so the other day i was jamming after school with a few of my buds and this kid walks in and says "nice strat, is that a Fender?" i say "yeah" he asks "how much did you buy it for?" i tell him around $430, he goes "wow that cheap?" i said yeah. He then asks if it was an American or Mexican and I tell Mexican, he then says its a piece of crap and not a real Fender guitar. So i proceed to look at the headstock, i see the Fender logo, the serial number, and the model number. So I wonder, what is the deal with a Mexican made Fender? I mean $430 is not that cheap and both my tele and strat are Mexican made, I've got no problems with each. The strat is 2yrs old and no need of repair and i just got the tele for christmas and its a beauty. So what is the difference between an American and a Mexican? Quality? Whatever the case both of my mexican guitars and beautiful sounding and i love both of them but if someone could clear this up for me it would be appreciated

sorry for rambling lol

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I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk...

I was going to buy a MIM Strat at one time from GC for about $500. Then I started trying out MIA Strats, to see if there was a difference, around $700 and up at GC. The only immediate difference was the feel of the neck. The MIM were chunkier, where the MIAs were more comfortable.

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Life is like a sh*t sandwich. The more bread you have, the less sh*t you have to eat.

It don't matter what you play ... it's what you sound like while playing it... Hound Dog Taylor played a $17 guitar through a Sears and Roebuck special.... And everybody is raving about how great his sound was...

Believe it... if SRV played a chinese Squier through a cheap crate amp, we would all want to go out and buy a squire and a crate... He didn't need that dumble... or that USA strat ... No doubt...

Let the flames heat up ... and the tomatoes fly...

Stryder, There is absolutly nothing crappy about those guitars.
You should feel sorry for the ignorant wretch who made that comment, obviously he is a total wad!

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Hey, Boy Blue is back!

I mean there are tons of differences. Overall the American Version, production and Custom Shop, are higher quality instruments, however that doesn't mean the Mexican made ones are crap either. They are made to lesser specifications and with lower labor costs, but they are by no means garbage instruments. What you experienced was gear snobbery or corksniffing. Some people believe the fallacy that only the most expensive gear is capable of producing quality sounds.Most people who would belittle you about your choice of gear probably can't play, are 13 years old, or both lol. Trust me man, I gig Squiers along side my Custom shop and American Fenders. Its about the player not the gear.

SRV actually recorded some of his first recordings with a Japanese Tokai strat copy

That kid is ignorant and sounds like he's just trying to be a bully. The comment he made is illogical. Maybe he is jealous that you can play guitar and he can't? Pro musicians don't rip apart each other's guitar rigs. Besides, there are thousands of pro musicians playing Fender gear made in Mexico. If that kid was aware of how much music on his ipod was made with MIM Fender guitars and amps, he would change it attitude.

Of course MIM Fenders are Fenders. Like you said, there is "Fender" on the headstock and a serial number. It definately came from Fender's Ensenada, Mexico facility. If Fender owns the manufacturing facility(Corona and Ensenada), or licenses a factory to make their guitars and amps (Fender Japan, Korea, China) then it IS a Fender.

Just point the kid to this thread and we'll set him straight

Regarding your question about differences between Mexican and American Fenders. Well it depends on which models. I'm sure you've noticed that there are dozens of Mexican Strat models and even more American Strat models that range in price. Sometimes it depends on the individual guitar too since every peice of wood and guitar is slightly different. You can't put a blanket statement out there that ALL Mexican Fenders are this, and ALL American Fenders are that. Try doing a search on this forum since the MIA vs MIM topic has been discussed thousands of time here with no clear winner. The answer is "it depends".

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Obligatory gear list: Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, Vox, Martin, and more Fender.

The kid was an idiot... a bona fide tool! What does he play? Pocket pool?

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You're only as strong as
the drinks you pour,
the tables you dance on,
and the friends you roll with.

hahahaha some of these comments (especially VT's) cracked me up, but thanks for clearing that up for me guys, and for Yogi, on SRV's album Couldn't Stand The Weather was when he used that Japanese Tokai strat also

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I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk...

Here's a website that lists the Main differences between MIM and MIA Strats, with pictures. It seems to be valid information, ymmv. Just do a search under shrublands.com/strat Cheers!

P.S. just a headsup, i did my search using Microsoft bing. for some reason, google does not find it.

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I believe in Christianity as i believe that the sun has risen. not only because i see it, but because by it, i see everything else. C.S. Lewis

The easy answer to that is, "In the eyes of a customshop owner the same could be said to be true of all Fender production line guitars. After all it's only the Customshop that uses techniques akin to the pre cbs days. Thankfully they would be just as wrong as you are".

Yep thats what I'd tell him. You really shouldn't try and educate halfwits. A little knowledge is dangerous. You shoulda just laughed at him and wandered off.

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No no and no

yeah mim IS a real genuine fender. in fact unless it comes from the custom shop ALL reissues are made in Mexico. the reason why they are cheaper you may ask? cheaper labor in mexico directly translates into well made cheaper guitars. not to say that the $900.00 made in mexico thinline telecaster that buddy guy plays is cheap

Ah, to be young again and knockout fools like that. Those were the days.Play that axe proudly............. Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

Stryder- The MIA must cost more for a reason. For one, the pickups are better. More Strat-like. Plus, being in AZ I have beefs with Mexico, ya know? Sorry, I just do. I have a MIJ Tele, that's traitorous enough.

I've got three Strats, one being a MIM Deluxe Player. Trust me...that axe will run with the big dogs.

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"To Be Is To Do" --Locke
"To Do Is To Be" --Thoreau
"Do Be Do Be Do" --Sinatra