Mexican strats vs. US strats

[Jonathan]

i'm looking for a fender strat. WAaaah olympic white JIMI wahha
oh, here is my point:
i want a decent fender strat. i've had my eyes set on the US std's for some time now and i haven't really considered buying any other fender. yesterday i happened to see the specifications of a mexican fender strat. hmm, same body, same wood, same neck, same hardware, same metal. the only things that are different on the us strat is the pickups and a "2-Point Synchronized Tremolo" that is more massive.. plus, the us strat costs twice as much as the mex.
NOW, whatabout this idea!!:
I buy a mex strat and equip it with some sweet pickups.

Will i have a guitar almost as good as the us strat then in terms of sound? Is the us strat worth the money in the end?
tell me your opinion folks !

[Mark H]

Shoot the MIm Strats are a dime a dozen. You can get a used one for 300 bucks and mod the check out of it? The USA ones are just over priced?

[overdriver]

Ya you could do that , but you can't get the MIM standard in Oly. white. Only comes in Artic white.
Another MIM which does come in Olympic with maple 1 piece neck and MIA vintage trem is the Jimmie Vaughan artist model. One of those used would be a consideration also IMO. But the Vaughan has a V shape neck profile which IMO is nicer than a the standard.

Alot of folks change out the pups in the MIA standard as well so !

[Jonathan]

Then, how come those US strats cost so much compared to cheaper fenders. There must be a bloody reason. Is this madness?!

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by overdriver

Ya you could do that , but you can't get the MIM standard in Oly. white. Only comes in Artic white.
Another MIM which does come in Olympic with maple 1 piece neck and MIA vintage trem is the Jimmie Vaughan artist model. One of those used would be a consideration also IMO. But the Vaughan has a V shape neck profile which IMO is nicer than a the standard.

Alot of folks change out the pups in the MIA standard as well so !

im sorry, but.. MIM ?? and MIA ??
oh well, im a newbie i guess

[overdriver]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

im sorry, but.. MIM ?? and MIA ??
oh well, im a newbie i guess

MIM= Made in Mexico

MIA= Made in America

MIJ= Made in Japan

MIC = made in China

MIK = Made in Korea

[overdriver]

Also if you want to go less exspensive (new) the squire Classic vibe 50's comes in Oly. White. People seem to like those guitars as well. A few things a person could stand to change on them or not. But most like the pickups in them. They are MIC

[zplapplap]

There are many differences. I would suggest going to Fender's web site and compare the spec sheets side by side. Some of the differences might mean more to you than others. A few of these stated differences might be marketing gimmicks and not something that a player would care too much about.

The best way to compare both is to do you homework and find out what the differences are and play both. I have an '08 American Standard, but I haven't played the MIM. So I can't help you out there.

[EEF13]

MIA has better picked wood over the MIM. I have a MIM and it sounds great. I changed the pickups and I left everything else stock and it sounds great. You don't have to do much to get a good sounding MIM guitar.

[Ekoms]

The nut width is different too, right?

Also, just because it says alder for both bodies, doesnt mean they are the same quality wood. There's also a poly finish on MIM strats (most), and a nitro finish on MIA strats (most).

There actually are a lot of differences. Take a look at the spec sheets like zplapp said.

[Skynyrdpicker]

Originally Posted by Ekoms

, and a nitro finish on MIA strats (most).

Not anymore. It's been years since the regular Fender MIA guitars had nitro, unfortunately.

[Ekoms]

I guess if we're talking about standards then yes, but most of the higher end models still do.

[Grand Pappy]

I have a MIM Robert Cray Artist series Strat.Tabacco burst. It's one fine guitar.Sounds great plays beautiful and says in tune forever! All stock no udgrades. I'm considering installation of a white pearl pick guard, ala Sonny Landreth.

[overdriver]

Originally Posted by Skynyrdpicker

Not anymore. It's been years since the regular Fender MIA guitars had nitro, unfortunately.

Thats correct stopped using Nitro mid 69 I think and alot of the car colours from the 50-60's are not nitro. Doesn't IMO mean anything . Nitro is not for everyone. Just look into the CS Artisit series not many Nitro there either. The grade of Alder IMO, if any different between the MIM and MIA would not make one sound any better than the other. And if getting a solid colour , well Its usaually all paint grade wood any way. IMO doesn't mean a thing ,its all dried properly.
The MIM road worn and the MIA highway 1 are nitro finish.

Its all here somewhere www.guitarhq.com

[overdriver]

Originally Posted by Ekoms

I guess if we're talking about standards then yes, but most of the higher end models still do.

Only some CS (custom shop) not all. and the MIA RIs

[blakem]

The American ones are WAY better.. I have had both.. the Mexi's are good but not nearly as good as the real deal.

[overdriver]

Jonathan NGS CVS 50's lake placid!

