It's the culture that we live in today that values Flash over Form. I've never bought a concert ticket based on what brand name instruments the musicians were using. That did' make a bit of difference, I've never left a show saying "that was terrible, that guy wasn't using an American Strat.

Amen.

This is a ritorical question.
There is no solid answer to satisfy anyone.
And everytime I see apost like this it's the same comments.
JMHO-N

Regarding Jeff Healey,the only mods that he had done on his Squires was installing Evans pups in them,as for everything else ,it was original hardware.His amp of choice was always 50W Marshalls,more often than not the 2204 model.

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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.

That is a very astute observation and a very valid point.

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No no and no

It can be true and of course I see the point but most players get the best quality they can for the money they have. I wouldn't compare the quality of a MIM, especially the Classic series with a Squire.

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

Here's my 2cents, I play a MIM and I only bought it (used by the way) because it was $399. And it's a pretty nice Strat albeit a cheaper one than a MIA. I customized it by changing the pickups, shure, But thats what I like to do. as for what it says on the headstock... Who Cares?? I mean if it says Sears and Roebuck big deal, If the guitar feels good in your hands thats all that matters. I dont worry one bit what someone else has to say about what guitar i play or if it was made in Peru, big deal. I did not buy my guitar to impress anyone. I bought it to play and enjoy and I do and I didnt feel like spending over $1000. for a MIA I like Strats, Thank you Fender for making a really decent one in mexico so I can afford to buy one and play.

I know a guy who used to caddy on the PGA tour. You know how you see the players holding their bag of Ping or Calloway clubs leading you to believe they wouldn't be caught dead with anything else? Not real. Greg said that ALL of the players had a mixed bag of tools. Whatever works for them is what's in that golf bag.

I dare say that Clapton or Beck or Page or Satriani could take a WalMart special and show that jerk a thing or three.

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

So, summing up, a Made in Mexico is not, I repeat not, a real Strat.
Glad you've finally come around.

I mean, what if Guinnes was made in Mexico? Would it be Guinness?

No fookin' way.

I think if it says Fender then it is a Fender. Its up to the company, not us. I love that Fender have a range that goes from Korea, Mexico, Japan and USA. We live in a global society now, hence the fact we are all discussing this. The top of the line are made in the USA but Fender make products to suit everyone's price range. Personally I believe the US and Custom shop ones should be in the hands of pros and semi-pros only but that's just my point of view and its not going to change a thing and I sure as hell don't expect everyone to agree with it. If you have the money you can get it, simple as that. Some people don't have that money and some aren't serious enough players to warrant spending huge amounts of money. I'd be more comfortable seeing a young kid at about 13 playing a lower bracket axe than something out of my price range.

As always this debate will go on forever. Its just different price options. Some Lamborghini's are made in Latin America, if you pumped out for one of those what would you tell people you drove?

CC

[edit]: spelling

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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

Mexican Fenders are made in Mexico, the labor is cheaper there... The parts aren't all that different, and I've YET to hear a difference between an "American" Fender and one made in Central America<G>

I've got a Fender 60th Anniversary Fender Short Run model Strat HSS in gloss black, black "engine turned" pickguard and back cover, a chrome metal switch knob, and those old fashioned domed and knurled chrome knobs from the original Telecaster.

No one has ever asked me where it was made except a collector (who's investment program has grown while stocks and bonds fell) who was just curious since he'd never seen one like it...

It's been played by beginners, amateurs, and professionals ALL of whom had good things to say about it's looks, feel, and sound...

Made In Mexico isn't a bad thing at all, but I know when they made mine they were having an especially good day in Encinada <G> http://reviews.photoweborama.com/allthingsguitar1/fendertour/index.html

I bought mine from a friend who'd had it hanging on his display wall for nearly two years... save him from paying taxes on it again<G>... so it was a good deal for both of us... but as we were waking up to his cash register he commented that he'd planned to take that one home if it didn't sell before the end of the years... and HIS collection of Classic, Modern, MIA, and MIM Strats is unbelievable!!!

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Still looking for that One Guitar To Rule Them All since 1964...
FSR Fender 60 Anniversary Strat HSS MIM, Gibson ES 335, Taylor 555, Ovation Custom Balladeer-12, Baby Taylor, Fender Princeton Chorus (stereo), Fender Champ 600

Bragging rights?

Actually the difference between MY MIM HSS FSR, and similar "American" models is more like $200...

There is a wide range in MIM prices as well...

OTOH, I'm still conflicted when I have to decide which electric to pick up for a particular song...

Between my new ('07) strat and my beloved '75 Gibson 335 it's a hard choice (you can look up the value on the 335, it's original 99+ condition, the very rare trapeze tailpiece, and the warranty card has my name on it)

It's not even about which one sounds better, but which one matches how I want to hit a particular song...

The Fender can half tap the humbucker with the middle pickup, switch to just the middle with it's piercing highs, blend the middle and neck, go for the mellow neck tone only.... or JAM at double the volume with the classic Humbucker drive right at the bridge... a whole lot of range on one Ax...

The Gibson is wonderful, and it's got some beautiful sounds... but it's not better, only different<G>

_________________
Still looking for that One Guitar To Rule Them All since 1964...
FSR Fender 60 Anniversary Strat HSS MIM, Gibson ES 335, Taylor 555, Ovation Custom Balladeer-12, Baby Taylor, Fender Princeton Chorus (stereo), Fender Champ 600

My son's Squire is pretty nice, it's got the fatter neck profile that HE likes better than my MIM...

He saved up Christmass and birthday money, and earned the rest to get it ... that makes it even more special!

I enjoy playing his guitar almost as much as mine, almost... (Hey, I earned the money for my very own Strat too!!!)

Other than that, I've had to resolder a wire to the jack when the nut cameloose and let it twist around inside his Squire...

The ONLY maintenance either his or my Strats have ever needed (though we both futzed with the whammy springs till we got what we liked on our respective guitars<G>)

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Still looking for that One Guitar To Rule Them All since 1964...
FSR Fender 60 Anniversary Strat HSS MIM, Gibson ES 335, Taylor 555, Ovation Custom Balladeer-12, Baby Taylor, Fender Princeton Chorus (stereo), Fender Champ 600

Ooh, you paid BIG bucks there...

Mine was about $335 out the door... since I'm one of his regular customers, and he's mine when his POS system needs fixin...<G>

With the HSS setup it didn't need anything but playing a lot to make it sound just right for me!!!<VBG>

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Still looking for that One Guitar To Rule Them All since 1964...
FSR Fender 60 Anniversary Strat HSS MIM, Gibson ES 335, Taylor 555, Ovation Custom Balladeer-12, Baby Taylor, Fender Princeton Chorus (stereo), Fender Champ 600

Fender puts their name on the guitars and they call them Stratocaster and so... it is what it is, a Fender Stratocaster.

You narrow minded elitists can deny their validity all you want but you'll have to convince Fender that they screwed up, otherwise, you are just wrong. I don't say so... Fender does. Go argue with them about it.

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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.

Is my car a Ford? After all, not a piece of it was made in Detroit, USA! It was assembled (with pride, says the sticker) in Kansas City. And it's made out of parts made elsewhere in the US, Canada, Japan and I think even Germany.

Is my beer really what it claims to be on the label? Many beers are contract brewed ... using the formula and specifications provided by the name on the label. But not by the brewery-of-name itself.

Was my TV really made by Toshiba? Maybe, maybe not. It's common practice for the Japanese electronics companies to contract out to other companies, sometimes direct competitors. My Toshiba TV may have been made by Sony ... while Samsung was making Home Theater boxes for Sony.

There are many things today that aren't directly and fully made by whoever puts their name on the final product. Based on my 30 some odd years of corporate experience, my answer to the lamer who commented on your guitar would be: it was designed by Fender, the materials and methods of manufacture were specified by Fender, it was made on machinery purchased and approved by Fender, it was QA'ed by Fender (final inspection and setup perhaps) and sold with the Fender name on it.

So guess what ... that makes it a Fender. It's just simple.