It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 2:40 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: 1998 Deluxe Super Strat MIM
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 8:29 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2018 8:18 am
Posts: 4
My question is regarding the Ash Body of the MIM Super Strat of 97-98 that preceeded the Deluxe Player's Strat.

Did Fender use a USA body for this MIM model?

Thanks


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: 1998 Deluxe Super Strat MIM
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 11:34 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
Posts: 4241
The definite answer will probably stay veiled, unless Fender Consumer Relations can solve the mystery.

But so many parts have been sent between Fender US & Fender Mexico that the possibility remains. BTW, the body part number on the SuperStrat is the same as on the DlxPlayer's.

Another thing is, of course, will the guitar feel/play/sound different if the body is a MIM or a MIA... :wink:


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1998 Deluxe Super Strat MIM
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:15 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
jmattis wrote:
Another thing is, of course, will the guitar feel/play/sound different if the body is a MIM or a MIA... :wink:


Absolutely!

Fender maintains a mystical, magical stand of ash trees at an undisclosed location within the United States whose sonic properties when harvested and shaped into Stratocaster bodies are markedly different than ash bodies from lumber harvested elsewhere.

:lol:
Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1998 Deluxe Super Strat MIM
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:23 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2018 8:18 am
Posts: 4
Ha! I hear you there. I don't get caught up in where a body was made as my question seems to suggest.

I had someone ask me if this body was American made
Image
I answered with the facts of this particular guitar. It is an Ash Body from a 1998 Fender Deluxe Super Strat Made in Mexico.

Everything including the string spacing says MIA.

Got me wondering, is an American made body no longer MIA if assembled elsewhere?
Does it lose value for that reason alone or is there more to it?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1998 Deluxe Super Strat MIM
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2018 1:12 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
Posts: 4241
The official way to look at this would probably be that there are strict statutes about when the 'made in America' can be used.

With Fender, there was a period when all MIM's had MIA bodies... 8)

BTW, your pic doesn't show.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1998 Deluxe Super Strat MIM
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2018 6:31 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2018 10:28 pm
Posts: 1594
Location: SoCal, US
jmattis wrote:
With Fender, there was a period when all MIM's had MIA bodies... 8)

Yup... it was originally more of an EPA issue than labor cost or production needs.
Parts MIA, shipped to Ensenada for paint and assembly, and return to Corona for final setup and inspection.

_________________
-- Rich


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1998 Deluxe Super Strat MIM
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2018 12:54 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2015 6:57 am
Posts: 2238
Location: UK
Retroverbial wrote:
jmattis wrote:
Another thing is, of course, will the guitar feel/play/sound different if the body is a MIM or a MIA... :wink:


Absolutely!

Fender maintains a mystical, magical stand of ash trees at an undisclosed location within the United States whose sonic properties when harvested and shaped into Stratocaster bodies are markedly different than ash bodies from lumber harvested elsewhere.

:lol:
Arjay


You forgot to mention that the trees have to be felled on the stroke of midnight by a Croatian virgin and only when there is an "R" in the month. Once felled the trees have to be laid East/West until the first light of the sun touches the leaves. After that you can treat it pretty much like any other log. But otherwise that was a pretty accurate description.

_________________
John

After all this time I should be better.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1998 Deluxe Super Strat MIM
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2018 3:56 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:49 am
Posts: 661
Location: Cambridge UK
John Sims wrote:
Retroverbial wrote:
jmattis wrote:
Another thing is, of course, will the guitar feel/play/sound different if the body is a MIM or a MIA... :wink:


Absolutely!

Fender maintains a mystical, magical stand of ash trees at an undisclosed location within the United States whose sonic properties when harvested and shaped into Stratocaster bodies are markedly different than ash bodies from lumber harvested elsewhere.

:lol:
Arjay


You forgot to mention that the trees have to be felled on the stroke of midnight by a Croatian virgin and only when there is an "R" in the month. Once felled the trees have to be laid East/West until the first light of the sun touches the leaves. After that you can treat it pretty much like any other log. But otherwise that was a pretty accurate description.

Really? I didn't know these things. I always thought the wood came from normal (wooden) trees...

Cheers - Peter.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1998 Deluxe Super Strat MIM
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2018 5:21 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2018 10:28 pm
Posts: 1594
Location: SoCal, US
Peter S wrote:
John Sims wrote:
Retroverbial wrote:
jmattis wrote:
Another thing is, of course, will the guitar feel/play/sound different if the body is a MIM or a MIA... :wink:


Absolutely!

