all boils down to do you want a Jim Root Tele?

EMGs, ebony fretboard, black hardware, satin finish and custom controls add cost to the instrument.

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I looked it up, didn't realize the differences.

Ebony fretboard is my favorite -thats a good reason to pay a little $ more for a Mexican.

When I saw EMGs I thought that would be a terrible combo with the honking effect of of the Tele Ashtray Bridge, but after googling, I see he doesn't offer the real Tele Bridge -a smaller hybridized one that probably has WAY less of the Fender intended lap steel effect -although the bridge is still a stamped plate, screwed on -probably good move by them in combo with EMGs.

SO I guess if you bought the JR Tele, because ebony fret board, hybrid "teleish' bridge, and EMGs, you would be buying it for Jim Root's sound and not a Tele's like you said.

 

[Mincer]

Re: What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

I'd think you can build a Warmoth for that amount, and get a nicer, more custom guitar. Or, just buy the Jim Root used, as it is probably half that.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

Yeah, for 1200$ Warmoth is the way to go. Get exactly what you want, made the way you want it, with exactly the parts you want.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

I'd think you can build a Warmoth for that amount, and get a nicer, more custom guitar. Or, just buy the Jim Root used, as it is probably half that.

Fantastic point, since a MIM isn't going to have the big collectability factor -a Warmoth custom with all of the stuff the JR has -plus you could put a cool bridge, better tuners (Schaellers or Sperzel lockers), Graphtech nut or Bone, custom fretboard radius, neck profile, fret style, pickups, electronics, functionality stuff, ergonomics on the body, finished, binding etc etc....

You could make a custom monster for 1200 -1500

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

I have owned numerous MIM strats during the past 5 years or so. I had a 2004 that was beat to hell, a 2014 that was a fine guitar! With a little elbow grease and upgrades, they can be almost as good as their US counterparts. I always upgrade electronics on them and sometimes even the bridge-I had a Super Vee bridge on the 2014 and it was a great bridge. My only gripe with the older ones is the 21 frets....yea i know its more vintage spec but i need 22 for alot of things. I also fully upgraded a 2015 Floyd version, put a 2018 22 fret player series neck on it and upgraded the Floyd Special to a Floyd 1000. I set it up like Alex Lifeson used to have is and added a Seymour Duncan Silverbird in the bridge. One of my all time favorite guitars. Its amazing!

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

Thanks for the input, dues.

Yeah, the JR Tele doesn't seem very bang-for-buck. It looks sick, though. But you guys are right, for that price, I might as well look into Warmoth.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

Re: What's the quality of Mexican Fenders like?

I bought a MIM Tele in 2011.
Once i tested it in the shop . . . my GAS for an American made Tele went out the window.
Bang for buck, they are GREAT instruments.
I changed the pick ups & saddles since - because i could.
Even stock they are great value instruments.