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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 9:48 am
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Thanks for all the advice guys! I hadn't really thought about buying a guitar of the net... But now that it's been pointed out, I found an American Standard for £699! That's a fair chunk cheaper than the shops. And yes, Fender's prices are going up, so I think I'll be making my move soon. At the least, I'll get the Highway One model!


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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 12:25 pm
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I agree. My music shop sold both models but I actually liked the chrome red finish and playability of the MIM Standard Strat over the MIA models they had. I'm not into cheap guitars either. I have two C.F. Martins. I think the key is picking up and playing the individual guitar in the shop. Its got to sound and feel right to you.
The only knocks I have on the MIM Standard are the accessories. The strings they come with are junky so I switched them out for some Ernie Ball - Extra Slinkys. The gig bag too is flimsy and cheap so I brought a Levy's leather gig bag for it. Its sweet now, boy! If I came across a MIA strat that blew me away, I would buy it but I'm in no hurry. Pretty satisfied with what I already have.

jeffo46 wrote:
You can't go wrong with either one, but IMO, and I am partial because I own one, if you want to save some money, get yourself a MIM Standard. I have a 2006 Sunburst with all the upgrades and it's the best guitar that I have ever owned. I've tried USA made models and IMO,it sounds just as good.


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Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 10:45 am
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I dont know where you got the price of £1000 for an American Standard. There are plenty of retailers in the UK knocking out block colours for £699. Have a look at Coda Musis, GAK or any of the shops that advertise in Guitarist Magazine. Shop about, nows the ideal time to hammer out a bargain with one of these guys. You might get one a little cheaper if they're desperate for business. Good luck.


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Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 2:34 pm
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Welcome to the Forums and wow what a way to start!

This subject has been discussed (sometimes heatedly) many times and both sides think that they are correct.

I'm an MIA man myself. Not saying that there is anything wrong with the MIM instruments the MIA's are just "nicer".

With the MIA's you get:
Better overall fit and finish (though MIM is closing the gap here).
Better electronics (play both 'clean' through an amp and you can tell).
Better hardware.
The MIA's retain their value better overtime (if that is a consideration).

With the MIM's you can own more guitars faster and say "wheeeee look at all the guitars I've got" sooner.

For myself, I prefer to own the best tools I can afford even if it takes me longer to get them. It's more about having the higher quality than having a few more guitars.

The MIM's play, look, and sound good. They are a fine value in a guitar and I play with lots of guys that own them. However as I said earlier the MIA instruments are "nicer" and that is important to me.

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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:02 pm
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I look at it like this.

I've been DJing for almost 15 years now. When I first started, I went out and bought a the most affordable pair of turntables and mixer that I could find. At the time it was the best purchase for me, but as time went on, there were things that my Gemini turntables/Numark mixer couldn't do for me. Since I was practicing for hours every day, I noticed how quickly the parts and materials deteriorated. Within a year, I upgraded to a pair of Technics 1200s and a Vestax Pro Mixer, which at the time (and I still believe) are industry standards. And I've never looked back since.

When I went to buy my first Strat, I was faced with a similar decision between MIM and MIA. I researched for about a month (this forum was A LOT of help) and came to a decision to purchase a MIA, simply for the fact that I didn't want to go through the same ordeal that I went through when I got my first DJ set. Not that MIMs have any problems, it's just that if I was going to spend some cash, I was going to get the most bang for me buck.

Of course, you have to get what ultimately makes you happy and is what's in your budget, but for me, I took in several factors into consideration (my budget, playability, finish, sound). However, that doesn't preclude me from getting an MIM further down the line, it's just that I wanted to make the initial investment first.

I hope that helps in your purchase decision.


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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:31 pm
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I've compared the two at guitar stores and I've found the Mexican Strats to be one of the best in it's price range, but honestly the pickups really need upgrading. The stock pickups are very lacking. The American Strats that I've played were all amazing. Sounded great, looked great and the necks on those things incredible. I really can tell the difference in quality. If you're looking for something nice that won't cost as much as an American Standard I'd recommend taking a look at some high end Mexican Strats and some lower end American Strats. And when I say low end I'm not saying their any worse then the Standard, I just mean they cost a lower price.
On the Mexican side you might like the Jimmie Vaughan signature Strat. It's basically a Mexican Standard only with some nice sounding Tex-Mex pickups. It costs more then most Mexican Strats, but less than an American.
As far as the American Strats go, check out the Highway 1 series. I don't know what they sound like, but I've played them before and they felt great. Both those guitars run in the $700 range. This is a total guess, but that's probably around 600 pounds?

