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Post subject: Difference in Guitars
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:15 am
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I have been a guitar player now for about 45 years, but my instruments have been mostly Gibsons, Martins and Gretschs and various acoustical guitars. Currently, I do not own any Electric instrument. While at a local store I played on about 8 guitars and really enjoyed the feel and sound ofan American manufactured Strat.
Without going into a plethora of descriptions. Can someone tell me the REAL difference between an American manufactured Strat versus a Japanese one. Is it quality, type of wood, electronics, playability :?: ? Or is it just the hoopla of having to pay more because it says "Made in America"?


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Post subject: Re: Difference in Guitars
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:34 pm
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There is the MIA and MIM standards. The major differences are :

1) 2-point trem on MIA instead of vintage
2) Nicer work on neck (and also 22 frets)
3) MIA has alnico-3 pups (MIM has ceramic)
4) MIA has better color options
5) MIA transparent finishes will get a better grain pattern than a transparent MIM
6) MIA will have better internal componentry

The MIMs are very well made and far beyond being a "novice instrument". I have been playing for almost thirty years, and I can honestly say my modified MIM is one of the finest gits I have owned.

The MIAs are sweet, though. There is no question that the MIAs have some more quality ingredients, and more time poured into it. The MIAs will also hold their value better, in general.

Bottom Line: I think the MIAs are worth the extra money. However, the MIMs can be an outstanding instrument that a well-established player can appreciate and never "out grow" (even when left bone stock).

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Last edited by 01GT eibach on Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:38 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:35 pm
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I have played electric guitar since 1985.
I got my first strat in 1989 - 1990. (black MiA rosewood fretboard)

It is not just hoopla of being made in america,
although some will want to claim otherwise.

Somehow I am sure that the cost involved in manufacturing products varies from place to place.
But that is not the only difference, or even the main difference in cost.
For example the MiM guitars cut alot of corners that they don't on MiA.
output jacks, circuitry, craftsmanship...
It is very attractive spending a little less at first to most players.
Most players end up doing alot of upgrades & would probably do more if they all the differences within.
Also if u ever get to see the machines they use to create these instruments in the US,
u will see alot of the same equipment that was used back in the beginning.

MiA Fenders will always be the "original McCoy".
The rest will always be knockoffs, even if they are done very well.

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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 1:04 pm
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The MIA ones are worth the extra moolah.
Im a lover of cheap guitars and own several for gigging and modding. my MIA is a deity in the temple of tone The difference is the attention to detail on the MIA's. Its astounding.

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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 1:27 pm
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I picked up a new MIM Strat about a month ago and it's great. The fret and nut work was better than expected and all the electric componets inside are the same as the American models. CTS pots and Switchcraft switch and input jack. Through in some good pickups, maybe add a Callaham steel block and maybe some good tuners and you have a very good if not great Strat.

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 3:26 pm
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I agree with the statement the the MIA stratocasters are the real deal. It comes from california, has the american made quality, and just that vibe of an american strat. And also the American Standard does not have AlNiCo III pickups, it has AlNiCo V. The AlNiCo III s are on the highway one. I would probably prefer the highway one, but the extra dough for the standard does give that hoopla feeling that you just payed a little more and now it's way better. I would take highway one because of the headstock (though i really could care less), the color(s), the six point vintage tremolo, and the stickers that say Fender Stratocaster and Made in U.S.A :)

MIJs are really sought after. They're now only available in masses in Japan. They were produced between '85 and '89, and are considered the best non-american guitars ever made by fender. (Also the mims.) The difference is where it's made, how it's made, and the variety of the products. MIMs are cheaper for exactly those reasons: it's made in mexico, where people work for less; less time and effort is put into it, though they are still really nice; and the made in mexico strats doent offer natural, sienna sunburst, olympic white, blizzard pearl in such a variety.


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Post subject: American Strat VS Mexican Strat
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:29 pm
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I'm in this dilemma as well, everyone knows that the American Made is better then the Mexican, but the difference of price between them it's so high (I'm from Europe and an American Standard Strat here costs around a 1000€ (1,449.04 USD) and a Mexican Strat only costs 400€ (579.617 USD) ). A lot of people say that it doesn't compensate buying an American one because there's just a few differences between them, of course the sound has a slightly difference (differente pickups, different body material in some cases) but while I was browsing on the web I found a lot of good reviews about the Mexican version, that for a cheaper price you'll get a very good guitar. Hmmm...I don't swim in money, so...maybe I'll get a Mexican version and when I have more possibilities (I'm still a student so I don't have a lot of money :lol: ) I'll buy an American one :D (I hope so! :lol: )

Best regards


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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:44 pm
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the mexican guitars are stunning for the price.
the american guitars are stunning for the price.

after reading those two statements which would you rather have.
i own both mexican and american and made that statement in complete honesty. fender do not require i do them the favour of advertizing.

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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:54 pm
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Hey tmrzna,
All of the forum members must have missed your referance to the japanese strat, instead compairing the MIA to the MIM. They're right the MIM is a good instrument for the money. IMHO all fender product give the consumer a very good value. That said. the MIJ strat from the '80s is the closest thing to an american strat out there. If I could find one I'd buy it. They seem to be hard to come by. I can recall the first time I had my heart set on a strat I shopped all day long an keep going back to the MIJ and accidentally picking them up and enjoying them more than the MIA of the time. There was a time when the fender company only had a overseas plant. I believe this is the reason I couldn't find a good MIA. The rebirth of an icon was worth the growing pains I supose.
I will probably be buried with my '07 am. dlx. and you should give that model a whirl if ya want a great gitter. As far as the MIJ if you play one you like you should get it, cause a small investment could bring you alot of pleasure. All the good players know that there a great instument and well worth owning.
As for me I'm shopping for another am. dlx. as a back up cause I love my first one that much! Fender amps got me playing on fender in the '80s and now I'm a fanatic. Good luck guitar shopping.


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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:14 pm
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i had a tokai breezysound from 81. That guitar was top notch. The only thing that let it down was the pickups. still i hasten to add they were better than most of the current fender replacement range. Slightly cold but responded very well to a warm amp. The playability too was 1st rate, and they bought in the 6string tele bridge as standard before anyone else.

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:25 pm
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I own a MIM strat and have slightly modded it by replacing the bridge with a Wilkinson string saver saddle trem, sat it down flush for more sustain and put locking tuners on it. Once the strings are stretched out.. they hardly ever go out of tune and I gig with it at least 3 times per week. The pups are noisy but their tone is still really good, especially through my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe amp. I have an American Deluxe Tele on the way now and should arrive at my house next Monday. I can't wait. Most American models hold their value or increase in value over time especially those at the top end of the production models into the custom shop stuff.


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