American Special vs MIM Standard.

[Caoimhin]

I was reading the specs between the American Special Strat and the MIM Strat and they both use Alder for the body so is the only difference between the two the electronics or is their a bigger difference? Is the quality a HUGE difference? Thanks

 

[SteveGangi]

For the most part, it depends on what style/model/features/color you want, that decides where it will be or was made. I've heard some strange claims. Supposedly American ones have better switches and jacks and wires than the Mexicans. I say supposedly because electrically the only thing that matters is Does It Conduct Electricity. Nothing else. I've heard claims that Mexican parts don't last (but only time will tell, not some geek's opinions). Pickups are supposed to be different, but again electrically, I don't see how being a few miles down the road difference matters so much. If you like them, keep the originals, if you don't change them. Just like any American model from any manufacturer.

I imagine a lot of it is snobbery and cork sniffing. You can get a piece made by Mexicans in Mexico, or made by Mexicans in California. The two factories are about 200 miles apart. Many of the parts are probably from some other place and then shipped to the factories.

So yeah, I take the wild claims about vastly differing "goodness" with a lot of skepticism.

Just pick the features/style you want, with the color you want, and go from there. I wanted a Standard (old school no nonsense Plank). They are made in Mexico. I didn't want to pay for features I don't want. The standard Planks are made in Mexico.

 

[Caoimhin]

For the most part, it depends on what style/model/features/color you want, that decides where it will be or was made. I've heard some strange claims. Supposedly American ones have better switches and jacks and wires than the Mexicans. I say supposedly because electrically the only thing that matters is Does It Conduct Electricity. Nothing else. I've heard claims that Mexican parts don't last (but only time will tell, not some geek's opinions). Pickups are supposed to be different, but again electrically, I don't see how being a few miles down the road difference matters so much. If you like them, keep the originals, if you don't change them. Just like any American model from any manufacturer.

I imagine a lot of it is snobbery and cork sniffing. You can get a piece made by Mexicans in Mexico, or made by Mexicans in California. The two factories are about 200 miles apart. Many of the parts are probably from some other place and then shipped to the factories.

So yeah, I take the wild claims about vastly differing "goodness" with a lot of skepticism.

Just pick the features/style you want, with the color you want, and go from there. I wanted a Standard (old school no nonsense Plank). They are made in Mexico. I didn't want to pay for features I don't want. The standard Planks are made in Mexico.

Would you say that spending an extra $500.00 for an American start is worth it?

I do have a MIM Standard Jazz bass and can see the lower quality compared to my MIK Lite Ash Strat.

 

[needlespauls]

Not so sure over exact wood "quality" as chances are Fender is using Alder and maple from the same batches. MIM Standards are generally excellent guitars for the money, the worst thing about them that you'll ever find is an insanely heavy weight compared to higher end Fenders, and a poor fret and set-up job here and there. With the American specials you get a little bit better hardware, a specific neck profile, number of frets, and neck finish specific to that guitar. A 70's headstock, Alnico Texas Special pickups (Great IMO!!!), Greasebucket tone-circuit, and a little bit more consistant finish. The weights on the several Am. Specials is much better IMO. In my opinion, if you like everything that the American Special offers for their model range, and being USA made with a little bit better overall quality and resale, for the $300 its highly worth it, $100 less for the Highway One series or the MIM Classic 50's/60's. If you like whatever it is about the Standard line the best, other than price, than you can't go wrong. Keep it stock and cheap, or mod different things thru the months and years of ownership and thats cool too.

 

[SteveGangi]

Would you say that spending an extra $500.00 for an American start is worth it?

I do have a MIM Standard Jazz bass and can see the lower quality compared to my MIK Lite Ash Strat.

This question has been discussed many times and in many forums. These guys seem to feel that it may depend a lot on whether you are planning to make modifications of any kind, or not.
ok, Mexico or American? - Fender Stratocaster Guitar Forum
I like one quote from there: "Ginger or May Ann, Betty or veronica, Curly or Shemp"
That about sums it up.

Maybe my view is biased because of my tinkering background. I don't generally worry about electrical stuff because I can fix or change that myself. If the pickups are bad (mine aren't) I can swap them for a different pair with no effort. Tex Specials, Tex BBQ, Vintage, it doesn't matter, I can put them in myself. If the switch is bad I can rebuild or replace it. If the wiring is flaky, I can replace it with better coax. So, I can't see paying a premium for "upgrades" I can do myself for cheaper, any time I want. But again, for me, I didn't want to pay for extra features I wouldn't use anyway - Like when I had a Strat, the "whammy bar" stayed in the case - I didn't use or need it.

