I’m thinking about buying a bottom-end Fender Jazz and improving it as money becomes available. By improving it I mean changing the pickups, bridge and pickguard (and possibly the tuners) and adding a J-Retro preamp. This would be done in stages as and when I can afford it.
Now, I can pick up a new MIM Std Jazz for around £350 or a new MIJ Std Jazz for around £390. I know what a MIM sounds and plays like, but I can’t get my hands on a MIJ (locally) for comparison.
So my question is … is the build quality of the body and neck of the MIJ generally better than the MIM and, if so, by how much? Okay, the difference is only £40, but that’s one Wizard pickup or 2/3rds of a BadAss II. If the MIJ is appreciably better, I’d rather start from a better base (no pun intended!).
Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks.