Members rscornutt Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I am seriously thinking about picking up a MIM Standard Telecaster at a local store, the price is $419 US. I have played it a few times and it seems a good guitar for about $400. I do not play Country, so having the country twang is no big deal for me. I play mostly Blues. I want a Tele, but not enough to spend a thousand bucks on one. Give me pros and cons, please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hyphy Panther Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 It really depends. Is it a standard MIM Tele? A 50s, 60s, or Baja Classic Player? '72 or '69 reissue? That's kind of what it hangs on. I'll tell you this, MIM quality has greatly picked up over the last few years. The Classic Player guitars are some of the finest guitars on the market right now, especially the Baja. However, for $419, you may have better options available to you if it's just a standard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members voneville Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I think they're fine, but I would look for a used one. They can be found on eBay for $250-$300 pretty often. Mine was okay, sounded good but not much better playing then a nicely set up Squier IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zigzaguarsnarl Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 Save up for a used Baja tele-- you're almost there at the price of a new MIM, and the Baja's far superior in every respect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tumbleweeed Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 Buy a used one with little/ no fret wear and spend the difference on a nice set of alnico pups. Remember that ALL the necks are still made in Corona Ca. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Furtive Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I picked up a used Baja in great condition for $550. Can't recommend these things enough, especially if you can find a used one. Quality control on mine is outstanding. No issues at all, doesn't need any upgrades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HeatherAnnePeel Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I love mine, I have several MIMs. Great Teles! Here's my MIM '72 Deluxe: I also have a MIM Tele Special, a MIM '72 Tele Custom, a Highway One Tele and a MIM Standard Tele. All are great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zygoat Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I loved my MIM tele. Bang for buck right there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hyphy Panther Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I picked up a used Baja in great condition for $550. Can't recommend these things enough, especially if you can find a used one. Quality control on mine is outstanding. No issues at all, doesn't need any upgrades. Man, I'm really hoping I can find one at that price! Those are the subject of my latest GAS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 Ditto on the used Baja. Bought one for $500 but after taxes and shipping it came to $560. However, they threw in a Fender HSC which I sold for $40 so I only have $520 into the Baja. They're great guitars and have custom shop pickups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Muddslide Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I owned two in my time. One was a candy apple from the late '90s and the other was sage green that I got in 2003.. Both were great (oh, and just the standard tele.) However, I have played some that weren't as nice as the ones I owned. When I bought my 2003, I went to a shop fully planning to buy an MIA Tele that cost $1K more. But I played every tele in the place and it was the MIM that spoke to me. Really had nothing to do with price or where it was made; I just put it up against some MIAs and could see no reason why NOT to buy the MIM and pocket the difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members St. Andrew Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 MIM is half the cost of Amer. 75% as good. find a good used one. Bargain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members solly Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 $419 seems a little high for a MIM Standard. I got my Tele for $360 out the door. These are great guitars, I have both a MIM Strat and Tele. The necks are awesome and they sound great stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zerkalo Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 Why not? Here's a big "why not": www.guitarfetish.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hyphy Panther Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 Why not? Here's a big "why not": www.guitarfetish.com Man's got a point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 $419 seems a little high for a MIM Standard. I got my Tele for $360 out the door. These are great guitars, I have both a MIM Strat and Tele. The necks are awesome and they sound great stock.I agree. $419 sounds high to me but I buy almost everything used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wolfspider Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I agree, save a little and get a Baja. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members seven58 Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I have a Highway One Tele, a FMT HH Tele, a personal build tele, a Samick tele, and a Xaviere tele. With that said, just recently I bought a 2000 MIM for around $200. While I changed the pickups on my MIM Strat, this 2000 MIM Tele has some great sounding pickups (IMHO). I already had pickups I wanted to use in it and now I'm torn. So, finally to answer your question, I don't think you can go wrong getting a MIM Tele, especially if you can find a good deal on a used one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LeftyTom Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 WHY? You can afford it. Why not? If you cannot afford it. If only all life was that simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SteveWoodward Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 I played a MIM Tele recently that played and felt great. Don't feel like you're getting something so "inferior" with a MIM. I've got a MIM Strat that holds it's own quite nicely with my MIA Strat. I'd go so far as to say unless you've got a lot of spare $$$ you'd be crazy to NOT go with a MIM, as long as you find one that reaches out and grabs you. I'm planning a Tele purchase in the next few weeks, and while I could swing a MIA I'm going to play them all and see what happens! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chunkytele Posted June 29, 2008 Members Share Posted June 29, 2008 The Mexican standards are great guitars. IMO the quality of the Mexican basic Mexican teles are better that the MIM standard Strats. Everyone on the forum will encourage you to try few of these sense there is some variation. I would seek out s used MIM before I purchased a new Squier. The price will be about the same. I went with an American telecaster because I knew that tone fit my style of play. The tele my main guitar. Curtis Mayfield is one of my influences. If the telecaster sound is more novelty or some you use sparingly, MIM is a no brainer for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ashasha Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 I'd say that a lot of the arguments that the MIM teles are better than the MIM strats has a lot to do with the simplicity of the tele because I've noticed it too. Not saying that the strats are that bad, but there is only so much on a tele that you can screw up. I remember about 15 years ago just how horrible every MIM Fender I picked up was. I was kind of a snob about them for years and as soon as I saw MIM on the headstock I wouldn't even pick it up. They've really come along nicely and while the MIA teles are the {censored} the MIM stuff is probably the best bang for the buck import in terms of quality. I'm kind of on the fence on the Gibson/Epiphone thing and the price difference is pretty sizable, but so is the gap. The Fender stuff is a lot closer. New pickups would help a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members metalheadUK Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 Buy a used one with little/ no fret wear and spend the difference on a nice set of alnico pups. Remember that ALL the necks are still made in Corona Ca. Is that true..the MIMs use US necks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members diapsalmata Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 Go for it. Mine only cost me 300$, with a brand new coffin case. Spent 100$ on Texas Specials, and 60$ for a proper setup and fret filing. I've played many American Tele's that don't sound and feel as nice, plus the difference in price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rscornutt Posted June 30, 2008 Author Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 Thanks for all the replies. I have one question - the guitars on the Guitar Fetish site. It showed a nice tele-style guitar, XV-820, and the prices were not over $200. Is that for the actual guitars? If so, are they any good? If they are, I have found the answer to my question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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