MIJ v CIJ v Mexican Fender...quality and values...any differences?

jeztone2 · April 2019

The early Mexican Fenders were gash. Then they got much better. The new stuff is really good.

Japan: I’ve played a lot of JV and E series Fenders. Not all are amazing. But quite a few are. Lots of pro’s back in the 80’s used Japanese Fenders. Alan Murphy, Steve Rothery, John McGeoch etc.

When Ishibashi first started selling Mexican Fenders they upspecked things like the pickups for the Japanese market. I don’t think they do that now.

Dominic · April 2019

I've been playing a Mexican Brad Paisley Tele alongside a Custom Shop Nocaster.......the Mex had a £100 fettling
There is no difference in quality, playability or sound.......in fact the Mex possibly sounds better .

dazzajl · April 2019

Dominic said:

I've been playing a Mexican Brad Paisley Tele alongside a Custom Shop Nocaster.......the Mex had a £100 fettling
There is no difference in quality, playability or sound.......in fact the Mex possibly sounds better .

That’s a really unhelpful thing to say! I’ve been trying to talk myself out of a hankering for one of those

CountryDave · April 2019

dazzajl said:

Dominic said:

I've been playing a Mexican Brad Paisley Tele alongside a Custom Shop Nocaster.......the Mex had a £100 fettling
There is no difference in quality, playability or sound.......in fact the Mex possibly sounds better .

That’s a really unhelpful thing to say! I’ve been trying to talk myself out of a hankering for one of those

That doesn't help my GAS either. Huge BP fan.
I've played a couple and really liked then, but I don't need another Tele. (Repeat to self)

mrleon83 · April 2019

Being on look out for a cheap strat (looking for the best possible, naturally), this thread has helped to confuse me even more :-)

Kittyfrisk · April 2019

ToneControl said:

For recent guitars, the best guide is probably the RRP when new

Fender could build USA-quality guitars in China if they wanted to, most brands have tried various hierarchies where country of manufacture ends up as shorthand for quality level, but it does not have to work like that.

For instance, I have a classical guitar made in China that is better and more expensive than Pro ones from Spain
I've had Korean-made Schecters as good as USA strats, Japanese Ibanez semis that are better than Gibsons

Fender and Gibson are probably locked into making their top-level stuff in the USA for branding reasons

Therefore you need to know what market segment and manufacturing spec each run of guitars was built for.
I bought some pawn-shop fenders a few years ago, the Japanese ones were much better than the Mexican, but the new RRP was higher too

Spot on IMHO.
But, I reckon Fender and Gibson are probably locked into making their so called top-level stuff in the USA for marketing reasons

JD50 · April 2019

Cant comment on Mexican made Fender but had quite a few Jap Fenders over the years... off the top of my head

72 Thinline Tele

Tele Custom

Jaguar

Jazzmaster

Mustang

All decent guitars that could perhaps be improved with better pickups & electronics.... I'd not pay silly money for a Jap Fender £500 at an absolute push

Voxman · May 2019

The japanese 72 thinline teles have ceramic pickups whereas the Mex have Alnicos. Any thoughts guys on the difference ...negligible, noticeable, and if so tonal difference?