It's only an opinion, don't worry about it. Way back when Fender started moving the manufacturing out of California and starting making them in Japan, Korea and now Mexico lots of people especially some old timers thought and still think that way. If you like the guitar and it says Fender on it, It's a real Fender guitar. Different opinions don't make people A-Holes, it just means people have different opinions. Remember, it's only a piece of equipment. It's not a spouse, child or other family member. It's pieces of wood and metal. Bottom line is it's yours and you like the guitar.

Stryder,that guy needs an enema to clear out his brain.I have 2 MIM Strats and 2 MIA Strats.The most recent MIM Strat(a Jimmy Vaughn)I picked over several MIA and MIJ Strats.The twit is definitely jealous of your guitar and figures that by berating it that it makes his look better-that is if he has a guitar.You are better off ignoring a tool like that because if a jackass brays one is not obliged to answer it.

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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.

Very nice the Jimmy's!

CC

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Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
Fender Telecaster 72 Custom RI
Fender Telecoustic Deluxe
Gretsch Electromatic Pro-Jet
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus
Gibson ES-135
Zenith Type-17
Marshall 70's JMP Superbass 100w
Blackstar HT-5

This is an example of guitar snobbery and ignorance. For years, I played a fantastic Hamer guitar. Because many people are not very familiar with the Hamer brand, my guitar was often judged to be not good enough to play in a band with, and I was often judged to not be a good guitar player, or not as good as so-and-so, without even playing a note, because the "good" players had this brand or that brand. Ridiculous.
If you love the guitar, if you can express yourself on the guitar, if it feels like a part of you when you play it, then that is all that matters.

There is NOTHING wrong with a MIM Fender. I had a couple of Jazz and Precision Basses. They played well, and were really nicely fitted. I just wish they would use a better bridge.

That's what I'm talkin' about.

You want a better bridge and better pickups?

Buy American.

Forgive them father, they know not what they do......

I was listening to the Jeff Healy Band "See The Light" CD the other day, and as I was reading the Liner Notes on the cover inside the CD, I found out Jeff Healy used a Squire Strat . WOW, I would never have guessed. I bet he wasnt worried what it said on the headstock, He couldn't see it.

Boy you guys really get defensive over gear. I never get jealous about any instrument. I never wished to have one thing over another. None of my guitars are real expensive. At least I didn't pay huge bucks for them. It's not where it's made, it's what you can do with it to express yourself.

One time many years ago I had an 11 year old kid with an Ibanez Flying V his step dad bought him tell me my Strat was a piece of garbage. He was only playing a couple of months. I was playing professionally at the time at some of the bigger venues in Philly, Pa. I just started laughing. I suggest you do the same and not wast a lot of energy worring or getting upset about it.

Look a bit deeper Marvin, Healy's guitar was so highly modified that it was closer to a "custom" that it was to an off the line factory built guitar.

Again nothing is wrong with the MIM built instruments, I just don't think they should be branded "Fender". Seriously, most MIM players chose the MIM instrument instead of the Squier product because it said "Fender" on the headstock so that they can say "I play a Fender <insert model name here>". Oh-oh . . . snobbery again rearing it's ugly head?

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

Yeah, I was just watching some you tube of him (I think my post inspired me) and yeah It looks like it could be a Squire body but he definitely put some work into it. What kind of pickups are those red ones he's using? That Guitar has some sustain , but the point of it is, It aint no top shelf MIA strat and that guy was able to burn it up on it in his own original way.Who cares what anyone else says about "your Guitar' or 'My Guitar" they don't have to play it, and if they dont want to listen to it they don't have to.

I have a older Mex Maple Neck Strat s/n MZO217289 that I bought used at Guitar Center for $250. I bought it after a bad marriage, couldn't afford a USA, actually unless I had a $1000 or so to spend to get the quality I think a USA should play, the Mex is a great Strat. I have been pro since 1974 and have my own lesson studio , at present 35 students. I worked at my cousins guitar repair business in Jersey, worked on lots of great Fenders as well as some very dull lifeless one's and my Mex plays even better after I dressed the frets. I have told my students to pick one up and so far after a good set up or a light dressing , they play pretty good. I think of a Fender Strat , Tele style is much like a VW Beetle, basic model good and reliable......upscale model you get all the bells and whistles added on...but it is still a beetle.
Please feel free to visit my webpage:

[www.jodipicarelli.com][/url]

Welcome to the Forum Jodi! cool web site http://www.jodipicarelli.com/
thanks for posting!

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

I have found the people that rag on other people's gear tend not to be very good players. Good players don't need to push anyone down, for any reason.

I pick my own gear apart, and my own playing, but who the hell am I to do the same to anyone else.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

I wonder if that kid would have had the stones to say the same to Gilmour or Vaughan. Maybe I'll track down Brian Setzer and let him what a piece of junk his Gretch is. That'll show him (I'd tell it to The Reverend Horton Heat, but Jim Heath would probably beat me up).

All these stories about what guitar is someone playing is really pointless, the bottom line is how good a player are you. There are tons of guys who are cashed up and go out and buy the most expensive axes out there than want to look down on what others are playing yet they have no talent or can barely play the friggin thing.

The whole point about spending good money on a guitar is that there comes a time you hit a certain level and you pay extra for better tone and playability, I have a friend who is an amazing guitarist and I have never seen him with a big name guitar in 30 years. There are guys who have spent thousands of dollars trying to chase a tone Vanhalen got from $189 in parts.

There is no one that is going to capture my attention with what guitar he is playing but by his skill as a player. I have even had to bring my 12 year old son down to earth as he will be on the phone saying he is playing his Beck Strat and I will tell him he is playing my Beck Strat and then tell him that if his father did not play he would have a beginners guitar just like his friends and not to come off like that or he will not be playing anything.