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Post subject: 94 MIM Strat, possibly squire. Have Questions
Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 6:16 pm
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Hey guys, new to the forum. I recently picked up a 1994 MIM strat. Black Label. However, my neck does not say “squier series” anyhwere on the neck and it does not appear to be sanded off. I purchased the guitar for $250 and it needs some work.

The electronics crackle, slightly. There is a fairly loud hum when amp is cranked. I have been a player for about 5 years but im new to fenders.

My questions are

1) is this a quality guitar? I am looking for quality and not really willing to replace everything. I already feel I overpaid. (hopefully wrong)

2) should I return the guitar and spend a few more bucks on a true MiM strat?

Sorry for the newb questions, thanks for all of the help ahead of time!


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Post subject: Re: 94 MIM Strat, possibly squire. Have Questions
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 3:34 am
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MIM are not Squier. Post serial number

What is a good quality ?

IMO It is a average quality guitar.
A good quality serie guitar are the American Standard and a second hand in your year may cost $800-$900.

At $250 the guitar must not have issue, no hum it should be in A1 condition.
I'll return it back

New MIM guitars are better quality than a 1994

https://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=66769


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Post subject: Re: 94 MIM Strat, possibly squire. Have Questions
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 7:16 am
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Stratele52, there were MIM Fender Squier Series for a year or two in the early '90s.

They had big Fender logos in the normal place, with a tiny "Squier Series" on the ball of the head where the "Original Contour Body" traditionally goes.

One version had a black Fender logo, the other version had a silver Fender logo.


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Post subject: Re: 94 MIM Strat, possibly squire. Have Questions
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 7:28 am
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Tommyc97, since you describe yourself as a newb, how familiar are you with single-coil pickups?

They pickup noise from all sorts of things. TVs, fluorescent lights, electric motors, transformers, lots of things make them buzz. And those things can be in another room, or even outside your house.

Cell phones, digital watches, pacemakers, remote controls can make clicks, beeps, boops, ticking noises come out of your amp.

Shielding the pickup cavities and control & jack cavities can reduce the noise, but noise is part of the single-coil experience.


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Post subject: Re: 94 MIM Strat, possibly squire. Have Questions
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 7:55 am
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"Quality" is a very subjective thing. I know people whose definition of "good quality" starts at the Custom Shop level, and they look down their noses at American Standards.

In the world of $250 guitars, a '94 MIM is good quality. You can do a little better but you can also do worse for $250.

With a 23 year old guitar my first concern is the condition of the frets. If they're heavily worn - dents, divots, very uneven - that's a big issue that's expensive to fix.


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Post subject: Re: 94 MIM Strat, possibly squire. Have Questions
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 8:01 am
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Your other thread mentioned buzz and crackle. Sorry, I missed that this thread complains about hum when the amp is cranked.

(Hum and buzz are two completely different things, with different causes and different cures.)

Some hum with a cranked amp is normal. It would help to know more of your history -- have you had other single-coil guitars that hummed less with that amp?


Last edited by strayedstrater on Mon Dec 18, 2017 8:11 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: 94 MIM Strat, possibly squire. Have Questions
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 8:09 am
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On the Squier Series logo: a lot of people scraped or sanded those off over the decades. Since the logo is under the top coat of the finish it's usually noticeable when it's removed.

But careful sanding that's feathered out over a large area would only show up as a slight dip if you hold the headstock at an angle to a lightsource.

And someone who's ambitous and thorough could spray a couple clear coats then level and buff and leave no trace that a logo was ever there.


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Post subject: Re: 94 MIM Strat, possibly squire. Have Questions
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 8:55 am
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Thanks for all the replies guys.

I have uploaded some pics so maybe these will help - http://imgur.com/a/3iavN


I have limited experience with single coil pickups, but these sound way louder then it should. Im pretty confident this strat needs a new wiring job.

Basically my question is, if I put work into this guitar and put my total around the $370-400 mark, is it worth it? I understand that is a subjective question but again, Im a real newb when it comes to strats. Its either fix this one up good so I have a nice strat to play or buy a 2000’s MiM strat that needs no work for around $3-350. What would you guys do? Thanks again


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Post subject: Re: 94 MIM Strat, possibly squire. Have Questions
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 9:37 am
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strayedstrater wrote:
Stratele52, there were MIM Fender Squier Series for a year or two in the early '90s.


Thank , I learn something

Look Squier Series. Gives us Serial number it will help .
Made in Mexico was erase under the name "Stratocaster"

https://spinditty.com/instruments-gear/ ... cal-Squier

Tommyc97

Don't put money on this guitar if you can return it .
Buy one you like right now and play well with no noise

Guitar sound too loud ? Just screw down pickups.


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Post subject: Re: 94 MIM Strat, possibly squire. Have Questions
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 11:35 am
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I think he meant the hum/buzz is louder than it should be, but not really clearly worded.

That might just be a loose or broken ground wire.

Does look to be a Squier Series. Someone did an excellent job of removing the logo. (Harder to remove the "Made In Mexico" without damaging the "Fender".)

Those had really nice necks. And they're from the era when many rumors say the necks and bodies were made in the US and shipped to Mexico for finishing and assembly.

It's not uncommon at all for people to buy brand new MIM's and put hundreds of dollars into upgrades. Heck, not all that uncommon for people to replace pickups on American Strats and Les Pauls.

With the logos removed, the chipped paint, and the possible electronics issues, $250 might be a little high.

Then again, it's almost "vintage". And somewhat of an interesting history, a bit cooler than a run of the mill Mexican Standard.

Frets look good though hard to be sure from those pics.

If you like the feel of the neck I'd be inclined to keep it and maybe do some upgrades.

I'd lean toward economical upgrades. Used parts, or GFS or Tonerider for new parts.


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Post subject: Re: 94 MIM Strat, possibly squire. Have Questions
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 12:05 pm
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Tommyc97 started two topics on this guitar, and I answered on the other one.

I still think that's a "Traditional Stratocaster", not "Squier Series". Not much difference between those, though; some even say it's only the missing Squier Series sticker.

Once again, I don't share st52's view on MIMs, generally speaking they're totally useful instruments. (We've had the same discussion about all Fenders made outside the US, and of course all Squiers...) :wink:

This particular guitar, though, is in need of a makeover on the electronics side, plus a full check/setup. For a DIY guy, that would be no biggie. But if all that is done by a pro, the costs of the guitar + repair may quickly rise above that 2000 MIM.


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Post subject: Re: 94 MIM Strat, possibly squire. Have Questions
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 1:27 pm
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Yes, indeed a case can be made either way.

I'd be inclined to keep it because I'm confident I could sort out the electronics and setup. And whether Squier Series or Traditional it's somewhat less "everyone has one" than a Standard.

Then again I can see the appeal of a "ready to go" MIM Standard.

And if I didn't feel a need for the Fender logo to be the biggest one on the headstock, I'd probably look for a lightly used Squier VM or one of the other upper-range Squiers.


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Post subject: Re: 94 MIM Strat, possibly squire. Have Questions
Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2017 2:58 am
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I wrote a lot previously and then deleted it as it was wrong.

$250 for a "Squier Series" is a pretty fair price and I would be happy with paying that.

If it feels nice it would certainly be worth spending some money on it to replace the tuners, really annoying scratch plate, saddles and electrics in the fullness of time.

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