2009 MiM Telecasters - How Are They Considered?

[Ryan0594]

My Tele is a 2009 MiM Standard . . . when I bought it, it was alls I knew besides bad guitars, so I thought it was great..

Since then (15 years!), I've played countless guitars and owned a couple of others as well.

What's always struck me is how good my perception and feeling towards this relatively basic Telecaster has remained - it's still one of the best guitars I've played - certainly in the top 5%.

Does anyone have any knowledge or experience of Fenders / Teles from (around) this time period? Is it known as a good era, or am I sentimental / bias?

 

[Reedo]

As good as any I suppose, I have had a few Classic series from that era, and a Blacktop, all great Tele's. I'm not saying all were great, but the good outweighs the bad, JMO.

 

[Jakedog]

I think the MIM Std guitars from 2004-2010 were some of the best to ever come out of Ensenada. The late 90’s to ‘04 were also that good, but they had the tiny vintage sized frets I really don’t like. In ‘04 they went to medium jumbos. I never liked the stock pickups, but I always thought they were really, really, well made guitars.

I’d take one from those years over anything that’s come out of Mexico since. I haven’t been particularly impressed with anything MIM since then. And have bought more than a couple that turned out to be really bad. Causing me to swear off them for good. If I ever come across my Electron Blue Std from that time period I’d definitely buy it back.

 

[Chiogtr4x]

My Tele is a 2009 MiM Standard . . . when I bought it, it was alls I knew besides bad guitars, so I thought it was great..

Since then (15 years!), I've played countless guitars and owned a couple of others as well.

What's always struck me is how good my perception and feeling towards this relatively basic Telecaster has remained - it's still one of the best guitars I've played - certainly in the top 5%.

Does anyone have any knowledge or experience of Fenders / Teles from (around) this time period? Is it known as a good era, or am I sentimental / bias?

I had a ( bought new) 2004 Standatd Tele ( Midnight Wine/ maple board).which was rock-solid ( all stock) for about 15 years, doing steady gigs, in the Classic Rock, blues, and Vintage Country bands I played.
Great feel and tone ( I use all pickups of any guitar, and these were versatile)

But I have a bad back, play sitting down, but that Tele was just too heavy to even carry anymore.

So 2 years ago, I bought a much lighter Squier Tele Thinline, which is just fantastic! Plus I always wanted to own one these '69-style Mahogany Thinlines

Here are the old and new guys - both rock!

 

[Maguchi]

My Tele is a 2009 MiM Standard . . . when I bought it, it was alls I knew besides bad guitars, so I thought it was great..

Since then (15 years!), I've played countless guitars and owned a couple of others as well.

What's always struck me is how good my perception and feeling towards this relatively basic Telecaster has remained - it's still one of the best guitars I've played - certainly in the top 5%.

Does anyone have any knowledge or experience of Fenders / Teles from (around) this time period? Is it known as a good era, or am I sentimental / bias?

I had Teles before and after those years, so I can't say about Teles of that era. However I did have 2 or 3 Fender Highway One Strats from around those years and those were great guitars. So if the quality was as good on the Teles of that time, then yeah they were probly very good.

 

[Dan German]

2009/10 was when I was shopping for a Tele with serious intent. Like @Jakedog I wasn’t a fan of the stock pickups (although I never spent more than test-drive time with them, so my opinion carries little weight). The American Special came out while I was shopping, and I liked it better than the MIM, mostly because of the pickups. I was having trouble trying to justify the extra cost of the AmSpec over the MIM, though, and I still think they are (or were at that time) very good guitars for the money.

(Disclaimer: I discovered Logan Guitars, and got a semi-custom for the same price as the AmSpec. If I hadn’t, I probably would have gone MIM and tried to make the pickups work better for me.)

 

[Rich_S]

I have an Agave Blue 2005 MIM Standard and it’s all the Tele I’ll ever want or need. It was a dog when I bought it, but that just made it a bargain on the used market. A bit of know-how and basic setup work and it’s been great.

I don’t hesitate to mess around with it, swappping pickups and what not because it’s not a precious collector’s item. I didn’t even get upset (much) when the kids knocked it off the wall and took several large chunks out of the poly.

The perfect Tele for normal people.

 

[Brent Hutto]

I very briefly owned a 2006, probably about the same specs as a 2009, and it was a well made guitar that came to me (from a local dealer) setup and finished very well. The hot ceramic pickups were awful in my opinion although some people like them.

So check one out, somehow, and make sure you like the pickups. They don't sound anything like the Alnico ones in today's Player Series.

 

[Highway 49]

I have MIM Classic Series Teles and Strats dated 2010, 2016 and 2018 - all are great guitars from a quality point of view, and all are 7.5-8lbs-ish weight range. I’ve changed the pickups and get them professionally set up from time-to-time. The frets were always fine, not rough or unlevel or anything. They’re great for me and I’d buy another except I should really sell at least one

 

[ChicknPickn]

I think the MIM Std guitars from 2004-2010 were some of the best to ever come out of Ensenada. The late 90’s to ‘04 were also that good, but they had the tiny vintage sized frets I really don’t like. In ‘04 they went to medium jumbos. I never liked the stock pickups, but I always thought they were really, really, well made guitars.