So no, in MY case, the extra $500 would make no sense. The upgrades I would do would cost far less than that. WAY far less.

 

[TeleDog]

...I don't generally worry about electrical stuff because I can fix or change that myself. If the pickups are bad (mine aren't) I can swap them for a different pair with no effort.

... So no, in MY case, the extra $500 would make no sense. The upgrades I would do would cost far less than that. WAY far less.

EXACTLY.. I've seen some of those "cheaper" fenders and a few are not exactly an example of how to wire a guitar. Cheap wire, cheap pots... But how much is that, really? Now... if you DO IT YOURSELF, you can save a bundle and end up with a system that's actually better than anything Fender will put in there.

I worry about wood, necks, that kind of stuff. The rest, just more fun, stuff to play with!

And lets agin remember, these guitars were designed to be mass produced. You really think back in the day they hand picked the parts and went with the best of the best? Please, there's even a story about Leo skipping lunch at the roach coach to "buy more capacitors" with that meal money! LOL...

 

[Caoimhin]

Is there a big difference in sound or tone between the two?

 

[Guitardad47]

I bought a MIM in May of this year and the fret leveling and finishing just did not happen on this guitar. Seems like the USA Fenders I bought in the past I could take to a gig that night. If you have to rebuild, repair and replace parts on a new guitar I do not think it is worth buying.

 

[Hotspur]

There was some story about a famous guitarrist (maybe Steve Vai? I'm not sure ... the name didn't stick with me because it's not someone who's music I listen to) who played like 500 strats and discovered that his favorite was a MIM version.

But ... if you read around the forums, you'll hear people say that the Mexicans tend to be much more hit-and-miss. You might get a great guitar, but there's are a lot more mediocre ones. You're much more likely to need to have someone do fretwork on it (which will eat up a chunk of the savings). I definitely wouldn't buy a MIM if I couldn't play it first. But if you go to a guitar store and play both, and the Mexican speaks to you, don't let the "made in ..." stop you from getting it.

 

[LawDaddy]

<snip>

But ... if you read around the forums, you'll hear people say that the Mexicans tend to be much more hit-and-miss. You might get a great guitar, but there's are a lot more mediocre ones. You're much more likely to need to have someone do fretwork on it (which will eat up a chunk of the savings). I definitely wouldn't buy a MIM if I couldn't play it first. But if you go to a guitar store and play both, and the Mexican speaks to you, don't let the "made in ..." stop you from getting it.

^ This. I have several Fenders (guitars and basses) in the family, and you gotta play them first. I have a Road Worn P-Bass that I bought in spite of the relicing, just because it is one the nicest basses I have ever played - super light with a runway-straight neck (Road Worns are MIM).

Do yourself a favor and check out the CV/VM Squier line, they are getting rave reviews, especially from the guys over on the Tele board.

 

[jay1williams]

I have a MIM Strat, and like my Epiphones, it just need a proper setup.
Quality isn't always based on where it is made.
In fact the necks are made in the US and shipped to the Mexican factory.
The bodies are made using automated equipment, and like someone else mentioned have acceptable tolerance levels. These are mass produced guitars. Then again so are the US ones.
Always play before you buy if you can

 

[Benjammin]

Theyre both similar IMO I would probably upgrade electronics and hardware faster on the MIM, but I'd swap the pickups on the Am Special too, so thats me. I'd say overall it depends on look (big or small headstock, also the MIMs have more color options) and how much (if any) modding you plan too do. I think the newer MIM's are better overall than ones in years past (Ive had 3 between '01 and '08) but if I were shopping I'd pick the Am Special for the big headstock and 22 frets (the 2 tone sunburst looks nicer than MIM 3 tones bursts too, again IMO)

 

[b3john]

My Custom Player '50s Strat (SPAM: for sale! LOL!) is a MIM/"Custom Shop Designed" model and the neck on it is as good as any MIA Strat I've ever played (and I've played a bunch!)

Esp. when it comes to the MIM guitars, ya just gotta play them to see which one speaks to you. Unfortunately, that is becoming true of the MIA versions as well...

Sure, you'll probably swap out the pups and maybe eventually the whole bridge (cough, cough, Callaham, no affiliation, cough) but you don't have to do that immediately. As long as the neck is true, the fretwork is good, and the axe feels solid, you'd be good to go.

I'm not partial to the ginormous '70s headstocks myself nor the fat necks, but that's an aesthetic thing you'd have to decide for yourself, not something specifically "wrong" with the guitar.

 

[b3john]

Always play before you buy if you can

Or at least make sure you fully understand the return policies.

 

[alankelly]

I don't know about differences in tone due to wood, but without a doubt, I noticed a big difference when I swapped out my MIM pickups with a loaded pick guard from an American Standard I bought off of eBay.

Even to a relatively untrained such as mine, the change was noticeable. Just makes me wonder how much better a full fledged MIA Strat would sound compared to mine.

Since I'm not rich, I probably won't know for a while.

 

[Indyclone]

The electronics, aside from the pickups, are the same... same switch, jack, pots and cap.

 

[colchar]

Theyre both similar IMO I would probably upgrade electronics and hardware faster on the MIM, but I'd swap the pickups on the Am Special too, so thats me. I'd say overall it depends on look (big or small headstock, also the MIMs have more color options) and how much (if any) modding you plan too do. I think the newer MIM's are better overall than ones in years past (Ive had 3 between '01 and '08) but if I were shopping I'd pick the Am Special for the big headstock and 22 frets (the 2 tone sunburst looks nicer than MIM 3 tones bursts too, again IMO)

I picked up a 2010 MIM Standard (in Brown Burst) yesterday and everything on her seems fine - nice finish, frets are fine, set up well out of the box.

The burst on her is great too, one of the nicest I've seen in a while. As she was unboxed myself and the two sales guys with me all reacted at once with variations of "check out that burst!". In parts, it almost has a wave and a Gibson quilt top like effect to it. I also like that it has the smaller headstock as I simply do not like the larger Fender headstocks.

Keep in mind that I have limited experience so take this for what its worth...I tried several MIM models in three different stores before I pulled the trigger. My impression is that they are kind of hit and miss - some are good to go and some will need a bit of work. However, thinking about it now, I believe that most of the ones that I thought needed work were floor models and the couple that I saw straight from the box, including the one I bought, seemed absolutely fine. Now, that may mean that the floor models are being screwed around with by every teenager in town playing them in the store or there may be something else to it as both of the ones I saw unboxed were 2010 models - so maybe the newer models are of slightly higher quality?

 

[redcoats1976]

dont know.i have a 2004 MIM and 57 AVRI.theres a lot of tonal difference due to different pickups but ive had no quality problems with either one.

 

[Benjammin]

Keep in mind that I have limited experience so take this for what its worth...I tried several MIM models in three different stores before I pulled the trigger. My impression is that they are kind of hit and miss - some are good to go and some will need a bit of work. However, thinking about it now, I believe that most of the ones that I thought needed work were floor models and the couple that I saw straight from the box, including the one I bought, seemed absolutely fine. Now, that may mean that the floor models are being screwed around with by every teenager in town playing them in the store or there may be something else to it as both of the ones I saw unboxed were 2010 models - so maybe the newer models are of slightly higher quality?

thats pretty much my experience too, they are hit or miss (though more hits as of late ) but its hard to tell with floor models, sometimes they play or sound bad, but all they need is fresh strings and a proper setup, to be great guitars (then again, if they were great to begin with they probably wouldn't been sitting around long enough to get overly abused)

Fender did revamp the MIM lines though, the new ones (like yours) have the bigger, black "70s" logo, they also changed to bodies to alder on the Standard series (I had 2 in the past that were poplar) The pickups also are better than the ones I had, and the frets/finish have all been better too.

 

[colchar]

thats pretty much my experience too, they are hit or miss (though more hits as of late ) but its hard to tell with floor models, sometimes they play or sound bad, but all they need is fresh strings and a proper setup, to be great guitars (then again, if they were great to begin with they probably wouldn't been sitting around long enough to get overly abused)

Maybe the teenagers who go into the stores to mess around on every guitar in there got their hands on them and screwed things up before real buyers got to see them. I know I wouldn't buy anything off the floor at my local L&M!

Fender did revamp the MIM lines though, the new ones (like yours) have the bigger, black "70s" logo, they also changed to bodies to alder on the Standard series (I had 2 in the past that were poplar) The pickups also are better than the ones I had, and the frets/finish have all been better too.

I think they started the revamp with the '06 models and continued it for a couple of years. The necks and bodies are made in the US and then shipped to Mexico to be assembled and I am not sure if that was always the case.

I have to say that I am seriously impressed with the quality of mine, especially for the price. In my opinion they are the best bang for the buck out there right now.