MIM Standard versus American Standard Tele

[KajuJam]

Hi all, First of all, I am new here and a new MIM tele owner, just thought I would throw that in before I ask the question...

I have been asked and have asked this question but would like to know if there are any documented comparisson charts for these two axes?

I don't want to upset any die hard tele owners here, just curious since the wood is the same. Are the pots made in MX or are they imported from the US....etc.

What exactly is different other than country it is made?

[metropolis74]

Here we go again...
MIM vs MIA gets brought up here almost every week. Doing a search in the forum will bring up a bazzillion threads on the subject. As a matter of fact, if you look down 25 threads from yours right now you'll see the most current one "Actual differences between mim and mia telecasters. http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaste...lecasters.html

Sorry if I come of as a jerk. Maybe this will help you out.

MIM standard http://www.fender.com/products//sear...tno=0145102306 - click on specs. Parts list http://www.fender.com/support/diagra...135102BPg3.pdf

MIA standard http://www.fender.com/products//sear...tno=0110502738 - click on specs. Parts list http://www.fender.com/support/diagra...400_02APg3.pdf

Compare this info side by side to get an idea for the physical differences between MIM and MIA standards. Any differences that cannot be documented is purely subjective. Best you can do is go out and play a few of each and find the one that speaks to you no matter where it was made.

You're going to get other responses that will say "all MIM Fenders suck". Then others will say "all MIA Fenders suck". Then the token Sqiuer fans will chime in that Squiers are like manna from the heavens. The barrages will continue for a couple days. After the dust settles, another post with the same subject will come up and the cycle will start all over again

[Eric Ellis]

Nothing against the MIA Fenders, but the MIM's are more affordable for me and they seem to be made closer to the specs of my '69 Telecaster.
Eric Ellis

[Fatmanstratman]

Originally Posted by KajuJam

Hi all, First of all, I am new here and a new MIM tele owner, just thought I would throw that in before I ask the question...

Welcome to the TDPRI, KajuJam!

Don't be put off asking questions just because metropolis74 got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning!....

Enjoy your new MIM, and enjoy your time here on the forum. Once you've been here a while, it's true that you may experiment with the "search" function, but in the meantime - read & learn. We're all here to help and to try to share our knowledge; don't be afraid to ask questions - that's how you learn.

Now - how about posting some pics of your new baby?...

[sean79]

Are the bridges still different (between the two "standard" models)? They used to be - and the bridge holes were different. The pots and knobs feel a lot sturdier on my MIA than they do on my MIM, but maybe that's because of the age difference??? I don't know.

My MIM and MIA both came with a single coil neck pickup, but my MIM is routed for a humbucker in the neck position.

[PRSman]

I think its all the exact guitars and what suits you. I've seen MIM teles that kick MIA teles arses, Ive seen MIA teles that kick MIMs arses. Its at least better than Gibson, where some cheap copies are better than a poorly made USA LP!!!!!!

[bleakcabal]

http://tinyurl.com/qbuznk

[KajuJam]

Thanks Fatmanstratman,

I did look around and was overwhelmed with so many posts but did not find one the answer I was looking for.

Since many products we buy now sell under different names, I wondered if any of the actual components on the teles may also be also labeled and sold under different names, brands, etc.

For example, Fender doesn't specify the pups on the MIM other than "standard pick up" which could be the same for all I know as the one used on the MIA. It's probably not the same, but who knows? Does the MX plant actually build these parts or are they imported from the same plant as MIA parts. I doubt they build their own, it just wouldn't make sense since they could probably buy the US parts for what it cost to build smaller quantities locally. Then would it be less expensive for Fender US to build a seperate pot or mass produce higher volumes of the same one?

I agree with the other posters that you have to pick one up and feel it to see if it is what you are looking for, however, hard to tell some of them apart, honestly.

My question was directed more at anyone who may have taken these apart and discovered parts are identical. The reason I asked is most dealers will just say "the difference is hardware, pups etc". I figured the experts who know teles are here in the tele forum.

My question was not directed at who likes which one best. That can go in circles. The differences in the necks, frets and hardware we know and can see, I want to know from the experienced tele owners who know tele because of their passion for this axe and not just opinions from those who just believe they are getting a completely different axe because they paid three times as much.

Peace.