Recently I had been asked to gather up some basses for some music programs so I went around to various music stores in the SF Bay Area. Approaching this task I decided to approach the quest with a very open 'mind' with respect to brand. When playing through the Fender selections I just went down the line and found something that surprised me quite frankly. The MIM Fenders came out on top 80% of the time when coming to feel, playbility, balance, weight and dead spots. Even the sound in most cases was totally acceptable. I simply picked the basses up, plugged them in without checking out the various hardware, pickups, headstock decals etc so to keep with my open approach. I had a budget that was not too restrictive to work with but I wanted to just see what would come out in the wash. The result was surprising to me because of course I had preconceived notions that the Japan, USA, custom shop etc would be the overall better instruments. This was not necessarily so at all. It has been years since I really went in a music store and checked out a bunch of basses. I have quite a collection of basses that I have played and kept over the last 45 years and with respect to the Fenders in my collection consisting of a '56, '71 & '73 Precision and a '66 & '71 Jazz, '67 & 78 Mustang and these are all great playing & sounding basses. So I felt I had to mention my surprise and relief that Fender is still capable of making some great instruments and these at prices that will not break the bank. The only upgrade I might suggest would be the pickups if absolutly necessary.
I also recently attended a club date to see Sly & Robbie. When their 1 1/2 hour stunning set(as usual) was over I got talking to Robbie and upon broaching the subject of the jazz bass he had been playing he handed it over to me and it was MIM Standard Jazz bass! He mentioned it it was his current favorite bass and not just for touring. He had been using it in the studio as well. For anyone who knows this guy you know what he is capable of on the instrument.