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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 5:19 pm
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[list=]Basically it comes down to this; I've owned both, a 2007 American Deluxe, and a 2007 MIM AIMM Vinatge Reissue 5760. The Am Dlx is pricey compaired to other Fenders, but an untouchable deal compaired to any other maker, an American Std is pretty close, and an even better deal. The MIM I got is by far the best put together MIM I've ever played. My Am Dlx was stolen a few moths ago, I needed a replacement and couldn't afford another for the time being. I played many MIMs in shops and was disappointed in what I found. I found this cheap (>$300 w/Fender HSC). It was setup by the samew luthier I use, and had been upgraded with Rio Grande Tallboys, which are going for over $200 for the setm so how could I say no? The MIMs are really great, especially for the money, the problem is just really consistancy. Americans need to be played too, but although all are different, all are going to be good with just a few anomolies. Id probably think they are better than I currently do if I didn't own the Am Dlx first. The differences are mostly small (but to me important) the finish isn't as heavy, pkluis there isn't any finish inside the cavities which lends to better sound, much better bridge block on americans than MIM which uses a zinc block that just plain sucks and should be swapped out. Plus better pots, wiring, pups etc. Allot of people try to break the two down to just americans have hard cases and mims have soft, amd its much more than that. But IMO MIMs are much closer to American strats than say, an Epiphone LP is to a Gibson. I'm currently upgrading it, I already changed out the tuners, shielded it, put strap-locks, a switch to activate the bridge pup, a callaham bridge block, plus the pickups that had been upgraded. I still have to change out the saddles, and probably a new neck cause I really don't like the 7 1/4 inch fretboard. I figured that evewn wothout the neck, with upgrades I could have had an american strat, even with the low $$ I spent, I couldn't imagine buying it new, the retail list on it is like $970, they only made a couple hundred of these so therte aren't really a new one left to get a real selling price, but looking at other MIMs with that list, I'm assumimg it must have cost the guy who sold to me between $700i$800, which would put it in the range where I would have saved up the extra $200 and bought the Am Stds. Here's the bottom line, you sound as if you're trying to talk yourself into the American, and if that's the case, don't buy a MIM, because you will no doubt regret it because I don't think that's what you rteally want. I recomend looking for a preowned one, especially one owned by a seasoned player because you may get good upgrades on it like I did. At the very least they had it setup before they played it for the year or 2 they owned it. Do and get what you rteally want,a nd don't comprimise or you won't be happy.


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Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:33 pm
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I own a Fender Deluxe Player's Stratocaster, and it is a very fine instrument. I bought it from musiciansfriend.com for $535 US (Christmas sale - regular price is $629). The first one that Musician's Friend shipped me was a lemon: the bridge pickup (or the selector switch at the bridge position) was dead. The replacement that they sent me is flawless! 'Tis a thing of beauty!

It has an ash body, maple neck, and rosewood fretboard (the edges of which are rolled, as they are MIA and shipped to Mexico - a very nice touch). The pickups are the Vintage Noiseless, designed by Kinman (no hum at all - silent). It also comes with the Fender Deluxe gig bag, which is the most heavily padded and durable gig bag that I've seen.

It is the highest quality MIM guitar that Fender offers. Actually, it's an American/Mexican crossbreed, as the neck and all of the electronics are made in America.

If you can budget, say, $1000.00 US for the instrument, then I'd recommend purchasing this guitar because you'd get a great instrument (every ounce, a Fender Stratocaster), and have enough money left for a good setup (unless you can do it yourself), a good shoulder strap, a guitar stand, extra strings, etc.

You can't go wrong!


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Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:09 pm
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Just to add to my earlier reply, i recently noticed that Andertons music store are still stocking a 2007 American Series Stratocaster for £569. What an absolute steal. The only colour they have left in stock is candy cola red with a rosewood fingerboard. These are pretty much the same as the 2008 models. The differences, which are subtle, have been discussed elsewhere on the forum. Hope this is a help.


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Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 2:11 pm
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The one thing that the MIM Strats always had going for them was value. For 500 bucks you can get a good guitar. Not a piece of junk. For an intermediate to advanced player it's still a good value even if you upgrade the pups and bridge. If you do it yourself that is. But when you start pushing that $1000 range I'd go with a MIA. I've never done bad reselling an American made Fender. I've lost my $@! on MIM and MIJ/CIJ Fenders modded or not. While I cant really trash a MIM Fender I'm done with them and the Japan made versions. In fact I've gone totally mad and will only own custom shop strats now. My collection will certainly grow at a much slower rate but I'm much happier and that's all the counts.


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Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 2:33 pm
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MIM's a great guitars, and one of the best for the value. I doubt anyone would argue that.

But are they "better" than MIA? Absolutely not, another point few could argue. The fact that someone loves their MIM doesn't make the higher model, with better components, wood, electronics, frets and attention to detail any less superior.

MIA's are better quality and "finer" guitars. That doesn't mean MIA sucks, they're great - for the money.

Not all people want the best "value" or the lowest price. Some just want the best guitar, and will pay for it. So, depending on what the owner wants from it, one is "better" than the other for that particular person.


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Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 3:54 pm
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dgonz wrote:
MIM's a great guitars, and one of the best for the value. I doubt anyone would argue that.

But are they "better" than MIA? Absolutely not, another point few could argue. The fact that someone loves their MIM doesn't make the higher model, with better components, wood, electronics, frets and attention to detail any less superior.

MIA's are better quality and "finer" guitars. That doesn't mean MIA sucks, they're great - for the money.

Not all people want the best "value" or the lowest price. Some just want the best guitar, and will pay for it. So, depending on what the owner wants from it, one is "better" than the other for that particular person.


MIA'S are better as far as electronics but i would have
to disagree as far as craftmanship. from 2006 to present
i have found the craftmanship of the MIM'S body and necks
to be just as good as most MIA strats and some cases even better.


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