[Greg's Guitars]

Play with your ears and those Mexican and Jap strats can be pretty good bang for the buck , I own a 70 reissue Jap start that kicks butt

[Greg's Guitars]

[diceman]

Originally Posted by Ekoms

I guess if we're talking about standards then yes, but most of the higher end models still do.

Barely. A Nitro clear coat over a thick poly basecoat.

Scam.

I have a MIM (Nitro finished Roadworn) and an American Vintage Reissue '57 Strat ("nitro").

I like the MIM more.

(I also hand picked it - and have played several other MIMs that I don't like nearly as much as mine).

[diceman]

Originally Posted by guitarsz

Absolutely killer - I love it!

[jason_mazzy]

i hear better things about the mims

[zplapplap]

Originally Posted by diceman

Barely. A Nitro clear coat over a thick poly basecoat.

Scam.

Yeah.

That nitro over poly stuff is what they do with the Hwy.1 strats and teles. The American Standard has a poly finish that is, according to Fender, thinner than what was on the American Series.

[diceman]

Originally Posted by zplapplap

Yeah.

That nitro over poly stuff is what they do with the Hwy.1 strats and teles. The American Standard has a poly finish that is, according to Fender, thinner than what was on the American Series.

Right.

There are fantastic poly finished guitars out there - don't get me wrong. My MIJ Epi Elitist is a great example. As are most PRS guitars. BUT - why would it be so F'n hard for Fender to just make a REAL Nitro finished guitar? I mean - we bitch about Gibson around this place having added plasticizer to their nitro formula - imagine what kind of hell would break loose if they decided to Poly coat a Gibson and put a lil' Nitro clear coat over it?!?

And Fender acts like its no big deal - IN FACT, they LIE about it in their spec sheets. "Finish: Nitrocellulose" **ahem** really?

[guitarsmark]

I had a MIM Strat - and to be honest - I was really happy to have traded it out for my Epi LP Custom.... It was REALLY hot on the bridge, and still pretty hot on the neck... it was a 94, probably could have used a setup... but I just couldn't be bothered... I ended up just playing the hell outta my skynyrd LP..... I dunno, IMHO I would go out and test the guitars.. play a few MIM, play a few MIA's, play a few Squier's even... hell you may as well, if you find one that you like, and you can save some money, then go for it!!!

[hbucker]

I've got a MIM Nashville Tele that is rock solid for the money. I've replaced the neck, bridge and will probably replace the pickups with some form of noiseless s.c. pickups. NONE of these mods were done because the guitar sucked. They were made to customize it to my tastes.

As much as I'm a supporter of MIM as very decent quality and value, even over MIA models, I have to say that off the shelf the MIA's feel better to me and I have little doubt that the electronics (specifically pickups) are better on the MIA's. My biggest question is: are they worth the extra $$$?

I probably wouldn't buy a MIA with the idea that I'd customize it the way I am my Tele. But I have no problem doing that with my MIM Tele. So when I'm done I'll probably have a guitar that is better for me than a MIA would have been.

But if I had unlimited funds and was not going to mod anything once I got it home, I'd probably go for the MIA, generally speaking.

Good luck!

[murmel]

I would recommend that you go to a store and try them blind.
For me the American made ones felt a lot better, and the American Series better than the Highway One. Maybe that was specific to the guitars the shop had in stock, but there were plenty. I know many peoply that are happy with their MIMs and even their Squiers and they make great music with them.
Btw. I did my testing with the intention to buy the cheapest one that feels good.
I endend up with and American Series, which was was reduced since the new American Standards were out. The new Standards are a bit better in theory and they have nitro instead of poly, but they did not feel better to me. My favorite Strat is my American Deluxe HSS, but not everyone likes these.

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by EEF13

....I have a MIM....I changed the pickups....

Duncans or DiMarzios?

[zplapplap]

Originally Posted by murmel

I would recommend that you go to a store and try them blind.
For me the American made ones felt a lot better, and the American Series better than the Highway One. Maybe that was specific to the guitars the shop had in stock, but there were plenty. I know many peoply that are happy with their MIMs and even their Squiers and they make great music with them.
Btw. I did my testing with the intention to buy the cheapest one that feels good.
I endend up with and American Series, which was was reduced since the new American Standards were out. The new Standards are a bit better in theory and they have nitro instead of poly, but they did not feel better to me. My favorite Strat is my American Deluxe HSS, but not everyone likes these.

I have a new standard. The finish is poly, supposedly thinner, but Fender poly nonetheless.

[diceman]

Originally Posted by murmel

...The new Standards are a bit better in theory and they have nitro instead of poly, but they did not feel better to me.

I don't think this is correct.

Fender avoids Nitro like the plague, and when they do use it - they just spray a little over the top of a poly finish...