Glad I bought a MIA Tele and not a MIM

[Tony65x55]

I'm a lucky man. I have American Teles, Mexican Teles, Korean Teles, Indonesian Teles and Chinese Teles.

The Mexicans are my favourites, but all of them are great. I gig them and record with them. No complaints.

The Chinese ones have had their pickups replaced, and the Chinese Esquire with the Cavalier pickup rocks with the best of them.

 

[SixStringSlinger]

do you think your Burritocasters will hold their value like a MIA Tele ?

Damn between you and "butcher block" who needs Shakespeare?

 

[msalama]

you think your Burritocasters will hold their value

Do you think I give a damn if my single MIM doesn't? A Vintera I paid six hunnert for used. Why should anyone assume such a guitar will hold its value?

 

[dsutton24]

The term "Sunk Cost Fallacy" can describe someone who spent so much money on an American Telecaster who has to justify his purchase to himself. Sunk cost describes a state where someone is unwilling to abandon a position because he has so much invested in it.

I've always been fascinated by the need that some people have to tear down others to prove their own decisions are right. You see it here all the time. At its root music is an emotional endeavor. You can't explain music (or musicians) by plugging numbers into a formula.

It seems to me that being happy with your things and abilities is healthy.

 

[robt57]

Blah, blah, Blah.... Sorry, the tone wood glues is 300.00 a gallon, dont ya know.

 

[bottlenecker]

Purchased a MIA American Special Tele about ten years as I wanted made in America / California and several years prior to that
bought a new MIM Telecaster and none of the screws in the guitar body would hold , the wood was so soft it was like saw dust .
Here is a pic from the Ensenada Mexico plant of bodies , I am counting 7 pieces of wood and also see laminates . I would hope the MIA
are no more than 3-4 pieces with no laminate , the MIM have to save money somewhere .

Some are better than others, but it's not a martin. It's a cutting board with a neck. There's no delicate balance of tension, or carefully thinned top. Players don't count pieces of wood, they play a guitar and see what it can do. If you can't make it do much, you won't even know if it's good.

 

[northernguitar]

I’ve read similar articles as espoused by @brudford

 

[Musekatcher]

Somebody went on a tour of the Fender Mexico factory 19 years ago apparently, so many years before the Player Series was introduced.

does it matter how many pieces of wood a guitar body is made from?

Fender Mexican factory tour pics (not mine). MIM Standard Strat and Tele bodies being built. Looks like 7 pieces with laminate to me. Here are more pics: 2006 Fender Mexico Factory Tour

markweinguitarlessons.com

Ive seen that image several times. It looks conspicious to me, like too obviously unflattering, just what the critic ordered. Are we sure that picture is authentic?

 

[GGardner]

 

[notmyusualuserid]

I have Mexican Telecasters from just about every era they were made, and I've never seen what the OP is describing. My everyday guitar is a 40+ year old Mexican Telecaster.

Is it a Fender Telecaster?

The Ensenada factory opened in 1987, production began in 1989.

 

[dsutton24]

Is it a Fender Telecaster?

The Ensenada factory opened in 1987, production began in 1989.

Once again, "Yeah? So?"

 

[msalama]

Are we sure that picture is authentic?

Hard to say. Wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't, but no evidence has been presented either way.

 

[notmyusualuserid]

Once again, "Yeah? So?"

So there were no MiM guitars before 1989. 36 years ago.

 

[sloppychops]

I don't know if I'm a TDPRI John for saying this or not, but multiple piece bodies really bug me. I want a guitar body to be made from no more than two pieces of wood. A body that looks like a butcher block cutting board and weighs like one...no thanks.

 

[msalama]

"Yeah? So?"

How can it be more than 40 years old if the Mexican production started in 1989?

 

[Gladhander]

They look a little thin. Could be affinities?

 

[Kamen_Kaiju]

I've had a different experience, owning both MIM and MIA Teles and Strats. Didn't find a lot of differences between them. Currently have a new Player Tele ($500) and a 50s Baja. Both really good instruments.

same. I have a MIM ash body bsb w/ maple neck, and a MIA ash body bsb w/ maple neck that cost 2.5 times as much as the MIM.

I usually play the MIM more. They're both good guitars, no complaints. The MIA is 'prettier' because you can see the grain, but they both play and sound fine.

It's almost like do you want a guitar built by Mexicans in California? Or a guitar built by Mexicans 30 miles away at the Mexico factory?

A Tele is a simple guitar. You can easily get great guitars out of either factory. It's just the MIA one will cost you a lot more.

Then again MIM prices for stuff like the Ventura II or the Isbell are practically the same prices as MIA these days anyway. Any Fender over $1,000. is probably going to be a pretty decent guitar.

Pickups and the amp you use are going to make a bigger difference with guitars anyway. A cheap guitar with good pickups through a great amp is going to sound great.

 

[archetype]

The bookmatched, figured, ash veneer wasn't an option, if that's what you're referring to. Someone making body blanks just had some cool veneer and used it.

Most of the veneer on the JBSs, back then, was fine- and straight-grained. Some ash, but most I've seen were alder. All over the poplar core.

 

[stratsrus]

reminds me of the old joke--what's the difference between a MIA and MIM guitar?...about 150 miles (distance from Ensenada to Corona)

 

[MichaelD83]

People drone on and on about how the player and Indonesian models are equal - they’re delusional and drank the Cool-aid. I will admit that from time to time a guitar comes together that is more than the sum of its parts (I own a 88 MIK squire ii that’s one of my best players). The reality is import guitars are made because they are cheap. So therefore everything about them inferior to its flagship counterpart. We don’t know for sure (because we can’t see fender/Epiphone/PRS’s books) - when you buy an import guitar you are most likely also supporting unfair labor practices. Why else would they move it over seas ? Because they don’t have to pay a high wage Sherlock.
Not to mention you are buying in essence a counterfeit version of an iconic model. Whenever someone buys one, they strengthen this low quality high return business model and cheapen the brand name. For a few bucks more (wait and save your money), you can have a lifetime American instrument that will hold its value. This does not apply to kids starting out, but any adult w a decent job should not be supporting these practices. I for one will not buy and import guitar if it’s not acquired through a trade.