Fender maintains a mystical, magical stand of ash trees at an undisclosed location within the United States whose sonic properties when harvested and shaped into Stratocaster bodies are markedly different than ash bodies from lumber harvested elsewhere.

:lol:
Arjay


You forgot to mention that the trees have to be felled on the stroke of midnight by a Croatian virgin and only when there is an "R" in the month. Once felled the trees have to be laid East/West until the first light of the sun touches the leaves. After that you can treat it pretty much like any other log. But otherwise that was a pretty accurate description.

Really? I didn't know these things. I always thought the wood came from normal (wooden) trees...

Oh no... these are Fenders.
Any trees not harvested in this manner are shipped to Detroit to be installed on Fords.

_________________
-- Rich


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1998 Deluxe Super Strat MIM
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2018 11:08 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
John Sims wrote:
You forgot to mention that the trees have to be felled on the stroke of midnight by a Croatian virgin and only when there is an "R" in the month. Once felled the trees have to be laid East/West until the first light of the sun touches the leaves. After that you can treat it pretty much like any other log. But otherwise that was a pretty accurate description.


TMI for the average forum member to digest, John. And those factoids carry the highest classification. I fear that a local MI5 rep will be paying you a visit very shortly. And if you notice a black-painted Puma helicopter hovering anywhere close by, notify your barrister immediately. You'll be needing his services.

:wink:
Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1998 Deluxe Super Strat MIM
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2018 11:31 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2018 8:18 am
Posts: 4
CB91710 wrote:
jmattis wrote:
With Fender, there was a period when all MIM's had MIA bodies... 8)

Yup... it was originally more of an EPA issue than labor cost or production needs.
Parts MIA, shipped to Ensenada for paint and assembly, and return to Corona for final setup and inspection.


This helps, thanks. The bodies being sent to Ensenada unfinished is the part I was missing.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1998 Deluxe Super Strat MIM
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2018 12:25 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
The credit (or blame, depending upon your point of view) goes largely to California's Air Resources Board.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1998 Deluxe Super Strat MIM
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 5:57 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:47 am
Posts: 1256
Retroverbial wrote:
jmattis wrote:
Another thing is, of course, will the guitar feel/play/sound different if the body is a MIM or a MIA... :wink:


Absolutely!

Fender maintains a mystical, magical stand of ash trees at an undisclosed location within the United States whose sonic properties when harvested and shaped into Stratocaster bodies are markedly different than ash bodies from lumber harvested elsewhere.

:lol:
Arjay



at last!

Light is shed on a key mystery... where's mythbusters when you need them most??


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1998 Deluxe Super Strat MIM
Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 2:28 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2018 8:18 am
Posts: 4
I started this thread and have enjoyed the humor throughout. I have the same pov on the issue and have used bodies with quality wood and craftsmanship for all of my personal Tele and Stratocaster builds none of which were American Fender or carried a similar price tag.

I love the history of guitar building. I have a decent collection of vintage guitars and spend a lot of time researching a handful of manufacturers. Mostly for hobby, there is always more to learn.

The fact is people pay more money for American Fender vs MIM. No breaking news there. Many of the reasons are valid and easily explained but some are more complicated. There is enough mystery in Fenders history and manufacturing process it is inevitable there will be some misconceptions and confusion.

For me one of those areas is the body blank in question. I know it is a 1998 MIM guitar. Still it is 2 7/32" String Spacing with all the visual identifiers of an American made body and none of the MIM standards.

And so the questions and curiosity build.



Craig


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1998 Deluxe Super Strat MIM
Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 4:21 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
CraigAH wrote:
For me one of those areas is the body blank in question. I know it is a 1998 MIM guitar. Still it is 2 7/32" String Spacing with all the visual identifiers of an American made body and none of the MIM standards.

The MIM "Classic Series" Strats (50's, 60's, & 70's) are even more authentic in that they all feature the period-correct S/S/S pickup routs. The only deviation from true vintage spec occurs with the 70's series guitar -- a standard vintage-spec bridge assembly is used rather than the original (and mediocre) one-piece bridge plate with the integral trem block fabricated from Mazac alloy. Most of my custom builds began life as a MIM Classic Series Strat.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Lucascas and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: