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Post subject: I think I'm done with MIA guitars!
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 12:20 pm
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I'm beginin to think I don't know what good tone is or at least how to get it. I have a MIA Strat and Tele. They sound good BUT I've been playing some MIM Strats and I gotta say I don't know why I've been waisting my money. Now I know the MIM's don't sound as good but they aren't awfull either. The MIA's PUPS aren't the greatest and if you're gonna replace them anyways why not save $600 by buying the MIM?

Anybody else out there agree disagree. I know the MIA's are better made with better materials but $600 worth?


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Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 12:27 pm
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You've got a valid point, but I love my MIA stratocaster. If you know you are going to change the pick-ups I can't think of a reason to spend the extra money on the MIA guitar other than resale value.

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Post subject: Re: I think I'm done with MIA guitars!
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 12:46 pm
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bradleyjp25 wrote:
I'm beginin to think I don't know what good tone is or at least how to get it. I have a MIA Strat and Tele. They sound good BUT I've been playing some MIM Strats and I gotta say I don't know why I've been waisting my money. Now I know the MIM's don't sound as good but they aren't awfull either. The MIA's PUPS aren't the greatest and if you're gonna replace them anyways why not save $600 by buying the MIM?

Anybody else out there agree disagree. I know the MIA's are better made with better materials but $600 worth?


I agree with you except for the "better materials" statement. To this day, NO ONE here has been able to show any concrete proof that inferior materials are being used on current MIM models. Less frills, yes. Less detail work, yes. I'll agree on the cheaper pickups but that's it. But then again, I know scores of players who have MIAs and have promptly replaced the OEM pickups.

I have had many, many Stratocasters in my over 40 years of playing and currently, I truly prefer my Ash MIM with a RW neck as my #1. It also plays more like an older Stratocaster rather than what the new MIAs play like. And yes, I can afford a MIA.

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Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 12:53 pm
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Hi Bradley. A while ago I bought a Korean Lite Ash Tele. I like the timber very much, and it definitely weighs less than a regular one.

I fancy myself as someone who knows a nice neck when he plays one, and in the shop that Tele felt good to me: well set up, decently finished frets, etc etc. And I have a great time playing it: I really enjoy it's no nonsense feel.

But when I switch over to a MIA Strat the difference is so enormous it can't be ignored. The relief and action is actually slightly higher on the Strat, and yet it feels so smooth and comfortable to play. I hate to use corny phrases such as "it plays like butter", but...

I've spent time trying to analyze what the differences are (beyond the obvious generic differences between a Strat and a Tele, of course). The frets are subtly but distinctly better finished on the MIA, more highly polished, the nut is better cut, and I really, really like the rolled fingerboard edges too. And I do think the Tex-Mex pickups sound better as well.

It is very hard to point to anything that is wrong with the MIK, it is just that in a multitude of tiny ways the MIA scores over it. Worth the extra money.

Of course, that Tele is not Mexican, and I don't own a MIM. But from playing them I think most of the issues are similar. Small but vital differences in quality.

You gets what you pays for!

Cheers - C


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Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 1:01 pm
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There are a lot of opinions about this on this site, but really when it comes right down to it, it's just a matter of personal taste and choice. In todays world, with all of the normal worries we have, why not play what feels and sounds best for you...


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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 1:02 pm
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I own a MIM Classic Player 60. The pu's are 69's. I'am really happy with this "gitte", warm sound.

Maybe you invest in some MIA pu's and your gitte sounds better but if she don't do that....mh...it's one way pimp and don't investigate so much money.
But it's hard to say before that your gitte will sound really better then.

Check it out
:D


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Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 1:24 pm
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bill948 wrote:
There are a lot of opinions about this on this site, but really when it comes right down to it, it's just a matter of personal taste and choice. In todays world, with all of the normal worries we have, why not play what feels and sounds best for you...

I'm with bill948...I have 1 Korean, 2 MIJ's, 3 MIA's, an indonesian Squier...etc. And I like all of them. Different strokes for different folks...lol 8) 8)


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Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 1:42 pm
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Ceri wrote:
You gets what you pays for!

Cheers - C


Quick question: did you get that MIJ Strat yet?

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Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 2:02 pm
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orvilleowner wrote:
Ceri wrote:
You gets what you pays for!

Cheers - C


Quick question: did you get that MIJ Strat yet?


...Oh Lord! As of a week ago, no, it still hadn't arrived at the shop. And what's really stinging is that in the two months I've been waiting a number of them have come up on Ebay, as well as a Fiesta Custom Shop '57 that went for £850/$1250. Ggggnnnnnhhhhh!

Oh well: in the meantime I'll show you my little Lite Ash Tele on the T-shirt thread in a few days. Not the same, but...

:( - C


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Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 4:11 pm
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Ceri wrote:
orvilleowner wrote:
Ceri wrote:
You gets what you pays for!

Cheers - C


Quick question: did you get that MIJ Strat yet?


...Oh Lord! As of a week ago, no, it still hadn't arrived at the shop. And what's really stinging is that in the two months I've been waiting a number of them have come up on Ebay, as well as a Fiesta Custom Shop '57 that went for £850/$1250. Ggggnnnnnhhhhh!

Oh well: in the meantime I'll show you my little Lite Ash Tele on the T-shirt thread in a few days. Not the same, but...

:( - C


I'm seriously thinking about purchasing a MIJ '72 reissue.


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Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 6:55 pm
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heres one of the point of views that floats around my brain (but not the only one): to the average dude you could prbably buy a squire and put MIA pickups in it and it would be mean apart from going out of tune every now and then. or if you appreciate fine arts then get a custom shop or MIA as they are better in more fine tuned ways. +if you get a cheapie you can thrash it and smash it on stage. i bought a cheap jackson on the internet and i realy like it but you just cant beat a strat so i had to have one and it is one with my soul now.

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:44 am
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I'm seriously thinking about purchasing a MIJ '72 reissue.[/quote]
I can attest to the joy of owning and playing a MIJ '72 Reissue. Mine is an E seies serial # (1984-87), I believe mine is a 1985. It is a great guitar. I don't know how good the current models from Fender Japan are. I do know they are hard to find in the USA.


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Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:45 am
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My MIA Strat is my favorite of 4 guitars, but I recently purchased a used MIM Strat with Texas Special pups. I must admit I find myself reaching for this guitar more than any of them. The MIA guitars will gain in value over time, but I see nothing wrong with the MIM Strats especially if their in your price range. I do think the necks on the MIA`s are better though.

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Post subject: mim vs mia
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 9:03 am
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this is an ongoing dilema to some.
i believe, if you walk in to a music store, and play a mim and mia, and dont notice much difference, there is no need to spend the extra cash.

what i can say about the mia, slightly better build,( this is only from reading, not personal experience.)

pickups are better. handle gain better.

i do agree, an mim is an awesome guitar to modify. and as a backup axe, stock.


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 10:15 am
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paisley strat wrote:
I'm seriously thinking about purchasing a MIJ '72 reissue.

I can attest to the joy of owning and playing a MIJ '72 Reissue. Mine is an E seies serial # (1984-87), I believe mine is a 1985. It is a great guitar. I don't know how good the current models from Fender Japan are. I do know they are hard to find in the USA.[/quote]

Yes, my friend has a E6, basically it's a '73 strat with rosewood fingerboard and a nice creamy colour. They weren't sold as reissues but today they are, in particular this model:

http://www.daiichi-gakki.co.jp/yaenosat ... t72_02.jpg

Besides the black plastic parts, is the same guitar of my friend, that obviously doesnt' want to sell his own. He also has a MIA of the 90s, a roadhouse, I think, with texas special, and he favours the CIJ.

They are difficult to procure here as well, there's a website in the UK who sell them, and they don't come for cheap, at all.


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