I'm seeing in other forums of how certain, 'experts' are claiming that MIM's are made on the same machines as MIA's and that the CV range is so darn close to MIM...

Does anyone have any truth that they can shed on the differences between Squier, Made in 'insert country), Made in America, Custom Shop.

Please help, my sanity is at stake!

Use the search function.
This topic has been thoroughly covered a gazillion times.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Thanks for the tip on search - as a user from 2008, the thought of doing such a novel idea hadn't crossed my mind. But thanks anyway.

The usual way this works is speculation as to qualities, body pieces, set ups, operating costs.

It would be useful if we could have a definite answer instead. Any chance of a Fender comment?

Before you get an absolute definitive answer to that loaded question your sanity will most definitely be at stake. This has been discussed countless times and no definitive answers yet from anyone much less Fender. Good luck anyway!!

It's been discussed near enough everywhere to death, thought that maybe Fender would like to put it down.

Just fed up of all the speculation.

True, doubt we'll get a definite answer....


Never mind...

FMIC already tells you what they think with the pricing range of their products. Some cheaper than others.

Such a good point! I wish people would actually sit and take notice of that....if only it were that easy...

There is a popular site, that often has people saying their CV is better than CS kit - how fecking subjective is that?? Why the heck to people buy into that line??? These folk have always the same story, they've had loads of American and CS kit, but had to "thin the herd", and the one they keep is a CV??

Sorry.......end of rant.....

having a bad day, sorry folks....I'm venting anger from another forum here..I'll stop now.

The difference is mainly tolerances. Every piece of wood, pot, pickup, tuner, etc... before it is used is inspected and has to fall into the range of accepted quality. The range is different for each plant, generally speaking the tolerances are looser in the MIM Ensenada plant vs the Corona USA plant. Basically it doesn't mean that either is better per se, it just means that the USA plant is expected to be more consistent in terms of quality. As we all on the forum know though, every once in a while there's that MIM that just sings and there's that USA that sounds like it has a sore throat. That's just what happens when the MIM is on the high end of the tolerance scale and the USA is on the low end. Hopefully I wasn't too confusing, I just got home from work and I am tired >_>

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I traded my car in for a microphone.

I know that forum and alot of those guys are Fender haters..don't pay them much attention.
ABS

Fender was going to put what down. Fender loves all the thoughts and talk that goes on and put very little into it. It keeps things in question fresh, someone was knocking Gibson the other day for not be up front on some things and Fender does the same. They are never going to say MIM bodies on average contain these many pieces of wood! Similar to questions asked of Gibson on weight relief.

People forget that recently these companies Fender and Gibson where being looked at for getting together on sales strategies and pricing between them and how to keep high, It is still before the Federal trade commission is it not. Even Guitar center is name in the case.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Not bashing MIM's, because I have played some VERY nice ones, but generally, you get what you pay for, both in workmanship and materials.

More good points. This makes good sense. In fact Mike Eldred states:

Yes, what we do in the Custom Shop usually ends up on the regular production. That’s kind of why we were created. The way we build is different from the regular production. The machines and techniques are more of the original methods, and therefore take more time. Construction is different as well. There isn’t a “higher quality” per se; just more personal attention to detail. Components, detail and time. That stuff adds up.

I assume he is referencing quality to the regular production, rather than other country production. So this is a pretty big clue I suppose.

I have 3 MIM Fenders and 4 MIA,all are great guitars,the MIMs although cheaper are still of above average quality and play and sound great, the MIAs are fabulous guitars in every respect.I hope that answers your question,in a nutshell one is above average at a bargain price and the other is the benchmark that all other brands are compared to.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.