I’d take one from those years over anything that’s come out of Mexico since. I haven’t been particularly impressed with anything MIM since then. And have bought more than a couple that turned out to be really bad. Causing me to swear off them for good. If I ever come across my Electron Blue Std from that time period I’d definitely buy it back.

Dead on. I returned two MIM necks to Sweetwater this month before receiving the third which, though not of the quality it should have been for $300 US, was acceptable.

On the positive side, my 2006 MIM Standard Tele was nearly perfect. I did a shielding job on it and replaced the pickups with some Bill Lawrence Micro-Coils, and I wouldn't let it go now for four times what I paid. Which was $385 US, new.

 

[Musekatcher]

I feel the same about my 2010 standard. It was not anticipated, i have a lot of more expensive guitars. What are the factors?

 

[41144]

Can only add that from around that time .... The MiM Classic 60s Tele was a superb guitar for the money.

 

[Colo Springs E]

I have an Agave Blue 2005 MIM Standard and it’s all the Tele I’ll ever want or need.

Agave blue and sage green, those were some awesome colors by Fender.

 

[Chiogtr4x]

Agave blue and sage green, those were some awesome colors by Fender.

Great colors!

For some reason, Fender never did these MIM Standard Teles with rosewood boards, just maple. Yet the MIM Standard Strats did have that option.
Just wish I could have at least seen these color Teles ( mine was Midnight Wine) , with RW and maple boards.
( there may have been Limited runs)

BTW, I played my 2004 Standard 15 years I bet, before I knew the pickups were ceramic, and that there is no plate on the bottom of the bridge pickup.
That stuff doesn't matter, if things sound good.

I thought they sounded 'just right', for the variety of music ( clean & dirty toned) I play. A great affordable Tele, then

 

[JustABluesGuy]

My Tele is a 2009 MiM Standard . . . when I bought it, it was alls I knew besides bad guitars, so I thought it was great..

Since then (15 years!), I've played countless guitars and owned a couple of others as well.

What's always struck me is how good my perception and feeling towards this relatively basic Telecaster has remained - it's still one of the best guitars I've played - certainly in the top 5%.

Does anyone have any knowledge or experience of Fenders / Teles from (around) this time period? Is it known as a good era, or am I sentimental / bias?

I own a 2009 MIM Strat and it is an excellent guitar. It was my only electric for quite some time. The only problem I’ve had with it was excessive fret wear from excessive playing.

 

[Tubedrt3000]

If it works, it works! Don't let internet forums tell you it's not great and change your opinion on it. If you enjoy playing it while enjoying it's sounds, keep enjoying it.

 

[tele-nova]

Great colors!

For some reason, Fender never did these MIM Standard Teles with rosewood boards, just maple. Yet the MIM Standard Strats did have that option.
Just wish I could have at least seen these color Teles ( mine was Midnight Wine) , with RW and maple boards.
( there may have been Limited runs)

BTW, I played my 2004 Standard 15 years I bet, before I knew the pickups were ceramic, and that there is no plate on the bottom of the bridge pickup.
That stuff doesn't matter, if things sound good.

I thought they sounded 'just right', for the variety of music ( clean & dirty toned) I play. A great affordable Tele, then

I thought the 2004 would have had alnico v's in it. I thought the ceramic pickups started coming stock in 2006(maybe 2005?). Someone correct me if I'm wrong...

 

[Chiogtr4x]

I thought the 2004 would have had alnico v's in it. I thought the ceramic pickups started coming stock in 2006(maybe 2005?). Someone correct me if I'm wrong...

I have no idea, I just assumed ceramic

My Tele had a middle-of-the road sound ( not too twangy or bright) which was perfect for me, as I play ( all old) a lot of music styles.

I think what was most important, was to have that great R&B/soul clean R&R both pickups ON sound. Lead and rhythm. The other 2 positions were very good too.

 

[tele-nova]

I have no idea, I just assumed ceramic

My Tele had a middle-of-the road sound ( not too twangy or bright) which was perfect for me, as I play ( all old) a lot of music styles.

I think what was most important, was to have that great R&B/soul clean R&R both pickups ON sound. Lead and rhythm. The other 2 positions were very good too.

I'm sure it sounded great! My 2002 mim standard is the best guitar I own. Bought it new for my 16th birthday. Best neck I've ever played, not too heavy, and the pickups sound great. I'm partial to the neck pickup, but the bridge sounds superb also. Never use the middle position much.

It's definitely got some milage on it and the wiring harness needs work, but I can't see myself ever parting with it.

 

[Gary in Boston]

Tells are like....... Coca-Cola the formula is so good it can be made almost anywhere with good results.

If the folks building them take reasonable care and the raw materials are of good quality then the outcome is going to be pretty darn good.

Oh there will be variants. Really good ones and really bad ones, just like those built in USA.

In fact, the chances are pretty strong that the folks building the ones in the USA are of Mexican decent too. Soooooooooo.